PFT PRESEASON POWER
RANKINGS: NO. 19
Okay, we've thought long and
hard about this one. We're now into the teens with this little team-by-team
exercise, and fans of pretty much every NFL franchise from here until the
top of the list could plausibly argue that their squad could be the last
group standing come February.
So we think every team is fair
game from here on up, including teams that some so-called experts might have
on the short list for a stint in Miami and Super Bowl XLI.
Before we go any farther, we
need to remind the readers (and ourselves) of the purpose of this list.
It's not an effort to project each team's finish in 2006; we'll do that
closer to the start of the season. Instead, this list is a snapshot of the
manner in which we believe the 32 members of the NFL fit together.
And we'll be candid. On at
least one draft version of this here list, the team we're putting at No. 19
was close to No. 1. But that was two weeks ago; since then, there has been
more evidence that the ship could be sinking, and that last year's success
might not be duplicated.
The Cincinnati Bengals.
Yeah, baby. Welcome back to
the bottom half of the league, Mike Brown. You've worked hard to get here.
Indeed, the clincher for us
was the statement Brown issued on Friday in response to mounting criticism
of the team's decision to select linebacker Ahmad Brooks in the third round
of the supplemental draft. Said Brown: "Regarding this week's selection of
Ahmad Brooks in the supplemental draft,
we are aware of no pending allegations of any kind against Ahmad.
The club's judgment is that any past transgressions were insufficient to
deny him an opportunity to prove himself as a responsible NFL player."
Mike, you're missing the
point. If Brooks was the only guy of questionable character on the team,
that would be one thing. But he isn't. He's only the newest arrival.
Sooner or later, there's going
to be a critical mass of turds wearing black and orange. Sooner or later,
the non-turds will get turned off by the guys whose antisocial behavior off
of the field surely translates into, at a minimum, a degree of ignorance
and/or arrogance that will make the kids less likely to buy in to the
systems and attitudes that the coaching staff is trying to communicate.
Sooner or later, this team
will implode.
And we now think it could be
sooner.
For starters, quarterback
Carson Palmer is rehabilitating a serious knee injury that knocked him out
of the playoff loss to the Steelers. Though every knee surgery performed on
every NFL player is always a "success" and every rehab is always "ahead of
schedule," the reality is that it takes a long while to get back to normal
after tearing an ACL. Even if every piece of blue-sky-and-sunshine press
regarding Palmer's prognosis might be the full and complete truth, there's
no way to know for sure because no team is going to be candid about the
status of its starting quarterback, especially during the prime ticket sales
time of the offseason.
And if Palmer isn't ready or
if he gets re-injured, Jon Kitna no longer is available to stop the
bleeding. Instead, the job would fall to (gulp) Anthony Wright or (double
gulp) Doug Johnson.
Beyond the question of when or
if Palmer will be back to form in 2005, the biggest question mark for the
offense is another topic that the team won't address -- whether and to what
extent coach Marvin Lewis will rein in receiver Chad Johnson. We reported
in January that Johnson engaged in a disruptive locker-room altercation
during halftime of the team's postseason loss against Pittsburgh, and one of
the reasons that at least one member of the team was willing to disclose the
incident was to ensure that it won't happen again when the season is on the
line. There's a high degree of resentment regarding the perceived
double-standard that Lewis employs when dealing with Johnson, and that makes
us even more convinced that an implosion is coming.
Is there still hope? Can the
Bengals climb out of the hole into which they've plunged without losing a
single game? Yes, there is and, yes, they can.
But the first step will be to
make a strong statement that turdishness no longer will be tolerated. The
easiest way to do it? Cut receiver Chris Henry and offer Nicholson a
one-year contract for the rookie minimum of $275,000. Those are the two
guys, after all, who have engaged in conduct since joining the team that has
resulted in an arrest. (Frostee Rucker has been arrested, too, but that was
the product of conduct preceding his final year at USC.)
Next up, Marvin needs to quit
coddling Chad Johnson. It's the quickest way to get the attention -- and
keep the respect -- of the majority of Bengals players who aren't selfish,
who follow the rules, and who abide by the law.
We don't see it happening.
Indeed, if the Bengals were prepared to address these issues, they wouldn't
be making excuses for their decision to draft a guy who had been kicked
off of his college team. Instead, they'd be running the other way from
guys like Brooks, as teams trying their best to deturdify (like the Vikings)
did.
But
Marvin still thinks that he can change these guys, even in the midst of an
offseason in which three players with one year or less of NFL experience
were arrested a total of five times and suspended for four games.
They just don't get it, and
teams that don't get it rarely get their hands on a Lombardi.
Okay, fantasy grades.
Quarterback: Carson
Palmer was tremendous in 2005, and should have merited stronger
consideration for NFL MVP. We think that, in a roster rife with problem
children, Palmer's strong performance and steady hand were arguably more
valuable than Shaun Alexander's churning of turf behind the best offensive
line in the league. In fact, Palmer had more passing yards, more
completions, and more touchdowns than Peyton Manning.
But Palmer suffered that
tragic ACL tear in January, and it would be naive to assume that he's going
to pick up right where he left off. It'll be a long road, he'll likely
still put up good numbers. But he's not a top-five pick this year, and we'd
use those high-round selections elsewhere.
Running back: Rudi Johnson broke his franchise
single-season rushing record by four yards on fewer carries, despite having
a knee injury for most of the year. Even if Carson Palmer isn't the
quarterback he was in 2005 (or if he isn't the quarterback at all), Rudi
will get his yards, and touchdowns. He gets an A-.
Wide receiver: Chad Johnson is one of the best
receivers in the league; there's no disputing that. But if Carson
Palmer stumbles on his road back from that torn-up knee, it will affect
Johnson's numbers. He gets a B+ for now. T.J. Houshmandzadeh had
a solid year as well but, again, he'll only go as far as Palmer can take
him. Give him a B-.
Tight end: Look elsewhere.
Defense: Statistically, the Cincy "D" wasn't a
powerhouse in 2005, but it created the most turnovers in the league.
Even with question marks surrounding linebacker Odell Thurman, the addition
of Sam Adams beefs up the defensive line and the unit will be stronger in
2005. (Until the team implodes.) We give them a B.
Kicker: Shayne Graham is capable of scoring a
ton of points, if the offense is clicking. So, once more, Graham's
grade all falls back to whether Carson Palmer can be as effective as he was
in 2005. We give him a B for now.
Before all of the Bengals fans out there simultaneously fill
up our e-mail box with insults and various other unpleasantries, keep this
in mind. We think that your team is among the most talented in the
NFL. But we currently fear that a lack of leadership from the top of
the organization and an inexplicable thirst for all things turd could make
the Bengals the prime candidate for a plunge in 2006.
POSTED 9:32
p.m. EDT, July 14, 2006
POSTONS PULLING POLITICAL
STRINGS
We've obtained more information
regarding the sudden interest of the U.S. Congress in the NFL Players
Association, and it appears to us that someone is calling in a political favor.
That someone is agent Carl Poston,
who has an office in the district of one of the persons who are now trying to
apply pressure to the players union on his behalf.
As it turns out, Rep. Henry Hyde
(R-Ill.) and Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-Tex.) have penned a letter to NFLPA
executive director Gene Upshaw expressing their general concerns regarding the
union's procedures for disciplining agents -- pointing to the
particular pending action against Poston, who is described in the correspondence
as an agent who has been successful in obtaining significant contracts for his
clients.
The letter begins by explaining
that the Congresspersons recently have become aware of the matters involving the
union and Poston, and that they have concerns regarding the disciplinary
procedures, given that (in their view) the NFLPA's activities affect commerce
and may give rise to antitrust violations.
The letter then lists several
specific concerns: (1) the NFLPA has the sole authority to determine who
will be an agent and the NFLPA alone sets the rules regarding them; (2) the
mechanism for resolving disputes permits discipline to be pursued even if the
player has made no complaint; (3) the NFLPA has the sole right to select the
arbitrator, who is paid by the NFLPA to preside; (4) there is no procedure for
making disclosures regarding any potential biases on the part of the arbitrator.
Next, the letter requests that the
union make several revisions to the procedure for disciplining agents: (1)
a requirement of a verified complaint before discipline will be pursued; (2) an
effort to ensure that the arbitrator will be neutral, impartial, and unbiased; (3)
a requirement that the arbitrator make disclosures to the parties so that an
evaluation may be performed as to whether there is the potential for bias; (4)
the availability of discovery devices used in most legal proceedings; (5) steps
to prevent surprise, such as the identification of witnesses and the exchange of
exhibits prior to the hearing; (6) the availability of subpoena power for the
arbitrator, so that the agent subject to discipline may compel persons to appear
and testify; and (7) the prohibition of direct contact between the parties and
the arbitrator.
Finally, the letter explains that,
if the NFLPA does not voluntarily make these changes, legislation will be
drafted that, if enacted, would require the union to do so. Likewise, the
letter states that hearings regarding the matter could be conducted.
Regardless of whether two members
of the House of Representatives have the juice to get Congress interested in
this topic at a time when there are far greater issues facing our nation, we
agree with most of the changes that have been suggested. We disagree only
with the requirement of a verified complaint, if the requirement will be a
verified complaint from one of the agent's clients.
The reality for NFL players is
that: (1) a lot of them aren't very bright; and (2) the curious culture of
the locker room requires most players to stand behind their chosen
representatives, lest the players look like stooges for hiring them in the first
place. Thus, it's not surprising that a guy like linebacker LaVar
Arrington wouldn't complain about the conduct of Carl Poston, even though Poston
screwed up Arrington's December 2003 contract extension by, you know, not
reading it, and advised him in February to pay back $4 million in earned money
in order to get onto the market early enough to . . . ask for too much money and
sign a deal not much better than the one Arrington would have gotten if he'd
waited for the Redskins to release him before a $6.5 million roster bonus came
due in July.
Bottom line -- Carl Poston isn't
in hot water because the NFLPA doesn't like him. He's in trouble because
he admitted that he didn't read a contract before allowing his client to
sign it. Even if Arrington genuinely doesn't care, the NFLPA has an
obligation, in our view, to protect other players who might fall victim to
similar behavior.
So in our view the NFLPA should
seriously consider making most of the suggested changes, but the NFLPA likewise
should not relent in its efforts to hold Poston accountable for his gross
negligence in the representation of an NFL player.
Even if the NFL player in question
thinks that "gross negligence" means a picture of a fat chick in lingerie.
POSTED 6:44
p.m. EDT, July 14, 2006
CONGRESS INVESTIGATING NFLPA?
We've just caught wind of a
potential investigation of the NFL Players Association by the United States
Congress regarding the manner in which the union metes out discipline to the
NFLPA-registered contract advisors.
A league source tells us that
Congress could be looking into potential antitrust violations arising from
allegedly selective enforcement of regulations and generally arbitrary and
capricious actions of the union when investigating and punishing agents.
Under such a theory, the argument
would be that some agents get nailed for certain conduct that other agents can
engage in without scrutiny.
Stay tuned.
POSTED 4:32
p.m. EDT; UPDATED 5:18 p.m. EDT, July 14, 2006
T.O. SAYS "I BLAME
ME SOME ME"?
From the "Nothing That
Happens Can Ever Freaking Surprise Us" file (to which we only recently
added the Ahmad-Brooks-to-Bengals story), it now appears that Cowboys receiver Terrell
Owens believes that he was misquoted . . . in his own book.
Actually, Owens claims that it was
his co-author, Jason Rosenhaus, who added the last word to the following
description of T.O.'s efforts to return from a December broken leg in order to
play in Super Bowl XXXIX: "If you'll forgive me for saying so . . .
[it was] nothing short of heroic."
"[Heroic] was one of the
words that Jason used," Owens said on Thursday after signing copies of the
books for fans at a Wal-Mart near the Cowboys' headquarters. "I can't
say that I called it 'heroic.'"
Um. Um. You know,
after nearly five years of doing this, we finally are speechless.
But not completely. T.O.'s
strategy unlocks an entire new realm of easy excuses for guys who have other
writers assist with their memoirs.
If there's something in there that
stirs up enough criticism, point the finger at the other guy.
Of course, the "next
question" becomes whether Owens bothered to read the galley proofs before
the book was put into production. If he did, and if he failed to object to
the presence of the word "heroic," then he ratified its presence --
and it becomes his term.
So what else in the book didn't
T.O. actually write, or later read? We've got a feeling that the insertion
of the term "heroic" isn't a one-shot thing, and that on the spectrum
of reality the final product might be somewhere near the Milli and/or Vanilli
categories.
If nothing else, it'll give him
something to discuss on his nationwide talk-show tour, which to date has
included one less stop than Kramer's efforts to generate interest in his coffee
table book about coffee tables.
FRIDAY AFTERNOON ONE-LINERS
Marco
Coleman has bailed out of the group of plaintiffs suing the NFL and the
NFLPA for failing to conduct background checks of a failed hedge fund manager;
the amended complaint also names two John Doe corporations who were allegedly
supposed to conduct the background checks on behalf of the primary defendants.
Pacman's
party in Atlanta is the talk
of the town.
Steve
Largent's son is charged with soliciting sex from a girl under the age
of 16.
Frostee Rucker's latest criminal
case has
been continued to August 11.
Zygi Wilf's college-aged nephew is
a part-owner in
the team; the Wilfs won't disclose the school to which the younger Wilf
attends, but our sources say he's a Harvard man.
The Vikes had
no interest in LB Ahmad Brooks: "[H]e had character issues
and medical issues, and that wasn't something we were looking to get involved
in," V.P. of player personnel Rick Spielman said Thursday (as Fred Smoot
tried his damnedest not to laugh).
The tailback position is wide
open in Tennessee.
Daunte Culpepper's passer rating
in 2004 was the fourth-best
in NFL history.
Thanks to the Washington Times
for crediting us in connection with Frostee
Rucker's history of alleged misconduct with females, but ultimate credit
for that one should go to ESPN's Outside the Lines, which did a great
in-depth report on Rucker and his alleged victims.
The Texans
have signed sixth-round RB Wali Lundy and seventh-round WR David
Anderson.
The Eagles have inked
fourth-round WR Jason Avant to a four-year deal.
The Titans have inked
free-agent FB Ahmard Hall, who was passed over in the supplemental
draft.
POSTED 8:12
a.m. EDT, July 14, 2006
BROWN MADE THE CALL ON BROOKS
A league source tells us that,
although Bengals coach Marvin Lewis has plenty of influence over the composition
of his team's roster, the decision to select Virginia linebacker Ahmad Brooks in
the third round of the Supplemental Draft came from owner Mike Brown.
Our guess? Lewis is putting
the word out that Brown made the decision in order to deflect a mounting storm
of criticism regarding the team's addition on Marvin's watch of guys like Chris
Henry and A.J. Nicholson and Odell Thurman and Frostee Rucker and Fahu Tahi.
Even if Brown did in fact make the
decision, we wonder what if anything Marvin had to say as the boss was pondering
the possibility. Did the coach say, "You know, this guy's college coach is
putting out the word that the kid is a turd, and there are reports he failed
multiple drug tests"? Or did Marvin merely keep his mouth shut and let
nature take its course?
Our Internet gambling money is on
the latter.
And the irony here is that Brooks
became a necessity for the team because Thurman, also a linebacker, has been
suspended for four games to start the season due to violation of the league's
substance abuse policy. (Despite reports raising the possibility that the
suspension is the result of a missed test, the substance abuse policy doesn't
require a four-game suspension for a first strike; to reach the level of having
to sit four games, there must have been prior positives and/or skipped tests --
and likewise a four-game fine without a suspension.)
So what's next? Drafting a
receiver with a bad reputation in 2007 to replace Henry? A defensive end
who likes to smack around the ladies in 2008 to replace Rucker? A
linebacker with a taste for other people's stuff in 2009 to replace Nicholson?
Really, the situation in
Cincinnati is beyond amazing. And as one league source mentioned to us on
Thursday, few if any members of the "real" media have anything to say about it.
Meanwhile, Bengals fans generally
are tolerant because they're starved for a winner. But as we suggested on
Thursday after word broke of Brooks' selection, the locals will turn on Lewis
quickly if/when the team with too many turd returns to its pre-2005 form.
GET THAT SPRINT PHONE
Recently, we were meeting with
someone who got a quick glimpse of yours truly's Samsung A900 phone, available
only through Sprint.
"Is that a Sprint phone?" the
person asked.
"Yes, it is," I said, handing it
over for an inspection.
"Damn. That's a nice phone."
A nice phone it is. And you
can explore the Samsung A900 and other Sprint and Nextel products by clicking
the ads to the right and on top.
Remember, it's Sprint's
sponsorship of the site that has helped us to streamline the appearance of the
Rumor Mill and the Front Page, and to keep the site free of charge at a time
when more and more sites are imposing monthly or annual charges -- and more and
more readers who want the site to be successful are asking us why we don't do
the same thing.
So support the companies that
support your favorite source of NFL news and information, which if you haven't
noticed gradually has gotten to the point where it's standing toe-to-toe with the
big boys who actually have, you know, multiple employees and actual resources.
POSTED 11:47
p.m. EDT, July 13, 2006
LIONS LOSE FRANCHISE TAG FOR
2007
Lost in the reports regarding the
decision of the Detroit Lions to sign offensive lineman Jeff Backus to a
six-year contract is the reality that, in doing so, the team has forfeited the
franchise tag for the 2007 season.
