POSTED 10:08 p.m. EDT, July 31, 2007

DAUNTE DEAL DONE

The Raiders have announced the acquisition of quarterback Daunte Culpepper.  In an e-mail message regarding his arrival in Oakland, Culpepper had this to say:

"I am extremely excited to be able to play for the Oakland Raiders for the 2007 season.  I want to thank Mr. Davis, coach Lane Kiffen [sic] and the Raiders front office for giving me this opportunity.  When I became a Free Agent I created and ranked 8 criteria that I used to evaluate potential teams that were interested in my services.  Based on my criteria, the Oakland Raiders are the best fit.  The Raiders are giving me the opportunity to compete for the starting job while helping QB JaMarcus Russell, when he arrives, get ready to take over for the future.  I also get an opportunity to show both the Raiders and the NFL community that I am healthy and back to form after battling injuries the last two seasons.  Most importantly, I appreciated that there was mutual respect as we worked through the process of coming to contract terms.  I look forward to working with my new teammates and being a part of the Raider Nation!!"

Hey, Daunte must really be excited.  I mean, two exclamation points.  Wow.

And to the extent that football hadn't already become the year-at-a-time proposition that baseball has been for a couple of decades, we now have a guy who is signing to be a team's presumptive starting quarterback for one year, and one year only.

POSTED 9:53 p.m. EDT, July 31, 2007

RUSSELL WON'T SIGN UNTIL JOHNSON DOES

League sources continue to tell us that the No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 draft, LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell, will not sign with the Raiders until the Lions work out a deal with the No. 2 selection, Lions receiver Calvin Johnson.

Because Russell's agents have never done a No. 1 overall pick, the thinking is that they want to have the floor set by the Lions and Johnson.

Whether that floor is established any time soon remains to be seen.  Word is that Johnson's mother is calling the shots on this one, and that she's driving a hard bargain.

POSTED 9:35 p.m. EDT, July 31, 2007

CULPEPPER SIGNS WITH RAIDERS, WE THINK

Despite some reports suggesting that quarterback Daunte Culpepper left Oakland without a contract, ESPN.com reports that Culpepper inked a one-year deal to join the Raiders.

The move caps a short courtship after Culpepper spent two weeks on the market, looking for a one-year deal that, in the end, only the Raiders would provide.

Though it's unknown whether the Raiders would have pulled the trigger on Culpepper if No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell were signed and in camp, it's possible that the Raiders planned all along to go after the 1999 first-round pick if/when he did not sign elsewhere.

Once Russell arrives, Culpepper can serve as his mentor for a year -- if Culpepper is inclined to do so.  Once thought of as a solid team player, Culpepper went a little bonkos in early 2006 (in our opinion) and might be as willing to serve as a mentor to Russell as Jeff George likely was to Culpepper eight years ago in Minnesota.

POSTED 8:00 p.m. EDT, July 31, 2007

NO TURNING BACK FOR GLENN, COLTS

Even as some of the assorted sock puppets continue to report (and you know who you are) that the Colts are still trying to persuade left tackle Tarik Glenn to change his mind about retiring, the door to a return is slammed shut.

Per a league source, the Colts already have placed Glenn on reserve/retired list, which means that he cannot play at all in 2007, for any team.

But, hey, the truth never got in the way of a good televised talk-out-your-ass session.

POSTED 7:53 p.m. EDT, July 31, 2007

LEVI IS BOXED IN AT NO. 5

Although the talk in league circles is that agent Joel Segal hopes to use a six-year deal for tackle Levi Brown to surpass the total guaranteed money and average-per-year in guaranteed cash that Browns tackle Joe Thomas received at No. 3, a league source tells us that the Cardinals will not pay more guaranteed money to Brown, the No. 5 overall pick, than defensive end Gaines Adams received at No. 4 from Tampa.

The gap between Thomas and Adams is huge.  Thomas got $23.5 million guaranteed on a five-year deal; Adams got $18.5 million on a six.  We're not saying that Thomas did a great deal -- but it's clear that Adams got hosed.

The source says that, while the Cardinals still want to do a six-year deal, they won't give Brown $18.5 million in guaranteed money, since that's what the guy taken one spot higher received.

It's one of the dangers, in our view, of agents letting the slotting process do their work.  By doing Brown's deal after Adams got paid one spot higher, agent Joel Segal allowed the ceiling to be established on his contract.

So with LaRon Landry getting $17.5 million in guaranteed cash at No. 6 and Adams getting $18.5 million at No. 4, it looks like the best Brown will do is $18 million.

The problem is that Landry got more average guaranteed money per year than Adams.  But since the Cards are insisting on a six-year deal, and are likewise refusing to go to $18.5 million, Brown and Segal are in a box on this one, and Segal might end up with a better deal at No. 6 than at No. 5.

POSTED 6:07 p.m. EDT; UPDATED 7:03 p.m. EDT, July 31, 2007

CULPEPPER TO RAIDERS?

The Oakland Tribune reports that the Raiders will sign quarterback Daunte Culpepper, citing an unnamed source.

A league source tells us that the move is "very, very likely," but not quite yet a 100-percent certainty.  If/when a deal gets done, is expected to be a one-year contract.

Culpepper worked out for a Raiders scout in Florida on Monday, and then commenced discussions on a contract.  Peter King of SI.com recently reported that Culpepper previously turned down a three-year, $15 million offer from the Jaguars.

Culpepper has since been flown to Oakland for another look-see.  If healthy (and plenty of league insiders are convinced that he isn't), Culpepper could be the starter while JaMarcus Russell gets acclimated.  Then, Culpepper could go elsewhere in 2008, and Russell could take over the offense.

It's unclear whether the Raiders would have pursued Culpepper if Russell had already signed his rookie deal and reported to camp.  Though it's easy to conclude that the Raiders want Culpepper only because Russell isn't there, we suspect that owner Al Davis had his eye on Culpepper all along, and opted to let the market for Culpepper soften before jumping in.

POSTED 5:56 p.m. EDT, July 31, 2007

QUINN COURTING DISASTER IN CLEVELAND

The two sides are entrenched.  Agent Tom Condon wants a premium deal for quarterback Brady Quinn, despite the reality that Quinn was the No. 22 overall pick in the draft.  The team wants to pay him based on the fact that he was the No. 22 overall selection.

Meanwhile, Quinn is in Arizona, and he told Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer that he just wants a fair contract.

"I'd love to be there competing for the starting job," Quinn said.  "But it's a long contract, and I have to make sure it's fair in the event I become the starter."

Brady, by not being there, your chances of becoming the starter in the near term diminish.  Also, isn't every player drafted in round one expected to be a starter?  The system that has evolved for paying rookie draft picks simply doesn't include a "starter" premium.

In the NFL's rookie compensation system, what's "fair"?  A deal that pays you as if you were picked in the top ten when in fact you weren't?  Or a deal that pays you according to the realities of your plunge to No. 22?

Other quarterbacks have been picked after the first 20 names were called even though they expected to go higher, and those other quarterbacks have gotten their deals done.

After Quinn was taken by the Browns, the "real" media blindly embraced the notion that Quinn was playing for his "hometown" team, despite the fact that he was reared roughly two hours away, in a suburb of Columbus.  If Quinn truly had spent his formative years in Cleveland, he'd appreciate the depths of the resentment that he might be engendering with his current stance.

Said one league insider about Ohio's no-nonsense, working-class city:  "When they turn on you, they do it for good."

The source also believes that Quinn has been getting bad advice from the moment he became eligible for the draft, and that unless and until Quinn parts ways with Condon, the process will continue.

Indeed, the source declared to us his belief that "[t]he best thing [Quinn] can do is fire the guy."

As we see it, however, it's too late to make a change, given the NFLPA rule that would prevent Quinn from hiring a replacement for five days.  The better approach would be for Quinn and/or someone in his family to start asking tough questions.  Surely, the Browns aren't trying to screw Quinn.  They have plenty of reasons to get him in there and to get him ready to play. 

The real question here is whether Condon is looking to use the Quinn contract as the blueprint for the CAA 2008 recruiting brochure.  If, after all, Condon becomes known as the guy who can get a top-ten contract for quarterbacks who plunge out of the top 20, then Condon becomes the agent of choice for every blue-chip passer who fears that fallout of getting passed over by a couple of dozen teams.

Though no agent's work for a current client should be motivated by a desire to get the next client, plenty of them will subtly and adroitly sacrifice the interests of the present client in order to avoid hurting their ability to recruit the next wave of guys whose interests can be overlooked in order to be able to get the next wave beyond that one.  Just this week, we've had conversations with a couple of agents who freely acknowledged that fact of life for NFL agents.

In this specific case, as in so many others, it's Condon's guts and Quinn's blood.  Even if Condon secures a great deal for Quinn, the cost of the holdout in terms of reps and reputation could be enormous.

Does Condon care about that?  He should, and he'd say that he does.  He'd swear that he does.  But does he really care? 

We don't think so -- not just because of the facts of this specific case, but because of so many other examples we've seen over the years, from Condon and from other agents, that have convinced us that the interests of the player routinely get put behind the interests of the agent.

POSTED 5:16 p.m. EDT, July 31, 2007

TAYLOR HAS JUST A BRUISE

Vikings running back Chester Taylor, a 2006 workhorse who was used nearly to the point of full-body implosion, suffered only a bruised forearm in an incident that resulted in Taylor being taken off of the field in a cart.

Geez -- what'll they use to take him off of the field if he ever suffers a real injury?  A casket?

Coach Brad Childress says that Taylor is fine, and Taylor is wearing a white elastic sleeve on his arm.  He has yet to miss any practice time because of the injury; Tuesday afternoon's session was for special teams only.

The person most likely to be disappointed by the news that Taylor is fine is rookie running back Adrian Peterson, who needs to be the featured back in order to unlock some of the $15 million or so in incentive payments in his rookie deal.

POSTED 3:02 p.m. EDT, July 31, 2007

GIANTS PROCEEDING AS IF STRAHAN WILL RETIRE

Fully believing (as we hear it) that Giants defensive end Michael Strahan's supposed retirement contemplation is a ruse aimed at getting him more money and/or a ticket out of town, the team nevertheless is proceeding as if Strahan won't play again.

