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POSTED 11:55 p.m. EDT, July 27, 2007

TAYLOR FLIPPING ON VICK?

The Associated Press reports that one of Mike Vick's co-defendants is entering into a plea agreement.

Translation -- Mike is scuh-rewed.

A hearing on a proposed agreement involving Tony Taylor is set for Monday.

Taylor, Vick, and two others were named in the 18-page indictment. Four cooperating witnesses already have been cited in the official charges. If Taylor is entering into an agreement pursuant to which he will fully and completely cooperate with the case against the remaining defendants, there will be (duh) five voices pointing a finger at Vick.

Vick's lawyer, Billy Martin, is expected to challenge the charges against Vick by attacking aggressively the credibility of any and all witnesses testifying against him. But if these are people with whom Vick opted to associate for much of his life, how credible can any attempt to paint all of them as liars really be?

POSTED 8:37 p.m. EDT, July 27, 2007

WHEN IS A HOLDOUT NOT A HOLDOUT? (ANSWER: NEVER)

While perusing the excellent Reiss's Pieces (we wonder when they're going to get a cease-and-desist letter) on the web site of the Boston Globe, we noticed an entry from Christopher Gasper regarding the agreement reached between the Pats and first-round draft choice Brandon Meriweather.

Meriweather missed practice on Friday, and won't participate until Saturday, due to the delay in getting the deal done. But, somehow, Gasper propagates the notion that Meriweather wasn't a hold out.

"The source close to Meriweather said there was never any threat of a holdout as the defensive back was eager to get in on time," Gasper writes. "He's a little tardy, but I'm sure the Patriots will take it."

Um, no. Meriweather was a hold out. He missed the first day of practices because he didn't get his deal done in time.

So why not just call it what it is? We know that Meriweather's agency, Athletes First, currently is under siege (possibly unfairly) by the NFLPA, but why twist the truth in order to be able to claim that Meriweather wasn't a holdout?

Either a guy gets his deal done and makes it to camp for all of the practices, or he doesn't. If he doesn't, he's a holdout. Period.

POSTED 8:26 p.m. EDT, July 27, 2007

PAT WILLIAMS WANTS TO CLOG TOILETS ELSEWHERE IN 2008

Sean Jensen of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports that the agent for Vikings defensive tackle Pat Williams has pulled the plug on negotiations aimed at extending the player's contract beyond the 2007 season.

"We engaged in a dialogue and set a date before the season kicked in, and today was the day they strapped up, so by not reaching an accord on a new deal, we will move on [or move out] after the season," Angelo Wright told Jensen.

"Teams sign their core players, and don't let them get into a situation where the player's value is determined by the market," Wright added. "Since we couldn't reach an agreement with the Vikings on where his value is, we'll go into the market next offseason, and let the market dictate his value. We anticipate there will be a lot of interest in him, especially with his ability to nose tackle in the one or two gap schemes, or as a pure base d-tackle."

Apparently, Wright has never heard of the franchise tag. It's a commonly-used device that teams use to, you know, prevent players from going into the market and/or letting the market dictate their value.

Our guess is that Williams has aiming too high. Who would make a huge investment in a big fat guy who soon will be on the wrong side of 35?

Sure, he's in shape (relatively speaking) now, because he knows that this is his contract year. Once he gets paid, the concern is that he'll go back to seeing how many Twinkies he can fit in his mouth at one time.

POSTED 8:15 p.m. EDT, July 27, 2007

MUTINY COMING IN TAMPA?

The manner in which the Buccaneers handled the termination of Simeon Rice's contract with the team is causing a serious problem among veterans on the team, according to our pal Steve Duemig of WDAE radio in Tampa.

The official excuse for the move -- a failed physical -- apparently is the standard line used by the Jon Gruden regime when it dumps a guy who still can play (see Shelton Quarles). Apparently, Gruden addressed the media before dinner and said that all of the players had reported, and that all of them were healthy.

Duemig says that Rice was at dinner on Thursday night with his teammates, and pulled aside to meet with the powers-that-be. Rice was told that he had to take a pay cut or be released, and that he had five minutes to make up his mind.

In our view, Rice could be the first of several long-term Bucs who get bumped off as Gruden hits what we believe to be his make-or-break season with the team. With Cato June in the fold to play weakside linebacker, we wouldn't be shocked at all if Derrick Brooks is the next one to get squeezed.

POSTED 8:08 p.m. EDT, July 27, 2007

SIMEON HEADING TO NASHVILLE?

Titans coach Jeff Fisher says that the team might be bringing in former Bucs defensive end Simeon Rice for a look-see.

Rice was abruptly cut by the Bucs on Thursday.

More on that one in our next post.

POSTED 8:04 p.m. EDT, July 27, 2007

TITANS AGREE WITH GRIFFIN

Terry McDaniel of the Nashville City Paper reports the Tennessee Titans have signed cornerback Michael Griffin, the team's first-round pick in the 2007 draft.

Griffin missed Friday's opening training-camp practice, and will practice on Saturday.

Terms are not disclosed. Griffin was the 19th overall selection.

POSTED 6:15 p.m. EDT; UPDATED 7:58 p.m. EDT, July 27, 2007

STRAHAN: "I DON'T KNOW IF THE FIRE IS THERE"

Jay Glazer of FOXSports.com reports that he has had multiple conversations with Giants defensive end Michael Strahan regarding his ongoing NFL career, and that Strahan has told him, "I don't know if the fire is there."

Glazer says that Strahan has flip-flopped for a while about his future in the NFL, and that on some days Strahan wants to play. On others, he doesn't.

Strahan also has consulted with other former players, like Lawrence Taylor and Bruce Smith. Some said they thought they stayed a few years too many, some had no regrets when they packed it in, and some thought they left too soon.

A big factor, per Glazer, is Strahan's health. Glazer says that Strahan's body is "beat up" after more than a decade of banging against offensive linemen.

Glazer says that Strahan's contract is also a factor, but perhaps not as big of a factor as widely believed. Strahan is scheduled to earn $4 million in base salary this season.

As we see it, if he were making a lot more than that -- or if he were playing for a team that had a real shot at contending for a Super Bowl victory -- Strahan might be more willing to struggle through another NFL season.

Our guess is that he will take some time to make up his mind, and that he still might play. We also think that the manner in which the Giants handle the issue will go a long way toward helping Strahan make a final decision.

If they were to offer him more money, that could help. If G.M. Jerry Reese tries to engage Strahan in a war of words, that might not be good for anyone.

POSTED 5:55 p.m. EDT, July 27, 2007

NIKE SUSPENDS MIKE

On the same day that Reebok announced that it will no longer make Mike Vick jerseys and the NFL announced that its on-line boutique will no longer sell Mike Vick products, Mike Vick's lone remaining sponsor has taken a big step toward severing ties with him.

"Nike has suspended Michael Vick's contract without pay, and will not sell any more Michael Vick product at Nike-owned retail at this time," the company said in a statement. "As we've said before, Nike is concerned by the serious and highly disturbing allegations made against Michael Vick and we consider any cruelty to animals inhumane and abhorrent. However, we do believe that Michael Vick should be afforded the same due process as any citizen in the United States, therefore, we have not terminated our relationship."

Setting aside for now the question of whether Vick's contract with Nike even contemplates a suspension without pay (we doubt that it does), we think that Nike's move is the latest symptom of the nationwide epidemic of Duke lacrosse paralysis.

Folks, "innocent until proven guilty" is a Constitutional right aimed at ensuring that only the guilty go to jail. It has no application to the question of whether, for example, an athlete will retain the right to earn millions of dollars from a company that must foster and maintain a strong and positive public image.

The time for half-measures is over. Vick knowingly associated for years with criminals. He must face the economic consequences of his poor judgment, regardless of whether he ever goes to jail.