Per the "Term Sheet" negotiated by
the NFL and the NFL Players Association more than four months ago, if a team
signs its franchise player to a multi-year deal before July 15, the team loses
the franchise tag for one year. (Originally, the Collective Bargaining
Agreement called for the forfeiture of the franchise tag for the full term of
the contract if a long-term deal was reached prior to July 15.) The Lions
previously applied the franchise tag to Backus, and then signed him to a
one-year deal with a promise that he would not be tagged again in 2007.
As a result, the Lions now will
apply the tag in 2007 to no one.
The deal was done before July 15
despite the loss of the tag because the Term Sheet also provides that "any
contract signed after [July 15] through the end of the regular season can be for
only one year."
So what does that mean?
ESPN.com says that the Management Council advised the Lions that a multi-year
contract signed after July 15
would have
triggered the loss of the franchise tag for the life of the deal.
We disagree; we think the proper outcome would have been invalidation of the
contract. If the Term Sheet says that any post-July 15 contract "can be
for only one year," then it can be for only one year. Period.
The overriding problem, in our
view, is that the Term Sheet still has not been incorporated into the formal CBA.
As a result, the sketchy, sometimes vague language that was hammered out at the
bargaining table isn't as clear or precise as it will be once it is fully
articulated with wherefores and heretofores in the official contractual
document. (Okay, maybe it won't be clear -- but it definitely will be
precise.)
So please, NFL and NFLPA, we beg
you, on behalf of the 32 teams and the agents and the players. Finalize
the CBA so folks will know exactly what the HEL is going on.
POSTED 10:59
p.m. EDT; UPDATED 11:28 p.m. EDT, July 13, 2006
PFT PRESEASON POWER RANKINGS:
NO. 20
After knocking out 12 full-blown
analyses of the 12 worst franchises in the NFL over the first 12 days of July, we're
relieved to finally scrape the bottom of the league's barrel of top 20 teams.
And as easy as it was for us to
pinpoint each and every member of our Dirty Dozen, we've struggled in
identifying the team that we regard as the worst of the remainders.
We considered several
possibilities. The Eagles. The Cardinals. The Ravens.
The Chiefs. Even the Jaguars.
But then it hit us. Like . .
. like . . . like a badly overthrown pass from an overhyped quarterback who
can't pass from the pocket.
The Atlanta Falcons.
Yeah, they made it to the NFC
championship two years ago. But they didn't even qualify for the
postseason in 2005, limping to a 5-7 finish after a 3-1 start -- and dropping four out of
five down the stretch.
Most significantly, the Falcons
were 0-4 against their primary rivals from the NFC South, Tampa and Carolina.
And while Atlanta lost narrowly twice to the Bucs, the Falcons were filleted by
the Panthers, outscored to the tune of 68-17 in two games.
The root of the problem is
quarterback Michael Vick. He's not a real leader, in our opinion.
Never will be.
He won't be a leader because he's
never been expected to lead. Instead, he's merely been expected to dazzle
with his incredible God-given skills, and he's constantly had his crotch nuzzled
(maybe not the best choice of words, given the whole Ron Mexico thing) for his
ability to run out of trouble and make defenders look like Keystone Cops full of Krispy Kremes.
We've heard that part of the
problem is that Vick isn't as tall as advertised, and thus can't see over the
wall of blockers and those trying to get past them. Regardless of the
reason, these Falcons will never get to the Super Bowl without 53 tickets.
And it could be that the front
office and coaching staff are starting to figure it out. After all, the
new quarterbacks coach, Bill Musgrave, is the guy who helped turn Matt Schaub
into a Heisman candidate at the University of Virginia.
Musgrave replaces Mike Johnson,
whom Vick wasn't happy to lose. "It
hurts me to see him go," Vick said in January. "I wish we could've kept him
around. I don't know why he's gone, but that decision was made, and it's
just something I've got to deal with."
Indeed, there were rumblings
earlier this year that Vick wants out of Atlanta, and there's a feeling that the
sentiment could be mutual. The Falcons, after all, resisted opportunities
to trade Schaub in the offseason, and he'll be eligible for restricted free
agency in 2007.
And regarding those rumors of a
rift between Vick and head coach Jim Mora? Mora got a three-year extension
in the offseason, which suggests that if the two get into a tug-o-war, Mora will
be yanking Mike into the mud.
Our guess? If the Falcons
tank again, it very well could be bye-bye for Vick, who'd be a perfect fit for
the Raiders. And pretty much no one else.
Is it blasphemy to suggest that a
superstar who serves as the face of a franchise might make a premature exit?
It used to be. But that was before Randy Moss and Daunte Culpepper proved
that even the longest-term deals can become short-term arrangements if both
sides aren't fully committed to the relationship.
Apart from Vick, the Falcons don't
look much different than they did in 2005. Wayne Gandy replaces Kevin
Shaffer at left tackle, but the rest of the offensive line returns. Roddy
White and Michael Jenkins are the top two wide receivers, who do more widing
than receiving in the Valtrex offense. Warrick Dunn and T.J. Duckett
(we almost had a very unfortunate typo on that one) are the tailbacks, and
Justin Griffith is the fullback.
But the key is still Alge Crumpler,
who is the Mike Vick safety valve, primarily since he's one of the few
pass-catchers that Vick can see.
The big additions on defense are
end John Abraham and safeties Lawyer Milloy and Chris Crocker.
Second-round
rookie Jimmy Williams will get a shot at serving as the nickel corner.
In all, the team isn't that much
different. But given the 8-8 record of a year ago, that's not necessarily
a good thing. We don't think the team has done enough to get back to the
top of the conference -- primarily because the Falcons won't be able to get
back to the top of their division.
Okay. Fantasy grade time.
Quarterback: In 2004,
Vick performed like a running back who throws passes on the side. He
rushed for more than 900 yards and three scores and threw for 2,313 yards and
threw nearly as many picks (12) as touchdown passes (14). In 2005, he was
pretty much the same, but with more than 300 fewer rushing yards and twice the
rushing touchdowns. So, in selecting a quarterback, we prefer to go with a
real one.
Running back: Dunn
had the most rushing yards of his career in 2005, but managed only three
touchdowns on the ground. With T.J. Duckett falling farther out of favor
and Dunn showing no signs of wearing down, he gets a solid B for 2006.
Wide receiver: Roddy
White could be a breakout player in 2006. If Michael Vick tears an ACL in
August. Ditto for Michael Jenkins. As long as Vick is healthy, avoid
either guy.
Tight end: Alge
Crumpler is one of the top tight ends in the league, but we'd keep an eye on him
in light of recently-disclosed shoulder surgery. If healthy -- and if Vick
is the quarterback -- Crumpler's 65 receptions, 877 yards, and five touchdowns
from 2005 gives him a solid B as tight ends go.
Defense: Even with
the new additions, we don't see the Falcons improving much on the performance in
2005 that left them as the 22nd-ranked defensive unit. Still, the presence
of speedster DeAngelo Hall and the disruptive Abraham could generate some
touchdowns. They're above the "crapshoot" category, but not in the upper
echelon.
Kicker: We don't see
the Falcons scoring many more points in 2006, which means that newcomer Zac Derr
won't get many chances. If Zac Derr makes the team. Look elsewhere.
THURSDAY NIGHT ONE-LINERS
The field of potential
Commissioner candidates
has narrowed.
All politics aside, we invite
anyone who
objects to a security pat-down when entering an NFL stadium to stay
the f--k home.
The Lions have signed OL Jeff
Backus to
a six-year deal with $15.5 million in guaranteed money.
The Saints have signed FB Mike
Karney to a
four-year extension.
POSTED 4:53
p.m. EDT, July 13, 2006
THURMAN SUSPENDED FOR FOUR
GAMES
A league source tells us that
Bengals linebacker Odell Thurman has been suspended four games for violation of
the NFL's substance abuse policy.
The suspension helps to explain
the team's surprising decision to select linebacker Ahmad Brooks in the third
round of the Supplemental Draft. However, Brooks has had his own history
with banned substances; he was once arrested for possession of marijuana, and
Jason Cole reported for the Miami Herald last month that Brooks failed
two drug tests while at the University of Virginia.
As to Thurman, word is that he is
making a conscientious effort to rectify the problem. We're told that he
wants to comply with the rules and to play football. With that said, a
four-game suspension is imposed only after a player has progressed through
several levels of the substance abuse program, which means that the problem has
been around for a while. Here's hoping that he can get on the right track,
because he definitely has the talent to be a force in the NFL.
The four-game suspension takes
effect after the final preseason game on September 1 at Indianapolis.
He'll miss games on September 10 at Kansas City, September 17 at home against
the Browns, September 24 at Pittsburgh, and October 1 at home against the
Patriots.
POSTED 4:40
p.m. EDT, July 13, 2006
WHO'S CALLING THE SHOTS IN
CINCY?
As league insiders continue to
express shock regarding the decision of the Cincinnati Bengals to select
linebacker Ahmad Brooks in the third round of the Supplemental Draft, there are
now questions as to whether coach Marvin Lewis is the one making the final
decisions as to personnel in the Queen City.
"I know Marvin," one
league source told us, "and I can't believe this is Marvin's doing."
Added the source:
"Whoever is picking the guys is f--king crazy."
Brooks, the latest link in a
chain-chain-chain, chain of turds to be acquired by the Bengals, has had plenty
of issues. He was kicked off of the Virginia football team. He
failed at least two drug tests. He was arrested for marijuana
possession. And coach Al Groh let it be known to his NFL contacts that
Brooks was not a guy worthy of drafting.
In addition to the question of
who's calling the shots in Cincy, there's also a question as to who's gathering
the info. The Brown family is notoriously tight with the money, which
explains why a franchise among the lowest in the league in revenue is also among
the highest in the league in profit. As a result, the Bengals don't devote
to the screening of potential draft picks the same resources that other teams
expend.
Still, there are some league
insiders who are convinced that, in the end, Lewis has final say, and that Lewis
believes he can turn turds into treasure.
"He's got a lot of confidence
in his own ability to reform," said one league source. "He's
always been that way. Marvin thinks he's smarter than everyone else.
That's his hubris, his tragic flaw. In the end, it could be his downfall."
Indeed, if the Bengals continue to
win plenty of games and sell plenty of tickets, Marvin's moves in this regard
will be overlooked. But as soon as the team tanks, blame will fall to his
decision to acquire and to keep guys like Brooks and Chris Henry and A.J.
Nicholson and Fahu Tahi (or is it Tahu Fahi . . . or Fahi Tahu?).
POSTED 1:35
p.m. EDT; UPDATED 1:43 p.m. EDT, July 13, 2006
BENGALS TAKE BROOKS IN "TURD"
ROUND
Two league sources advise us that
the Cincinnati Bengals have selected linebacker Ahmad Brooks in the third round
of the Supplemental Draft.
It figures.
Perhaps Marvin Lewis and the
Bengals should change the name of the third round to the "turd" round,
since they've now used three consecutive picks in round three on guys of
questionable character.
In the 2005 draft, Lewis snagged
receiver Chris Henry, who has since been arrested four times. In April
2006, Lewis took defensive end Frostee Rucker, who has faced multiple
accusations of misconduct with females.
Now, it's Brooks -- who was kicked
off of the Virginia Cavaliers after his junior season. Jason Cole,
formerly of the Miami Herald and now of Yahoo! Sports, reported that
Brooks failed multiple drug tests while in college.
Nice job, Marvin.
POSTED 1:22
p.m. EDT, July 13, 2006
ROUND ONE OVER -- NO ONE PICKED
A league source tells us that no
one was selected in round one of the Supplemental Draft.
POSTED 1:05
p.m. EDT; UPDATED 1:10 p.m. EDT, July 13, 2006
SUPPLEMENTAL DRAFT
UNDERWAY
Here's the order for the 2006
Supplemental Draft, which was scheduled to get underway at 1:00 p.m. EDT.
1. San Francisco
2. Houston
3. Tennessee
4. Green Bay
5. Detroit
6. Baltimore
7. New Orleans
8. Philadelphia
9. Buffalo
10. Arizona
11. Cleveland
12. St. Louis
13. Oakland
14. New York Jets
15. Miami
16. San Diego
17. Kansas City
18. Minnesota
19. Atlanta
20. Dallas
21. Jacksonville
22. Cincinnati
23. Carolina
24. Seattle
25. New York Giants
26. Chicago
27. Tampa Bay
28. Indianapolis
29. Pittsburgh
30. Washington
31. New England
32. Denver
The order is determined via a weighted lottery based on the 2006 draft
order. For each round, teams have ten minutes to decide whether to use a
pick on a player. If two teams or more teams put in a claim on a player in
a given round, the team with the highest priority gets the player.
The player most likely to be
selected is former Virginia linebacker Ahmad Brooks. Since the 49ers have
first priority and are one of the teams believed to be most interested (indeed,
San Fran coach Mike Nolan was the only head coach present for Brooks' Pro Day
workout), a team like the Giants or the Dolphins will have to predict when the
Niners would make a move, and jump on Brooks one round earlier.
Using a pick in the Supplemental
Draft results in a forfeiture of that pick in the April 2007 draft. Also,
the team using a pick in a given round must actually hold the rights to the pick
-- if the pick has already been traded away in a given round by the team, the
team can't use a pick in that round for the Supplemental Draft.
POSTED 7:36
a.m. EDT; UPDATED 8:15 a.m. EDT, July 13, 2006
BEN CLAIMS HE FORGOT HELMET
Although the interview that
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger granted to ESPN's Jim Rome will generate
plenty of attention for his claim that he was "seconds
from death," the most significant aspect of the interview, in our view,
is Roethlisberger's explanation that he forgot to get his helmet from the
basement on the day of the accident.
He says that he sometimes uses a
helmet and sometimes doesn't. "It's nice to be free when you're out riding
a motorcycle," he said.
Roethlisberger also contends that
he's not breaking the law by not wearing a helmet. Apparently, he still
doesn't understand that the law in Pennsylvania requires helmets to be worn
except by riders who have had a license for at least two years or who have
passed an appropriate safety course. He didn't qualify for either
exception (as evidenced by the police citation he received for not wearing a
helmet), and thus he was in violation of the law.
Ben also offered some goofy-ass
logic in comparing his situation to folks who opt for cars over crotch rockets.
"If you don't wear a seat belt every time you ride in a car, should I label you
as someone who doesn't wear a seat belt?"
Well, if I get in an accident
while not wearing a seat belt, yeah, you should. (It's really good to see
he hasn't suffered any apparent drain bamage.)
Roethlisberger also stopped short
of committing never to ride a motorcycle again, but promised to wear a helmet if
he does.
His appearance meshed with our
recent report based on his attendance at the Jerome Bettis wedding over the
weekend. He indeed looks "almost normal." There's blood on the right
side of his right pupil, and his face seemed a little puffy while he was
talking.
Look, we mean the guy no ill will.
We're glad he made it, and we're amazed that he could smash his face into a car
and look so good barely a month after the incident.
But if his first comments on the
subject are any indication, we still think he's a dope.
And if a near-death experience
didn't change him, nothing will.
BEN SHOWS UP AT ESPYS
Ben Roethlisberger also made his
first public appearance on Wednesday night at the ESPY awards.
Per the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,
Roethlisberger walked onto the stage as his team was receiving the ESPY for
"Best Team." He briefly addressed the crowd, expressing far more
contrition than he did during his Jim Rome sit-down.
Moments before Roethlisberger's
appearance, actor Mark Wahlberg (who coincidentally stars in an upcoming movie
produced by ESPN's corporate parent) took a jab at the Steelers signal caller in
unveiling the best team award. "Teams are about rising up together,
not one
individual riding around on his motorcycle in the offseason," Wahlberg
said.
Ouch. That hurts.
But not as bad as taking a
Chrysler to the chin at 35 miles per hour.
SUPPLEMENTAL DRAFT TODAY
The annual Supplemental Draft
unfolds today, with seven players in the mix. The most recognizable
candidate is former Virginia linebacker Ahmad Brooks, who was kicked out of
school following an injury-shortened 2005 season.
Considered by some scouts as one
of the top linebacking prospects in years, the concern is whether Brooks can put
behind him the demons that resulted in his dismissal from the Cavaliers.
As one league source told us, "You don't know whether you're getting Lawrence
Taylor or Lawrence Phillips."
And there continue to be concerns
regarding Brooks' inability during his Pro Day workout to perform some of the
running drills without specific and explicit instruction on how to do so -- even
though he had been working with a trainer to get ready for the session for
weeks.
There also is confusion as to the
number of teams that attended the workout. We initially heard that
everyone but the Bears showed up. Gil Brandt reported that everyone but
the Vikings was there. Brooks' agent said that only 22 teams were present.
We've since confirmed that the Bears weren't there, even though the agent claims
the Bears are interested. We've also confirmed that the Vikings weren't
there either, since they don't think he fits in their system and they are
concerned about his history.
Now, Giants G.M. Ernie Accorsi
says that
only 18 teams were present.
We also continue to hear that
Brooks' former coach at Virginia, Al Groh, isn't doing Brooks any favors by
giving his NFL contacts bad reviews regarding the player. Moreover, Brooks
has had trouble with his weight. Though he got it under control in time
for his Pro Day, the crash course to drop pounds might have left him weaker for
the workout than he should have been.
In the end, though, none of it
will stop him from getting drafted; he's got too much potential to ignore.
Our guess? He'll go in the late fourth or early fifth round. The
most likely candidates are the 49ers, Dolphins, and Giants.
The fun begins at 1:00 p.m. EDT.
Check back for updates as it unfolds.
POSTED
11:40 p.m. EDT, July 12, 2006
DAVIS DUMPS LOCK, HIRES DUNN?
A league source tells us that
49ers tight end Vernon Davis, the sixth overall selection in the draft, could be
making an agent change.