In other words, the Giants are calling his bluff.

The game, which reminds us of the stalemate between George Costanza and Susan's parents over his phony house in the Hamptons, potentially "gets nuts" on Wednesday when defensive end Simeon Rice comes to town for a physical.

An industry source tells us that the Rice physical will take place at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan, in order to avoid the media circus, and to ensure that the team can thoroughly check him out.

"Sounds like they are serious about moving on," the source said.  (Oh, wait -- and moving out.)

It definitely looks that way.  But if they do, what happens if Strahan shows up the day after they sign Rice?  At that point, the Giants might have no choice but to trade Strahan or to cut him, which he apparently wants.

POSTED 1:36 p.m. EDT, July 31, 2007

MEMO TO AGENTS:  HAVE YOUR GUYS READY TO SIGN

Thanks to Jason La Canfora's Washington Post blog, we now know why safety LaRon Landry didn't practice on Monday, despite agreeing to terms in the very early hours of Monday morning.

He wasn't in town.

We've heard about this kind of stuff from time to time over the years, and it drives us crazy.  There's no better way to set a bad tone for a rookie player than to have the guy needlessly miss practice time once his deal is done.

The simple solution?  Fly the kid to town and park him in a hotel.  Most folks of reasonable intelligence know when a deal is getting close -- and that's the moment to mobilize the player.

In Landry's case, agent Joel Segal should have gotten the kid's ass onto a plane as soon as the terms of the contract between the Vikings and running back Adrian Peterson were reported on early Sunday afternoon.  Better still, Landry should have gotten within short driving distance of the practice facility on the same day that camp opened.

There's no excuse for any other approach, other than the fact that the agent is too cheap to spring for the hotel (which, in most cases, gets charged back to the player anyway). 

In our view, it's just another one of those pieces of evidence that help indicate whether the agent truly cares about the player, or whether the agent merely cares about the agent.

POSTED 12:49 p.m. EDT, July 31, 2007

LANDRY FINALLY SHOWS UP

Though it was widely reported that safety LaRon Landry had struck a deal early Monday with the Redskins, the No. 6 overall selection in the draft missed both practices on Monday.

In all, the sixth pick missed six practices, and he is finally signed and will make his debut on Tuesday afternoon.

The reason for the delay isn't clear, and it's our understanding that agent Joel Segal merely took the contract given to running back Adrian Peterson at No. 7 and built in an increase.  Surely, the team isn't happy that Landry missed two more practices unnecessarily.

Meanwhile, it'll be interesting to see how safety Sean Taylor reacts to the presence of a guy who, at $17.5 million guaranteed and a total maximum value of $41.5 million, is making a lot more but has done a lot less -- especially since Taylor has wanted a new deal ever since the day that the guy drafted one spot behind him, Kellen Winslow, signed his contract as the sixth overall pick in 2004.

POSTED 11:56 a.m. EDT, July 31, 2007

MEESTER ON THE MEND

Jags starting center Brad Meester will miss 8-10 weeks after breaking an ankle on Monday at practice.

It happened on the final play of a nine-on-seven drill.

Meester will undergo surgery on Wednesday, and he could return in lare September or early October.  He started every game for the Jags in 2006, and he has started all but four games since joining the team in 2000.

POSTED 11:40 a.m. EDT; UPDATED 11:45 a.m. EDT, July 31, 2007

CHESTER CARTED OFF WITH INJURY

Vikings running back Chester Taylor suffered an injury on Tuesday to his right shoulder or arm, and was taken from the practice field on a cart.

Per Judd Zulgad of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Taylor was hit after catching a pass, and appeared to be in significant pain.

If Taylor misses any significant time, it opens the door for rookie Adrian Peterson, whose 2006 season at Oklahoma was marred by a broken collarbone. 

CAMP REPORTS ARE UP FOR EVERY TEAM

Well, we've done it.  After a couple of days, we've managed to post Training Camp Reports for every NFL team.

And, until further notice, the plan is to update each of them at least once every other day.

So why read these?  As days goes by, our cumulative list of one-line entries will provide the only comprehensive, and easily readable, snap snot of all of the significant and/or amusing developments in each team's camp.

POSTED 11:33 a.m. EDT, July 31, 2007

NFLN TAKING SOME HEAT FOR DEION DECISION

Both the New York Times and the New York Daily News have addressed in their respective Tuesday editions the recent decision of the NFL's in-house broadcasting network to invoke its contractual rights to Deion Sanders in connection with a sequel to his July 22 column regarding Michael Vick that Sanders had submitted to the Fort Myers News-Press for publication on July 29.

Though the Times piece merely reports on the brouhaha with minimal embedded editorialization, Bob Raismann of the New York Daily News opines that the NFL's motivation might be a desire to be able to control Deion's opinions.

POSTED 10:39 a.m. EDT, July 31, 2007

TITANS SAY NO TO PACMAN'S WRESTLING JONES

Though the Tennessee Titans don't want suspended cornerback Pacman Jones participating in training camp, they also don't want him participating in pro wrestling.

"That type of thing is not permitted in accordance with the player's contract,'' coach Jeff Fisher said Monday, according to the Nashville Tennessean.

"I think he has enough on his plate right now," linebacker Keith Bulluck said.  "But you never know with that guy.  Who knows what he is going to do.  I don't know if that is the best thing to do, but at the same time it not my decision, it's Pac's.''

Apparently, however, Jones wouldn't be a wrestler, per se.  He'd be one of the guys on the fringes, providing "entertainment value."  (And, from time to time, jacking something with a chair.)

"I do see (Jones) as a pretty good hype man," defensive tackle Rien Long said.  "He should be someone's manager, going around slapping hands and kicking the opponent's manager or something like that — maybe an instigator of some kind.  Inside the ring I guess I could see him as a flying squirrel maybe.''

"Instigator" is the perfect label, because that's what Pacman has been off of the football field.  Hell, it's what he's essentially charged with in Vegas; instigating another guy to shoot someone.

Still, we suspect that the Titans will keep close watch over Pacman's activities -- not because they want to keep him from making some money while he can't play pro football, but because (in our belief) the team still hopes to be able to trade him, if by some miracle he stays out of trouble and gets reinstated.

Hey, maybe they could trade him straight up to the Falcons for Mike Vick.  Tennessee still needs a good running back.

POSTED 10:25 a.m. EDT, July 31, 2007

SAMUELS MIGHT MISS A MONTH

Though it apparently could have been much worse, the fact that the Washington Redskins won't have left tackle Chris Samuels for roughly a month is not good new for a team hoping to kick-start its offense in 2007.

"I thought it was over for the season [when it happened]," Samuels said before undergoing an MRI.  "But the Good Lord blessed me.  I know that I'm fine. . . .  I think I'm OK.  I didn't feel anything pop.  We'll see how long it takes to get back on the field."

Samuels sprained the MCL in his right knee during practice on Monday.  He tore that same ligament in 2003.

Unlike the ACL, which can't repair itself if torn, the MCL is a rope-like ligament that can mend and strengthen with time and rehab.

Jason Fabini is expected to take Samuels' place in the starting lineup.

POSTED 10:17 a.m. EDT, July 31, 2007

SCOTT OUT FOR THE SEASON

The first season-ending injury of note this year comes from New England, where cornerback Chad Scott, a one-time first-round pick turned journeyman turned potential replacement for holdout Asante Samuel, has been placed on injured reserve after suffering a leg injury on the first day of training camp.

Randall Gay has replaced Scott in the first-team defense.

It remains to be seen whether the absence of Scott has any impact on the Samuel standoff.  In our view, it's better for the Patriots to have the injury happen early in camp, since it gives the team more time to plan for life without Scott.

Besides, there isn't much that the Pats can do, if they were suddenly inclined to cave in to Samuel's demands.  The deadline for signing him to a long-term deal passed two weeks ago; the most Samuel can get from the team now is an agreement that they franchise won't put the franchise tag on him again in 2008.

POSTED 7:50 a.m. EDT, July 31, 2007

DID TIKI'S ROUTINE EMBOLDEN STRAHAN?

There's a school of thought in industry circles that Giants defensive end Michael Strahan might have opted for the pre-emptive retirement route based on the manner in which Tiki Barber's weeks of talks about retiring in 2006 distracted the team and disrupted the season.

So even if Strahan shows up, with or without more money, the team could be concerned that he's going to constantly be talking about whether he will or won't be back for 2008, when he'll be a year older and his body will be even more banged up.

The options are to trade him or to cut him, even though doing so would be giving Strahan what he wants.  A trade is more likely, since it would give the Giants something of value in exchange for his services.

But, really, who would want to trade for a guy who has shown a high degree of disloyalty to the team that has employed him, and paid him handsomely, for more than a decade?  How long will it be in a new city before Strahan gets a burr in his butt and starts popping off?  And how will Strahan's new teammates receive him, especially if he tries to come in and dominate the locker room?

Then again, cutting Strahan wouldn't be a good idea, since the Redskins would likely pounce on him -- and pay him -- in a heartbeat, notwithstanding the questions raised above.  Though the Redskins apparently have evolved from an organization that will blindly acquire big-name players, the needs on the defensive line are too great not to move quickly to get Strahan, and it's highly unlikely that the Giants would trade him there. 

Thus, there's no good way out of this one for the Giants, and they can thank Tiki (thanks, Tiki) for giving Strahan the blueprint for making himself into a tremendous pain in the ass.

CLEARING THE AIR ON STRAHAN'S PAY

It has been mentioned here and in other places that one of the apparent reasons for Michael Strahan's non-holdout holout is that he will be paid only (only?) $4 million this year.

But his 2007 cap number is more than $6.7 million.  So that extra $2.7 million is past money he received that represents advance compensation for 2007.

As we've said before (and likely will say again), signing bonuses are advance pay for future services, not free money.  Strahan has already received a big chunk of his pay for the coming season; though $6.7 million is still below the bar that has been set by Dwight Freeney's $72 million deal, it's significantly more than the $4 million base salary that Strahan will receive, if he plays this year.

POSTED 11:27 p.m. EDT, July 30, 2007

GORE BUSTS HIS HAND

49ers running back Frank Gore suffered a broken hand on Monday, according to the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat, and pointed out to us by our friends at RotoWorld.com, which powers the PFT Fantasy Mill.