And it's time for the NFL, the Falcons, and Nike to take a position of leadership on this issue. Regardless of whether he is acquitted or convicted, Vick has engaged in, at a minimum, reckless conduct that is highly detrimental to the interests of everyone who has given him money over the years. If that is the test for determining whether he will continue to be employed in an industry that relies upon millions of members of the general public to devote their time, money, and attention to grown men playing a child's game, then he already should have been fired.

POSTED 4:16 p.m. EDT; LAST UPDATED 4:49 p.m. EDT, July 27, 2007

NFL NEEDS A FULL-BLOWN DOG-FIGHTING INVESTIGATION

As the NFL struggles to respond to the jarring allegations made last week against Falcons quarterback Mike Vick, we believe that the league should ponder the issue of dog fighting among its employees more broadly.

Before someone else does.

We believe that it is in the best interests of the NFL to make a strong statement -- soon -- about the evils of dog fighting and about the league's commitment to identifying any and all players who are fans of this "sport," and to deal with them swiftly and harshly. We say this because we detect a sense of inevitability that, in time, more and more names will be named. And, sooner or later, the PETA crowd won't only be picketing Mike and Nike, but will launch a full-scale assault against a league that has been (and still might be) asleep at the switch regarding the prevalence of players who spend some of their free time watching and/or engaging in dog fighting.

Already, there is ample evidence to suggest that multiple current and former players are or have been involved in this illegal activity.

For example, when former Bears defensive tackle Tank Johnson's home was raided last year on weapons violations, "Johnson had six pit bulls locked in cages in his back yard, and neighbors said police were called several times on animal cruelty issues."

Why would tank have that many pit bulls on his property? To keep his guns company?

On Friday, former NFL player Steve DeOssie described on WEEI radio in Boston (as we've been told by several readers) that he attended a dog-fighting event during his playing days with Nate Newton and other teammates. Newton was once arrested at a dog fight.

Also, former NFL running back LeShon Johnson pleaded guilty to dog-fighting charges (amazingly, he did not serve time), and an item on the the Humane Society's web site indicates that former NFL running back Tyrone Wheatley once bragged about selling dogs for fighting.

Then there's this gem from Deion Sanders' asinine op-ed in the Fort Myers News-Press, in which he seems to indicate that he knows plenty of NFL players who are involved in dog fighting: "I believe Vick had a passion for dogfighting. I know many athletes who share his passion. The allure is the intensity and the challenge of a dog fighting to the death. It’s like ultimate fighting, but the dog doesn't tap out when he knows he can't win."

So what will the NFL do about this mounting evidence that Vick isn't the only guy with a shield on his shirt who has a "passion" for engaging in dog fighting? Ignoring it isn't an option. The league has at its disposal a security force made up of former law-enforcement types who should be able to get to the bottom of this situation, quickly.

Frankly, if NFL Security had been doing a better job of keeping an eye out for this kind of stuff over the past decade, the league might not presently be dealing with the unprecedented embarrassment arising from the Vick prosecution, and the looming fallout from the eventual (we predict) revelation that Vick was hardly alone in his perversion.

UPDATE: We'd forgotten about the incident involving Joey Porter's two dogs, which tried to eat a horse. If anyone out there is aware of any other incidents involving NFL players and their canines, please let us know.

SPRINT, GOOGLE GET TOGETHER ON WiMAX

We mentioned last week that Sprint is working with Clearwire to expedite the implementation of WiMAX technology on a nationwide basis. Essentially, WiMAX will result in wireless Internet speeds for laptops and mobile devices five times faster than the current technologies that are being utilized.

Sprint also is partnering with Google to create a WiMAX portal that combines Sprint's high-speed Internet network with Google Apps.

"This is a play to get Internet access in a very broadband way through a number of different devices," said Peter Cannistra, director of Sprint's mobile broadband business. "WiMAX is being built out for laptops and fixed computers, but we're working to put the chips into wide array of consumer electronics."

A beta rollout of the WiMAX service will come later this year in Chicago, Baltimore, and D.C. More widespread availability arrives by April of 2008.

So at a time when some of you might still be smitten by the possibility of a fancy new phone with the functionality of soup cans joined together by fishing line, we suggest making the switch to Sprint and Nextel, which also happen to be the official telecommunications sponsors of ProFootballTalk.com.

TITANS TAP HENRY

Adam Caplan of Scout.com reports that the Tennessee Titans have agreed to terms with second-round draft pick Chris Henry (not that one).

This other Chris Henry is a running back, and could compete for touches with veteran Chris Brown and second-year tailback LenWhale White.

Terms are not yet available.

POSTED 3:19 p.m. EDT, July 27, 2007

PATS PLUCK MERIWEATHER

After a one-day holdout, the New England Patriots have agreed to terms with first-round draft pick Brandon Meriweather, a defensive back from Miami.

Albert Breer of the Boston Herald reports that details of the five-year deal are still being hammered out, but that an agreement is in place.

On Thursday, one league insider expressed to us concern that a holdout from Meriweather would not help folks forget about the question marks associated with his college tenure, including a gun incident and a head-stomp thing during the infamous brawl between the "U" and Florida International.

POSTED 2:57 p.m. EDT, July 27, 2007

STRAHAN A NO-SHOW

Recently, there were strong rumors in league circles that Giants defensive end Michael Strahan might not report for training camp. Many scoffed at (and/or flat-out ignored) our information indicating that, once training camp opened, Strahan very well might not be there.

According to Mike Garafolo of the Newark Star-Ledger, Strahan didn't show. But instead of calling the move a holdout, the official word is that Strahan is contemplating retirement.

"Last night, I talked to his agent and his agent said to me -- this was about seven o'clock -- [Strahan] was contemplating retiring," G.M. Jerry Reese said. "That's all I know right now. We haven't spoken to him. We'll get more details about it. We'll put him on reserve/did not report to camp."

Coach Tom Coughlin said that Strahan left a voice message last night, but did not mention retirement.

"I thought it was a little bit of a late notice, but that's the way the National Football League works sometimes," Reese said. "I just told [agent Tony Agnone] if [Strahan is] ready to retire we wish him God speed and we'll see what happens. Tony said, 'Jerry, he might wake up in the morning and say, "I want to play."' We're still trying to connect with him and get more details."

Our take? Strahan is holding out without holding out. He wants more money, and if he doesn't get it he simply won't play anymore. But in lieu of engaging in a formal holdout, which would subject him to fines in the amount of $14,000 per day and bonus forfeiture, Strahan is taking a path that would likely result in no financial consequence, if he ultimately calls it quits.

Sure, the team could still fine him until he files his retirement papers, but likely won't. Also, if the Giants pursue Strahan for the recovery of bonus money for a premature retirement but by all appearances did not demand repayment from TiVi Barber, the result disparity would expose the franchise to heavy criticism from the media and fans.

If Strahan retires, Reese hasn't ruled out bringing in defensive end Simeon Rice, who was cut by the Buccaneers on Thursday.

Strahan is scheduled to earn $4 million in base salary in 2007 and 2008. We've heard that he believes he was given assurances by former G.M. Ernie Accorsi that a new deal was coming, but that Reese has refused to honor those alleged promises.

POSTED 1:55 p.m. EDT, July 27, 2007

GINN CAN PLAY, BABY

Len P. of ESPN.com reports that Dolphins receiver Ted Ginn has agreed to terms with the team. Financial terms are not yet available.

The Dolphins open spring training (oops) today, and we assume that Ginn's deal is considered timely for the purposes of owner Wayne Huizenga's vow that any rookie who doesn't report in time for camp won't play this year.

"If you don't report, you're sitting out, baby," Huizenga said earlier this year.

POSTED 1:47 p.m. EDT, July 27, 2007

REEBOK PULLS PLUG ON VICK, TOO

Earlier on Friday, Darren Rovell of CNBC reported that the NFL has suspended all sales of Michael Vick jerseys from the league's official online merchandising portal.

The move turned out to be unnecessary, because the manufacturer of the jerseys apparently will stop making them.

A source with knowledge of the situation tell us that Reebok has suspended all sale of Michael Vick jerseys. Since Reebok is the official apparel supplier of the NFL, this means that there's no way to get a Mike Vick jersey.