Per the source, the talk in league
circles is that Davis is replacing Ethan Lock with David Dunn.
Remaining in the mix is Zeke
Sandhu, whose name appears on the SRA with Lock. But Sandhu, we're told,
is heading to Dunn's shop, and Davis is going with him.
The move has sparked speculation
that Pats' first-round running back Laurence Maroney and Falcons' second-round
corner Jimmy Williams might follow, since Sandhu is on the SRA for both of them,
too.
Stay tuned.
POSTED
11:12 p.m. EDT, July 12, 2006
PFT PRESEASON POWER RANKINGS:
NO. 21
We can't think of anything
interesting to say before unveiling the next team on our worst-to-first
hierarchy of the 32 NFL teams. So here's the latest entry.
The St. Louis Rams.
Click here for the full
analysis, with fantasy grades.
POSTED 8:31
p.m. EDT; UPDATED 9:10 p.m. EDT, July 12, 2006
GREEN STABBER CHARGED, AT LARGE
Police have charged a man with
first-degree attempted murder in connection with the recent stabbing
of Ravens linebacker Roderick Green.
21-year-old Chase Williams has not
been arrested, and it still at large. Given that he had the stones to
stick a shiv into the stomach of an NFL linebacker, Williams is considered armed
and dangerous.
Williams allegedly stabbed Green
in the parking lot of a bowling alley after the two bumped into each other
inside the building. Williams also is charged with first-degree and
second-degree assault.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT ONE-LINERS
Santurdio has submitted a
written plea of not guilty for disorderly conduct. ("I didn't
hit the bitch," he wrote before being realizing that he'd gotten his criminal
cases confused.)
Falcons G.M. Rick McKay didn't
completely dismiss the possibility of
using a pick in the supplemental draft.
The Browns have signed
KR Josh Cribbs to a
one-year deal, and DB Daven Holly to a two-year deal.
The Texans have signed
fourth-round TE Owen Daniels.
NBC 10 in Philly is
looking for ten fans
to appear in NFL promos.
The Eagles have signed third-round
DE/LB Chris Gocong
to a four-year deal.
Former NFL LB T.J. Turner has been
arrested on "charges
surrounding kidnapping and assault."
The
new
Ben Roethlisberger sort of looks like Robert Barone with facial hair.
Things could get
interesting in Atlanta on Friday night.
Thanks to the reader who pointed
out the
curious choice of advertising on the WTAE-TV web site above the first
pictures of Ben Roethlisberger after his accident . . . on a Suzuki motorcycle.
POSTED 9:39
a.m. EDT, July 12, 2006
SHAUN NOT AN MVP IN HIS
HOMETOWN
At a time when Seahawks running
back Shaun Alexander is basking in the spotlight that comes from being the NFL's
MVP, playing in the Super Bowl, landing a huge offseason payday, and serving as
the cover boy for the soon-to-be-released Madden offering, there's evidence that
reminds us of his reputation for being a selfish, me-first/me-only punk.
On Tuesday, the Cincinnati
Enquirer reported that a YMCA purchased last year by Alexander in his
hometown of Florence, Kentucky
is
in serious disrepair. When Alexander paid $1.8 million for the
property in 2005, he said that he planned to put a community center there.
Alexander conducted a ceremonial groundbreaking at the scene, promising to
install a weight room, an indoor soccer field, and a game room.
"I've been blessed with great
mentors that have taught me a lot about football, life and who I am," said Shaun
Alexander after bidding to buy the center in 2004. "I want to provide the
same thing to the next generation."
Instead, he's provided the next
generation with an eyesore.
"I'm sickened by the condition
they have allowed this place to end up in," Florence mayor Diane Whalen told the
Enquirer. "It's an unfulfilled promise. I hope it's not a broken
promise, but it's pretty mangled."
There are busted windows,
graffiti, and trash. The property was cited on Monday for five code
violations.
Alexander's brother, Durran,
acknowledged the problem: "Unfortunately, we do have some kids who are
skateboarding back there," he said. "We don't have security cameras and
that kind of stuff, so you're always going to get some punk kids or some gangs
that want to go back there. I guess it's their turf now."
Great attitude, Durran. Why
not focus instead on getting your brother to cough up some of that $63 million
contract he received earlier this year to fix the situation?
Indeed, what was Alexander
thinking when he plunked down $1.8 million for the center? That elves
would arrive in the dark of night to take care of the property?
It's no wonder that so many NFL
players have no money after their careers are over; too many of them don't know
how to properly position it during their careers. In this case, it looks
like Alexander realized at some point after his initial seven-figure investment
that it was going to cost him a lot more money going forward, so he's dragging
his feet.
Way to give back, Shaun. Way
to give back.
LENDALE LASHED OUT AT
TUAOLO
Last month, former NFL defensive
lineman Esera Tuaolo was the first openly gay player to speak at the rookie
symposium.
Asked one attendee during Tuaolo's
session, "Is it
offensive if I call you a faggot if you are a faggot?"
Many readers were curious as to
the identity of the person who asked the question. On Tuesday, we received
a tip in this regard, and we then obtained confirmation from a league source.
The question, we're told, was
posed by former USC tailback LenDale White, second-round draft pick of the
Tennessee Titans.
White gained significant notoriety
prior to the draft when he arrived at the USC Pro Day workout out of shape and
unable to run. He didn't perform a 40-yard dash for scouts before April
29, and consequently fell out of the first round.
We suspect that there won't be
much fallout from White's statement. If asked about it by anyone in the
media, he'll surely deny it. Then, others who were in attendance surely
will confirm it -- hopefully at some point on the record.
Heck, it could be a good idea for
White to admit that he said it. It might go a long way toward building up
his fan base in the red states, including the one in which he'll be playing his
home games.
WEDNESDAY MORNING
ONE-LINERS
Cards second-round OL Deuce Lutui
signed a four-year deal on Tuesday.
The Panthers have signed
third-round LB
James Anderson to a three-year deal.
The Patriots have
agreed to terms with sixth-round OL Dan Stevenson.
It's the middle of July, which
means it's time to cue the "Ty
Law is in great shape and is still a great player" media coverage.
FOX analyst Troy Aikman says that
it's
not good for QB Eli Manning's development for TE Jeremy Shockey, WR
Plaxico Burress, and WR Sinorice Moss to not work out with the team in the
offseason. (And at some point blame needs to fall on the front office for
bringing in so many guys who insist on staying in Miami.)
Police have released surveillance
video of Ravens LB
Roderick Green running away from the guy who stabbed him outside of a
Baltimore-area bowling alley. (Why do we have a feeling that this thing
eventually will show up in the team's film room with the "Chariots
of Fire" theme as a soundtrack?)
The Fins
will throw
the ball deep less often under Mike Mularkey in 2006.
Miami coach Nick Saban apparently
has decided not to officially make Dom Capers the defensive coordinator
in order
to limit the amount of his 2006 salary that the Texans won't have to pay.
Talks between the
Fins and
DT Dan Wilkinson continue.
The Dolphins likely
won't be
acquiring another running back before camp.
Training camp in Latrobe
will feature the "Steelers Experience" for fans (which probably won't
include the "Helmetless Motorcycle Mash," the "South Beach Stakeout,"
the
"Baby Mama Beatdown," "Shoot the Linebacker in the Ass," or
"Long-Distance Say-It-Don't-Spray It").
Bookies of the world, take the day
off; it's
the only one you get each year.
POSTED
11:28 p.m. EDT, July 11, 2006
PFT PRESEASON POWER RANKINGS:
NO. 22
It's ironic that, while watching
the MLB All-Star Game, we pounded out the latest summary of the NFL's few-star
teams.
The sad part is that we'd rather
watch football's worst play to a scoreless preseason tie than take in a game
involving baseball's best.
And as the All-Star Game plays out
in Pittsburgh, it's fitting that one of the most bitter rivals of the Steel
City's football team has "earned" the position of the No. 22 franchise in our
preseason peek at the NFL's bottom-to-top.
The Cleveland Browns.
Click here for the full
analysis, with fantasy grades.
POSTED 6:54
p.m. EDT; UPDATED 7:42 p.m. EDT, July 11, 2006
CLARIFYING THE COIN TOSS RULE .
. . AGAIN
We've received a mountain of
e-mails from readers who still insist that an NFL team has the option upon
winning the coin toss to defer the choice of whether to kick or to receive to
the second half. Few readers will take our word for the fact that NFL
rules do not contemplate such a choice.
So since most of our readers won't
listen to us, we took the matter straight to the league office.
And NFL spokesman Greg Aiello
confirms our interpretation of the rule: "There
is no option to defer. . . . This is the tradition of our league and,
although the rule has been discussed, there has been no consensus to change it."
Though the
NCAA recognizes the option to defer, the NFL rule is that the winner of the toss
can choose one of two privileges to start the game -- whether to kick or receive
or which goal to defend. At the start of the second half, the team that
lost the toss gets its choice of the same two privileges.
Thus, in
nearly every game, the team that wins the toss chooses the ball, and the team
that loses the toss chooses which end of the field to defend in the first
quarter. To start the second half, the team that lost the toss chooses the
ball, and the team that won the toss chooses which end of the field to defend in
the third quarter.
We're
convinced that the misunderstanding held by many has its roots in the
long-standing flaw in the Madden video game, which essentially allows the team
that wins the toss to defer receiving the kick until the third quarter.
At least one
reader has argued that the flaw in the Madden game is intentional, which
prompted us to wonder whether the slogan for EA Sports should be changed to "If
it's in the game, it's in the game . . . unless we decide not to put it in the
game."
TUESDAY NIGHT
ONE-LINERS
The Packers have
signed sixth-round S
Tyrone Culver; we've learned that Culver signed a four-year deal with a
$93,500 signing bonus, a fourth-year escalator to the low RFA tender, and a
fourth-year de-escalator of $5,000 for each year in which he doesn't participate
in the offseason workout program.
The
AP is at it again, this time ripping off not only us, but
also ESPN.com and the Philadelphia Daily News.
Seven more years of the most boring sport known to man on FOX.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have
signed a former NFL player who
wasn't a complete turd.
Falcons TE Alge Crumpler had
shoulder surgery in February.
This might just be the
most uninspired article we've ever seen.
Recent reports
paint a bleak picture for Barbaro. (That explains why
the dog has been drooling on the newspaper a lot more than usual.)
World Airways
will provide plane transportation for the Jaguars in 2006 (hopefully,
the Jags do a better job of picking pilots than they do of picking doctors).
Titans rookie LB Terna Nande has
decided not to travel to Nigeria to see his mother and sister before
training camp starts (hey, he hasn't seen them in 17 years -- what's another
seven months?).
POSTED 6:44
a.m. EDT; UPDATED 7:19 a.m. EDT, July 11, 2006
BIG BEN LOOKS ALMOST NORMAL
Our moles who were in attendance
at the wedding of Jerome Bettis in Montego Bay, Jamaica over the weekend tell us
that Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger looks almost normal less than a
month after getting his face slammed into a moving car at 35 miles per hour.
The only visual evidence, we're
told, of the incident is some lingering blood inside one of his eyes and a long
scar in the back of his head, which is visible because his hair was apparently
shaved in the area of the gash. His face otherwise looks the same as it
did prior to the incident.
We're also told that the lingering
injuries didn't stop Big Ben from continuing his "drink like a champion today"
thing during the weekend in Jamaica.
Roethlisberger will make his first
public appearance since the accident this weekend at a golf tournament in Lake
Tahoe.
MARINELLI WAS NEVER
INTERVIEWED BY THE BEARS
As our traffic continues to grow
and an ever-increasing number of NFL fans are finding the site, we're noticing a
curious trend.
More and more of our readers are
willing to tell us that we're wrong. Even when, you know, we're not.
After stating in the PFT Preseason
Power Ranking summary of the Detroit Lions at No. 24 that new head coach Rod
Marinelli hadn't interviewed before 2006 for a gig of that ilk, several readers
insisted that Marinelli interviewed with the Bears a couple of years ago.
So we checked it out, just to make
sure that we weren't wrong.
Marinelli, we've confirmed, was
not interviewed by the Bears, who talked only with Nick Saban, Russ Grimm, Jeff
Tedford, and Mike Nolan in the hiring cycle that resulted in the arrival of
Lovie Smith.
Smith wanted to hire Marinelli to
be the team's defensive coordinator, but the Bucs refused to allow Marinelli,
who was still under contract, to leave. NFL teams are allowed to block
moves by assistant coaches who are under contract, even if those moves would
technically be promotions. Teams cannot prevent an assistant coach under
contract from interviewing for or accepting a head coaching position with
another club.
But please
keep sending the e-mails.
We'd much rather be accused of being wrong and end up being right than the
alternative.
TUESDAY MORNING ONE-LINERS
The Jets have
extended the contract of Patrick Ramsey through 2007; the deal includes
a $1.4 million roster bonus due next March, and a $600,000 salary in 2007, and
he received $250,000 of his 2006 salary as a roster bonus in June.
The Jets have commenced
preliminary talks with LT D'Brickashaw Ferguson.
Police are trying to figure out
who stabbed Roderick Green. (We think it was Maggie Simpson.)
Eagles WR/KR Jeremy Bloom is
working out
with QB Donovan McNabb in Arizona.
Agent Gary Wichard suggests that
Eagles first-round DT Brodrick Bunkley
will be
willing to sign even if the guys in front of him and behind him in the
draft haven't.
Giants DE Michael Strahan says
that his team
has the talent to go to the Super Bowl.
Rams RB Marshall Faulk will make a
decision on whether to play this year
within the next week to 10 days.
The personal trainer of Chiefs RB
Priest Holmes says that the player is "in
limbo" and that he has been working out but "not a lot."
The Broncos are facing the tough
question of
whether to risk the health of starting CB Darrent Williams by
allowing him to return punts and kickoffs.
Agent Major Adams says that
negotiations on the contract of Titans QB Vince Young, No. 3 overall pick in the
draft,
will include the deal signed last year by 49ers QB Alex Smith, who
was the first pick in the draft.
POSTED
11:44 p.m. EDT, July 10, 2006
PFT PRESEASON POWER RANKINGS:
NO. 23
Okay, time to shake things up.
In honor of the fact we're often accused by Packers fans of being Vikings fans,
and that we're often accused by Vikings fans of being assholes, we've decided to
give both demographics a treat by installing in position No. 23 the franchise
that has for most of the past four decades combined above-average performances
on the field with close-but-no-cigar outcomes when it matters most and
all-too-embarrassing off-field incidents.
The Minnesota Vikings.
Click here for the full
analysis, with fantasy grades.
POSTED 8:28
p.m. EDT; LAST UPDATED 10:03 p.m. EDT, July 10, 2006
STEINBERG IN HOT WATER WITH
UNION?
The Los Angeles Times
recently reported that Giants running back/kick returner
Chad Morton has sued agent Leigh Steinberg and an associate for
allegedly defaulting on more than $330,000 in loans.
And based on the regulations
applicable to football agents, Steinberg could have some 'splainin' to do to the
NFLPA.
A league source has alerted us to
Section 3(B)(6) of the regs, which prohibits agents from "[d]irectly or
indirectly borrowing money from any player (whether or not the player is a
client), either by receiving the funds directly from the player or by the player
providing collateral for or agreeing to guarantee a loan to the Contract Advisor
by another party."
In this case, it appears that
Steinberg wasn't "directly" involved in any borrowing, but it could be
determined that he was "indirectly" involved, which would be enough to
constitute a violation.
Per the Times report, David
Kim borrowed the money from Morton while running SLL, which stands for
Steinberg, Lee, and Lou. Kim said that Steinberg didn't know about the
loans.
"I was not involved in the initial
transaction," Steinberg told the Times, "and I only later became aware
that the transactions had occurred. When I did, I attempted to assist Chad
in unraveling the situation."
Steinberg's comments are, in our
view, ambiguous at best, and a parsing of the language that he used arguably
indicates that he was involved and/or had knowledge at some point after
the "initial transaction." And if he had knowledge of the loans and then
didn't take immediate steps to pay the money back, there's a case to be made
that from that point forward he was an active party to the ongoing debt.
Our guess is that the NFLPA will
monitor the litigation closely, and might ultimately take action based upon the
evidence that is developed as the case unfolds. The NFLPA followed a
similar course of conduct in connection with Steinberg's lawsuit against former
colleague David Dunn, initiating disciplinary proceedings against him based in
large part on the testimony introduced at trial.
BLOOM SIGNS WITH EAGLES
Profootballtalk.com has confirmed
that the Eagles have signed fifth-round wide receiver/kick returner Jeremy
Bloom.
Bloom, we've confirmed, signed a
four-year deal with a $172,000 signing bonus and minimum base salaries.
We've also learned some of the
specifics regarding the fourth-year salary escalators. There are two
levels of escalator. Under the lower level, Bloom's fourth-year salary
will match the low RFA tender. The higher level pushes his salary to the
first-round RFA tender.
Bloom, we're told, can hit the
first trigger not only through playing time on offense, but also if he generates
11.1 yards per punt return in any season, 350 total punt return yards in any
season, or two punt returns for touchdowns in any season. The second level
can be achieved if Bloom makes it to the Pro Bowl.
RYAN'S DEAL HAS LOWER SIGNING
BONUS THAN LAST YEAR
Continuing a trend that is the
direct result of a $45,000 increase in the rookie minimum salary but only a five
percent increase in the rookie pool, the deal signed by Texans second-round
draft pick DeMeco Ryans pays out less signing bonus money than the contract
signed by the player drafted in the same spot a year ago.