Gore is expected to miss a week of practice, but the bone is expected to require four weeks to heal.

Backups Michael Robinson, Maurice Hicks, and Thomas Clayton will get more reps, and another running back could be signed.

POSTED 10:21 p.m. EDT; UPDATED 10:40 p.m. EDT, July 30, 2007

RAIDERS TALKING TO CULPEPPER

Earlier this year, ESPN's John Clayton declared that Daunte Culpepper was the key to the draft because, if the Raiders were to acquire him, they would not pick JaMarcus Russell with the No. 1 overall selection.

We reported in response that the acquisition of Culpepper did not mean that the Raiders would be out of the market for Russell, and vice-versa.

Now, with talks between the Raiders and Russell bogged down and most teams scared off by Culpepper's demand for a one-year contract, Adam Schefter of NFL Network reports that Culpepper has worked out for the Raiders, and is in talks with the team about signing a contract.

It's unclear whether the sudden interest in Culpepper is driven by the status of the Russell talks, or whether the Raiders would be pursuing this possibility even if Russell were under contract.  Still, Culpepper gives the Raiders some insurance against an ongoing holdout.

Though some believe that the gap between the Raiders and Russell is rooted in money, we heard earlier on Monday that the structure of the deal is the problem.  Russell's camp wants to maximize the amount of the package that is devoted to an option bonus payment, which is not subject to forfeiture in the event of a holdout or a suspension. 

FINALLY, NO. 1

Our 25-day journey from Milan to Minsk has ended with the unveiling of the guy whom we regard as the best player of the last 25 years.

The list is right here.

We'll soon put together a list of those who were close, but for whatever reason didn't make the cut.

Starting tomorrow -- our team-by-team preseason power rankings.

POSTED 9:47 p.m. EDT, July 30, 2007

BUCS REFUTE SIMMS REPORT

Tampa Bay Buccaneers G.M. Bruce Allen claims that the Monday report from the St. Petersburg Times regarding the condition of quarterback Chris Simms was "completely inaccurate."

Per the Times, Simms is suffering from an impairment to his proprioception, an internal body sense that allows a person to know the position of his arms and legs in position to the rest of his body.  And the condition reportedly is causing shoulder pain for Simms.

Simms has declined to discuss the situation; if there was nothing to it, wouldn't Simms merely say so?

As a result, we don't put much stock in the team's denial.  If Simms is suffering from a condition that is significantly affecting his ability to perform yet somehow he passed a preseason physical, the person ultimately responsible for the screw-up is the same guy who's calling the report inaccurate.  Now that Simms has been cleared to play, the team is on the hook for his full salary of $2 million if he is placed in injured reserve, and possibly a big chunk of it if he is released.

Meanwhile, there's no dispute that something is wrong with Simms.  His performance is subpar.  Regardless of the reason, Simms' status in Tampa is in serious jeopardy.

POSTED 8:42 p.m. EDT, July 30, 2007

GIANTS RELISH QUIET CAMP

With TiVi Barber retired and Michael Strahan supposedly thinking about doing the same, there's an unusual phenomenon unfolding in Giants' camp.

It's quiet.

A league source tells us that the team is enjoying the lack of volume due to the absence of Barber and Strahan.  And there's a growing theory in league circles that the Giants are fine with the absence of Strahan, and that they might be far more willing to accept his retirement -- and squat on his rights -- than most league observers previously expected.

Meanwhile, Mike Garafolo reports that the Giants will impose a daily fine on Strahan of more than $14,000 per day, further confirming that the team doesn't believe he's seriously thinking about retiring, but that he's hoping for more money from the Giants or a new address.

So Strahan's options are simple -- show up or retire.  He had seven months to think about what he is going to do.  

POSTED 8:09 p.m. EDT, July 30, 2007

BOWE WAITING FOR QUINN

With the holdout of Browns quarterback Brady Quinn lingering, every indication is that the guy drafted behind him plans to wait until Quinn signs before doing his deal.

The floor for the contract of the No. 23 pick, Chiefs receiver Dwayne Bowe, has been set by the No. 24 pick, Pats defensive back Brandon Meriweather.  The ceiling will be set by Quinn.  And since Quinn's agent, Tom Condon, is hoping to blow out the slotting process with his Quinn contract, Bowe and his agents are planning (so we hear) to go along for the ride.

A league source tells us that, as of a couple of hours ago, there had been no discussions between the Chiefs and Bowe's representatives for the past couple of days.  The only plausible reason, in our view, is that there's nothing to discuss until Quinn signs.

POSTED 8:03 p.m. EDT, July 30, 2007

HUYGHUE ACCUSES PANTHERS OF BAD FAITH

The agent for Panthers first-round draft pick Jon Beason claims that the team is bargaining in bad faith.

Per the Associated Press, Huyghue claims that the Panthers are refusing to pay to Beason an option bonus, given the ruling from earlier this year in the Ashley Lelie case that such bonuses are not subject to forfeiture in the event of a default arising from, for example, a holdout or a suspension.

Huyghue argues that, because other teams have used option bonuses for first-round picks, the refusal of the Panthers to include an option bonus means that the Panthers are acting in bad faith.

We don't buy it.  Not at all.  The team isn't required to include an option bonus.  And if Huyghue and Beason want an option bonus badly enough for Beason to sit out, so be it.

Alternatively, Beason can sign the one-year tender for the rookie minimum.  Or Huyghue can step aside and let an agent who'll do the deal without an option bonus get it done.

Frankly, we think Huyghue would be wise to stop publicly complaining, lest his client eventually figure out that the agent isn't as worried about this client as he is about the next client.  If Huyghue were to accept a deal without an option bonus, it would be used against him aggressively in recruiting.

"You don't want to sign with Huyghue," rivals agents would whisper to the 2008 crop of picks.  "He's the only guy who didn't get an option bonus for his first-round client."

Dollars are dollars, and there's no indication that Beason is being offered money that's out of line with his slot, especially since the player directly in front of him and the player directly behind him have been signed. 

And while there's no reason to believe that Beason will be a guy who needs the threat of bonus forfeiture to stay in line, the last first-rounder who fired his original agent after the draft and hired Huyghue was Pacman Jones.

Need we say more?

POSTED 5:55 p.m. EDT, July 30, 2007

22 CAMP REPORTS ARE UP

With the help of Michael David Smith, we'll soon have Training Camp Reports for every team, and we'll be updating all of them at least every other day.  Florio will take the AFC East, AFC North, NFC East, and NFC South, and MDS will do the AFC South, AFC West, NFC North, and NFC West.

The reports are compiled in our patented (not really) One-Liners format, with 8-10 entries per update.

So, basically, we'll be posting up to 160 One-Liners per day over the next few weeks.  But in order to keep the content in the Rumor Mill manageable, we'll be keeping the camp updates on a separate page for each team.

Here's a sample of the Redskins camp report, which we have just posted:

S LaRon Landry missed both practices on Monday, and apparently has not yet signed his contract.

Much-hyped offensive guru Al Saunders says that things will get better in 2007.  (Can they really get worse?)

FB Mike Sellers showed up with a two-toned beard, dyed blonde at the bottom.  (It apparently was intentional, unless he went bobbing for apples in a vat of hydrogen peroxide.)

WR Brandon Lloyd says that his new haircut is "European."  (What's next?  A fur and a purse?)  

So be sure to make a tour of our Training Camp Reports part of your daily PFT routine.     

POSTED 5:15 p.m. EDT, July 30, 2007

OSI ENTERS STRAHAN FRAY

Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora, who hired earlier this year the same agent who represents Giants teammate Michael Strahan, is suddenly sticking his nose into the non-holdout holdout that Strahan currently is conducting.

Specifically, Umenyiora is sounding off about the possibility that free-agent defensive end Simeon Rice will join the team as the replacement for Strahan.

Per Mike Garafolo of the Newark Star-Ledger, Osi fired off several slaps at Rice.

First, he said:  "Nobody's talking about Julius Peppers.  I mean, Simeon Rice is an outstanding pass rusher, but that's what he is.  So I don't think it resonated with us that Simeon Rice is coming in.  We have good players in here; we'll be all right."

Next, regarding Rice's reputation as a one-trick pony:  "I'm not going to go so far as to call him what a lot of other people have called him.  I'm not going to go that far.  But I'm not sure.  They say he's not the best run player and I guess people gave him that reputation for a reason."

Next, Osi says he won't move from the right side to the left to accommodate Rice:  "I don't know where he's going to play.  I know he can't play left defensive end because they run the ball there.  He can't play right defensive end.  Well, he's been a right end. . . .  [But] I'm not moving to the left side.  Absolutely not.  Not even a question.  I'm a right end.  I've been successful at right end.  I don't feel the need to move to a different position. That's kind of crazy.  I'm not going to move to left defensive end if they sign Simeon Rice, is what I'm trying to tell you.  If the team asks me, 'Okay, we need you to move to left defensive end because we need you at that position,' I will.  But I'm not going to move to that position because Simeon Rice is coming in.  I won't do it."

But Osi also says that Strahan's thought on retirement are real, which of course highlights the importance of bringing in a replacement.  "He's not joking," Umenyiora said. "It's going to take him a while to really make that decision, but he's contemplating it."

Osi, it would be better if you stay out of this one.  The team already believes that Strahan's retirement deliberations are a transparent effort at holding out for a new deal, or a trade.  By trying to bully the team into not calling Strahan's bluff, you merely reinforce the notion that Strahan will eventually cave in and report, if he doesn't get what he wants.

And, by he way, Osi also wants what Strahan wants -- more money.  But Osi won't make his play for more pay until 2008.

Hey, maybe he'll be "contemplating retirement," too.

POSTED 4:52 p.m. EDT, July 30, 2007

RUSSELL, RAIDERS NOT FIGHTING OVER MONEY

A league source tells us that the primary roadblock to the negotiation of a contract between the No.1 overall pick in the 2007 draft and the team that drafted him is not money.  Instead, the delay in a deal between JaMarcus Russell and the Oakland Raiders is due to the structure of the deal.

Per the source, a tentative agreement has been reached regarding the total amount of guaranteed money, and that if the deal is finalized pursuant to those terms Russell will realize more guaranteed money than was paid in 2006 to defensive end Mario Williams of the Texans, the No. 1 selection.