"Although Reebok does not have an individual endorsement or marketing relationship with Michael Vick," Reebok spokesperson Denise Kaigler says in a statement that might not yet have actually been released, "we are the official supplier of apparel and equipment to all 32 NFL teams and the league’s 1,800 active players. While we respect the legal process we find the allegations against Mr. Vick too disturbing to ignore, therefore, we have decided to immediately suspend selling Vick NFL product, both at retail and on-line through the Reebok website. In addition, Reebok has honored retail cancellations of Vick NFL jerseys."

It still remains to be seen whether Reebok will make Falcons jerseys bearing No. 7 for personalization. As mentioned below, we think it would be wise for the NFL to block all such jerseys.

POSTED 1:30 p.m. EDT, July 27, 2007

HOUSTON HAS A PROBLEM

Jets running back Cedric Houston has left the team, reportedly due to "personal reasons."

Houston, a sixth-round draft pick in 2005, has already been expunged from the team's roster.

He rushed for 676 yards and seven touchdowns in two seasons with the team. As Mark Cannizzaro of the New York Post points out, Houston's role likely would have been diminished following the acquisition of Thomas Jones and the expected emergence of Leon Washington, who was a rookie in 2006.

POSTED 1:00 p.m. EDT; UPDATED 1:08 p.m. EDT, July 27, 2007

NFL STOPS ALL SALES OF VICK STUFF

The NFL not only has suspended (sort of) Falcons quarterback Mike Vick, but also has suspended (truly) the sale of all Vick-related merchandise.

Darren Rovell of CNBC reports that he noticed the absence of Vick merchandise during a visit to NFLShop.com. Rovell contacted the league for more information.

"We have suspended sales of Vick-related merchandise on our official league e-commerce site, NFLShop.com," NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told Rovell. "This includes Vick jerseys and collectible items such as autographed balls and other memorabilia."

McCarthy explained to Rovell that the sale of such merchandise was "not appropriate under the circumstances."

Although Rovell notes that Vick still has plenty of fans, we think the problem is that people would soon be buying Vick jerseys with the aim of using them as props to display their displeasure with him. And possibility videotaping such displays for publication on the Intergoogle.

We also think that the league should suspend the sale of any personalized Falcons jersey bearing the number 7, given the infinite number of potential "names" that would have to be screened -- including obvious ones like "Ookie" and "Convick" and "Woof Woof" and "Guilty" and other possibilities like "Lassie" and "Benji" and "Fido" and "Bingo" and "Poindexter" and "Pasquarelli."

Oh crap we need to make an order before they pull the plug.

LEN FIXES OKLAHOMA DRILL GAFFE

PFT Planet, you have been heard.

Roughly 12 hours after posting comments from readers who noted that Len Pasquarelli's proclamation that "[t]here isn't a team in the league that still runs the Oklahoma drill was flat wrong, the statement has been removed from the story in question.

Even more amazingly, Len (or his editor) has also removed the language that prompted us to conclude that Len was making a subtle comparison between Steelers fans and folks who attend dog fights when Len described the Oklahoma drill as "a onetime ritual here that used to draw boisterous crowds to the far corner of the practice field at St. Vincent College, and created the kind of bloodlust atmosphere typically associated with the Roman Coliseum."

POSTED 12:31 p.m. EDT, July 27

BULGER BREAKS THE BANK

Adam Schefter of NFL Network reports that, contrary to some other reports on the matter, the new contract signed by Rams quarterback Marc Bulger is a six-year, $65 million deal with a whopping $29 million in guaranteed money.

Schefter reports that Bulger will earn $32 million in the first three years of the deal.

It's not quite Dwight Freeney or Peyton Manning (or Mike Vick) money, but it's close. It's the fourth-highest guaranteed money package in league history.

With that said, it soon could be eclipsed by one or both of the first two picks in the 2007 draft -- Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell and Lions receiver Calvin Johnson. We've heard rumbling that they each want at least $30 million guaranteed.

Bulger skipped a mandatory meeting on Thursday evening, and the deal was wrapped up on Friday morning.

Meanwhile, it's been nice to talk about a former WVU player and money without the topic being the former WVU player throwing the money in the air at a strip club.

POSTED 10:27 a.m. EDT, July 27, 2007

RAMS REEL IN CARRIKER WITH FIVE-YEAR DEAL

Adam Schefter of NFL Network reports that the Rams have reached an agreement with defensive end Adam Carriker, the team's first-round pick in the 2007 draft.

Schefter reports that Carriker signed a five-year, $14.5 million contract with $9.4 million in guaranteed money.

Carriker, the 13th overall selection, is the latest player who could have been required to sign a six-year deal who'll land a five-year deal. Putting this in better perspective is the fact that most picks in later rounds, including round seven, are committed for only one less year than many of the guys taken at the top of the draft.

And, for many of the players taken in round two and beyond, the achievement of fourth-year escalators that simulate the restricted free agent tender that the player would otherwise be eligible to receive under a three-year deal now requires participation in all offseason workouts.

So it appears that, in lieu of giving even more of a windfall to the guys at the top of the board, teams are willing to put themselves in a position of having to face paying a year sooner the currently unproven newbies who become desirable players.

We have a feeling that this approach is not coincidental, but the result of an effort by the NFL teams to reduce the total investment (and risk) in guys who are as likely to play like Ryan Leafs as they are to become Peyton Mannings.

BULGER IS IN CAMP

A reader tells us that Chris Draft recently said on Sirius NFL Radio that Rams quarterback Marc Bulger is in camp.

It's not clear whether this means that Bulger has a new deal.

Bulger missed a mandatory meeting on Thursday, in apparent protest of the fact that his below-market contract has not been extended as he enters its final year.

POSTED 8:46 a.m. EDT; LAST UPDATED 10:15 a.m. EDT, July 27, 2007

MILLEN IS STILL SAFE

In a rare interview, Lions owner William Clay Ford, Sr. says that CEO Matt Millen wasn't in danger of being fired in 2006, and is safe for 2007.

"I didn't say 'You're safe, don't worry about it' in so many words. But, by the same token, I never intimated to him that he wasn't safe. It was business as usual,'' Ford said, according to Tom Kowalski of Mlive.com. "He never outwardly expressed any doubt in his mind or anything like that, like 'Well, you know, I may be gone next month, or next week or tonight.'''

Ford explains that the chemistry between Millen and coach Rod Marinelli has been encouraging.

"I could see right off that they were compatible and, to me, that was very, very important,'' Ford said. "I know Matt's philosophy and as the year went on, I got to know Rod much better and I could see where they'd mesh and you don't want to break up a combination like that. I know the papers and everybody dwelled on the number of losses but I didn't really pay any attention to that. I thought we were on the right track and I thought they were good together. Yeah, OK, the past is the past but we're on a different course now.''

Ford also acknowledge that his personal relationship with Millen might have been a factor in his ongoing employment during some rocky seasons.

"It's possible. But I think if you like somebody and you believe in the same things that they believe in, I don't know what other yardstick to put against it,'' Ford said.

As we've heard it, however, one of the big reasons that Millen is still in Motown is because a lot of the big decisions that have doomed the franchise this decade (such as the drafting of Joey Harrington, the hiring of Marty Morningsomething, and the hiring of Steve Mariucci) were decisions made by ownership, not by Millen. And yet Millen never has (and likely never will) cast blame on anyone but himself for these past blunders.

PFTV PREVIEWS THE AFC EAST

On Thursday, we posted the PFTV preview of the NFC East. Today, it's the AFC East -- and we congratulate Joe Brocato for keeping his Eric Mangini tattoo under wraps during the segment.

BILLICK DROPS "S" BOMB ON WNST

A radio listener in Baltimore tells us that Ravens coach Brian Billick allowed the word "sh-t" to creep into his comments on the air to radio station WNST on Friday morning.

It's not a surprise, given that the salty-tongued Billick routinely says worse on the sidelines. But it's still funny.