We've learned that Ryans, the
first pick in round two, will receive a $1.425 million signing bonus on a
four-year deal. Last year, the first pick in round two, 49ers center David
Baas, was paid a $2 million dollar bonus on a five-year deal. Baas also
received a $200,000 roster bonus in 2005 and an $800,000 option bonus in 2006,
pushing the total bonus money to $3 million.
But Ryans' deal makes up the
difference via other devices. Specifically, there's also a $650,000
one-time NLTBE based on minimum playing time and a team qualifier, and there's a
$475,000 NLTBE roster bonus based on minimum playing time and a team qualifier,
if Ryans is on the the Texans' roster the first day of the 2008 league year.
(If the NLTBE incentives aren't reached, Ryans has more than $1.1 million in
guaranteed salary from 2007 through 2009.)
Including the NLTBE money, Ryans'
total bonus is $2.55 million on a four-year deal, which averages out to $637,500
per year. For Baas, the per-year average on his bonus is only $600,000.
Plus, Ryans is committed for one less year.
And Ryans also has more than $1
million in salary guarantees that apply if the NLTBE incentives aren't earned.
Ryans also can earn a 2009 salary
escalator of up to $550,000 based on the number of years in which he
participates in at least 90 percent of the defensive snaps. Baas can pump
up to $2.2 million into his 2009 salary via a complex formula based on playing
time and other qualifiers.
MONDAY NIGHT ONE-LINERS
Hard News Alert, Pt. 1: The
Cardinals have signed sixth-round DT Jon Lewis to a three-year deal with an
$81,200 signing bonus.
Hard News Alert, Pt. 2: The
Patriots have signed seventh-round CB Willie Andrews to a four-year deal with a
$46,500 signing bonus; the fourth-year salary escalates to the low RFA tender
based on minimum play-time and a team qualifier.
Hard News Alert, Pt. 3: The
Panthers have signed seventh-round G Will Montgomery to a three-year deal with a
$33,500 signing bonus.
Hard News Alert, Pt. 4:
Santurdio hasn't been arrested today.
The Eagles have signed
fourth-round G Max Jean-Gilles
to a
four-year deal.
Ravens RB Jamal Lewis showed up at
last month's minicamp
15 pounds above his playing weight.
Dan Snyder's latest investment is
already
turning the corner.
Chiefs RB Priest Holmes is
still waiting for clearance
from doctors to play.
POSTED 8:21
a.m. EDT, July 10, 2006
RAVENS LINEBACKER STABBED
Ravens linebacker Roderick Green
was
stabbed in the stomach early Sunday morning outside of a bowling
alley in the Baltimore area, reports multiple publications including the
Baltimore Sun.
Per the Sun, police
describe the stabbing as the result of a "bumping-into incident," because Green
was walking inside the bowling center and accidentally "bumped into" another
man. (Wow. Never would've figured that one out.) The two
exchanged words, Green left the building, the other man followed, and the other
man stabbed him.
Green then took off running
(since, after all, teammate Ray Lewis and his posse weren't around to pull the
old Crocodile Dundee "that's not a knife . . . this is a knife" routine).
The attacker pursued Green, but even with a hole in his gut Green's football
conditioning allowed him to get away.
Green is hospitalized in stable
condition. We wish him the best and hope that he recovers quickly.
Now that we've gotten that out of
the way, something about this story doesn't sit well with us. We're not
saying it's not true, but we're skeptical.
MONDAY MORNING ONE-LINERS
Baseball fans,
welcome
to Pittsburgh! Home of the Steelers . . .
and the Pirates.
Does the fact that Browns QB
Charlie Frye wasn't a first-round draft pick
make him
more likely to succeed?
Says Colts QB Peyton Manning of
his team's rookies: "A couple of them called me Sir or Mr. Manning,
which makes me feel really, really old." (Hey, at least they
don't call you "Big Ugly White Dude With A Huge Forehead." Yet.)
The partial roof on Texas Stadium
has a
new gleaming coat of white plastic.
"Friday
Night Lights" will become an NBC series this fall. (Given the
schedule this year, the Peacock network should put the show up against Monday
Night Football -- the crappy slate of games that ESPN received for its $1.1
billion could make fiction far more compelling than reality in this regard.)
Kyries Hebert
finally has made it into Canada. (And here's hoping that he stays
there. Permanently.)
Tony Boselli,
triathlete?
POSTED 12:00
a.m. EDT, July 10, 2006
JASON TAYLOR'S WIFE FILES FOR
DIVORCE
In a development that could create
a strange dynamic in the Miami Dolphins' locker room during the 2006 season,
Greg Bedard of the Palm Beach Post reports that the
wife of defensive end Jason Taylor has filed for divorce.
Taylor's wife is also the sister of Dolphins middle linebacker Zach Thomas.
Bedard reports that Taylor has not
responded to his wife's petition for divorce. Citing unnamed sources,
Bedard also reports that the Taylors are attempting to reconcile. The
couple has three young children.
"My wife and I
love each other very much and with our focus being on our children, we would
like to keep this as a personal matter," Jason Taylor said in a statement.
"We appreciate everyone's respect for our privacy."
Thomas and Taylor have been
teammates since 1997. Thomas is under contract through 2008, and Taylor
through 2009.
It's got the potential to be a
huge mess, in our view, if the Taylors can't reconcile and if the proceedings
become contentious.
Think of it this way -- how
awkward would it be this season in the Giants' locker room if Michael Strahan's
estranged wife had a brother on the team?
POSTED 11:30
p.m. EDT, July 9, 2006
PFT PRESEASON POWER RANKINGS:
NO. 24
Slowly but surely, we're getting
there. One by one, the bad teams are fading into the rear-view mirror of
our one-a-day preseason look-see at the NFL's 32 franchises.
But there are more. Oh yes.
There are more.
And let's start with No. 24.
The Detroit Lions.
Click here for the full
analysis, with fantasy grades.
POSTED 1:50
p.m. EDT, July 9, 2006
RICKY ISN'T RICKY ANYMORE
A strange thing has happened
during running back Ricky Williams' one-season sojourn to Canada.
Suddenly, he sucks.
Well, he doesn't necessarily suck.
But his numbers sure do.
On Saturday night, the former
Heisman winner gained only
six yards on nine carries for the Toronto Argonauts in a game against
the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Ricky's time north of the border
was supposed to be nothing short of an exercise in dominance. It's the
CFL, after all. The players are guys who can't make it in the NFL.
Guys who are no match for an elite tailback.
Sure, there are still flashes of
brilliance. In Saturday's loss, Ricky caught a swing pass, delivered a
"vicious" stiff arm, and hurdled a defender.
But on the next play Williams was
stuffed on a 3rd-and-1 rushing attempt, giving the Bombers the ball inside Argo
territory. (Under CFL rules, a team gets three tries to gain ten yards,
not four.)
Is it that Ricky has lost it, or
is his offensive line to blame? "As good a back as he is, he's not
Superman," teammate Dave Costa said, according to the Toronto Star.
"If he has three [defenders] on his legs, he's not going to make yards, and
that's on us."
We still think that a truly great
back can find his way out of -- or through -- tight spots. Barry Sanders
didn't have Hall of Famers blocking for him in Motown, but he still got his
yards.
Through four games, Ricky has
gained only 214 of them.
It makes for an interesting
situation in Miami. Assuming Ricky gets reinstated from his one-year
banishment next year, there might not be much leverage for a trade out of town.
Instead, the Fins might have to keep him for another year, giving him a chance
to prove what he can do in the NFL again, before trying to move him.
SUNDAY AFTERNOON ONE-LINERS
Since the NFL won't print jerseys
with offensive words on the back, what happens if receiver Aaron "Hosack"
makes the final 53 in Minnesota?
We think it's very wise to
save a mandatory minicamp for July; it reduces the number of
consecutive weeks in which players are left to their own devices before the
launch of training camp.
The
Texans have
verbal agreements with fourth-round TE Owen Daniels, sixth-round RB Wali
Lundy, and seventh-round WR David Anderson.
Broncos S John Lynch thinks that
the Denver defense can
be the best in the league.
The Broncos have signed free-agent
LB T.J. Hollowell.
Bucs WR David Boston, one of 14
wideouts currently on the roster,
hopes to still be there come September.
The only thing worse than dealing
with an asshole is dealing with a bunch of
excuses and explanations as to why he's an asshole.
CBS
isn't using
sideline reporters for 2006 regular season games.
The Cards will have no Saturday or
Sunday practices during training camp, and
scrimmages won't be open to the public.
POSTED 11:11
a.m. EDT; LAST UPDATED 12:41 p.m. EDT, July 9, 2006
RANDY, RAIDERS DESTINED FOR
DIVORCE
As various media reports highlight
recent radio remarks
from Raiders receiver Randy Moss regarding his desire in early 2005 to
be traded to the Falcons or the Ravens, the obvious connotation (which
heretofore has been overlooked) is that Oakland wasn't his first choice.
"I want to tell every Atlanta
Falcon and football fan that's listening to this what happened. When I was
getting traded from Minnesota I wanted to come and play for either the Atlanta
Falcons or the Baltimore Ravens," Moss told 790 The Zone in Atlanta.
"I wanted to play with Atlanta
just for the fact of Michael Vick's elusiveness, and I wanted to play with a guy
such as Ray Lewis because he's on defense and I'm on offense. So I did
have dreams and high hopes of being traded to the Atlanta Falcons but the
president and owner of the Atlanta Falcons [Arthur Blank] told me specifically
that he does not want me in Atlanta, there's nothing that I can do to Atlanta
and he wished me the best of luck. He did not think that Randy Moss would
be a good fit in Atlanta."
And we believe that Randy's
decision to speak publicly about his private desires from more than 16 months
ago is part of a broader plan to get out of Oakland, as soon as possible.
Moss is signed through 2008, with
salaries of $8.25 million, $9.75 million, and $11.25 million over the next three
years. He took much of his 2005 salary in the form of a signing bonus in
order to reduce his cap number, but those deferred payments will only push his
cap charge higher over the next three seasons.
In an era when players have
learned that they can force their way out of situations they don't like merely
by complaining long and loud enough, we think Moss is subtly (and perhaps
subconsciously) laying the foundation for an effort to get out of Oakland after
the 2006 season, if the team duplicates its horrific performance from a year
ago.
Under new cap rules, Moss could be
traded to another team after June 1, 2007, with the bonus acceleration due to
his departure being spread equally over 2007 and 2008.
And our guess is that the Raiders
will decide based on the 2006 season whether they want Moss around over the long
haul. If so, they'll likely want to extend his contract in order to reduce
his cap number for the last two seasons of the deal he negotiated in 2001.
But if Moss really is in the
process of orchestrating a path out of the Bay Area, he needs to be careful.
Oakland owner Al Davis won't put up with that kind of stuff, and if Randy pushes
too hard Davis gladly will carry an eight-figure cap number for the right to
force Randy to watch the games from the sidelines.
Meanwhile, Blank's refusal to
embrace Moss or Terrell Owens likely will be interpreted as an intolerance for
turdish wideouts. We're more inclined to consider the Falcons' stance from
the perspective of their overrated quarterback, whose flaws as a passer would be
drawn into sharp focus if receivers of the caliber of Moss or Owens were running
the routes -- and watching the balls skip to them or sail over their heads.
So what will become of all of
this? We used to think Moss was destined to return to Minnesota. We
now think he'll eventually land in Miami, with former teammate Daunte Culpepper
and fellow West Virginian Nick Saban.
But the one thing of which we're
sure is that Moss won't be retiring as a Raider.
THE COIN TOSS RULE
We mentioned on Saturday our
chronic frustration with the flaw in the Madden video game that allows the team
that wins the toss to choose whether to kick or to receive, and that if the team
winning the toss chooses to kick the team winning the toss automatically
receives the kickoff to start the second half.
Several readers, who apparently
believed that the Madden coin toss protocol was an accurate reflection of the
corresponding NFL provision, have asked us to 'splain the rule. In the
general interests of enlightening the football-viewing public, and because there
isn't much else going on right now, we decided to elaborate.
The winner of the coin toss to
start the game secures the right to choose
one of two so-called
"privileges": (1) to receive or to kick; or (2) to select the goal
that the team will defend.
At the outset of the second half,
the team that lost the toss then gets its choice of the two "privileges."
Thus, regardless of what the team
winning the toss chooses at the start of the game, the other team then has the
right to choose whether to kick or receive in the second half. So if the
team that wins the toss chooses to kick, the other team can then choose to
receive in quarter three.
The Madden game doesn't work that
way.
Technically, Madden should offer
the team that wins the toss the option of choosing whether to receive or to
kick, or whether to pick the end of the field to be defended. Then, the
same options should be presented to the other team at the start of the second
half.
As a result, it's rare that an NFL
team that wins the coin toss will opt to do anything other than receive the
kickoff to start the game. When that happens, the team that wins the toss
likely will end up kicking off to start each half.
The biggest example that we can
recall of a deviation from this norm came in the 1993 playoffs, wild card round.
The Vikings were facing the Giants at the Meadowlands, and the wind was howling.
New York won the toss, and elected
to defend the goal from which the wind was whipping. The Giants held
Minnesota to a three-and-out, and then drove the ball into position for a
chip-shot field goal and a 3-0 lead. The Vikings battled back, taking a
10-3 lead into the break, thanks to a 13-yard New York punt into the stiff
breeze that resulted in a wind-aided 52-yard field goal as the half expired.
At the start of the third quarter,
the Vikings -- who had lost the toss -- had the right to choose: receive
the ball, or take the wind. The Vikings chose the ball, and the Giants
then took the wind.
So to start the second half a
Minnesota drive into the wind yielded no first downs, and was followed by a New
York touchdown. After the score, the Giants kicked off again with the
wind, the Vikings couldn't manage a first down again, punted into the wind
again, and New York scored a touchdown again, pushing the score to 17-10.
Final score? 17-10.
Though the Madden coin toss flaw
isn't a huge problem, it's glaring. And the fact that it could be easily
fixed is the thing that drives us batty. It's as if no one at EA has
noticed that, under the rules, the team that wins the toss loses the ability to
receive in the third quarter by choosing to kick in the first.
And John Madden should be aware of
the rule. After all, he called the Giants-Vikings playoff game for CBS.
OUR
POSITION ON PRIVACY
We've gotten plenty of nasty
e-mails from Vikings fans over the past few days in response to our decision to
publicize comments from agent Alvin Keels indicating that his client, Minnesota
receiver Koren Robinson, has returned to alcohol rehab. In the wake of
Keels' statements, portions of the "real" media (such as the AP) have
suggested that reports originating with Robinson's paid representative have been
"over
the top" -- and have given Robinson's version of the events the kind of
"fair and balanced" reporting usually seen only on the FOX News Channel.
Some have even suggested that we
owe Robinson an apology for intruding upon his private efforts to ensure that he
doesn't fall victim to a relapse of alcohol abuse during the 2006 season.
Our response? Robinson is a
public figure who plays a public game on a team that is trying to get public
funding for a new stadium where plenty of members of the general public will
cough up hard-earned money. Thus, Robinson -- and every other guy who
plays or coaches pro football -- has forfeited any notion of privacy, especially
as to matters that could affect their ability to give the members of the paying
public their money's worth.
Besides, we don't recall Robinson
(or anyone else) harping on his privacy interests when he entered rehab in 2005.
Why was it not a big secret then? Because Robinson was a man without a
team, and he needed to get the word out that he was trying to de-turd via detox.
"I
hope teams are still interested in me," Robinson said in 2005. "I
must show I can handle my business. I know I have a problem. This
time, I checked myself in because I wanted to get help."
A year later, Robinson would
prefer that no one talk about his history with the Reverend Al K. Hall.
Not because Koren suddenly has gotten shy about his condition, but because he
knows that his three-year deal with the Vikings is really a one-year contract
with a team option on the next two, and he doesn't want to give the Vikings any
reason to pass on the talented but enigmatic pass catcher.
The more we think about it, the
more ridiculous we think it all is. Robinson's life was an open book when
talking about his alcoholism might help him get paid; now that talking about his
condition could impact his money, he wants his privacy.
It doesn't work that way, Koren.
You're squarely in the public eye -- both when being there works to your
benefit, and when it doesn't.
POSTED 11:51
p.m. EDT, July 8, 2006
PFT PRESEASON POWER RANKINGS:
NO. 25
The team that comes in as the No.
25 franchise on our preseason power rankings likely will appear at the dead end
bottom of many similar lists. And for good reason. The team in
question won't make the playoffs barring a series of plane crashes involving a
dozen or so franchises in its conference, and team in question could very well
finish last in its division.
But configuring the bottom ten NFL
franchises is more art than science, and someone who could end up doing worse in
relation to other non-playoff teams sometimes ends up getting a higher position
just because there's only so many spots for the worst of the worst.
By the time the dust settles on
the NFL season, any one of the teams listed from No. 20 through No. 32 could
indeed be the bottom of the barrel, including the team at No. 25 on our list.
The New York Jets.
Click here
for the full write up and fantasy grades.
POSTED 4:14
p.m. EDT, July 8, 2006
MVP GIVES EA MORE THAN IT
BARGAINED FOR
When EA Sports gives an NFL player
a bunch of money to appear on the cover of the annual Madden video game
offering, EA Sports most likely contemplates that he'll say how great the game
is and how much it has improved over last season's virtually identical model and
how great the game is.
According to a New York Times
report from earlier this week, however, the latest Madden cover boy is doing a
little bit more than toeing the party line. During a recent appearance in
connection with next month's launch of the 2007 version of the Madden franchise,
2005 NFL MVP Shaun Alexander actually offered criticisms.
"Madden
has always been great," Alexander said. "But it's always
been one-on-one, just you and another person, and real
football is a team game.