The snag, we're told, is the allocation of guaranteed money to an option bonus.  Because of the Ashley Lelie ruling, option bonus money is not subject to forfeiture if a player holds out or gets suspended.  But Russell's camp wants most of the guaranteed money to be paid out with that device, which could prompt skeptics to wonder whether there are concerns that Russell might be inclined to at some point hold out and/or do something that will get him suspended.

There has been rumor/speculation that the holdout arises from cash-flow problems on the part of the Raiders.  But team-by-team revenue disparities notwithstanding, these franchises get more than enough money from the shared revenue sources to pay their players.

We're also hearing that there's a chance that Russell's deal will be only five years in length.  This would likely drive down the total guaranteed money, but the per-year average would still likely be higher than the per-year guaranteed money average on the Williams deal.

There's also a school of thought in league circles that Russell's agents won't do a deal at No. 1 until the package paid to Lions receiver Calvin Johnson at No. 2 is known.  Since this is the first foray into the top spot for the firm of Lock, Metz & Malinovic, getting leapfrogged by Johnson would likely make it their last.

As to Johnson's deal, we're hearing that the team and the player remain far apart on money.  We've heard rumblings that Johnson is looking for $30 million in guaranteed money.    

POSTED 4:02 p.m. EDT; UPDATED 4:26 p.m. EDT, July 30, 2007

TAYLOR PLEA DEAL DONE IN ADVANCE?

We outline below the practical effect of Tony Taylor's guilty plea on federal conspiracy charges in the Mike Vick dog-fighting and gambling prosecution.  Because, as we explained, Taylor pleaded guilty as charged to all charges, there was and is no "plea bargain," since the term implies that the guy will plead guilty to some lesser offense.

But given the news from July 26 that a "superseding indictment" is coming, we wonder whether a plea deal with Taylor was brokered in advance.

Here's how it could have gone down. 

Aware that he is a target of the investigation, Taylor would have had his lawyer contact the feds about a possible deal.  Since the law permits individuals to be charged both with conspiracy to commit a crime and with the actual commission of the crime, the feds decided to use a two-step process, indicting all four of the defendants in the first wave, and allowing Taylor to plead guilty to the initial charges.

Buoyed by Taylor's signed "summary of facts," the feds can now issue a new indictment not only for conspiracy, but also for the underlying crimes.  Based on our research, this would add another potential 21 years in jail time to the equation for the remaining defendants.

If Taylor is omitted from any new charges, then the deal apparently was that he'd plead guilty to conspiracy charges and not face responsibility for the stiffer potential penalties.

Of course, maybe each of the four defendants were given the opportunity to do this. 

And maybe two of them still will.

HOW MEDIA COMPANIES HANDLE DEATH

Did you ever wonder how it is that major media entities can bang out so quickly after someone of a high profile dies an exhaustive obituary that touches on virtually every aspect of the person's life?

The answer is they don't.  At least, not always.  For persons who are known to be in failing health, the item is often prepared in advance and then put "in the can" until it's needed.

But it's usually a good idea to, you know, read the thing before publishing it, lest the illusion that the company in question prepared almost instantaneously a sweeping remembrance of the deceased be (shu-doo-bie) shattered.

Consider this line from the article about the late Bill Walsh, which appears (for now) on ESPN.com:  "He also helped to establish the World League of American Football -- now NFL Europe -- in 1994, taking the sport around the globe as a development ground for the NFL."

First of all, the World League began play in 1991, but that's a mistake that could have been made if the thing had been written before or after Walsh's passing.  The bigger gaffe -- the one that partially exposes the derriere of the man behind the curtain -- is the presence of the phrase "now NFL Europe."

For starters, the name was changed to "NFL Europa" at some point prior to the 2007 season.  More importantly, the league went dark last month.

ESPN.com isn't the only company that posted a post-death write-up that was written while Walsh was still alive.  Plenty of the articles already published surely weren't written and researched and edited so quickly. 

Of course, we all should live lives so significant that newspapers and web sites pen reflections on our lives for publication after we pass.  Still, there's something creepy to us about the notion that folks routinely are assigned the task of preparing while someone is still living the words that will be "written" right after they die.  

POSTED 3:49 p.m. EDT, July 30, 2007

TAYLOR PLEA BAD NEWZ FOR VICK

We've finally had a chance to read the paperwork filed on Monday in connection with the Mike Vick dog-fighting prosecution, and the 13-page "summary of the facts" contains no significant new information, with the exception of a statement at paragraph 4 of the document that the BadNewz Kennels operation and gambling monies were funded "almost exclusively" by Vick.

Though that assertion from Tony Taylor should surprise no one, since the other three guys don't play, you know, pro football, it's the first time that this statement has been articulated in connection with the prosecution's case.

As a procedural matter, this new document differs from the original indictment because one of the members of the alleged conspiracy is now admitting that the conspiracy existed, and is acknowledging as true most if not all of the indictment's allegations through and until his departure from the operation in September 2004.

Contrary to popular belief, the document reflects no plea bargain of any kind.  Instead, Taylor is saying, "I did it; I'm guilty."

And the only potential benefit he'll receive is the same benefit that the others would receive by accepting responsibility now for their alleged misdeeds.  Under the federal sentencing guidelines (which are no longer mandatory but which are routinely followed), 'fessing up to the crime early can result in a lesser sentence.

Though Taylor likewise has no deal to "cooperate" with the government in the prosecution against Vick and the other two defendants, there's nothing more for Taylor to do.  By signing the "summary of facts," he has provided prosecutors with a road map for his direct examination when he is called to testify at trial.  

So what does it all mean to Vick?  In order to secure a "not guilty" verdict, Vick will now have to persuade a jury that Taylor's agreement with all of the charges made against him was and is a bald-faced lie.

Good luck with that.

Though we're reluctant to compare this case to the O.J. Simpson prosecution (but will nevertheless do so), assume that Simpson's pal Al Cowlings had been arrested for participating in the murders, and had immediately pleaded guilty as charged, to all charges, acknowledging in writing and later under oath that he and Simpson killed the two victims. 

As we see it, Simpson's chances of skating under those circumstances are roughly the same as Vick's now.

POSTED 3:28 p.m. EDT, July 30, 2007

LUCHS SUSPENSION CONFIRMED

A league source has confirmed to us that agent Josh Luchs, who has negotiated 15 active player contracts, has been suspended by the NFLPA for one year, and fined $25,000.

The ruling is subject to appeal.

Luchs allegedly received a fee from a player and did not forward the money to an agency for which he previously had worked, and then allegedly lied about not receiving the fee.

Depending on how Luchs' reinstatement is handled, Luchs return might not happen until he obtains a college degree and a master's, since the NFLPA agent regulations now require that new agents have at least a masters-level degree.  Per the source, Luchs has neither.  

POSTED 3:09 p.m. EDT, July 30, 2007

BILL WALSH PASSES ON

Hall-of-Fame head coach Bill Walsh, whose West Coast offense made a mediocre at best 49ers team into a dynasty in the 1980s, has died at age 75 of leukemia.

Walsh led the 49ers to three Super Bowl championships, retiring after the team won Super Bowl XXIII.  He moved on to other things, working as a broadcaster, coaching at Stanford, and returning to the San Fran front office, but those years as the head coach of the Niners always were the brightest lights of his football resume.

Walsh has been battling leukemia for a while.  We received word of his passing from KGO-TV in San Francisco. 

POSTED 1:26 p.m. EDT, July 30, 2007

SIMMS STILL STRUGGLING FROM SPLENECTOMY AFTERMATH

Tampa Bay quarterback Chris Simms has yet to participate in training camp, due to lingering consequences of emergency surgery to remove his spleen in 2006.

Specifically, Simms is suffering from impairment to his proprioception, an internal sensory, um, thing.  It is making it difficult for him to throw a football.  And the throwing struggles apparently are causing problems with his shoulder.

"I'd rather just not comment about the situation right now, honestly,'' Simms told the St. Petersburg Times.

The Times reports that Simms is in danger of being placed on injured reserve or released.  If he is released, the team would be required to work out an injury settlement with him.  If he is placed on injured reserve, he would receive his full salary and remain the property of the team.

Though the Times suggests that Simms could be placed on the PUP list, that option goes away once a player passes his preseason physical.  If he had been placed on the PUP list and released before passing a physical, the team's exposure would have been only $275,000.     

The fact that Simms might not be available at all this season could increase the team's interest in Daunte Culpepper, who has scared off several suitors with his demand for a one-year deal.  The Bucs are the only team that Culpepper has visited since being released by Miami 13 days ago.

POSTED 12:59 p.m. EDT, July 30, 2007

COULD REVIS RE-ENTER THE DRAFT?

A league source tells us that the primary snag in the talks between the Jets and cornerback Darrelle Revis, the No. 14 overall pick in the draft, is that the Jets are insisting on Revis signing a six-year deal, but that Revis wants a five-year contract.

With so many players taken in the top 16 signing deals of five years in duration instead of the CBA maximum of six seasons, the refusal of the Jets to do a five-year deal could cause this to become one of the lengthier holdouts of the bunch.  And there are indications that, unless the Jets yield on this point, Revis might sit out the entire season and re-enter the draft.

Keep this in mind -- the uncle of Revis, Sean Gilbert, once sat out an entire season in a dispute with the Redskins.  And thereafter Gilbert got paid a bunch of money.

Will it happen with Revis?  At this point, it's way too early to tell.  But, unlike every other rookie or holdout, he's a least got someone in the family who played the patience game, and eventually won it.   So if the Jets won't drop the demand for a six-year deal and unless the six-year deal compensates Revis fully and fairly for the extra year of free agency that he'll be sacrificing, Revis could end up re-entering the draft in 2008.   

POSTED 12:35 p.m. EDT, July 30, 2007

VICK REALIZES THAT RETURN TO FALCONS IS UNCERTAIN

Although it was teased as an interview that would be played at 12:30 p.m., V-103 in Atlanta rolled the thing early.

As expected, the ground rules were that no legal questions could be asked.  But Vick was asked whether he thinks he'll play again for the Atlanta Falcons.