And not nearly as disturbing as hearing Bonnie Bernstein say the word "fart" on ESPN Radio a couple of minutes ago. We assume that Mike Greenberg soiled his thong in response to that one.

UPDATE: We're told that Billick said, "We're not in the business of beating the sh-t out of our players during training camp," or words to that effect.

POSTED 8:35 a.m. EDT, July 27, 2007

BULGER IS A HOLDOUT

Lost in Thursday's frenzy of the Mike Vick case, the opening of more camps, and a flurry of first-round signings is the fact that Rams quarterback Marc Bulger did not report for a mandatory team meeting, and thus can be fairly labeled a holdout.

Bulger wants a new deal before his current contract expires. He is due to earn a base salary of $3.95 million in 2007.

Coach Scott Linehan expressed optimism that the situation will be resolved, and several players expressed their views about the importance of Bulger, a former West Virginia quarterback who was a sixth-round choice of the Saints -- and who has gradually (and quietly) developed into one of the best quarterbacks in the league.

Bulger is represented by Tom Condon, who currently is embroiled in a contract dispute with the Browns on behalf of rookie quarterback Brady Quinn.

The decision not to show up for camp, if it persists, would expose Bulger to fines of $14,000 per day and the possible obligation to pay back to the Rams a portion of the bonus money paid on the front end of the four-year, $19.1 million contract that Bulger signed in 2004.

POSTED 8:17 a.m. EDT, July 27, 2007

GRUBBS CLOSE, BUT NOT DONE YET

A league source tells us that, despite reports that the Ravens have struck a deal with first-round selection Ben Grubbs, the deal is not yet sealed.

The source says that the deal will get done, but that it isn't done yet.

Grubbs was the 29th overall choice in the April draft. The players taken just before him and just after him previously have signed.

POSTED 7:41 a.m. EDT; LAST UPDATED 8:08 a.m. EDT, July 27, 2007

OKOYE SIGNS -- GINN NEXT?

Several media types are reporting that the Texans have reached an agreement with defensive tackle Amobi Okoye, the No. 10 overall pick in the 2007 NFL draft.

Adam Caplan of Scout.com reports that the six-year deal, which is voidable to five based on playing-time triggers, has $12.785 million in guarantees, representing a 12.6% increase from last year's No. 10 selection, with a total maximum value (with incentives and/or escalators) of $17.6 million.

Adam Schefer of NFL Network reports that the base package of the deal is $15.4 million.

The signing of Okoye means that there should be no impediment to getting a deal done between the Dolphins and No. 9 pick Ted Ginn, since the guy taken just behind him (Okoye) and the guy taken just before him (Jamaal Anderson) have been inked.

The Fins are due to report today. If Ginn becomes a hold out, owner Wayne Huizenga will be faced with the prospect of breaching his Costanza-esque threat/promise that any rookie who doesn't sign on time won't play, baby.

A league source tells us that a deal was close earlier in the week, but that Ginn's agent, Neil Cornrich, got cold feet and backed out.

OTHER TEAMS DO OKLAHOMA DRILL, TOO

On Thursday night, we pointed out the imprecision of Len Pasquarelli's proclamation that "[t]here isn't a team in the league that still runs the Oklahoma drill."

We pointed out (thanks to e-mails from 25 or so readers) that the Dolphins ran the drill at rookie practice on Thursday.

Other readers have pointed out that the Jaguars plan to run the drill on Monday. Chargers coach Norv Turner will use it from time to time, too.

Maybe Len should spend a little less time propping up the Falcons' misguided decision to jettison Matt Schaub (as he was doing moments ago on ESPN Radio) and a little more time asking himself whether those always-dangerous sweeping declarations are completely correct.

MORE ON LEN'S SCHAUB LOGIC

During his ESPN Radio spot on Friday morning, ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli suggested that, if the Falcons thought that quarterback Matt Schaub was as good as some believe, coach Bobby Petrino wouldn't have allowed him to be traded. But this is, in our view, an overly simplistic analysis by Len, aimed in large part at helping to defend G.M. Rich McKay, whom we believe to be an ESPN pipeline of Falcons-related information -- and who we've heard is firmly on the hot seat for his role in the decision to give Mike Vick a huge contract and the decision to trade Schaub.

Len, if the Falcons and Petrino didn't think much of Schaub, why did they put the highest possible RFA tender on him, forcing any team that might have signed him to cough up a first-round pick and a third-round pick?

We think there were three reasons for the move. First, if Schaub had stayed in Atlanta this year, he would have been unrestricted in 2008, and would have left with no compensation to the Falcons. (The Falcons' only realistic alternative would have been to use the franchise tag, which would have required the team to tie up more than $10 million in cap space for Schaub.)

Second, we think that the Falcons wanted to give Mike Vick a full and fair chance to step up as an NFL quarterback before making a decision about his long-term future with the team. For example, Petrino was going to allow Vick to call audibles this year, something that former coach Jim Mora (who likely has been laughing his ass off for the past 10 days) wouldn't let Vick do. Part of providing Vick his best chance to shine was, in our belief, clearing out the long shadow that Schaub was casting over Vick's status as the ongoing starter.

Third, our guess is that Petrino would have wanted to bring in a new quarterback of his own choosing, if the decision had been made after 2007 to part ways with Vick for football reasons. That extra 2008 second-round pick acquired as part of the Schaub deal could come in handy in connection with a move to get in position to draft, say, Louisville quarterback Brian Brohm.

Of course, subsequent events will likely put the Falcons in position to get Brohm in April 2008 without having to trade up.

POSTED 11:45 p.m. EDT, July 26, 2007

LYNCH DEAL DONE

A league source tells us that the Bills have reached an agreement with running back Marshawn Lynch, the No. 12 selection in the 2007 draft. (Adam Schefter of NFL Network was the first to report this.)

Lynch will receive $10,285,000 in guaranteed money, and the total value of the package is $18,935,000 on a five-year deal. (Technically, it's a six-year deal that voids to five if Lynch meets a minimum playing time threshold.)

The key is the duration; Lynch is the fourth player taken in the top 16 who could have been required to sign a six-year deal, but who got in the end a five-year contract.

The former California tailback is expected to step in immediately as the starter, given the offseason trade of Willis McGahee.

POSTED 11:41 p.m. EDT, July 26, 2007

PANTHERS LINEMAN ARRESTED

Carolina Panthers offensive lineman Jeremy Bridges has been arrested on charges of assault, according to the Charlotte Observer. Bridges allegedly pointed a gun at someone at a strip club in south Charlotte.

Bridges started 14 games for the Panthers at right tackle in 2006.

"As is always the case, we're gathering information about what happened," said Panthers General Manager Marty Hurney. "Anybody who knows our organization knows that we take these matters very seriously."

POSTED 10:00 p.m. EDT; UPDATED 11:35 p.m. EDT, July 26, 2007

THOMAS DEAL REACHED

It's now official, even if the agreement isn't signed. The Browns have a deal in place with tackle Joe Thomas, the No. 3 overall pick in the draft.

Originally reported by Adam Schefter of NFL Network and confirmed by John Clayton of ESPN.com, Thomas signed a six-year deal that easily reduces to five. The contract has $23.5 million in guaranteed money and could have a maximum value of $42.5 million.

Though the numbers are lower than what would be paid on a six-year deal, Thomas is getting to the market one year earlier than players who sign six-year deals at the top of the round.

The Browns now can focus their attention on getting quarterback Brady Quinn under contract. And now that Thomas is signed and in camp on time, the Browns have even more leverage with Quinn, since they won't have two players holding out.

LEN'S LATEST FAUX PAS

Several readers have pointed out to us Len Pasquarelli's proclamation in his item on the Steeler's training camp regarding the absence of the Oklahoma drill. Writes Len, "There isn't a team in the league that still runs the Oklahoma drill."

Unless the Dolphins have secretly joined the CFL, Len is plain flat wrong. At rookie camp on Thursday, the Fins wrapped practice with the Oklahoma drill.