You should be able to make a team and play together
with your friends. Like if you have 10
friends, you could all play different positions and be
in 10 different houses and play together over the
Internet. Or maybe you just have like five people,
and you control the skill positions and the program
controls the other guys."
Or maybe
you can smile and shut up and cash your check.
Then
again, it's not as if Alexander will scare anyone away
from buying the game; EA Sports secured the exclusive
NFL license once 2K Sports began to close the gap with
its ESPN-affiliated NFL offering. So for an NFL
football game there's nowhere else to go.
Besides,
it's not in EA's interests to pump too many innovations
into the game at any given time. It's better to
roll out the improvements once per year, in order to
create the impression that EA is constantly striving to
make the game just enough better so it's technically
better.
In 2004,
it was the "Hit Stick." In 2005, the goofy
quarterback vision thing. This year, the running
game supposedly gets an enema.
Next, pass
catching will likely be the focus. Then
interceptions. Come 2009, there will be a new,
challenging kicking system. By the time every
different facet of the game has gotten its improvement,
it'll be time to start all over again with a new "Hit
Stick," which for players like Frostee Rucker will
involve certain off-field activities.
By holding
back on a dramatic overhaul of the game, EA will be able
to give the consumer just enough of a reason every year
(apart from the updated rosters) to plunk down another
60 bucks for a product that isn't all that much
different than the product purchased twelve months
earlier.
And that
might be why the EA execs were nervous about Alexander's
comments. Maybe, just maybe, we'll start to figure
out that we're being subjected to a high-tech grifting.
The only
problem is that it won't keep people from buying the
game, year after year after year.
Still,
last year we were offended by the manner in which the
Xbox 360 version of the Madden game was seemingly
slapped together and rushed to market. And it
drives us nuts that EA has never removed the flaw that
permits the team that wins the toss to elect to kick and
then still receive the second half kickoff.
(That's not the rule in a real NFL game.)
So how
will we demonstrate our frustration? By
pre-ordering the 2007 version. Just like we have
every year since the retailers figured out that they
could generate a big pile of interest income by getting
thousands of us to cough up five or ten bucks months
before we actually receive anything in return.
POSTED 10:44
a.m. EDT; UPDATED 11:36 a.m. EDT, July 8, 2006
BENGALS KEPT HEAD IN SAND ON
FROSTEE
In an item recently broadcast on
ESPN's Outside the Lines, the lawyer for the woman who has filed pending
charges of harassment and battery against rookie defensive end Frostee Rucker
said that information regarding the allegations was offered to the Cincinnati
Bengals, but the team declined.
"The Bengals indicated they had
all the information that they needed," said Don Cohn, who represents Joelle
Barchan. "My investigator advised them we had additional information they
did not have that would be extremely important to consider. And the
Bengals said they didn't want it."
We've obtained a copy of the
transcript of the segment, and it was a powerful indictment (in our view) of
both Rucker and the team that spent a third-round draft pick on him.
Barchan told ESPN that Rucker had
gotten violent with her "at least ten times" while they dated. "I always
had bruises, my arms were always in pain. He would pull my hair a lot
really hard. He flicked me in the mouth with his first two fingers."
The incident that prompted charges
filed last month against Rucker occurred in August 2005. "I had bruises .
. . real swollen on the temple of my head," Barchan told ESPN. "Right
under my eye it was red and swollen, kind of bruised. I had a scratch on
my lip. I had a huge scratch on my neck."
It's not the first time Rucker has
faced allegations of misconduct with women. He was accused of rape at age
13, but was acquitted in juvenile court.
Said the alleged victim, Michelle
Cardin, to ESPN, "He started putting his hands down my bathing suit bottoms,
then he started to take them off and I said no. He decided to pull off my
bathing suit bottom. And he forced himself on me. He took both of my
hands and put them above my head. Then he went inside of me.
Afterwards he just pushed me off of him. He started telling me I better
not tell anybody. I pushed him out the door and then I started to shut it
and he yelled don't tell anybody."
Letters submitted regarding
Rucker's athletic promise might have saved him. "They were talking about
how good a football player he was," Cardin said, "his grades and everything, and
how could somebody who was so good at all these things do something like that?"
Rucker's college career began at
Colorado State, where he allegedly raped a female in 2002. She spoke
anonymously to ESPN.
"He had pushed me down on the bed
and just started to get pretty aggressive," she told ESPN. "I had told him
to stop, and he continued to force himself on me. He was just like a
different person. He had a different look in his eyes. And it
frightened me. It definitely made me scared."
After Rucker was arrested for the
incident, another woman claimed that he exposed himself to her in a computer
lab.
Rucker pleaded guilty to a reduced
charge of harassment, and was kicked out of school. USC welcomed him with
open arms.
Both Rucker and USC coach Pete
Carroll declined to be interviewed by ESPN. The Bengals offered their
now-standard response, which should be put on a laminated, wallet-sized card and
given to everyone in the organization for quick and easy reference:
"Though a situation such as
[insert player name here] is clearly of concern to the team, Bengals policy
holds that it is inappropriate to comment on a player's legal matter while it
remains only at the stage of charges being filed. With respect to the
presumed innocence of all persons, any potential comment from the team would
await the player's case being resolved in the courts."
Nicely done, Marvin. As we
recently remarked during a guest spot on a radio show in the Queen City, the
only truly safe place for Cincinnati residents is Paul Brown Stadium during a
Bengals game -- when guys like Rucker and Chris Henry and A.J. Nicholson and
Odell Thurman and Fahu Tahi necessarily will be at a safe distance from the
generally law-abiding public.
SATURDAY MORNING ONE-LINERS
The Texans have signed
second-round LB DeMeco Ryans.
Santurdio's baby mama finally has
realized that if he goes to jail
she won't get no money.
Giants RB/KR Chad Morton has sued
Leigh Steinberg and an associate for
allegedly defaulting on more than $330,000 in loans.
Can Eddie DeBartolo own another
team? "His
only impediment is getting the approval of the other owners," NFL
spokesman Greg Aiello told the Sacramento Bee. ("And," Aiello
likely was thinking, "my only impediment to flying is growing the wings.")
Eight of the Redskins' first 11
training camp practices
will be open to the public.
The little brother of Bucs QB
Chris Simms
might be going to USF, but not USC.
Broncos P Todd Sauerbrun has told
the team that
he plans to appeal his four-game suspension.
If Sauerbrun's appeal isn't
successful, Jason Elam and Paul Ernster
would be candidates to fill in.
After opting against offseason
surgery to repair a dislocated shoulder, Broncos CB Champ Bailey
will continue to wear a harness for games.
The agent for Titans QB Vince
Young
plans to start negotiating his contract soon.
It's already been
10 years since the Packers last won the Super Bowl.
The Packers have signed
sixth-round DT Johnny Jolly.
Jim Reeves of the Fort Worth
Star-Telegram
sums up T.O.'s new book: "Boy (Owens) meets boy (T.O.) and falls
in love. They live happily ever after while making everyone else around
them miserable."
POSTED 9:30
a.m. EDT, July 8, 2006
K-ROB SPEAKING WITH FORKED
TONGUE?
As Vikings receiver Koren Robinson
provides more information to the media regarding his return to alcoholism
treatment nearly a year after first entering rehab, we can't help but wonder
whether Robinson is telling the truth.
In a follow-up article penned by
Judd Zulgad of the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Robinson downplays the
situation. "I'm
not in rehab; it's nothing like that," Robinson said. "I'm taking
prevention classes so I won't have to go back to rehab or won't have a
situation. I just wanted to get away, make sure I'm bulletproof. So
I'm just trying to be proactive. When did it become not cool to be
proactive?
"A class here, a class there," he
said later in the article. "I'm just doing this and that's all. I
wanted to do it on my schedule, but somebody got hold of [this information].
It's not like I goofed up or anything like that. That's not the case.
I'm just trying to be proactive. Plain and simple, end of discussion."
Said Robinson to our new friends
at the Associated Press, "I'm
not in rehab. I'm still doing good. I'm still not drinking.
I'm still working out. I'm still Koren, the cheerful, happy guy you all
saw last year."
If Robinson is telling the truth,
then his first order of business should be to go to his agent's office and kick
him in the ass and/or the groin. Because it was agent Alvin Keels who told
us on Thursday that Robinson is in rehab. In fairness to Keels, he
wasn't being loose-lipped; he merely answered a direct question from us based on
information we'd picked up from one of our sources.
Later on Thursday, after the poop
hit the propeller, Keels confirmed it. "Is
Koren Robinson in rehab or at a rehab facility? Yes," Keels told
Zulgad in an item that ran on Friday.
So Keels said it, twice --
Robinson is in rehab. Now Robinson says, "I'm not in rehab." So
which is it?
Given that Keels presumably is in
position to know the truth and that Robinson has plenty of reasons to conceal
it, we think Robinson is pulling a Fran Foley on this one.
Want more evidence? Keels
specifically told us that Robinson can "leave whenever he wants"; that statement
implies that he's receiving in-patient treatment, and it paints a far different
picture than Robinson's explanation that he's taking "[a] class here, a class
there" (unless Robinson was referring to the geography of the sessions, not the
timing).
And there's more. In
response to Robinson's claim that he hasn't been drinking, a league source tells
us that Robinson was perceived to be partying at the Pro Bowl in Hawaii, and
that on at least one occasion during the postseason paid vacation he was
perceived by others to be "sh-tfaced." (Obviously, we have no way of
knowing with any degree of certainty that Robinson was actually drinking alcohol
while in Honolulu or anywhere else, and we're not reporting that he was.
We're merely relaying the opinions of others based on the things that they saw.
Their opinions could be incorrect, and possibly could have been influenced by
the widespread published accounts of Robinson's chronic struggles with alcohol
before entering rehab in 2005.)
Even if Robinson hasn't had a
relapse (and we truly hope that he hasn't), we don't believe that he has handled
this matter as well as he could have. One league source who has been
monitoring the situation agrees with us.
"That's why no one but the Vikings
wanted the guy," opined the source.
POSTED 12:15
a.m. EDT, July 8, 2006
PFT
PRESEASON POWER RANKINGS: NO. 26
As we
gradually continue to make our way up through the levels of NFL ineptitude
(we've climbed from "piss-poor" to "pathetic" to "there could be hope -- in
a year or two" since last weekend), we're constantly reminded of the fact
that, in an era in which parity supposedly has taken root, there are a lot
of bad teams.
We still need
to find homes for teams like the Lions, the Vikings, the Cardinals, the
Jets, the Browns, and the Rams.
But we can't
justify allowing the No. 26 team to climb any higher on the list.
The Houston
Texans.
Click here
for the full write up and fantasy grades.
POSTED 3:08
p.m. EDT; UPDATED 3:42 p.m. EDT, July 7, 2006
AP SWIPES OUR SAUERBRUN
STORY
We've matured considerably during
nearly five years of covering the NFL on a daily basis. We use swear words
less than we used to. We say "please" and "thank you"
the majority of the time. And we've significantly reduced the number of
profane responses that we dispatch upon receiving negative e-mails (but only
after Keith Olbermann's misadventures in this regard came to light).
With all that said, we're
abso-freaking-lutely livid about an Associated Press report regarding the
four-game suspension of Broncos punter Todd Sauerbrun.
We broke the story on
Thursday. Bill Williamson of the Denver Post confirmed it on
Thursday night.
But instead of picking up
Williamson's story and/or giving either Williamson or us credit for the scoop,
Arnie Stapleton of the Associated Press creates the false impression that
the matter is breaking news on Friday -- and that he's the one who broke it.
Writes Stapleton: "Broncos
punter Todd Sauerbrun faces a monthlong suspension next season after testing
positive for the banned supplement ephedra, a source with knowledge of the
situation said Friday."
Who is the person with knowledge
of the situation? We don't know, but the list of potential culprits
includes anyone who has read our story or Williamson's.
Though we don't pretend or aspire
to be actual journalists, we honor certain basic principles of journalism, such
as giving credit where it's due and not attempting to claim credit -- directly
or indirectly -- for the work product of others.
We wish that we could let this
slide, but it really is a pretty glaring example of things that shouldn't
happen.
FRIDAY AFTERNOON ONE-LINERS
One down, eight to go -- the Bills
have signed seventh-round
OL Terrance Pennington.
Former NFL LB Steve Tovar has been
added to the Dolphins "football
operations staff."
From the "You're Sure To Get
Your Money's Worth" file, the Bills
are giving away tickets to upcoming night practices.
If the Cardinals try to move their
practice facility, they'll
have to pay $6.5 million.
The Seahawks have signed rookie P
Ryan Plackemeier to a four-year,
$1.65 million deal (which sounds pretty damn impressive until you
realize that $1.608 million of the value comes from collectively-bargained
minimum salaries).
Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger will
play next weekend in a charity golf tournament. (To conceal his
facial injuries, he plans to wear KISS makeup. Or a motorcycle helmet.)
POSTED 10:20
a.m. EDT; LAST UPDATED 11:36 a.m. EDT, July 7, 2006
K-ROB SITUATION GETS WEIRDER
Although Vikings receiver Koren
Robinson initially attempted to deny our report (which was based on quotes from
his agent) that the 2005 Pro Bowler had returned to an alcohol treatment
facility, the Minneapolis Star Tribune and the St. Paul Pioneer Press
both confirm, via the agent, that K-Rob is in Re-hab.
Both newspapers talked to Keels
after the story broke. "Is
Koren Robinson in rehab or at a rehab facility? Yes," Keels
told Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune. "Koren sought counseling
to reinforce
his coping skills going into the season," Keels told Sean Jensen of
the Pioneer Press.
As one league insider remarked in
response to the claim that Robinson re-entered treatment despite not having a
current alcohol abuse problem, the notion of getting a "tune up" of
that kind is unusual, at best.
Keels also expressed frustration
regarding the fact that the situation is being publicized. "I don't
understand what the news is," Keels told Jensen. "Out of respect
to Koren, to not blow this thing up is best."
But blew up this thing did, due in
large part to the fact that Keels and K-Rob weren't on the same page.
Though we're not inclined to discourage candor when it comes to matters that we
might like to include in this here site, a league source with experience in
handling situations of this kind told us that Keels' better course of action
would have been to claim when called by us that he didn't know anything about
the matter. This would have given him a chance to advise Robinson that the
story was going to break and to plan a strategy for putting the best spin on it.
Instead, Robinson was caught
completely off guard, so he responded with a Clintonesque denial.
"Everybody has been calling me about this," Robinson told one of the
local television stations. "That's false. I'm trying to get in
contact with my agent. I don't know what's going on."
As one league insider said in
response, "If you don't know what's going on, look at the sign on the
wall. If it says 'Hilton', you're at a hotel. If it says 'Betty Ford
Center,' you're in rehab."
THREE MONTHS AND COUNTING WITH
SPRINT
We need to pause for a moment and
thank Sprint and Nextel for more than three months of advertising on our
site. We're looking forward to a long-term relationship.
One way that our readers can help
make that happen is to explore the
products offered by Sprint and Nextel via the ads on our site, and by
buying a Sprint or Nextel phone through those ads.
And our readers should be grateful
to Sprint and Nextel because, due to their sponsorship of the site, we've been
able to get rid of the pay-per-click ads that some of our readers found to be
annoying. We think that the site looks a lot better without those ads, and
that's a direct result of Sprint and Nextel's faith in the site.
So we ask that you show some faith
in Sprint and Nextel by purchasing their products and services. Thanks to
them, everything on the site is and will remain free -- unlike many of the
"big boy" sites out there that are finding more and more ways to
charge money for their content.
FRIDAY MORNING ONE-LINERS
Browns RB Reuben Droughns might
have to take a break from training camp for an August 21 pre-trial
conference in pending criminal charges resulting from a squabble with his wife.
The Vikings plan
to enter into a long-term extension of their long-term relationship with
Mankato State College, the site of the team's training camp for 41 years.
Great line from Matt Mosley of the
Dallas Morning News regarding the fact that T.O.'s book was released
prematurely by a Wal-Mart in Philly: "Thousands
of readers across the nation expressed shock that Wal-Mart actually sells books."
Lions CB Dre' Bly is optimistic
about the team's chance in 2006; "I
really feel we have the best coaching staff for what we have," Bly
said. (We apparently missed the press release announcing the hiring of the
Father, the Son, and/or the Holy Ghost.)
Broncos RB Cedric Cobbs is third
on the depth chart, and hoping
to climb.
Broncos FB Cecil Sapp ran
with the first team on Thursday, ahead of 2005 starter Kyle Johnson.
Denver WR Javon Walker, who tore
an ACL last September, was
able to fully participate in practice.
Broncos WR Rod Smith isn't happy
that Ashley Lelie isn't returning his calls; "[W]hen I see him, I'm
going to smack him," Smith said.
The Broncos were using
the following rush line for the nickel package on Thursday: Corey
Jackson and Kenard Lang on the outside, Gerard Warren and Elvis Dumervil on the
inside.
POSTED 9:41
a.m. EDT, July 7, 2006
BRONCOS COULD PLAY HARDBALL
WITH LELIE, SAUERBRUN
With receiver Ashley Lelie
skipping out on a mandatory minicamp and punter Todd Sauerbrun facing a
four-game suspension for ephedra, the Denver Broncos might choose to play
hardball with either or both players, and the situations could help to shed
light on key questions regarding the application of the new Collective
Bargaining Agreement language regarding the forfeiture of bonus payments.