"Hopefully, so," Vick said.  "Under the right circumstances, it can work."

Vick indicated a desire to continue to play for the Falcons.  If/when the team imposes discipline on him, his feelings potentially could change.

POSTED 12:04 p.m. EDT; UPDATED 12:12 p.m. EDT, July 30, 2007

VICK TO SPEAK ON AIR

Falcons quarterback Mike Vick is scheduled to speak on the air with Atlanta radio station V-103.  The interview, which based on the fact that short sound bites are being played as teasers, apparently was taped and will be played at 12:30 p.m. EDT.

The link to listen live is right here.  (We'll probably regret posting that, because the server is sure to be flooded now.)

Our guess is that one of the stipulations was that Vick won't be asked any substantive questions, and that there won't be anything all that interesting said.

If this is the first step in the Mike Vick public relations campaign, it's getting started a little late.

MORE CAMP REPORTS ARE UP

MDS is baning out the camp reports, with the Cardinals, Chargers, and Broncos added.

More are on the way.

Click here for the full list.

POSTED 12:00 p.m. EDT, July 30, 2007

MULCAHY OKAY AFTER SCARE

Bengals tight end Sean Mulcahy provided the team with a big scare on Monday morning after suffering an injury during a live blocking drill that resulted in Mulcahy being strapped to a stretcher and taken to a hospital.

Mulcahy reportedly has feeling in his extremities and is in good spirits.

The 25-year-old former Connecticut Husky signed with the Bengals as a free agent after the 2006 season, and was allocated to NFL Europa.

POSTED 9:26 a.m. EDT; UPDATED 9:55 a.m. EDT, July 30, 2007

OTHER NFL DOG FIGHTERS FACING BLACKMAIL?

A reader has raised with us a great point about the latest twist in the Mike Vick dog fighting scandal. 

With Tony Taylor enter on Monday morning in Virginia a guilty plea on federal conspiracy charges, which presumably will entail testimony against the other three co-defendants (including Vick), do other dog fighters who currently collect NFL paychecks now face private blackmail threats from folks who have been at dog fights with them, and who might be inclined to blow the whistle to the police, the league, and/or the media?

The problem is that folks who would spend time watching dogs tear each other apart for amusement aren't necessarily the most reputable members of society, and could be inclined to pursue the quick cash hit that could come from telling an NFL player that, absent a generous contribution to the Human Fund, his involvement in this "hobby" will be revealed.

Our guess is that it's already happening -- and it's all the more reason for NFL players who have in the past shown their "passion" for dog fighting to find something else to pass the time when they aren't practicing or playing football.

Of course, if any of the folks who attend dog fights and then try to extort money from an NFL player were to go public, who would believe them?  Guys like Tony Taylor have built-in credibility problems by virtue of the things that they have done, and it makes any of their claims instantly suspect.

Surely, that's the approach that lawyer Billy Martin will take in defending Vick in court.  By relentlessly attacking the truth-telling capacity of the four unnamed (for now) cooperating witnesses and Taylor, Martin will hope to create sufficient reasonable doubt in the minds of the jurors.

The other side of the coin is that these are the very people with whom Mike Vick chose to associate.  Absent a clear motive for each of these five people to tell lies under oath about him, or other evidence that shows that these witnesses were incorrect in any conclusions that they reached about Vick's involvement, the notion that the word of five different people should be rejected (especially if Vick opts not to testify) is bit of a stretch.

POSTED 9:09 a.m. EDT, July 30, 2007

CHARGES DROPPED AGAINST BUCS TAILBACK

All pending charges against Bucs running back Lionel Gates have been dropped, according to PewterReport.com.

The charges were dropped earlier this month.

"I was at home in July and I got a call saying that I had been acquitted of all charges and everything is over and done with," Gates said.  "I was so happy.  I got on my knees and prayed.  I thanked God for putting this behind me so that my mind would be clear for camp.  All I can focus on is football."

Though the headline to the article accepts Gates' representation that he was "acquitted," an acquittal happens only if a jury hears the evidence and renders a verdict of not guilty. 

And we can't help but wonder whether the charges were dropped at the request of the alleged victim, who possibly received a cash settlement of any potential civil claims against Gates before doing so. 

Gates allegedly kicked in the door of a pregnant woman's apartment, punched her in the face, and threw her against a wall in March.  We'd love to know whether she's the one who dropped the charges, and whether she received any money from Gates and/or from the Bucs to do so.

The use of the term "acquittal" might cause fans and the media to overlook that potential angle.  Here's hoping that they don't.

And if only dogs had the ability to enter into civil settlements, Mike Vick might soon be "acquitted," too.

POSTED 9:02 a.m. EDT, July 30, 2007

KENDALL TAKES THE GLOVES OFF

In his quest to get a new contract, or a new team, Jets offensive lineman is stepping up the rhetoric.

As mentioned in our most recent Jets camp report, Kendall reported merely to avoid the $14,000-per-day fine for holding out.  But he's not holding his tongue, and it would make more sense for the team to not have him there.

Kendall met on Sunday with G.M. Mike Tannenbaum, but whatever Tannenbaum said didn't get the stick out of Kendall's kiester.

"Coaches and players -- people in the building -- have expressed to me that they hope I get what I'm looking for, what I want," said Kendall, according to the New York Daily News.  "More than a few have expressed that they don't necessarily agree with what's going on."

Later, speaking only to the Daily News, Kendall suggested that head coach Eric Mangini "conveyed frustration with his own contract situation during a private meeting in March."

"He told me a lot of things [in confidence]," Kendall said.  "He sounded empathetic to my situation.  I don't want to go much further than that right now."

Kendall might want to not go much further than that ever.  Sooner or later, his strategy of disruption is going to get him the T.O. treatment.  Two years ago (man, it seems so much longer than that), Owens was sent home for a week from training camp as he employed the same "report, but disrupt" approach in an effort to convey displeasure with his contract.  Eventually, the Eagles suspended Owens for four games with pay, for conduct detrimental to the team.

Kendall could be facing the same fate, if he doesn't put a sock in it soon.  And that $14,000-per-day holdout fine could pale in comparison to the $397,000 he'd lose in game checks if such a suspension were to stick.  

POSTED 7:59 a.m. EDT, July 30, 2007

UNION LAUNCHES PLAYER P.R. CAMPAIGN

Greg Bedard of the Palm Beach Post (and soon to be of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel) reports that the NFL Players Association is trying to win the hearts and minds of its rank-and-file via the distribution of a memo that purports to provide the players with talking points regarding the still-smoldering controversy regarding the manner in which the union takes care of players from yesteryear.

The memo has been given to the players on the Dolphins.  Presumably, other players in other camps have gotten it, too.

The beauty of the NFLPA memo is that, in recruiting players to join in the P.R. effort, the union presumes that the players already are on board with the approach that has been taken, and that the players will blindly accept what the union is saying on the matter, and parrot that message to the media.

But, frankly, any player (like Matt Birk of the Vikings) who thinks that the NFLPA likes to merely cram its agenda down the throats of the players now has even more ammunition to prove his point. 

The memo isn't couched as an effort to provide the players with information so that they can come to their own conclusions about the issue, but as ammunition for the players to answer any questions they might face from the media on the topic:  "Recently, some media have published factually inaccurate and misleading statements and stories relating to what the NFLPA has done to assist retired NFL Players.  Because you may be asked to comment on the subject by the media or others, we wanted to provide you with the facts relating to the substantial CBA benefit increases and other assistance that the NFLPA has negotiated for and/or provided to Retired players."

So with players occupied by the rigors of training camp, will they take the time to understand the issues and formulate their own opinions, or will they merely rattle off a couple of the things they remember from the 15 seconds or so that the spent reading the memo? 

The far better approach would have been to send this information to the players a month ago, so that they would have had time (if so inclined) to give some thought to the situation, and perhaps talk to other players about it, before heading to camp and facing possible media questions.

And, of course, the media will now ask the players questions about the matter, and many of the players most likely will regurgitate some of the points that the NFLPA has supplied to them.

Here are some of the highlights of the 14 talking points that the NFLPA has provided to the players:

"2. Who paid for these improvements for retired players?  You do.  As an active player, all improvements come out of our negotiated percentage of revenues.  Any increase or improvement comes out of your pocket."

This portion, in our view, is aimed at pandering to the same "I want mine now" mentality that has directly contributed to the problem that retired players now face.  Why not explain to the current players that they will one day be retired players, and that any money given up during the years that they play football will come back to them in the future, possibly in even greater amounts since the total revenues will likely continue to go up and up, especially as the NFL exports its product into new countries?

"3. Before 1993, did other players go back and improve pensions and disability?  No.  The first group of players to improve the pension and who continue to improve the pension were those who negotiated the 1993 CBA.  Every future CBA extension has included pension improvements — 1998, 2002, and 2006."

This topic is a back-handed slap at the current group of players at the forefront of the movement to improve the money available to former players.  Indeed, we've heard that guys like Mike Ditka and Joe D. (we're too lazy this morning to refresh our memory as to how to spell his last name) consistently voted against any improvements to the care of former players when they were pocketing their NFL player salaries. 

Anyway, we're hoping that, if this memo has been given to every player with every team, one or more guys in each NFL camp will point out to his teammates that they should apply their own brain power to the situation, and that they should not accept the union's presumption that the players are fully on board with the NFLPA's current approach.

In the end, plenty of the players might agree completely with what the NFLPA is saying.  But it would be nice if they would receive a fair chance to come to their own conclusions on the matter.

POSTED 7:18 a.m. EDT; UPDATED 7:25 p.m. EDT, July 30, 2007

'SKINS SIGN LARON

Multiple media reports indicate that the Washington Redskins have struck a deal with safety LaRon Landry, the No. 6 overall selection in the 2007 NFL draft.

Per Len Pasquarelli's well-primed pipeline to Joel Segal, thanks to Len's incessant propaganda campaign on behalf of Segal client Mike Vick, the contract is a five-year deal with $17.5 million in guaranteed money and a maximum value of $41.5 million.

Thus, as expected, Segal got his hands on a copy of the contract signed by Vikings running back Adrian Peterson at No. 7 and added a $500,000 increase in guaranteed money and $1 million in maximum value.