Len also found a way to use the reference to the Oklahoma drill some backhanded support for alleged dog fighter Mike Vick, by describing the Oklahoma drill as "a onetime ritual here that used to draw boisterous crowds to the far corner of the practice field at St. Vincent College, and created the kind of bloodlust atmosphere typically associated with the Roman Coliseum."

In other words, Len is suggesting that people who watch football for the big hits really aren't all that much better than people who watch dog fighting.

POSTED 9:50 a.m. EDT, July 26, 2007

WILL COOPER RELEASE PROMPT A GRIEVANCE?

Earlier this week, it was announced that Raiders safety Jarrod Cooper would be suspended for the first four games of the 2007 season for violation of the steroids policy.

On Wednesday, the Raiders released him.

Several years ago, such a maneuver would have prompted an immediate grievance from the NFLPA. It's precisely what the union did when the Cowboys dumped quarterback Quincy Carter in the wake of an announcement that he would be suspended for four games for violation of the substance abuse policy. The argument was that the teams have no authority to discipline players who are independently subject to discipline from the NFL.

Earlier this year, the grievance was resolved in favor of the Cowboys, who argued that the decision was based on performance.

Meanwhile, more and more teams have been cutting players who have gotten in trouble off of the field, presumably in reliance upon paragraph 11 of the standard player contract, which permits termination "if Player has engaged in personal conduct reasonably judged by Club to adversely affect or reflect on Club."

As NFLPA spokesman Carl Francis previously told the Cincinnati Post, "If that's what it says in the CBA, [teams] can use that element. The rule gives them the right to do that."

Perhaps fueled in part by the admission of Francis, several teams have cut players this year following arrests, even though Falcons owner Arthur Blank suggested on Wednesday that the maximum discipline that a team may impose on a player who gets in trouble with the law is a four-game suspension.

It remains to be seen whether a grievance will be filed, and whether the team's defense will arise from paragraph 11 of the standard player contract.

POSTED 7:29 p.m. EDT, July 26, 2007

CURTIS TO BUY A TEAM?

Jets running back Curtis Martin announced his retirement on Thursday. But far more intriguing than his long-expected departure from the game was his suggestion that he wants to be an NFL owner -- and that he's apparently in the process of buying a team.

We know that Martin made good money playing football, but not the kind of jack necessary to buy an NFL team.

Besides, which NFL team is even for sale? Curtis might be able to get a good deal right now on the Falcons, and there have been rumors that Wayne Huizenga is willing to sell. Some league insiders think that Jags owner Wayne Weaver would sell if the price were right.

Regardless, it's big news from Martin -- and even bigger ambition.

POSTED 7:24 p.m. EDT, July 26, 2007

CONFLICTING STORIES ON THOMAS, WRIGHT

NFL Network reports that the Browns have reached agreements with tackle Joe Thomas, the No. 3 overall selection, and second-round cornerback Eric Wright.

The AP says that the deals aren't done.

Agent Peter Schaffer, who represents both Thomas and Wright, had this to say in an item roughly 30 minutes old: "We're working feverishly to consummate a deal for Eric Wright and Joe Thomas," Schaffer said Thursday. "The goal is to get both in camp on time for 9 a.m. meetings tomorrow."

Per the NFLN report, Thomas agreed to a five-year deal, one less than the limit for the first 16 players drafted. The total value of the deal (a reported $43 million) and the guaranteed money ($23 million) are lower than they would have been on a six-year deal.

POSTED 7:39 p.m. EDT, July 26, 2007

BUCS TRYING TO RATTLE THE SNAKE?

Adam Schefter of NFL Network reports that quarterback Jake Plummer did not report for Tampa Bay Buccaneers training camp, making the veteran quarterback a holdout.

Thus, Schefter says that the team intends to pursue from Plummer the recovery of more than $7 million in bonus money, and fines in the amount of $14,000 per day.

Also, our friends at PewterReport.com report that Bucs coach Jon Gruden met with Plummer in Idaho after the conclusion of offseason workouts.

Apparently, Gruden wasn't able to persuade Plummer to show up.

Some readers have suggested that the Bucs should dangle Plummer's rights to the Falcons. However, we can't imagine Gruden trading Plummer within the same division in which the Bucs play.

POSTED 7:10 p.m. EDT, July 26, 2007

REESE SHOULDN'T TALK TO THE MEDIA . . . EVER

On closer review of the article in which Giants G.M. Jerry Reese jabbed a sh-t-covered stick between the gap in Michael Strahan's front teeth, Reese also takes a surprisingly gratuitous shot at former Giants tackle Luke Petitgout.

In the face of criticism that the Giants shouldn't have cut the one-time first-round selection, Reese proceeds to kick Petitgout in the crotch.

"People are so worried about left tackle . . . I think that's so overrated," Reese said. "People act like Petitgout was the second coming. He never made the Pro Bowl, and I don't think he ever was a first alternate. Now all of a sudden he's the savior? That's ridiculous. I don't think we're that bad off without Luke Petitgout. He was not a star left tackle. He was a solid left tackle on some occasions and other times he wasn't. Luke has been a marginal player for a long time."

Remarked an industry source in response to these comments, "Until you learn how to talk to the media, don't." The source also described Reese's decision to criticize publicly a player who is currently under contract with another team as "amateurish."

Reese's comments, in our view, reflect the verbal meanderings of an insecure man who believes that he needs to justify his decisions in an effort to make as many people as possible happy. If he can't make his decisions and move on without feeling compelled to defend them, Reese won't be a G.M. for very long.

POSTED 6:38 p.m. EDT; LAST UPDATED 6:50 p.m. EDT, July 26, 2007

BUCS BOUNCE RICE

In a move that is not a shocker but is still nevertheless surprising, the Bucaneers have cut defensive end Simeon Rice, according to Jay Glazer of FOXSports.com.

Rice was due to earn a base salary of $7.25 million in 2007, the final year of his contract. Per Glazer, the Bucs asked Rice to take a pay cut, and Rice refused.

Glazer reports that Rice had checked into camp, and was plucked from dinner for a meeting at which he was informed of the decision.

The move creates $7.25 million in cap space for the Bucs, which could be used to sign quarterback Daunte Culpepper, with whom the team met last week. Culpepper reportedly is seeking a one-year deal, which shouldn't be a problem for Gruden, who realizes that this one year could be his last year in Tampa.

Look for Rice to be courted by the Detroit Lions, who are coached by former Bucs defensive line coach Rod Marinelli. Other possibilities (as we see it) are the Bears, Steelers, and Vikings.

POSTED 6:34 p.m. EDT, July 26, 2007

THOMAS, WRIGHT NOT SIGNED YET

Contrary to reports that the Browns have signed first-round pick Joe Thomas and second-round cornerback Eric Wright, a league source tells us that deals are not yet done, but that agreements are close -- and could come within the next couple of hours.

Still, contracts are not signed. Reports to the contrary are premature.

Stay tuned.

POSTED 6:29 p.m. EDT, July 26, 2007

BREAKING DOWN THE VICK "STATEMENT"

PFT Planet has spoken regarding the "statement" of Mike Vick read by lawyer Billy Martin after Thursday's court appearance.

The consensus? Vick's maximum contribution to the statement was the attachment of his name to it.

Many are pointing to the fact that the statement refers to "spring training" and not to "training camp." (Hey, the lawyer's name is "Billy Martin.")

Also noteworthy was the absence of any apology to the NFL, the Falcons organization, or the fans. Instead, Vick apologized only to his family and the his teammates. Shouldn't the guy who has paid him a bunch of money over the past few years have gotten a public "my bad", too?

Finally, several readers noticed that the statement contained only a general declaration of innocence, with no specific denial of involvement in dog fighting, presence at dog fights, or knowledge of dog fighting. At a minimum, shouldn't the statement written for Vick have included something like, "I love dogs. Using dogs for fighting is wrong, and I would never be associated with anything like that."