In each case, the language of the
player contract will be the starting point. Because more and more
contracts negotiated in and before 2005 contain terms giving teams broad powers
to attempt to recover bonus payments, it's possible if not likely that both
deals include specific provisions requiring money to be paid back in the event
that the player fails or refuses to attend a mandatory activity or is suspended
for violation of the substance abuse or steroid policy.
The next question is whether the
Broncos will be inclined to enforce the terms of the contract. Based on
past examples (e.g., Dale Carter and Eddie Kennison), the Broncos don't
have a track record of treading lightly in this regard.
So then the issue is whether and
to what extent any enforcement efforts are limited by the "Term Sheet"
created by the NFL and the NFLPA as a result of negotiations culminating in a
revised CBA. As to Lelie, the Term Sheet purports to limit signing bonus
forfeitures to 25 percent of the allocation for the year in question. As
to Sauerbrun, the Term Sheet prohibits forfeitures based on violations of the
substance abuse and steroid policies. At last word, the NFL and the union
were negotiating whether and to what extent these new restrictions will apply to
pre-existing deals; the Term Sheet is ambiguous at best on this point.
The bottom line for Lelie and
Sauerbrun is that they could end up facing price tags stiffer than a four-figure
fine for skipping minicamp and the loss of four game checks, respectively.
In Lelie's case, his $3.3 million signing bonus equates to a $660,000 bonus
allocation for 2006. For Sauerbrun, his $1.65 million signing bonus paid
by the Panthers in 2003 translates into a $330,000 allocation this year.
(And as Ricky Williams learned in 2004, the fact that a former team paid the
signing bonus doesn't prevent the current team from trying to recover a big
chunk of it.)
Sauerbrun will lose nearly that
much if his suspension is upheld, in light of his $1.395 million salary.
At a per-game rate of $82,000, the veteran punter will lose $328,000 in base
salary.
In either case, the Broncos will
be required to file a grievance in order to get the ball rolling.
POSTED 10:43
p.m. EDT; UPDATED 11:12 p.m. EDT, July 6, 2006
PFT PRESEASON POWER RANKINGS:
NO. 27
We're tired. Damn tired.
It's been a long day. We've gotten some good scoops at a time when things
are still pretty slow. So we were tempted to pass on doing the latest
Preseason Power Rankings entry until tomorrow.
But then we remembered the
commitment that we made to you, the reader, to post one entry per day through
the month of July and into August 1. Thus, we will persevere despite our
fatigue. We will honor our word despite our malaise.
We will, in other words, phone
this one in.
The San Francisco 49ers.
Click here
for the full write up and fantasy grades.
THURSDAY NIGHT ONE-LINERS
Coach Kevlar isn't happy that Ashley Lelie is blowing off the team's
mandatory minicamp.
Broncos QB Jake Plummer
has been offered a plea deal in connection with his road rage arrest.
(Here's our suggestion -- the charges will be dropped if he admits that it's
pretty gay for a pro football player to drive a Honda Element.)
We agree with most of the
measures that Peter King of SI.com would implement
if he were the Commish for a day.
ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli
apparently is
trying to cultivate a new source in Atlanta.
Mo-Clo has graduated from
armed robber to Hitman.
KSTP is
stealing our
K-Rob scoop without attribution. (Hey, TV foofs -- we've been
ripped off by far more credible journalistic sources than you.)
NFLPA honcho Gene Upshaw
apparently
doesn't intend to exercise the union's right to cancel the new CBA two
years early.
POSTED 9:25
p.m. EDT, July 6, 2006
SECOND-ROUND DEALS GETTING MORE
COMPLICATED
Driven by the reality that the
NFLPA negotiated only a five-percent increase in the rookie salary pool but at
the same time obtained a $45,000 increase in the minimum rookie salaries,
players drafted in round two are making up for the reduced first-year cap number
via devices typically reserved for players drafted in round one.
Specifically, a league source
tells us that the contracts signed by both of the Chicago Bears' second-round
draft picks include a significant one-time payment for achieving minimum playing
time thresholds. In 2005, only two second-round picks had one-time NLTBE
incentives based on playing time, and both were worth less than $100,000 each.
Danieal Manning's contract has a $555,000 one-time NLTBE tied to minimum playing
time, and Devin Hester's deal has a $101,500 one-time NLTBE tied to minimum
playing time.
It's a way to push more money into
the deals without consuming too much of the first-year rookie pool allocation.
And the rookie pool crunch is a very real phenomenon; as more and more contracts
are being negotiated, more and more agents are grumbling about the NFLPA's
failure to secure a higher increase in the rookie pool -- or at a minimum to
apply the five-percent bump above the $45,000 increase in the new rookie
base salary.
Per the source, Manning's deal
breaks down as follows: $820,000 signing bonus, $125,000 2006 roster
bonus, $420,000 option bonus fully guaranteed by future salaries, and minimum
base salaries for 2007, 2008, and 2009.
As to the $555,000 one-time NTLBE,
it will be earned if he participates in 35 percent of the defensive snaps in
2006 or 45 percent in 2007, 2008, or 2009. But the $555,000 payment is
also guaranteed by future base salaries, if he doesn't reach the minimum.
Though Manning's guaranteed pay of
$2.195 million (which includes the first-year base salary) exceeds by 4.9
percent the guaranteed money paid to Cowboys linebacker Kevin Burnett, the
player taken in the same slot a year ago, the bonus money of $1.365 million
pales in comparison to Burnett's $1.8625 million in bonus money.
The difference comes from the
$45,000 increase in salary and the $555,000 one-time NLTBE based on minimum
playing time, which adds another $600,000 to the package.
HESTER'S CONTRACT NUMBERS
A league source tells us that the
contract paid to Bears receiver Devin Hester breaks down as follows: zero
signing bonus; $255,000 roster bonus; $907,500 option bonus (guaranteed by
future salaries); $101,100 one-time NLTBE (guaranteed by future salaries or paid
as workout bonuses in 2008 and 2009); and salaries of $275,000, $360,000,
$445,000, and $530,000.
Total actual value? $2.8736
million. And the increase in guaranteed money over the player drafted in
the same slot in 2005 is 6.48 percent.
"Not sure why
anyone would not see this as a good deal for Hester," said a league source in
response to recent criticism of Hester's contract. "There is a big squeeze this
year on the rookie pool causing many second-rounders to have to agree to accept
one time NLTBE bonuses which are conditioned on play-time. Since Hester
is primarily a specials teams player, he may never achieve the minimum play-time
percentage and therefore he may not earn the NLTBE, so [Eugene] Parker was smart
in going early to secure the best pool number possible under the circumstances,
getting the most guaranteed money possible with a very small amount tied to an
NLTBE performance bonus. But he also protected [the NLTBE bonus] by inserting a
clause that says if the player does not earn this bonus in the first two years,
then that amount will convert to workout bonuses in the last two years, avoiding
the risk that he might not earn it."
POSTED 8:02
p.m. EDT, July 6, 2006
K-ROB DENIES THAT HE'S IN REHAB
There's a strange twist to our
report that Vikings receiver Koren Robinson has returned to an alcohol treatment
center.
Robinson has told KFAN radio in
Minnesota that the report isn't true.
The player's denial creates an
uncomfortable situation with his agent, Alvin Keels, given that Keels admitted
to us earlier in the day that Robinson indeed entered rehab in South Carolina
last month. We called Keels for confirmation after learning of Robinson's
status from a league source.
Our take? Robinson had been
hoping to keep the issue tightly under wraps, and his initial reaction when
pressed on the subject was to deny it.
The only other possible
explanation is that Keels had bad information -- but who other than Robinson's
agent would be in position to know the truth?
POSTED 6:57
p.m. EDT, July 6, 2006
SAUERBRUN SUSPENDED FOR FOUR
GAMES
Two league sources tell us that
Broncos punter Todd Sauerbrun has been suspended by the NFL for four games, for
violation of the league's policy regarding steroids. Sauerbrun, we're
told, tested positive for ephedra.
The NFL began testing for ephedra
after the death of Vikings offensive lineman Korey Stringer. As Mike
Freeman (then of the New York Times) explained in 2003, team lawyers
contended in defending against a wrongful death lawsuit that ephedra
was a factor in Stringer's demise; Stringer's family denied that ephedra
played a role in his passing.
Last year, Sauerbrun was
identified as a recipient of steroids from Dr. James Shortt during Sauerbrun's
stint with the Carolina Panthers. Sauerbrun told the AP in October
2005 that the stigma regarding the steroid issue "won't go away as long as
I'm in the NFL."
An 11-year veteran, Sauerbrun has
punted for the Bears, Chiefs, Panthers, and Broncos. He was elected to the
Pro Bowl in 2002, 2003, and 2004, and he is the punter of the PFT 2006 All-Turd
Team.
It's not known at this point
whether Sauerbrun has exhausted any available appeals, which could delay the
implementation of the suspension.
The other punters on the Broncos'
roster are rookie Jeff Williams of Adams State and Tyler Fredrickson of Cal, who
is listed as a punter and a kicker. Look for the team to add a veteran
punter who'll be able to handle the chores if/when Sauerbrun serves his
four-game sit, and possibly beyond.
POSTED 4:42
p.m. EDT; UPDATED 4:54 p.m. EDT, July 6, 2006
ROBINSON BACK IN REHAB
Vikings receiver Koren Robinson is
back in alcohol rehab, according to his agent, Alvin Keels. Keels tells
Profootballtalk.com that Robinson re-entered treatment in late June.
Robinson is scheduled to be married on July 22.
Keels stressed that Robinson's
decision to resume treatment was voluntary and not the result of any violation
of the league's substance abuse policy or specific recurrence of the problems
that plagued his career with the Seattle Seahawks. Keels said that
Robinson can leave the program at any time.
Keels' comments were made in
response to information we received from a league source indicating that
Robinson was indeed back in rehab. (Operating uncharacteristically like
"real" journalists, we called Keels for confirmation -- and got it.)
In 2005, Robinson spent 30
days in a South Carolina treatment center after being cut by the
Seahawks. He eventually signed with the Vikings, and made the Pro Bowl as
a kick returner. The Vikings signed him to a three-year deal during the
offseason, but we've heard that the deal was structured to protect the team
against any bad behavior.
Regarding alcohol, the NFL may
discipline players under the substance abuse policy only after a conviction or
admitted violation of the law relating to the use of alcohol. The policy
permits imposition of a fine, suspension, or other appropriate discipline.
Testing for alcohol is not conducted, most likely due to the fact that alcohol
metabolizes very quickly. Moreover, there is no commonly used urine test
for the presence of alcohol.
POSTED 10:02
a.m. EDT, July 6, 2006
WAL-MART RELEASED T.O.'S BOOK
EARLY
As it turns out, the Philadelphia
media got its hands on the tell-all-that-apparently-says-nothing-new penned by
T.O. and Jason Rosenhaus not via high-tech sleuthing but because a retailer put
the book on the shelf six days early.
Oops.
A source close to the situation
tells us that the books were sent out in crates marked "Embargo: Do
Not Open Until July 11," which was the planned release date. At one
or more Philadelphia-area Wal-Mart stores, however, the admonition was
disregarded and the book was put on the shelf.
As a result, we're told that
publisher Simon & Schuster has given the green light to sell the book
right now, notwithstanding the July 11 release date.
The contents of the book have been
the hot topic on Philadelphia talk radio. We're planning to swing by the
local bookstore later today to see if we can get our hands on a copy of it
(since we're getting kind of low on toilet paper).
POSTED 12:35
a.m. EDT, July 6, 2006
BEARS THE FIRST TO GET ALL
PICKS SIGNED
The Associated Press
reports that the
Chicago Bears have agreed to terms with second-round draft pick
Danieal Manning and third-rounder Dusty Dvoracek. As a result, the Bears
are the first franchise to have every draft pick under contract.
At a time when many teams are
enjoying the last few days of peace and quiet before the seven-month grind gets
underway, the Bears have been working hard over the past week. In addition
to signing their draft picks, the team also has signed linebacker Hunter
Hillenmeyer and running back Adrian Peterson to contract extensions.
Last year, the Bears got into a
nasty holdout with first-rounder Cedric Benson, who missed much of camp and
consequently didn't have much of an impact in 2005.
EARLY THURSDAY MORNING
ONE-LINERS
The son of Panthers defensive line
coach Sal Sunseri
has
"moved" to Pittsburgh and will play quarterback for Central Catholic
High School, which has produced guys like Dan Marino, Marc Bulger, and Seymour
Butts. (Only Marino and Bulger played NFL football, but how many schools
can claim that they graduated a student named "Seymour Butts"?)
Former NFL QB Henry Burris is
pissed off about something in Canada.
The Cards have signed fifth-round
LB Brandon Johnson and seventh-round Todd Watkins
to three-year deals.
Joe Buck
might host the NFL pregame show on FOX and do play-by-play for
the top game each weekend.
CFL Commissioner Tom Wright is
leaving the job
after the Grey Cup.
Packers rookie CB
Cory Rodgers has
received probation for unlawfully carrying a firearm (next up, the
Commissioner's office, where Rodgers likely will be fined under the Personal Conduct
Policy).
POSTED 9:43
p.m. EDT, July 5, 2006
PFT PRESEASON POWER
RANKINGS: NO. 28
It's day five of our one-by-one preseason look at the 32 NFL
teams
,
and we're thinking that maybe we should have done this differently, like
starting with one from the bottom and then taking one off of the top.
Why, you ask?
Because writing about the
crappy teams is getting old.
And although we're gradually
working our way up the ladder, we feel like the guy who empties out the
septic tank at the apartment building next to a Mexican restaurant.
With a measuring cup. One
scoop at a time.
So we continue slinging the
sludge by singling out the No. 28 team on the PFT Preseason Power Rankings.
The New Orleans Saints.
Click here
for the full write up and fantasy grades.
POSTED 8:22
p.m. EDT, July 5, 2006
MEDIA GETS MITTS ON T.O.'S BOOK
We're hearing reports that several
copies of T.O.'s soon-to-be-released book have made their way into the hands of
the media, and NBC 10 in Philly has advised us that the station has obtained the
tell-all tome
regarding Owens' time with the Eagles.
Per NBC 10, T.O. spends plenty of
time trashing Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb, accusing him of jealousy and
claiming that McNabb blocked Owens' return to the team after a four-game
suspension in 2005.
Owens traces the rift with McNabb
to the team's 27-6 win over the Giants in November 2004, at a time when the
Eagles were well on their way to locking up home-field advantage (again) for the
postseason. According to Owens, McNabb didn't throw the ball to T.O. on a
play that was designed to result in a pass to him. Owens claims he asked
McNabb about the decision when they reconvened in the huddle, and that McNabb
hurled an obscenity at him in response.
"I was getting so much of the
Philadelphia glory that used to be his," Owens said.
Owens also claims that the word in
the locker room is that McNabb gets "nervous and tight" in big games, and that
turnovers by the veteran quarterback kept the team from defeating the Patriots
in Super Bowl XXXIX.
In one respect, it's good for
Owens' current team that the media storm regarding this latest chapter in his
chronic catfight with McNabb will be played out now, several weeks before the
opening of training camp and the not-coincidentally-timed official release date
of the book. Still, there will be distractions-a-plenty once things get
going in Oxnard for the Cowboys, and we fully expect a meltdown by Owens at some
point between now and New Year's Day.
POSTED 7:28
p.m. EDT, July 5, 2006
HESTER DEAL "SCREWS UP" ROUND
TWO
As talk continues to percolate in
league circles regarding the contract signed by second-round wideout Devin
Hester with the Bears, there's a growing concern that other teams will use the
terms secured by Hester's agent, Eugene Parker, to keep the deals signed by
other second-round picks low.
"It will hurt the marketplace,"
said one league source. "Everyone
on the team side will say if Parker can do a flat deal, so can you."
The only plausible explanation for
the deal is that Hester needed the money, and that the team apparently knew it
-- and took advantage of it. There's also speculation that the Bears stuck
it to Parker and his client as retaliation of sorts for last year's protracted
holdout by running back Cedric Benson, another Parker client.
BEARS' FOURTH-ROUNDER TAKES A
STEP BACK
Another reality we've noticed in
pondering the contract recently signed by Bears fourth-round linebacker Jamar
Williams is that his bonus money is actually lower than the bonus paid to
the player taken in the same slot in 2005.
Last year, center Eric Ghiaciuc of
the Bengals was the 120th overall selection. He received a $425,000
signing bonus.
This year, Williams was the 120th
overall choice. Williams got a $415,000 signing bonus.
Naysayers might say that it's not
fair to compare Williams' deal to Ghiaciuc's, since Ghiacuic was the 18th pick
in round four last year and Williams was the 23rd pick in round four this year.
(The difference is due to five additional third-round compensatory picks in
2005.) Though we think that comparing picks based on overall slot is as
apples to apples as it gets, Williams' bonus also compares unfavorably to last
year's 23rd pick in round four, center Jason Brown of the Baltimore Ravens.
Brown received a $309,500 signing
bonus on a three-year deal, which equate to an annual proration of $103,167.
Williams' annual proration on a four-year deal is $103,750.
And although Williams will make up
some of the difference via a rookie minimum salary that bumped from $230,000 to
$275,000, the $40,000 increases in the minimums pushed up the current salaries
of last year's draft picks, too.
Bottom line? The NFLPA's
decision to allow only a five-percent increase in the 2006 rookie pool is going
to screw the mid-to-low round picks, pushing down the value of the deals and
increasing the gulf between the windfall paid to the guys taken at the top of
the draft and the guys who have to scratch and claw for a major payday that
might never come.