As we explained on Sunday night, Segal isn't expected to do the same thing with his next guy to do a deal, No. 5 pick Levi Brown, an offensive tackle drafted by the Cardinals.  Arizona is insisting, we're told, on a six-year deal, and Segal is hoping to land a total value and a per-year average greater than the Browns paid to tackle Joe Thomas at No. 3.

MORE CAMP REPORTS

Our own MDS has gotten cracking on camp reports, with the Packers added and an update to the Vikings report.

More to come throughout the day.

The list of reports (we're now up to 14) is right here.

POSTED 7:08 a.m. EDT, July 30, 2007

PACMAN FINDS A NEW GIG

Multiple web sites and media outlets report that Pacman Jones will be working during his suspension from the NFL as a professional wrestler.

Jones reportedly has signed or will sign a deal with TNA wrestling, a Nashville-based enterprise.

Hey, we've got no issue with Jones finding something useful to do during his suspension, but what happened to Jones heading back to Morgantown, West Virginia to continue his college education?  (Actually, since we're only 30 miles or so south of the WVU campus, we're glad that Pacman apparently isn't returning to the area.)

Still, we wonder how joining a pro wrestling league meshes with Jones' stated goal of turning his life around, especially since the pro-wrestling lifestyle can be just as wild and reckless as the lifestyle that has gotten Jones in so much trouble with the NFL.

And we wonder whether Jones' new endeavor will help or hurt his chances of getting back into pro football.  We have a feeling that it can't help, and that he decided to do it only after he was told last week that he can't come to training camp.

POSTED 11:20 p.m. EDT, July 29, 2007

TWO HUNDRED ATTEND PRO-VICK RALLY

Further illustrating the awkward Wallenda routine that the NFL and the Falcons must perform while dealing with the Mike Vick mess, a crowd of roughly 200 Vick supporters rallied outside the Georgia Dome on Sunday.

The reality is that, in Atlanta, the pro-Vick crowd and the anti-Vick crowd is still in the ballpark of 50-50.  Thus, the team can't go too far in smacking him around, but also can't be perceived as sitting on its hands, thumbs pointing north.

And that's why Vick isn't technically on suspension, even as his name when attached to a No. 7 jersey is now regarded as the eighth word that can't be said on television.   

It's really sort of ridiculous, but this odd state of non-discipline discipline will continue, at least for now.

POSTED 10:36 p.m. EDT; LAST UPDATED 11:05 p.m. EDT, July 29, 2007

STRAHAN TRADE "IN THE GIANTS' COURT"

A league source tells us that defensive end Michael Strahan isn't seeking a trade, but that the possibility of sending him to another team "is in the Giants' court."

In other words, this news confirms that Strahan's supposed desire to retire is subject to change, based on whether he might be playing for a contender, or for a team that will pay him more than $4 million.

So, despite the label, Strahan clearly (in our view) is holding out without holding out. 

Meanwhile, there's talk that Strahan's leverage is to indeed retire, and then to take a job with a network.  But who'd hire him right now?  Most of the lineups are set for 2007.  And though there are whispers of Strahan thinking that he can make up to $3 million in television, we can't imagine someone forking over that kind of cash for him, especially when financial commitments have already been made for the coming season.

BENGALS, PANTHERS CAMP REPORT ARE UP

We've posted our 12th and 13th camp reports since Saturday -- the Cincinnati Bengals and Carolina Panthers.

And we've enlisted the assistance of Michael David Smith, who will be posting on Monday camp reports for the Lions, Bears, Packers, Broncos, Chiefs, Raiders, Chargers, and Cardinals.  Our hope is to post 16 new reports per day as of Monday, with each franchise being updated every other day.

The currently available reports are right here.

POSTED 9:20 p.m. EDT, July 29, 2007

THE OLD ALBERT IS BACK?

Tom Curran of NBCSports.com reports that Titans defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, who supposedly learned his lesson after getting a five-game suspension for treating Andre Gurode's face like a block of gouda last season, was back to his old grumpy self in training camp on Sunday.

Writes Curran:  "Things initially got chippy when defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch took running back Len[Wh]ale White off his feet during the touch-but-don't-tackle session.  From there, guard Jacob Bell got involved and Haynesworth locked up with him in a scrap that lasted about eight seconds.

POSTED 7:52 p.m. EDT, July 29, 2007

CARDS INSISTING ON A SIX-YEAR DEAL FOR BROWN

At a time when more and more of the teams who have selected players in the top half of the first round are signing the guys to five-year deals (one less than the CBA-imposed maximum for the fist 16 picks), a league source tells us that the Arizona Cardinals are insisting on a six-year contract for No. 5 overall pick Levi Brown.

Per the source, Brown's agent, Joel Segal, is happy to comply with the team's request, because Segal is hoping to parlay that extra year into a total package, and a per-year average, that surpasses the five-year deal signed by the third overall pick, Browns tackle Joe Thomas.

"That deal will come in at over $50 million," said the source.  "Segal will sell it in recruiting as a much bigger deal than Thomas.  It's total bullsh-t but that's how he will sell it."

But the other side of the coin is that, if Thomas and Brown both become quality players, Thomas will be in line one year earlier for the next big payday.  And since tackles taken at the top of round one generally tend to be more likely to succeed than guys taken that high at other positions, there's a good chance that both guys will be in line for even bigger money down the line.

Don't believe us?  Just ask Leonard Davis and Derrick Dockery.

POSTED 6:57 p.m. EDT, July 29, 2007

WALKER REPORTED BEFORE TRADE

Bears defensive tackle Darwin Walker, acquired earlier on Sunday in a trade with the Bills, reported to the Buffalo camp on Saturday, a day before being shipped to Chicago.

We wrote earlier that Walker's rights would revert from Buffalo to Philly if a long-term deal were not worked out by August 5.  We were incorrect -- Walker's rights would have gone back to the Eagles if Walker had not reported by August 5.

Since Walker reported to the Bills before the trade, that issue is now dead.

Walker also has reported to the Bears, and is expected to practice on Monday.  A long-term deal is being negotiated between the player and the team.

POSTED 5:42 p.m. EDT; LAST UPDATED 6:36 p.m. EDT, July 29, 2007

RUSSELL DEAL COULD BE FOR FIVE YEARS

A league source tells us that the negotiation of a contract between the Raiders and No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell has been and will continue to be a difficult process, and that the Raiders might end up signing Russell a five-year deal.

Per the source, there are whispers of cash issues in Oakland that could prevent the team from funding a six-year package.  Though we don't know whether that's a certainty, there's definitely some wisdom in scaling the contract back by a year, since no one knows at this point whether Russell will be a Peyton Manning or a Ryan Leaf.  If it's the latter, the team has less money at risk.

Russell is represented by the firm of Metz, Lock, and Malinovic.  They also represent receiver Dwayne Bowe.  The No. 23 overall selection is a holdout in Kansas City.  Said the source about the situation in Oakland, "It will be a long holdout unless the agents take a bad deal."

NO. 2 IS UP

We wanted to get this posted on Saturday night, but we didn't want to give it short shrift.  So we took a little more time, and we cobbled together a summary of the career of the guy who made it to No. 2 on our list of the top 25 players of the last 25 years.

The full list is right here.

We'll be unveiling No. 1 (could it be Kordell Stewart?) later on Sunday, or on Monday.

JETS CAMP REPORT ADDED

We continue to plug along with our team-by-team camp reports.  The Jets are now up.

It's a good thing we like doing this.  Otherwise, it would be a major pain in the butt.

A GOOD IDEA THAT COULD NEVER WORK

We've said it before and we'll say it again -- we hate the Pro Bowl.  Despise it.  Who wants to watch a low-contact version of the sport we love only one week after the season climaxes with the Super Bowl?

But we're watching the 2006 Pro Bowl on NFL Network right now, and we find the thing to be damn compelling.  And we think it's because we haven't seen any real NFL football in nearly six months.

So here's a thought.  Why not play the Pro Bowl in Canton, in place of the Hall of Fame game?

We'd play the game (and have the induction ceremony) in the middle of July, a week or so before the opening of training camps.  And we'd name two retired coaches to coach the squads, in order to avoid disrupting the preparation of current NFL coaching staffs for the coming season.  We'd also give any players who participate in the game a one-week pass from training camp, and an exemption from the first preseason game, in which most starters play a quarter at most, anyway. 

Is there a risk of injury?  Sure.  But there's a risk of injury in every preseason game.  With the players in better shape due to extensive offseason workout programs, why not bring in the best of the best for a preseason game that would generate far higher ratings as the official return of the NFL to living rooms throughout the country?

Look, we don't expect this to ever happen.  But, man, we'd definitely watch the Pro Bowl if they played the thing at a time when we actually were anxious to watch pro football.  We suspect that others would, too.

POSTED 5:24 p.m. EDT, July 29, 2007

COUCH DEAL IS FOR THE MINIMUM IN 2007

A source with knowledge of the contract signed by quarterback Tim Couch with the Jaguars tells us that Couch will earn the minimum salary in 2007, with the opportunity to earn more than the minimum in 2008, if of course he's still with the team.

Our guess is that, if the Jags decide that he's a candidate to become the starter in 2008, they'll sign him to a new deal before the 2008 season begins.

If Couch can make it back to the field, it will be an impressive story of persistence, given that he has continued to knock on the NFL's door despite three full seasons out of the game.  He recently said that, if he didn't land with a team this time around, he planned to call it quits.

POSTED 5:11 p.m. EDT; UPDATED 5:20 p.m. EDT, July 29, 2007

MORE DETAILS ON PETERSON DEAL

Reported as a five-year deal with a maximum value of $40 million, we're told that the contract signed on Sunday by Vikings running back Adrian Peterson has a realistic value of $5.5 million to $6 million per year, which translates into $27.5 million to $30 million.

Per a source with knowledge of the contract, Peterson will earn $24.75 million over five years if he rushes for more than 1,000 yards one time.  If he rushes for 1,000 yards in a season twice, the value goes to more than $27 million.

Peterson can push the deal to more than $28 million in four ways -- rushing for 1,300 yards once is the primary category.  If he rushes for 1,300 yards twice, the deal goes to more than $30 million.

The difference between $30 million and $40 million will require, as the source said, "super high-end stuff." 