Instead, we get the impression that Martin's only goal is to create reasonable doubt in the minds of one or more jurors, and not to truly exonerate his client. Perhaps Martin knows that exoneration is impossible, and that his only realistic goal is to avoid a conviction in a court of law. Absent, however, clear evidence that Vick is truly innocent, his conviction in the court of public opinion will never be reversed.

POSTED 4:45 p.m. EDT; UPDATED 5:13 p.m. EDT, July 26, 2007

REESE ASKING FOR TROUBLE WITH STRAHAN?

Our own MDS addressed earlier in the day the comments of Giants G.M. Jerry Reese regarding the possibility that defensive end Michael Strahan will hold out from training camp.

"It's really kind of silly," Reese said, according to the New York Post. "How does that help him if he holds out? I expect Michael to be at camp."

Hey, if Reese feels that way, we've got no problem with it. Two separate sources have offered up similar (but more colorful) comments.

Said one source: "He's overpaid now. If they pay him more it's a f--king joke. Tough sh-t he had a bad prenup and wants to recover the cash. Shut the f--k up and play. This guy will be Tiki number two this year for [Tom] Coughlin if he doesn't get more dough."

Another source opined that Strahan is "all about himself," and that he's "a f--king whiner and a locker-room killer."

With all that said, why is Reese making public comments about Strahan? Won't Reese's words merely prod Strahan to take a stand?

We think that Reese is playing with fire on this one, and that he might quickly regret saying anything publicly about a spat that, to date, Strahan has not shared with the media. He have a feeling that this will change, very soon.

FAREWELL TO A GREAT TEACHER, COACH

We need to pause for a moment and acknowledge the passing of Wake Forest men's basketball coach Skip Prosser, who died while jogging today at age 56.

Prosser was a teacher and the head basketball coach at Central Catholic High School in Wheeling, West Virginia in the early 1980s. Unlike many high school coaches, whose classrooms often become daily study halls, Prosser's spirited lectures on the history of the world triggered feverish note-taking.

I hadn't been in touch with Coach Prosser since graduating 24 years ago, but I always kept close watch on his career, and delighted in his rise through the coaching ranks.

Coach Prosser should have gotten many more years or so to continue to mold developing minds and develop emerging character. But his passing is just another sign that we need to make the most of the time we have, because none of us ever know how much of it we have left.

POSTED 4:26 p.m. EDT, July 26, 2007

NFLPA POPS LUCHS?

Multiple league sources tell us that the NFL Players Association has imposed a suspension against agent Josh Luchs.

Per one source, Luchs is facing a one-year suspension and a $25,000 fine. The reasons for the suspension currently are unknown.

The source says that the suspension will be deferred pending the outcome of Luchs' appeal.

According to the NFLPA web site, Luchs has negotiated 15 active NFL contracts. One of his more notorious past clients was running back Maurice Clarett.

POSTED 4:13 p.m. EDT, July 26, 2007

VICK SPEAKS, THROUGH HIS LAWYER

Attorney Billy Martin made a public statement after Thursday's court hearings involving Falcons quarterback Mike Vick.

Martin declared, "We intend to prove Mike's innocence at trial."

Martin also read a prepared statement from Vick: "Today in court I pleaded innocent to the allegations made against me. I take the charges very seriously, and I look forward to clearing my good name. I respectfully ask all of you to hold your judgment until all of the facts are shown. Above all, I'd like to say to my mom I'm sorry for what she has had to go through in this most trying of times. It has caused pain to my family and I apologize to my family. I also want to apologize to my Falcons teammates for not being with them at the beginning of spring [sic] training."

After reading Vick's statement, Martin introduced the rest of the trial team, and said, "This is going to be a hard-fought trial."

The trial is due to begin on November 26 at 9:30 a.m.

POSTED 4:05 p.m. EDT, July 26, 2007

MORE CHARGES COMING NEXT MONTH?

The most significant development from Thursday's court appearance by Mike Vick is that new charges could be filed against Vick in August, via a "superseding indictment," which will be submitted in August.

As Roger Cossack notes, a new indictment will trigger a new arraignment, which likewise could mean a new trial date.

Cossack points out that the "superseding indictment" could mean that new charges will be filed, or that one or more defendants will be added, or that one or more defendants will be dropped. Cossack points out that it could be that one or more of the co-defendants are working out a plea deal, which would result in their removal from the indictment.

POSTED 3:00 p.m. EDT, July 26, 2007 and UPDATED OFTEN

VICK IS IN COURT

Moments ago, Mike Vick arrived in a Richmond courthouse to face his arraignment on federal conspiracy charges.

We're monitoring the action on ESPN and NFLN, and will break out into a live blog thing as events unfold today.

Jeremy Schaap is anchoring the ESPN coverage at the 3:00 p.m. hour. Amazingly, he characterized the charges against Vick without mentioning gambling.

Folks, we've got a feeling that the NFL is petrified about the gambling angle here.

Kelly Naqi says that there are anti-Vick and pro-Vick folks at the courthouse, and that bomb-sniffing dogs went through earlier.

Lester Munson predicts that Tony Taylor could be the first of the four defendants to plead guilty and turn on Vick, because Taylor apparently was out of the scheme by 2007, and because of evidence that Taylor believes Vick has betrayed him.

Munson apparently doesn't realize, however, the the federal sentencing guidelines are no longer mandatory. Munson guesses that Vick would do one or two years in jail if convicted.

Len Pasquarelli is in a parking lot in Atlanta. There are folks behind him with signs. We can't tell whether any of them say "move or on move out."

Len says that the Falcons weren't a playoff team with Michael Vick. Translation -- if they suck without him G.M. Rich McKay shouldn't be blamed for Vick not being there.

Isn't Floyd Reese the last guy to be commenting on a turd on someone's roster? Then again, maybe on that point Reese really is an expert.

ESPN switched coverage to ESPN2 at 3:30.

Mort says that the Falcons discussed signing Daunte Culpepper but decided against it. Apparently, Culpepper wants a one-year deal only.

Tom Jackson raises a great point -- if the NFL suspends Vick, will it poison the jury pool?

Floyd Reese acknowledges that he drafted Pacman. It might have something to do with why Reese is on ESPN right now.

Merrill Hoge says that the Commish "is just, but he is fair." (Um, Merrill, the two words are synonymous.)

Wingo says that the first of two Vick hearings have ended.

ESPN played video and audio of Vick's earlier entry into court. He was being booed pretty hard by some of the spectators. Amazingly, he flipped none of them off.

ESPN graphic omits any reference to the gambling enterprise.

Roger Cossack calls the first hearing "dramatic." They read the charge -- Cossack again omits the "G" word. He is either stupid or he has been told by the powers-that-be not to mention gambling.

The prosecution did not request detention, which means that there will be bail.

The magistrate judge commented on the fact that the case has stirred significant passions.

Vick is not required to wear an electronic ankle bracelet or undergo drug testing, but Vick is required to surrender any breeding or kennel license that he possesses. Some of the other defendants are required to undergo drug testing and/or to wear an ankle bracelet.

Cossack finally mentions gambling.

Vick is also prohibited from travel without permission. Cossack suggests that Vick would get permission. (Tank Johnson got permission to go to Miami for the Super Bowl.)

NFLN reports that Vick pleaded not guilty.

The Vick trial will begin on November 26, per ESPN and NFLN. (It's the Monday after Thanksgiving.)

NFLN says that Vick sat in the court "expressionless" but listened to the judge. He at one point glanced over to the collected media.

Peace and Phillips have to wear a monitoring bracelet, and Taylor will have to submit to drug testing.

Three lawyers surrounded Vick at the podium when he pleaded "not guilty." (He did not say "100 percent not guilty.")

NFLN reports that there might be more charges in August.

Vick has left the courtroom.

RAY TALKS ABOUT VICK

For reasons unknown or apparent to us, former Falcons cornerback Ray Buchanan was on ESPN on Thursday talking about the pending allegations against Mike Vick.

During the interview, Trey Wingo asked Buchanan if, during his time on the same team as Vick, he heard him ever talk about dogs or dog fighting.