POSTED 8:55
a.m. EDT; UPDATED 11:54 a.m. EDT, July 5, 2006
CONFLICTING ACCOUNTS OF WHETHER
UNION IS PUSHING 20 PERCENT JUMP FOR ROOKIES
There's a difference of opinion in
league circles as to whether the NFL Players Association is pressing agents to
finagle a 20 percent increase in guaranteed money in 2006 rookie contracts.
Some league insiders believe that
the union still wants agents to achieve that goal; others disagree.
Said one source: "While
the salary cap jumped 20 percent this year, the rookie pool only went up five
percent with the minimum salaries absorbing most of that alone. That
doesn't leave much room to bump the guarantees."
Under the new CBA, minimum
salaries increased by $40,000 across the board. They'll rise by $10,000
per year under the current deal.
Said another source:
"The NFLPA always wants roughly 20 percent, but this year it may be
tough. The [rookie] cap went up five percent and to get 20 percent will be
hard."
Though, as a source told us,
first-rounders will still get their money, the problems will arise in round two
and lower, where the $40,000 increase in salary pushes up the first-year cap
number much higher than the five-percent bounce in the rookie pool.
Recently, Bears second-round
receiver Devin Hester signed a deal that resulted in only a 2.8 percent increase
in bonus money over the player taken in the same spot a year ago. As one
source pointed out, both players are represented by agent Eugene Parker.
Opined one league source:
"Why [Parker] did it, I don't know. Maybe the kid needed money.
I'll bet that was a major reason."
POSTED 7:08
a.m. EDT, July 5, 2006
THE DAILY BRIGGS AND VASHER
UPDATE
Since there's absolutely nothing
else going on right now in the NFL -- and given that the entire July 4 holiday
stretch has unfolded with no new arrests of current or former players -- we're
going back to the well with the latest information we've obtained regarding
contract squabbles between the Bears and two of their young players who made it
to the Pro Bowl as a byproduct of the team's success in 2005.
As to linebacker Lance Briggs,
we've learned that the contract he turned down earlier in the offseason would
have given him the second-highest spot on the team's pay structure, behind only
linebacker Brian Urlacher. Previously reported as a package with $12.5
million guaranteed and a $5.5 million annual average, the deal would have paid
$18 million over the first three seasons. But that offer, as we understand
it, is currently off of the table, and it's not coming back.
A league source tells us that part
of the concern with Briggs is that he's not sufficiently self-motivated, and
that if he's not working out with the team he puts on weight. Thus, it'll
be interesting to see whether he shows up for training camp of his contract year
in good shape.
Another source told us that the
knock on Briggs coming out of college, and which could still make teams shy away
from him in free agency, was that he hung with a bad crowd and was "average" as
a player who made a lot of tackles but played small at times. Also, a
reader dug up an item indicating that Briggs apparently was
in the thick of the
player-led revolt against former Arizona coach John Mackovic, which
could be regarded as a drawback in some NFL cities.
Regarding cornerback Nathan Vasher,
we've gotten positive feedback from league insiders regarding our Tuesday
analysis of the points that his agent, Mike Sullivan, made in an e-mail sent to
us on Monday. And one source has reminded us that the Bears have not
extended the rookie contract of a player with only two years in the league.
Brian Urlacher, for example, had three seasons under his belt before he received
his extension.
Our guess? If Vasher can
perform in 2006 like he did in 2005, he'll likely end up in line for a long-term
deal.
Meanwhile, the Bears shouldn't be
penalized for finding in round four of the 2004 draft a guy who turned into a
Pro Bowler. As we explained on Tuesday, guys who get drafted earlier, in
hindsight, than they should have don't pay back bonus money. Thus, the
guys who play well despite getting drafted late should merely focus on
performing until the time comes to get paid.
WEDNESDAY MORNING ONE-LINERS
Titans QB Billy Volek jokes that,
given the presence of running backs Chris Brown, Travis Henry, and LenDale
White, the team is getting ready to
install the wishbone in 2006.
LB Junior Seau has
spoken to
the Raiders but might retire.
Former NFL DB Kyries Hebert was
set to join the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, but was
denied entry into Canada due to his history of criminal charges.
Former NFL DT Keith Rucker is
becoming a high school football coach.
POSTED 11:48
p.m. EDT, July 4, 2006
PFT PRESEASON POWER RANKINGS:
NO. 29
Another day in July, another rung
up the ladder for the PFT Preseason Power Rankings.
Good news for today's entry --
you're in the top 30. Bad news -- just barely.
The Oakland Raiders.
Click here
for the full write up and fantasy grades.
POSTED 12:13
p.m. EDT; UPDATED 5:03 p.m. EDT, July 4, 2006
SULLIVAN RESPONDS TO OUR TAKE
ON VASHER
As further evidence of the fact
that people around the league actually read this here e-rag, we've heard from
agent Mike Sullivan in response to our recent critique of Ron Borges' Sunday
morning slurp job of Bears cornerback Nathan Vasher, who is represented by
Sullivan. Among other things, Borges trumpeted Sullivan's contention that
Vasher deserves a raise because there are 130 corners who will make more money
than the 2005 Pro Bowler in the coming campaign. As we explained, however,
the fact that rookie deals routinely provide for payment of minimum salaries in
addition to the slot-driven signing bonus means that Vasher's circumstance is
hardly unusual.
In an e-mail sent to us on Monday
afternoon, Sullivan raised several points. First, he argued that the
four-year term of Vasher's rookie deal was not negotiable. "The Bears
made it clear in their first discussion with me that they were absolutely going
to require a four-year deal for Nate as they did for their fourth-round pick the
year before and as they have done each year since," Sullivan wrote.
"So your contention that 'his agent could have insisted on a three-year
deal' is simply not correct."
Fair enough, but there are other
options. For example, Sullivan could have had Vasher sign the one-year
tender for the rookie minimum in 2004, the one-year tender for the second-year
minimum in 2005, and the one-year tender for the third-year minimum in
2006. Under this approach, Vasher would have been eligible for restricted
free agency in March 2007, and would have made back all of the signing bonus
that he wouldn't have gotten in 2004 and more, even if the Bears had tendered
him at only the first-round level and no one else made him a long-term offer.
Of course, this approach would
have required Vasher to sacrifice his signing bonus -- and to assume 100 percent
of the risk that he'd suck or get hurt (see Guss Scott).
Also, and as one league insider
reminded us, Vasher signed his "four years or else" deal in May 2004,
more than two months before training camp opened. (We confirmed this via a
Google search that led
right to our own archives.) Said the source, "Why not at
least fight until June or July? By capitulating in May, how hard did he
really fight for the [three-year deal]? Probably the kid needed money and
[Sullivan] wouldn't loan it to him."
Second, Sullivan explained that
Vasher isn't trying to force a long-term deal, and Sullivan explained that he
has made a proposal for a one-year extension. The extension wouldn't
change the salaries in years three or four of Vasher's current deal, but the
extra money to be paid in 2008 would move his average to No. 44 on the
cornerback pay scale.
Said a league source in response,
"He's still forgetting about the $97,500 from the signing bonus that
applies to this year and next year." (He's also forgetting about the
Performance Based Pay system, which funnels extra money to key contributors who
aren't being highly compensated.) "Besides," said the source,
"why would the Bears want to do a one-year extension? They already
have the right to do so when the time comes. It's called the franchise
tag."
Third, Sullivan acknowledged that
"it takes extraordinary accomplishments to justify opening a contract up
with two years remaining." But Sullivan believes that Vasher
qualifies. "Since the 2000 draft, Nate is the only fourth-round pick
to make the Pro Bowl on the original ballot. That is out of 217
fourth-round draft picks and that includes each player's entire career to this
point." Sullivan also pointed out that Vasher is only the third
position player since 2000 not selected on the first day of the draft to make
the Pro Bowl on the original ballot in his first or second season. The
other two? Tom Brady and Antonio Gates. "There is a lot of
similarity between Gates and Nate," Sullivan wrote, "both in terms of
team and individual performance."
Others around the league
disagree. "Comparing him to Gates? Come on," said one
league insider. "Gates is an impact player who led the league in
receptions. Just because Vasher makes the Pro Bowl does not make him a
great player. Also, [Vasher] is a product of the best defense in the NFC,
at a time when there are few other high-level cornerbacks in the
conference."
And regardless of what Sullivan,
Borges, or anyone else thinks, Vasher's situation is a direct result of a system
that ties a player's income over the first phase of his career directly to the
spot at which he was drafted, regardless of how he later performs.
"Rookie deals are rookie deals," said another league source.
"When a player sucks, the player doesn't give back his bonus money.
Sure, the team can cut the player, but the player still keeps the signing
bonus. The agents and players forget about the signing bonus, but that's
where much of the money comes from. The base salaries [for the rookie
deals] are always low."
So what can Vasher do? Not
much. He's signed for the next two years, and he likely would be
jeopardizing $195,000 in paid but unearned bonus money if he breaches his
contract by holding out.
Is it fair to Vasher?
No. But under the current system fairness doesn't matter. If it did,
guys like Ryan Leaf and Akili Smith and Johnathan Sullivan and Joey Harrington
and David Terrell would be required to surrender most if not all of their
signing bonuses.
TUESDAY AFTERNOON ONE-LINERS
Redskins S Sean Taylor has
been sued by the guy he allegedly beat up in June 2005; Taylor pleaded
no contest to misdemeanor assault charges arising from the incident in order to
avoid more serious charges that he pulled a gun on three people at or about the
same time.
The father of former Vikings
tackle Korey Stringer has
died at age 57; nearly five years ago Stringer succumbed to heat
exhaustion after a training camp practice.
Cowboys receivers coach Todd Haley
talks about the time that the
Tuna gave him a "love tap."
Former NFL QB Jim Miller will
handle color commentary for
Michigan State radio broadcasts.
Since it's kind of slow, let's
pause for a moment to enjoy video of Star
Jones taking a football to the face.
POSTED 11:21
a.m. EDT, July 4, 2006
BEAR MARKET EXPECTED FOR BRIGGS
Regarding the ongoing contract
squabble between the Bears and linebacker Lance Briggs, a league source believes
that one of the reasons for the team's decision to be patient regarding an
extension traces to Briggs' pre-draft reputation.
Briggs was selected by the Bears
in the third round of the 2003 draft. Some teams, we're told, had removed
Briggs from their boards, and there was an expectation that he'd be selected in
the latter portion of day two, in which rounds four through seven unfold.
Though we can't find any hard evidence that would qualify him for membership on
the All-Turd Team, the source says that multiple teams regarded Briggs as a
"bad dude" coming out of Arizona.
There's also a recognition in
league circles that Briggs is benefiting from the "Tampa 2" defensive
system that coach Lovie Smith installed two years ago.
As a result, our source thinks
that the Bears are betting on a low financial demand for Briggs if/when he hits
the open market.
Meanwhile, Briggs' decision to
turn down a deal that reportedly included $12 million in guarantees and a $5.5
million annual average means that he now bears the risk of having his value
dramatically reduced by a catastrophic injury in 2006. In this regard,
Briggs might want to have a chat with Ian Gold, who lost his shot at a huge
payday when his ACL went kerflooey in October of his contract year.
POSTED 9:40
p.m. EDT, July 3, 2006
PFT PRESEASON POWER RANKINGS:
NUMBER 30
Well, we've pissed off plenty of
readers in Western New York and all reaches of Wisconsin with the first two
entries in our preseason power rankings.
So to whose sh-t list will the
initials P, F, and T next be added?
Well, we were torn. Until,
that is, we received an e-mail from a reader making the case that the Tennessee
Titans shouldn't be listed at No. 30. He actually convinced us.
So we now give you the Number 30
team . . . .
The Tennessee Titans.
Click here
for the full write up and fantasy grades.
POSTED 4:40
p.m. EDT, July 3, 2006
HESTER'S DEAL NOT MUCH BETTER
THAN LAST YEAR'S NO. 57
The Chicago Sun-Times
reports that the four-year contract signed by receiver Devin Hester with the
Bears
pays a signing bonus of $1.25 million and has a total value of $2.86 million.
Though the across-the-board
$40,000 increase in annual minimum salaries and the $10,000 annual bump in
minimums that will occur moving forward automatically translates to more coin
for Hester than Jets corner Justin Miller, who was drafted in the same spot a
year ago, Hester's bonus money represents an improvement of only 2.8 percent
over the bonus money received by Miller.
Last year, Miller received as the
57th overall pick $1.215 million, in the form of a $675,000 signing bonus, a
$132,000 roster bonus, and a $408,000 option bonus that was fully guaranteed by
future base salaries.
So at a time when the NFLPA is
supposedly pressing agents to get a 20 percent increase in guaranteed money for
the rookie draft picks, the reality -- at least in Hester's case -- is a lot
lower.
MONDAY AFTERNOON ONE-LINERS
Tim Couch's brother thinks that
the former No. 1 overall pick in the draft
will make one more effort to return to the NFL.
The Fins are
pumping $250 million into
their stadium.
Lynn Swann the politician is faced
with something Lynn Swann the pro football player rarely experienced --
playing from behind.
A horse that Panthers QB Jake
Delhomme bought for $6,700
won a race worth
$150,000.
Reggie Bush's strategy for making
more money by giving money away
continues to gain momentum.
Panthers FB Brad Hoover is working
out while
wearing a 16-pound vest.
POSTED 3:02
p.m. EDT, July 3, 2006
NFL STILL NOT READY FOR OPENLY
GAY PLAYER
Although the NFL opted to invite
former player Esera Tuaolo to speak at the recently-conducted rookie symposium,
don't expect the mainstream pro football homophobes to soften their stance as to
whether openly gay players will be welcomed with open arms into the cramped
quarters where large men routinely walked around in various stages of undress.
"If you are gay, you are getting
ostracized," said a league source with knowledge of the current dynamics of NFL
locker rooms.
As to Tuaolo's desire to follow
his unprecedented session at the rookie symposium with visits to teams, it's a
request that is likely to fall on deaf ears.
"The players want no part of
that," said the source.
Look, we're not saying that we
approve of overt homophobia in pro sports. But it is, as the cliche' goes,
what it is. Most of the players are young, full of testosterone (and HGH),
and brazenly intolerant of any man who might be inclined to doing something that
they regard as decidedly unmanly with another man. And for every guy who
realizes that whatever a grown man does behind closed doors with a consenting
adult (female, male, or Dante Aligheri) is his own business, there will be
another block-headed kid who fears that homosexuality could be as contagious as
a deep yawn.
So we think it's a good idea for
the league to try at first to develop a sense of tolerance among the guys who
are just getting started. But Tuaolo needs to realize that he's not going
to win this battle overnight. It will take time, and victory will never be
complete. Even if he continues to speak at the rookie symposium for the
next 30 years, there will always be guys who'll say things like, "Is your name
Polynesian for 'Me Likey Dudes'?"
POSTED 2:34
p.m. EDT, July 3, 2006
OTHER CANDIDATES FOR CAROLINA
GIG IDENTIFIED
A league source has informed us of
the other candidates for the front-office job recently filled by Don Gregory in
Carolina. Gregory was hired last week to serve as the Panthers' director
of pro scouting, replacing Tony Softli, the Rams' new V.P./Player Personnel.
Gregory beat out the following six
guys -- former Texans director of pro scouting Chuck Banker, Falcons senior
personnel executive Billy Devaney, Colts director of college scouting Mike
Butler, and current Panthers scouts Jeff Morrow, Brian Adams, and Bucky Brooks.
Devaney previously served as
player personnel director with the Chargers for 11 years, where he worked with
Panthers G.M. Marty Hurney. Devaney worked for CBS in 2004 and 2005 before
joining the Falcons in early 2006.
POSTED 11:08
a.m. EDT, July 3, 2006
PLAYERS' LAWYER NEEDS TO SHUT
UP
One of the common themes we're
hearing in response to Friday's ill-advised press conference conducted by the
players suing the NFL and the NFLPA for failing to properly check out an
investment advisor now under indictment is that the players' lawyer needs to
shut the hell up.
"You don't want to put guys like
this in front of a jury,
because they
are going to cream the [league]," said the lawyer during a Friday media
session, which also included former Broncos safety Steve Atwater bemoaning the
fact that his family would have to cut down on the number of vacations to
Cancun, Mexico as a result of the investment losses due to the alleged
negligence of the league and the players union.
The lawyer comes off as an
amateur, in our view, both in his choice of words and in his failure to
understand what the NFL's game plan will be. Before the players can even
get their case to a jury, they'll have to convince the judge that the NFL
assumed a legal duty to the players to uncover any possible red flags when
responding to a request for information regarding the advisor in question.
So look for the NFL not to cower,
but to dispatch a team of high-priced, highly-skilled lawyers to aggressively
work up the case, and to then present to the court a compelling argument --
complete with citations to admissions made by the players during deposition
testimony -- in support of the proposition that the league had no obligation to
conduct a background check regarding financial advisors whom the players might
use.
The players' far better argument,
in our view, is against the NFLPA, which limits the universe of potential
financial advisors via a registration system. At the "Introduction" to the
regulations applicable to financial advisors, the NFLPA states that "[b]ackground
checks and due diligence will be performed to ensure that financial advisors
meet our eligibility standards," and promises that "NFL players will have access
to a diverse group of qualified, pre-selected financial advisors."
The regs require any interested
financial advisor to apply, to pay a fee, to demonstrate sufficient
qualification, and to have appropriate insurance.
So while some might argue that
"registration" is not "certification," the fact is that the NFLPA has limited
the number of financial advisors with whom its membership can deal. Since
the NFLPA has likewise undertaken an obligation to provide "qualified" advisors
and to perform "[b]ackground checks and due diligence," it seems to us (on the
surface at least) that the NFLPA has assumed a legal duty to act with reasonable
prudence in determining whether the applicants are fit to serve as financial
advisors for the rank-and-file.