Also, the source said that the $17 million in guaranteed money is significant, since Peterson has an injury history and plays a position with a history of guys getting injured. 

And with $17 million guaranteed on a five-year deal, Peterson (the No. 7 pick) actually has done better on a per-year basis that the No. 4 pick, Bucs defensive end Gaines Adams, who received $18.5 million guaranteed on a six-year contract.

Under the "base value," "good starter," and "superstar" levels pursuant to which we compared the deals for the first five players selected in the 2005 draft, Peterson will actually get more money over five years as a "good starter" than the No. 2 overall pick, Fins running back Ronnie Brown, will receive through five years as a "good starter."

PETERSON DEAL SLOWS DOWN LANDRY TALKS

Earlier today, it was reported that a deal between the Redskins and No. 6 overall pick LaRon Landry could come at any minute.

But now that the guy taken at No. 7 has been signed, the Landry deal necessarily will be delayed.  Why?  Because league insiders expect agent Joel Segal to get a copy of the Peterson and then use it as the floor for the Landry deal.

"Must be nice to get paid and not do any work," one league insider quipped.

Segal then can take the Landry deal and use it as the floor for the contract for another of his clients, Cardinals tackle Levi Brown, the No. 5 overall pick in the draft.  (Thanks to the reader who pointed out to us today that Segal has both Landry at No. 6 and Brown at No. 5.)

POSTED 4:40 p.m. EDT, July 29, 2007

COUCH SIGNS WITH JAGS

Quarterback Tim Couch, the No. 1 overall pick in the 1999 draft, has signed a two-year contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars.  Couch worked out for the team earlier in the day.

Couch last played in the NFL in 2003.  He has since be plagued by arm problems.

Not long ago, it was widely presumed that the Jags would pursue the No. 11 overall pick in that same draft, quarterback Daunte Culpepper.

The move will surely cause raised eyebrows among the quarterback depth chart in J-vlle.  Starter Byron Leftwich and backup Quinn Gray are signed through 2007, and backup David Garrard is signed through 2008.  Also on the roster is Lester Ricard.

It's unclear at this point whether Couch is regarded as another camp arm (since Gray is on the PUP list) or whether he has a real chance at making the final roster.  If so, one of those three guys mentioned above is in trouble of getting traded or cut.

Maybe the goal here is to simply give the three underachieving signal-callers a kick in the butt.

Still, the deal must be a real one, or Couch would have followed through on a Monday workout with the Falcons, where he would have a pretty clear shot at being the primary backup for 2007.

And if Couch is still represented by Tom Condon, his arrival in Jacksonville creates an awkward situation for the CAA agent, since Condon also represents Leftwich.  To the extent that Couch gives the team a realistic option at starter in 2008, if reduces Leftwich's leverage for a new deal.   

POSTED 4:30 p.m. EDT, July 29, 2007

BEARS GAVE UP A FIVE FOR WALKER

Adam Schefter of NFL Network reports that the Bears gave up a fifth-round draft choice for defensive tackle Darwin Walker.  Thus, the Bills upgraded by one round the pick that would have come their way if the rights to Walker had reverted to the Eagles on August 5.

Schefter also reports that the Bears are working on a new deal for Walker.

So why would the Bears make this move now?  Because the Eagles were likely to put Walker back on the market once his rights went back to Philly, and a bidding war could have erupted.  This way, the Bears were able to swoop in and snag Walker at a time when most assumed that the Bills were making a push to sign Walker.

Then again, it would have been wise for the Bills to make it known that Walker was available, in the hopes of getting more than a fifth-rounder from the Bears or someone else.  Then again (again), the Bears might have specifically insisted when broaching discussions with the Bills that the talks be kept confidential.

POSTED 4:24 p.m. EDT, July 29, 2007

BILLS BUMP WALKER TO BEARS

Faced with an August 5 deadline for working out a long-term deal with defensive tackle Darwin Walker or watch his rights revert to the Eagles for a sixth-round draft pick, the Buffalo Bills opted to trade Walker to the Bears.

The Bears picked up Walker, who'll help fill the void created by the release of Tank Johnson, for an undisclosed selection in the 2008 draft.  We assume that it was something more than a sixth-rounder; otherwise, the deal would have made no sense for the Bills.

Walker and a seventh-round draft pick were shipped to Buffalo by Philly in March for linebacker Takeo Spikes and quarterback Kelly Holcomb.  Holcomb is now a long shot to make the final roster with the Eagles, and has been the subject of trade rumors, most prominently to the Vikings.

It later was revealed that, if the Bills did not work out a long-term deal with Walker by August 5, Walker's rights would end up back in Philadelphia.  We're assuming that this proviso now applies to the Bears, but we also assume that the Bears are ready and willing to strike the kind of deal for which Walker has been looking.

It's also possible that the Bears-Bills deal includes language sending Walker back to Buffalo on, for example, August 4 if a contract isn't finalized by then.

Walker had not reported to Bills training camp, and was subject to fines in the amount of $14,000 per day, along with the potential forfeiture of a portion of any signing bonus money he received from the Eagles that would apply to the 2007 league year.  It's unknown whether the right to pursue any bonus money flowed through to Chicago, or whether the Bills have retained that ability.

Walker is due to earn a salary of $1.3 million in 2007, and $1.4 million in 2008.

POSTED 1:10 p.m. EDT; UPDATED 4:12 p.m. EDT,  July 29, 2007

VIKES LAND ADRIAN

Adam Schefter of NFL Network reports that the Vikings have agreed to terms with running back Adrian Peterson, the No. 7 overall pick in the 2007 draft.

Per Schefter, Peterson has signed a five-year, $40 million contract, with $17 million in guaranteed money.

Schefter adds that the base value of the five-year package is $25 million.

Peterson is the latest player drafted in the top 16 picks to sign a deal for less than the maximum term of six years.

The maximum annual average of $8 million is actually greater than the average value of LaDanian Tomlinson's contract, who signed nearly three years ago an eight-year, $60 million deal.  But it's not presently known what Peterson will have to do in order to cash in on the $15 million or so in incentives.

POSTED 12:49 p.m. EDT; UPDATED 1:21 p.m. EDT, July 29, 2007

CAMP REPORTS CONTINUE

We continue our team-by-team look at camp developments with the Buffalo Bills.

And the Vikings.

More will come throughout the day.

The full list is right here.

POSTED 12:28 p.m. EDT, July 29, 2007

LANDRY DEAL CLOSE?

Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post reports that the Redskins and safety LaRon Landry, the No. 6 overall pick in the 2007 draft, are close to agreement on a contract.

It would be unusual for Landry to do a deal before a contract is signed by the guys taken in front of and behind him, Levi Brown (No. 5) and Adrian Peterson (No. 7).  Landry's agent, Joel Segal, has a reputation among agents for waiting to see what the player taken in front of or behind his clients gets, which reduces the chances of doing what in hindsight will be regarded as a bad deal.

Landry has missed three practices, and is expected to be a starter in the secondary.

POSTED 12:18 p.m. EDT, July 29, 2007

DRIVER FLUNKS PHYSICAL

When the Green Bay Packers didn't make a serious run at wide receiver Randy Moss in April, plenty of Packers fans found solace in the fact that they still have Donald Driver.

For now, they don't.

Driver failed his physical on Friday, due to a problem with arm strength. 

"He has a re-occurring injury with the shoulder that he hurt last year, so, he will be day-to-day with the shoulder," coach Mike McCarthy said.

For now, Driver is on the PUP list.  When he passes the physical, he'll be added to the active roster.

POSTED 12:10 p.m. EDT, July 29, 2007

BELICHICK HINTS THAT 2007 ISN'T HIS LAST YEAR

The New England Patriots and coach Bill Belichick zealously protect highly sensitive information such as, um, the number of years that Belichick remains under contract.  The only other NFL team that won't reveal such data is the Raiders, who probably don't want to admit that owner Al Davis prefers to have no contract, so that Davis will never owe a coach a buyout.

So the fact that this fact isn't disclosed invites speculation as to whether any year is the last year of Belichick's contract.

This year, the speculation already has commenced, fueled by the appearance that the Pats are loading up the cannon for what could be one last run to a fourth Super Bowl victory.

On Saturday, Belichick suggested that 2007 won't be his final tour of duty with the Patriots. 

"I don't talk about contracts, but I would say I like working here, I like the organization -- ownership, coaches, scouts, players, and the guys I work with.  I appreciate the opportunity to work here and it's a good situation," Belichick said, according to the Boston Globe.

"I don't see that changing any time soon."

On one hand, it's hard to ever take at face value anything that an NFL head coach says (e.g., "I'm not going to be the Alabama coach"), and while Belichick isn't above a little prevarication (thanks, Tiki) when it comes to injury reports, we think that he is one of the more honest coaches in the game.  So we'll take him at his word.

Still, would he say anything else even if he regarded 2007 as possibly his final year?  Coach Chin proved in 2006 just how damaging a public will-he-or-won't-he routine can be to his team's success, or lack thereof.  In this day and age, every NFL coach must view the job as a year-to-year proposition, since anything can happen to make this year the guy's last year.

Belichick handled the situation the right way, in our view.  Whether he'll be the head coach beyond the 2007 season doesn't matter until the 2007 season ends.  And talking now about anything that won't be relevant until after the 2007 season ends is, by definition, a distraction to the work that Belichick and the organization are now trying to do.

So while Belichick's quotes don't provide a conclusive answer, it should be enough to make the story a non-story, at least until January.

Or, quite possibly, early February.

POSTED 11:42 a.m. EDT, July 29, 2007

NFL SLAMS DOOR ON DEION'S COLUMN

The folks at the Fort Myers News-Press were more than willing to publish columns from Deion Sanders regarding the current controversy engulfing Falcons (for now) quarterback Mike Vick, regardless of how misguided Deion's message might have been.

But Deion's other employer isn't.

The News-Press discloses in its Sunday edition that the NFL has refused to allow the newspaper to print Deion's response to the storm of criticism that was prompted by his column from a week ago, in which Deion cobbled together a misguided defense of Vick, and at the same time explained Deion's belief that Vick has a "passion" for dog fighting, and that many other NFL players do as well.