Buchanan said that he heard Vick talk about dogs, not dog fighting. And Buchanan added that, when he once made to Mike's house, "I saw all cats, I didn't see any dogs . . . so I was a little buffooned by that." (No, Ray, you're a lot buffooned.)

But Wingo didn't confront Buchanan about the apparently forgotten he-said, he-said between Buchanan and Chris Landry regarding Landry's contention that Buchanan was saying over the weekend of the draft that Vick had been involved in dog fighting.

"He tells me that Michael has been into this dog fighting for so long that . . . he not only knew about, he is behind all of it, he's paying for all of it. . . . Apparently, he's into it big time," Landry told Steve Duemig of WDAE in Tampa in May.

Buchanan denied saying what Landry said he said, but Ray's denial in an appearance on NFL Network was disappointing.

Even more disappointing is that ESPN had a chance to press Buchanan about the matter on Thursday, but chose not to.

POSTED 1:25 p.m. EDT; UPDATED 1:33 p.m. EDT, July 26, 2007

SPENCER SIGNS WITH THE 'BOYS

DallasCowboys.com reports that the Cowboys have agreed to terms with defensive end Anthony Spencer, the team's first-round pick in the 2007 draft.

Spencer reportedly has signed a five-year, $9 million contract. The contract includes $6 million in guaranteed money.

The Cowboys selected Spencer with the No. 26 overall pick in the draft. They traded back into round one to get Spencer in a deal with the Eagles after trading out of the No. 22 spot with the Browns, who used the pick on Brady Quinn.

Owner Jerry Jones thereafter declared that the Cowboys would have taken Spencer at No. 22, which potentially could have caused Spencer's agent to hold out for No. 22 money.

PFTV PREVIEWS THE NFC EAST

Speaking of the Cowboys, check out the brief-but-content-rich PFTV 2007 preview of the NFC East. (We edited out the part where Brocato asks whether the St. Louis Cardinals are still in the division.)

POSTED 1:11 p.m. EDT, July 26, 2007

BUCS GAIN GAINES

Adam Schefter of NFL Network reports that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have agreed to terms with defensive end Gaines Adams, the No. 4 overall pick in the draft.

Terms are not yet available.

Adams is the first player taken in the top five spots to sign.

This doesn't mean that there will be a run on the top three picks, however. Over the past few years, a big gap has developed between the contract paid to the guy taken at No. 3 and the player taken at No. 4.

The Bucs landed at No. 4 after losing a coin flip with the Browns. After the Browns finally sign No. 3 pick Joe Thomas, it could be Cleveland that in reality lost that flip.

POSTED 12:59 p.m. EDT, July 26, 2007

THURMAN, VICK SITUATION IS LIKE APPLES AND, UM, MILK BONES

We've received plenty of e-mails in the wake of the announcement that the petition for reinstatement of Bengals linebacker Odell Thurman has been denied. More than a few of the loyal members of PFT Planet believe that, if Thurman can already be out of commission for the 2007 season, then Falcons quarterback Mike Vick also should be sent packing for the year, too.

The basic reality is that Thurman had been previously banished under the league's substance abuse policy. Banishment is the final step after multiple positive urine tests and/or other activities that violate the policy.

In order to be reinstated after a minimum banishment of one-year, the player must be in full compliance with all aspects of his treatment plan, and he likewise must submit to and pass any and all random urine tests imposed upon him. Even if the player complies with the treatment plan and passes all tests, reinstatement is not automatic.

At this point, we simply don't know whether or to what extent Thurman complied with his treatment plan, passed or failed any urine tests, or otherwise said or did anything that would have prompted the NFL not to agree to allow him to return. Since the procedure is ordinarily cloaked in secrecy, we might never know precisely why he wasn't allowed to return.

Though the extension of the banishment has been characterized as an additional one-year suspension, we think the more accurate description is that the application for reinstatement has been denied, and that Thurman may re-apply for reinstatement in six months. Since, as a practical matter, the NFL season will be over in six months, the denial of the reinstatement operates as a full-year suspension, even though it technically isn't.

In Vick's case, substance abuse is not an issue at all. If/when he is suspended, it will happen under the Personal Conduct Policy or, possibly, under the Gambling Policy. So the notion that the Commish is being unfairly hard on Thurman is misplaced. Thurman's is currently at a stage in his career where multiple violations of the substance abuse policy, along with a failure to persuade the Commissioner to reinstate him, have resulted in his continued banishment from the league; Vick has yet to be found to be in violation of any policies at all. If/when that happens, Vick likely will be punished significantly.

POSTED 11:49 a.m. EDT, July 26, 2007

PETA WILL PROTEST AT NIKE STORES by Michael David Smith

Although Nike has removed Michael Vick merchandise from its web site, the company has not severed ties with the indicted Falcons quarterback. That means the company hasn't gone far enough for some animal advocates, and unless Nike dumps Vick, animal-rights groups will picket Nike stores next week.

People for the Ethical Treatment for animals is planning a "week of action" in which members will protest in front of Niketown stores across the country.

"We want to send a message to Nike that they should drop all ties with Michael Vick based on the facts that are already lined up at this point," PETA spokesman Dan Shannon tells the Los Angeles Times. "There's the fact that 66 dogs were retrieved from his property, truckloads of dogfighting paraphernalia were taken away, and dogs' bodies were dug up…. We feel there's enough evidence for Nike to end their relationship with him."

Nike's response is that the allegations are "serious and highly disturbing" but that "Vick should be afforded the same due process as any citizen; therefore, we have not terminated our relationship."

But while it sounds good to rally around "due process," it conflates two separate issues. The issue of whether federal prosecutors can prove Vick's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt is a totally separate question from whether Vick is entitled to a sponsorship deal with Nike.

Ultimately, Nike's decision on Vick will come down to whether they think they're making or losing money on him. If customers decide they don't feel like walking through PETA's picket lines, that could tip the balance.

POSTED 11:09 a.m. EDT, July 26, 2007

GIANTS SIGN AARON ROSS by Michael David Smith

PFT Editor Mike Florio reports that the Giants and first-round draft pick Aaron Ross have reached an agreement on a contract. Mike Garafolo of the Star-Ledger has also reported on the deal this morning.

Ross, a cornerback from Texas, will sign a five-year deal worth a maximum of $13.5 million. The contract includes $8 million worth of guarantees.

Ross is expected to compete in training camp with veteran Sam Madison for a starting job on the opposite side of the field from established starter Corey Webster. Almost immediately after he was drafted, Ross said he expected to start, and the word out of Giants camp has been that he'll have every opportunity.

ODELL THURMAN'S APPEAL DENIED by Michael David Smith

The Bengals announced today that they have been notified by the office of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell that linebacker Odell Thurman’s petition for reinstatement has been denied.

The decision means Thurman won't play at all this year. Thurman has the opportunity to reapply for reinstatement following the 2007 season.

The Bengals overlooked character concerns and drafted Thurman in 2005, and he played -- and played well -- in all 16 games as a rookie that year. But he was suspended for the entire 2006 regular season for violation of the NFL's Substance Abuse Policy. His DUI arrest in September was considered his third violation of the policy.

Thurman reportedly met with Goodell this month in an attempt to persuade him that he has turned his life around, saying he has sought counseling for substance abuse and has done volunteer work with area youth.

Even if Thurman is reinstated next year, he may have a hard time finding a team willing to take a chance on a player who repeatedly gets into trouble off the field and hasn't set foot on the field in more than two years.

POSTED 10:10 a.m. EDT, July 26, 2007

PACMAN WON'T ATTEND TITANS CAMP by Michael David Smith

Chris Mortensen reported on ESPN Radio this morning that any hope suspended Titans cornerback Pacman Jones had of participating in training camp has evaporated.

Mortensen reported that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell talked with the Titans' brass about whether they wanted to allow Jones to practice with the team at training camp, but the team opposed that idea -- perhaps motivated by the fact that Jones lied to Titans coach Jeff Fisher about the incident this summer at an Atlanta strip club.