The question then will become
whether the NFLPA took reasonable steps to determine whether the advisor in
question wasn't fit to handle the money of the seven current and former players.
And the key word is "reasonable." The NFLPA isn't required to search the
ends of the earth for dirt on these guys, but the NFLPA is required to take
reasonably prudent efforts to uncover information that would have prevented the
advisor from securing registration.
It's a complex, fact-driven
analysis, and it can be resolved only by asking a jury to ask itself whether the
actions taken were sufficient. And since juries are influenced by all
kinds of factors (such as the crocodile tears of a guy who can't go to Cancun
five times a year and the loudmouthed lawyer who promises to "cream" the other
side), the folks representing these players need to pull the plug on the press
conferences and focus instead on putting together the kind of case against the
union that will make a jury more likely to view the players as victims of
institutional incompetence -- not lazy rich guys who are trying to blame someone
else because they made a bad investment deal.
POSTED 9:06
p.m. EDT, July 2, 2006
PFT PRESEASON POWER RANKINGS:
NUMBER 31
On Saturday, we identified the
team that enters the 2006 season from the lowest spot on the NFL's ladder -- the
Buffalo Bills.
But who's the team in most danger
to assume the basement? We give you Number 31 . . . .
The Green Bay Packers.
Click here
for the full write up and fantasy grades.
POSTED 2:29
p.m. EDT; LAST UPDATED 9:06 p.m. EDT, July 2, 2006
BEARS DON'T PLAN TO BUDGE ON
BRIGGS?
The prevailing theory in league
circles is that the Chicago Bears have decided to let linebacker Lance Briggs
become an unrestricted free agent and attempt to finagle on the open market a
better deal than the offer averaging $5.5 million per year with $12 million in
guaranteed money that he rejected earlier this year.
Briggs, who by some accounts wants
more money than Brian Urlacher got from the team, is scheduled to earn $721,600
in 2006.
Does he deserve that kind of
money? Hell no, one league insider told us. For starters, an outside
linebacker who wants to be paid among the elite defenders in the league needs to
be able to get to the quarterback on a consistent basis.
Briggs has 2.5 sacks. For
his entire career. (Editor's note: As several
readers have pointed out to us that, in a Cover 2 system, the weakside
linebacker isn't expected to make a lot of sacks. Indeed, Briggs'
early-career numbers compare favorably to those of Bucs linebacker Derrick
Brooks. With all that said, the Bears are still likely inclined to let
Briggs see if he can get paid like Brooks on the open market.)
Another theory that is gaining
popularity on the NFL grapevine is a simple litmus test based on name
recognition. Or, as the case may be, number recognition.
When considering whether a guy
deserves a big-money contract, the first question to ask is whether folks
outside the organization automatically know his jersey number.
Peyton Manning, 18. Tom
Brady, 12. Ray Lewis, 52. Brian Urlacher, 54.
Lance Briggs? Somewhere
between 50 and 59. But not 54.
(Actually, Briggs wears No. 55.
We had to look it up.)
VASHER DOESN'T MERIT BIG MONEY,
EITHER
Applying the same rule to Bears
cornerback Nathan Vasher, he's still got a year or two before he's ready to get
paid like he wants to get paid.
Some disagree. Ron Borges of
the Boston Globe, for example,
thinks that the third-year corner deserves a raise, since as Vasher's
agent argues there are 130 cornerbacks in football scheduled to earn more than
Vasher's base salary of $425,000 this year. But that's because Vasher's
rookie contract pays him the minimum salary for 2006.
Vasher is a third-year guy, so he
gets $425,000. Thus, any cornerback with four or more years of NFL
service will make more than Vasher this year, regardless of relative skill.
Borges also ignores (intentionally
or otherwise) the fact that Vasher received a $390,000 signing bonus when he
inked (without gun to his head or knife to his nuts) a four-year contract in
2004. Since a signing bonus is advance compensation for future services,
and given the league's cap rules regarding bonus allocation, Vasher is actually
making $487,500 in 2006 -- and he's had $97,500 of it in his pockets for two
years.
In determining whether the Bears
are treating Vasher fairly, keep this in mind. His agent, who gets slurped
by Borges for (insert "wow" here) pulling up a list of 2006 base salaries for
corners and seeing where his client's name appears on it, could have insisted on
a three-year rookie deal, which would have resulted in a lower signing bonus but
a quicker path to the next payday.
Though Borges also points out that
Vasher made the Pro Bowl last year, the reality is that the 2005 Bears found
themselves in a crappy division in a conference currently devoid of former
big-time cover guys. Throw in Vasher's high-profile 108-yard return of a
missed field goal, and he's got more than enough name recognition to get to
Honolulu.
Even if no one outside of Chicago
knows his jersey number.
(It's 31, by the way. We
looked it up.)
SUNDAY AFTERNOON ONE-LINERS
The Bears have signed
second-round WR Devin Hester.
Pro sports leagues are
trying to curb domestic violence. (We use the "serenity now"
program.)
There's
still no indication that the Vikings will increase Brad Johnson's
$1.2 million salary.
When we see
"ex-NFL player" and "wiener-eating" in the same story, William
"Refrigerator" Perry is no longer the first name that comes to mind.
POSTED 9:44
a.m. EDT, July 2, 2006
NO ARRESTS YET THIS WEEKEND
With most NFL types enjoying their
last few days away from the game before the grind of a new season begins, we
find it noteworthy that there have been no arrests of any NFL players through
the first two nights of the Fourth of July weekend.
At least none that we know about.
Arrests have been a common
occurrence for NFL players of late. Last week, Titans rookie Cortland
Finnegan was busted for DUI and police in Georgia arrested Pats defensive tackle
Johnathan Sullivan on multiple charges.
The week before that, Steelers
receiver Santurdio was arrested for the second time in three weeks. For
Bengals receiver Chris Henry, he had two arrests in the month of June.
Most factories have signs that
display the number of days that have passed since a lost-time accident; maybe
the NFL should do the same when it comes to brushes with the law.
We're not kidding. Since the
Personal Conduct Policy isn't doing much to deter bad behavior, the league
should come up with some type of an incentive to keep players from putting
themselves in positions that could result in an arrest. Companies throw
pizza parties or raffle off televisions if workers can make it through a certain
number of weeks without losing a piggy to the meat grinder. ("No, that's
not gristle in your burger -- it's a toenail.") Though there might be
issues regarding the CBA and the salary cap that would need to be addressed, we
think that offering free stuff to all of the players on the roster if everyone
on the team can make it through a set period of time without anything more than
a speeding ticket could go a long way toward creating the kind of peer pressure
that will make guys think twice about doing things for which they can get
cuffed.
Of course, the reward would have
to be fairly significant, which in turn would make the undertaking relatively
pricey in circumstances where the players manage to reach the lofty goal of
continuously abiding by the law. But if the end result is less negative
P.R. for the NFL, we think it's money well spent.
Then again, merely having such a
plan in place would risk bad P.R. for the league, since it would be an
acknowledgement that the show Playmakers wasn't so far-fetched after all.
But we believe that, over the long haul, anything that might cut down on the
number of players who are embarrassing themselves, their families, their teams,
and the league is worth a shot.
SUNDAY MORNING ONE-LINERS
Was the intersection at which Big
Ben's bike wreck occurred
part of the
problem?
If Reggie Bush is "Jesus
in Cleats," then Chad Johnson is "Moses
with a Mohawk."
Finally, we're not the only ones
raising the point that NFL's labor peace
might be short-lived.
Titans CB Cortland Finnegan has
hired the same lawyer who helped Steve McNair and Tank Williams with
their unfortunate swig-and-steer episodes.
Former Steelers RB John Henry
Johnson gets a
pathetic NFL pension of $1,600 a month; the Baltimore Sun
takes a look at
the crappy benefits available to the aging pioneers of the sport.
It's July, and
Junior Seau still hasn't gotten any offers.
Seahawks QB
Matt Hasselbeck isn't worried that no Super Bowl loser since the 1999
Titans returned to the playoffs the next year: "Who were those teams? I
don't even know. To heck with those guys. We're not them."
(More importantly for the Lombardi-hungry 'Hawks, the PFT research team tells us
the last team to win the Super Bowl the year after losing it was the 1972
Dolphins.)
Warren Sapp says that Keyshawn
Johnson
never once said "my bad" in their four years on the same team.
(Keyshawn likely also never said, "Warren, I think your boobs have gotten
smaller.")
More on the moron who
used the longer version of Ozzie Guillen's slur of choice at the
rookie symposium.
Reggie Bush thinks that the rookie
symposium should be conducted
right after the draft. (In your case, Reg, it would have been a
good idea to attend the thing before the draft. By about a year.
Or two.)
Packers G.M.
Ted Thompson likes The Simpsons.
NFL referee Bernie Kukar is
considering retirement.
There's
no
limit on the number of letters that can appear on the back of an NFL
jersey (which means that the dream is still alive for 14-year-old Bobby
Wolfeschlegelsteinhausenbergerdorff.)
QB Tim Couch has
undergone
another shoulder surgery and won't play football in 2006. (Editor's
note: Or 2007. Or 2008. Or 2009. Or 2010.
Or 2011. Or . . . hell, you get the idea.)
Former NFL wideout and
front-office exec
Dwight Clark is involved with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. (The
group is trying to figure out a way to handle a kid in Cleveland's wish that
Clark "hadn't so thoroughly f--ked up the Browns.")
OutKast video director Bryan
Barber
will put together commercials for the NFL Network's new show, NFL
Replay; the spots will feature several players from the "U", including
Clinton Portis (who hopefully won't be singing that
Eastern Motors jingle).
Former Bills QB Jim Kelly
doesn't know who'll be the team's starter this year.
Bucs CB Ronde Barber
isn't talking about his contract, which expires after the 2006 season.
POSTED 7:40
p.m. EDT, July 1, 2006
PFT PRESEASON POWER RANKINGS:
NUMBER 32
Like many football publications,
we've compiled a list of preseason power rankings. Unlike most of the
others who rank the teams from No. 1 through No. 32, we've decided to milk this
thing like a cow with three udders.
We'll identify one team per day
for the next 32, and we'll be doing more than just naming names. We're
also taking a look at each team's offseason developments and any key personnel
issues that they'll face in 2006. Then, we'll grade each of the skill
position players, the defense generally, and the kicker for fantasy purposes, in
anticipation of a more comprehensive fantasy preview that will come in August.
Without further adieu, here's
number 32.
The Buffalo Bills.
Click here
for the full write up and fantasy grades.
POSTED 1:31
p.m. EDT; UPDATED 2:19 p.m. EDT, July 1, 2006
BEN WON'T USE SPECIAL HELMET OR
FACEMASK
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
reports that Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger
won't be wearing
any special helmet or facemask when he returns from serious facial
injuries suffered in a motorcycle accident on June 12.
Although the Post-Gazette
also reports that Roethlisberger is healing faster than expected from a
potpourri of broken bones, Coach Chin is committed to holding Ben out until he's
able to withstand hits to his head.
And he can expect to get them.
Plenty of them. Defensive linemen hope to inflict as much pain as possible
on the opposing quarterback, possibly in the hopes that they can knock him out
of the game. Or end his life. Usually, the shots come low, to the
legs. This year, Big Ben can expect to take his hits high, 15-yard
penalties be damned.
So it's wise to keep him out of
live action until he's fully healed and, more importantly, mentally able to
stand in the pocket and take whatever might come his way.
The recovery continues next week,
when Roethlisberger will try to throw some passes for the first time since the
incident.
SATURDAY AFTERNOON ONE-LINERS
The Bears have
signed another
linebacker not named "Lance" or "Briggs."
The lawyer for the seven players
suing the NFL and NFLPA is tempting fate: "You don't want to put guys like
this in front of a jury,
because they
are going to cream the [league]." ("Cream"? Dude, we're
impressed that you have a law degree given that you're only eight years old.)
RB Ricky Williams gained
97 yards on 18
carries for the Argos.
Former Bears WR John Capel
received a two-year suspension from track's world governing body
after testing positive for marijuana.
Mooch's gig with NFL Network includes Sundays and Mondays in the
Total Access studio and on-site work at the location of the eight
regular-season games the network will carry.
Bills QB J.P. Losman is
taking
pointers from Ron Jaworski.
The Broncos want to
put more pressure on the quarterback. (They've already
succeeded in doing so with their own.)
A
bill has been introduced to repeal Pennsylvania's helmet-optional
law.
POSTED 11:06
a.m. EDT, July 1, 2006
WHISPERS OF REVERSE
DISCRIMINATION CONTINUE
In the wake of the recent hiring
of Tony Softli by the Rams and Don Gregory by the Panthers, there continue to be
whispers in league circles that teams are more willing to grant permission to
African-American front-office candidates than they are for white candidates.
Under NFL rules, the only
promotion in a new city that a team cannot block is a promotion that gives the
employee "final say" authority over the roster, the draft, and/or the coach.
For any promotion short of one in which "final say" is involved, teams can block
front-office employees who are currently under contract.
Some league insiders are troubled
by the fact that white front-office employees have been barred from non-"final
say" promotions. Most recently, Patriots exec Tom Dimitroff (who is white)
was refused permission to interview for the Rams' V.P./Player Personnel gig,
which ultimately went to Softli.
Meanwhile, guys like Softli,
Gregory, and former Broncos assistant G.M. Rick Smith (all of whom are
African-American) received permission to leave their former teams for jobs that
did not entail "final say" authority in a new city.
But other league insiders dispute
the notion that teams are applying a double standard when deciding who gets
permission and who doesn't. In Softli's case, for example, the strong
thinking is that he got permission to leave not so that the Panthers could curry
favor with the Fritz Pollard Alliance, but because the team was ready to see him
go after he had spent two years or more scampering for a bigger gig elsewhere.
Also, it's our understanding that
the search resulting in the hiring of Gregory to replace Softli included at
least one white scout from another team who received permission to interview for
the job, even though he was still under contract.
But regardless of whether
African-American candidates are or are not receiving preferential treatment when
it comes to getting permission under circumstances where permission can be
denied, the human-nature reality of the situation is that the NFL's efforts to
place more minorities into high-profile positions will prompt the guys who feel
they're getting the short end of the stick to say so privately.
AHMAD'S AGENT HUFFS AND PUFFS
We were shocked to see an item in
the Sacramento Bee in which agent Greg Williams claims that the Chicago
Bears have shown "strong
interest" in former Virginia linebacker Ahmad Brooks.
The Bears? We reported that
the Bears were the only team who didn't attend Brooks' recent Pro Day workout.
(In contrast, Gil Brandt of NFL.com reported that only the Vikings were absent.
Also, Williams told reporters that only 22 teams were there.)
We've since confirmed that the
Bears were not present for the workout, and that they have zero interest in
Brooks.
"Mr. Williams had better go to
confession," said one source in response to the Bee report.
So what's going on here?
Williams apparently is trying to enhance the interest in Brooks by suggesting
that the Bears have an interest in him, when by all appearances they don't.
And although it's possible that
the Bears have avoided Brooks in order to mask a genuine interest in him, common
sense suggests that, under such an approach, they likewise would not have done
or said anything to make his agent think that they might be interested.
NBC GOES STAR JONES ON AFL
The Arena Football League
announced on Friday that its partnership with NBC is over.
"Unfortunately
we were unable to reach an agreement," NBC sports president Ken Schanzer
said, according to the New Orleans Times-Picayune. "We've enjoyed
our partnership with the Arena Football League. It's a great game with
great people. We wish them all the best."
The move hardly comes as a
surprise, in our view. NBC snagged the AFL at a time when the network
wasn't part of the NFL broadcast rotation. Now, NBC is planning to make a
splash bigger than a Len Pasquarelli cannonball by snagging a Sunday night
package that, for the 2006 season, is far superior to the ESPN Monday night
slate. Not bad, given that NBC is paying $500 million less per year than
ESPN.
So where next for the AFL?
Maybe it'll be back to ABC, which is without professional football for the first
time since MNF debuted. Or maybe FSN will try to snag the primary rights
in an effort to close the canyon between Fox's cable offering and ESPN.
The problem is that the ratings
are low -- under 1.0 for the 2006 season. Part of the difficulty, in our
view, is that the AFL doesn't play its games during "football season," making
viewers far less inclined to pay attention to it.
Our suggestion? Move the
season from its current February-to-Don't-Know-Don't-Care schedule. Start
the season in August, when folks are getting hungry for football but the only
available games are meaningless NFL fare. Conduct the playoffs in
December, when the college regular season has ended.
And in September, October, and
November, play the games on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, which but for the
occasional MAC game on ESPN2 are generally free of football.
Under this approach, the AFL also
could strengthen its ties to the NFL by, for example, allowing each NFL team
before the season starts to draft three-to-five Arena League players who can be
called up at any time during the season to the parent club's active roster.
What's in it for the NFL?
How about the national television rights on the NFL Network?
It all makes too much sense.
At a time when the NFL is obsessed with expanding revenue by causing the game to
take root in other countries that are much more interested in a different kind
of football, we think there's more toothpaste to be squeezed out of tube at
home. And that the best way to do it is to create a real minor league
system in which the NFL has a strong equity interest.
Heck, we'd even change the name of
the AFL to something that reflects the NFL brand. The possibilities?
NFL Indoors, NFL Jr., NFL Lite, NFL Future, or (given the league's obsession
with Snoop Dogg) NFL Shizzle In The Hizzle.