Mortensen reported that Jones at first denied being at a strip club but then admitted to Fisher that he was there. A shooting broke out after Jones and his entourage left the club, and although Jones is not a suspect, police have said he may have information about the case and that he hasn't cooperated with the investigation.

Per Mort, league sources said Jones was denied his request to participate in training camp after a review of his status by Goodell. Jones withdrew the appeal on June 12 of his one-year NFL suspension, and he hoped by dropping the appeal, he would curry favor with Goodell, who has said Jones has an opportunity for reinstatement after 10 games.

Mortensen also reported that Jones missed mandatory counseling sessions, which Goodell has told him are a requirement of his reinstatement.

SAMUEL'S AGENT WON'T SAY IF HE'LL REPORT by Michael David Smith

Karen Guregian of the Boston Herald reports that there's nothing to report on Patriots cornerback Asante Samuel, as agent Alonzo Shavers won’t won't say whether or not he'll show up to the Patriots' training camp.

“Either he’s going to be there, or he’s not. It’ll be noticeably obvious,” Shavers said. “Then, we’ll take it from there.”

Samuel hasn't signed the one-year, $7.79 million franchise tender and has indicated that he doesn't want to, but players don't have a lot of leverage when they get the franchise tag. Bears linebacker Lance Briggs didn't want to sign the franchise tender either, but he ended up settling for signing it in exchange for a $1 million salary advance and an agreement that the Bears won't franchise Briggs in 2008 if he plays in at least 75 percent of the defensive snaps this season.

It's not clear whether Samuel and the Patriots could sign a similar compromise, and even Samuel's agent doesn't seem to know.

“I have to leave you guessing, because I’m guessing,” Shavers told Guregian. “It would be an inappropriate response for me to say something that’s inaccurate because I don’t know. He has a couple days to do what he needs to do. There’s some things that could happen. There’s a couple of days where something could happen. We’ll just play it by ear, that way we’re managing expectations.”

GIANTS GM CALLS STRAHAN HOLDOUT TALK "SILLY" by Michael David Smith

Paul Schwartz of the New York Post reports that Giants General Manager Jerry Reese says he's known of the possibility that defensive end Michael Strahan could hold out "ever since Michael and I had our first meeting when I first got hired as G.M.," but he calls the idea that Strahan would hold out "silly."

Strahan is 35 years old, he suffered a foot injury that caused him to miss half of last season, and he recorded just three sacks in 2006. Looked at from that perspective, Strahan's contract, which pays him $4 million a year each of the next to seasons, hardly seems so unfair as to give Strahan a reason not to report to training camp.

"It's really kind of silly," Reese said. "How does that help him if he holds out? I expect Michael to be at camp."

On the other hand, the world of NFL contracts has changed dramatically since the Giants signed Strahan. We're now in an NFL world where Dwight Freeney gets $30 million guaranteed and Cory Redding gets more than $16 million guaranteed. (We're also now in a world where Strahan is millions of dollars poorer, thanks to his divorce.) From that perspective, Strahan is justified in being peeved.

Still, it sounds as though the Giants aren't going to re-work Strahan's deal.

POSTED 8:58 a.m. EDT, July 26, 2007

MOST IN ATLANTA AREA WANT VICK BANNED IF CONVICTED by Michael David Smith

Fans can be incredibly forgiving of their hometown sports heroes. Barry Bonds still gets cheered in San Francisco; Pete Rose still gets cheered in Cincinnati.

But a poll in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution indicates that a majority of people in the Atlanta area want Michael Vick banned from the NFL if he's convicted of charges related to dog fighting.

Respondents were asked, "If Vick is found guilty of dog fighting, do you feel he should or should not be banned from playing in the National Football League?" Almost two-thirds -- 65 percent -- said he should, while 22 percent said he should not and 13 percent said they weren't sure.

Although some of Vick's apologists in the media have suggested that he's being targeted because he's a celebrity, few people in the Atlanta area buy that. Only 12 percent of those polled think Vick is being treated worse than an average citizen, while 30 percent of those familiar with the allegations think he's being treated better than an average citizen. A plurality, 45 percent, think law enforcement is treating Vick the same as anyone else.

The telephone poll of 622 people was conducted for the Journal-Constitution July 23 and 24 by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research, Inc. The margin of error is plus or minus 4 percent. The paper did not break down the results to show whether there are differences of opinion along racial lines or between Falcons fans and non-fans.

THURSDAY MORNING ONE-LINERS by Michael David Smith

The Steelers confirmed they met with free agent QB Aaron Brooks last week but said they don't have any plans to sign him.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin says WR Santonio Holmes is sitting out because of an unspecified medical procedure that is not related to football.

Jets G Pete Kendall says he still doesn't know if he'll report to training camp.

If he's there, Kendall is the starting left guard; if not, that's one of the Jets' position battles to watch at training camp.

Former Vikings QB Tommy Kramer was arrested for suspicion of driving while intoxicated Saturday.

The Browns' locker room was flooded by thousands of gallons of water and some sewage.

The Giants have signed second-round WR Steve Smith.

Tennessee signed free-agent WR Eric Moulds.

Ravens LT Jonathan Ogden will start camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list with a toe injury, but he'll be ready in time for the regular season.

Steelers S Troy Polamalu says his new contract won't change him (other than, you know, making him a lot richer).

POSTED 7:08 a.m. EDT, July 26, 2007

GINN, FINS STILL NOT ON SAME PAGE

Although earlier this week there were strong indications that the Dolphins and first-round pick Ted Ginn were close to ironing out a deal, with (as we heard it) all major terms resolved and only the escalators to be ironed out, there's still no final agreement.

So if a deal isn't done by Friday's official opening of camp, does this mean that Ginn won't play?

Earlier this year, owner Wayne Huizenga said, "If you don't report, you're sitting out, baby. We're not playing you.''

Greg Cote of the Miami Herald hopes that Ginn calls Huizenga's bluff, if for no reason other than to watch the billionaire squirm. But we think that Huizenga and company already are feeling the heat, because Ginn and his agent, Neil Cornrich, know that there's no way that the Fins can afford to bench Ginn for the season, and thus the team's options are to cave in time for Ginn to report, or to create a situation in which Huizenga's actions don't match his words.

As Edgar Thompson of the Palm Beach Post pointed out on Wednesday, Cornrich has a reputation for holding guys out. According to a SportsBusiness Journal report from 2005, Cornrich had held out five of his six first-round picks from the prior decade.

And, in 2004, Cornrich held out second-round safety Bob Sanders a full 44 days, making him the last player to sign that year.

So Cornrich isn't afraid to wait it out, and Huizenga has declared that there will be real consequences for doing so. If a deal gets done in the next 24 hours or so, it'll be clear to us that the Fins privately blinked in order to avoid creating a situation in which the boss would be publicly embarrassed.

LYNCH DEAL COMING TODAY?

We're hearing that a contract agreement between the Buffalo Bills and running back Marshawn Lynch, the No. 12 overall selection in the draft, could be in place as early as Thursday morning.

On Wednesday night, the Falcons inked defensive end Jamaal Anderson, the No. 8 overall selection. Steelers linebacker Lawrence Timmons (No. 15) is the only other guy taken in the top 20 to be signed.

Stay tuned.

POSTED 12:05 a.m. EDT; UPDATED 12:22 a.m. EDT, July 25, 2007

ARIZONA AFTER VICK, TOO?

Already facing federal conspiracy charges in Virginia and the possibility of an indictment in Surry County of that same Commonwealth, there are now indications that Mike Vick could be under scrutiny in Arizona and New Jersey.

Though talk of a New Jersey investigation has all the indications at this point of mere political posturing, Vick has been identified as a "person of interest" in connection with a pending investigation in Maricopa County, Arizona.

"He is a person of interest as far as my office is concerned," said Sheriff Joe Arpaio. "I'm not talking about a case. I'm talking about

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