Writes Ed Reed of the News-Press:

"Understandably, the NFL did not like that one of the faces of its network was being portrayed as a Vick apologist.  [Editor's note:  Reed apparently hasn't seen much of Jamie Dukes' commentary on the matter.]  Deion sent a column responding to the criticism to The News-Press and the NFL Network on Friday morning.

"That night, I received an e-mail from Thomas George, the NFL Network managing editor, which read: 'This column and subsequent variations of it [are] not approved by NFL Network.  It cannot run.'

"It's unfortunate because Deion really wanted you to see it.  It was his best work since he started writing his column in January."

We wonder whether the News-Press got approval from the NFL to wave this dirty laundry around in public.  Frankly, we have a feeling that the league won't appreciate the decision of this Gannett publication to expose the league's sensitivity to these issues, and that Deion's decision to continue writing any columns for the News-Press could jeopardize his continued employment with the NFL.

And if Deion is so anxious to tell his side of the story, why not do an interview with ESPN or NFLN or any other media company (including, you know, this one)?  The NFL might be able to prevent him from providing written content to the News-Press, but surely the NFL can't put a muzzle on Deion's mouth.

To a limited extent, Deion has shared some additional views with the News-Press on the matter:  "The NFL is like a fraternity," Sanders told the News-Press.  "The real issue to me is, I think anybody, if someone in their family has done wrong or is doing wrong or made a bad, terrible decision, do we stone them or do we pray for them?  I definitely, absoluetly [sic] do not condone anything, but I am praying for him."

Deion, if that's the "real" issue, then why didn't you say that in your first column on the subject?  Instead, you offered up flimsy logic to justify Vick's actions and startling admissions about the conduct of Vick and others, with a stunning degree of nonchalance.

Meanwhile, when will the NFL insist that Deion name the names of the NFL players who have a "passion" for dog fighting?  This is bigger, we think, than the question of whether the NFL should, could, or would bump Bryant Gumbel out of the broadcast booth based on his blatant bashing of the NFL Players Association; this issue focuses on whether the NFL will require any and all of its employees with knowledge of the extent to which dog fighting has infiltrated the league to assist in the investigation.

And though we do what we do in part because we have a "passion" for the NFL, the league should be criticized heavily if it does not demand that Deion tell everything that he knows.

Any other employer who takes a workplace problem seriously would require this.  The NFL should be no different.

POSTED 7:36 a.m. EDT, July 28, 2007

GIANTS SEE THROUGH STRAHAN SMOKESCREEN

As the non-holdout holdout by Giants defensive end Michael Strahan continues, a team insider tells us that the organization firmly believes that Strahan is trying to get more money or a trade out of town, without facing the fines and the stigma of holding out.

"He thinks he's cute in that he doesn't want to be fined, but we know he needs the money, so he won't sit out," the source said.  "Before he comes in the next leak will be that he wants to be traded.  He and his agent are as easy to read as looking through a window."

Actually, there's already talk of Strahan wanting out.  An industry source recently told us that Strahan wants to be traded to a contender, or to a team that will pay him a bunch of money.  Look for the Panthers and the Redskins to be floated as possible destinations.

And though we think that the Giants plan to dig in their heels on this one, their preliminary efforts to replace Strahan are nearly as transparent as Strahan's retirement talk.  We can understand why they'd bring in Simeon Rice for a look-see, but Mike Garafolo of the Newark Star-Ledger, Marcellus Wiley is also on the Giants' short list.

Wiley?  Has that guy done anything in the past four years other than get dumped by three teams?

The fact that Wiley's name has even been mentioned tells us that the free-agent pickin's are slim at defensive end, and that the Giants are doing everything they can to make Strahan nervous about the possibility that the team will move on (or move out).

POSTED 7:23 a.m. EDT, July 28, 2007

WILLIS IS TALKIN' ABOUT GETTING PAID

Multiple media outlets report that the San Francisco 49ers have reached an agreement with linebacker Patrick Willis, the No. 11 overall pick in the draft.

Adam Schefter of NFL Network reports that the contract is for five years with $12 million guaranteed and a maximum package of $16.655 million.

Willis is the latest top-16 pick to be tied up for only five years despite a CBA rule allowing the first half of the first round to be signed to a maximum deal of six years.  Though there's a chance that this phenomenon happened spontaneously, we have a feeling that NFL teams have decided to make a smaller up front investment in high-end first-rounders, since chances are that as many as half of them won't become great players.

For those that do, the teams will face having to extend their deals a year sooner, which is a good problem to have, since it means that the team has a great player.

POSTED 11:08 p.m. EDT, July 28, 2007

HALL OF FAMER CALLS OUT VICK

Former NFL quarterback Jim Kelly, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, has spoken out about Falcons quarterback Mike Vick and his current legal entanglement.

Kelly, like Vick, owns a home in Surry County, Virginia.  Kelly, like Vick, doesn't live at the property.  But Kelly doesn't buy the notion that Vick wasn't aware of the activities occurring on his land.

"I know what goes on at my house, even though I'm not there," Kelly told the Dunkirk (N.Y.) Observer.  "I'd have to call 'BS' on that one.

"If he didn't know what was going on at his home," Kelly said, "the way I look at it, he's lying."

Though Kelly's words clearly constitute opinion, he's the first current or former NFL player to violate the unspoken oath of the jockocracy, which requires the members of the pro football fraternity to stick together.

But Kelly's candor isn't surprising.  Kelly and his brother, Dan, were once poised to serve as Vick's marketing representatives, when Andrew Joel was Vick's football agent.  Vick later dumped Joel and the Kellys and signed with Octagon, and Joel sued the firm for $41 million.

Though we can't find a link to this specific twist in the story, we vaguely recall reading or hearing that Kelly tried to get Vick to watch film with him back in 2001, but that Vick either didn't want to do it, or didn't pay much attention.

Bottom line -- Kelly isn't exactly an unbiased and neutral figure in all of this.  Still, the fact that he's the first current or former NFL player to say something negative publicly about Vick is noteworthy, and it makes us wonder whether anyone else will join in.

POSTED 9:57 p.m. EDT; UPDATED 10:53 p.m. EDT, July 28, 2007

BROWNS, BENTLEY QUIETLY AT ODDS

A league source tells us that the Cleveland Browns and center LeCharles Bentley currently are wrangling, discreetly for now, over his status.

Bentley suffered a torn patellar tendon during the first training camp practice of 2006, and missed the entire season.  He developed a staph infection in the new tendon, and required several additional surgeries to address the complication.

Earlier this year, it appeared that Bentley would undergo yet another surgery to replace the tendon that was ravaged by the infection.  It would have knocked him out for all of 2007, but likely allowed him to return in 2008.

Bentley opted not to have the surgery but to rehab the damaged tendon.  He recently passed a physical imposed by a non-team doctor.

As we hear it, the team wasn't happy with the perception that Bentley used the passage of the physical to strong-arm the team into letting him play in 2007.  We're also told that the team isn't thrilled with the fact that Bentley hasn't been around much in the past year, despite the large signing bonus he received in 2006 and option bonus that the team picked up earlier this year.

The source believes that Bentley thinks the team is trying to avoid having to pay his $1.4 million base salary.  But unless the Browns cut him, they'll still be required to pay the full amount of his 2007 wages.

If, however, the Browns sever ties with Bentley before he passes a physical, the Browns would owe him only $275,000.

Of course, it could be argued that, if the team was looking to dump Bentley, it simply wouldn't have paid his option bonus.  But the amount of the option bonus was only $1.5 million.

Besides, it's possible that the team believed at the time the option bonus was paid that Bentley would have a second new tendon inserted into the knee.  Our guess is that, in lieu of having Bentley play on a diminished patellar tendon in 2007, the team would have preferred that Bentley get the repair done over again and come back at 100 percent next season.  With Bentley opting to go forward on the weakened tendon, it could be that the Browns have thinking about merely pulling the plug, and saving $1.125 million.

With all that said, the fact that the Browns and Bentley agreed to defer his physical by four weeks strongly suggests that something unusual is playing out.  The source predicts that, before too long, the situation could get downright ugly.

MORE TRAINING CAMP REPORTS ARE COMING

We've got eight training camp reports in the bag, and will continue with more.  Obviously, we can't update every team every day, but the goal will be to update the reports for each team every 2-3 days.

Also, we've set up a separate page for all of the report.

Enjoy.

POSTED 8:52 p.m. EDT; UPDATED 9:22 p.m. EDT, July 28, 2007

RICE TO GIANTS?

Adam Schefter of NFL Network reports that free-agent defensive end Simeon Rice will visit the New York Giants on Monday, and the Tennessee Titans thereafter.

The Giants' flirtation with the former Buccaneer is the latest step in a chess match between the Giants and Michael Strahan.  Strahan reportedly is contemplating retirement, although many league observes believe that Strahan is merely holding out without calling it a holdout.

Instead of giving more money to Strahan, the Giants could give his roster spot to Rice, and force Strahan's hand.

AGENTS GET CREATIVE TO AVOID "HOLDOUT" LABEL

Over the years, we've heard several different arguments from NFL agents regarding the question of whether a guy without a contract who doesn't report to camp should be considered a "holdout."

For a while, we were in agreement with the notion that the term "holdout" should apply only to players who are under contract but not in camp, like Pats receiver Deion Branch a year ago.

But then our pal Gregg Easterbrook of TMQ set us straight.  Regardless of whether a guy is under contract, if a player is "holding out" for more money, then he necessarily is a "holdout."

With that said, there are two categories of holdouts -- those who are violating the terms of their contracts, and those who are doing nothing wrong by trying to get better deals.

New England cornerback Asante Samuel, for example, is a holdout, but he's fully within his rights to hold out.  He is not under contract, and under no obligation to be in camp.  Ditto for Browns rookie quarterback Brady Quinn.

Recently, a league insider offered up a unique take on the rookies who aren't in camp because they don't have contracts.

"It is technically a 'lockout' when a player is not allowed to enter the facility or practice with the team due to the fact that an agreement hasn't been reached on a contract," the source said via e-mail.  "Even when a player wants to practice, he is not allowed to without a contract (which, as you know, requires the mutual acceptance of both  parties).  It's a 'holdout' when a player is already under contract and refuses to report due to a contract dispute."

We beg to differ.  The team isn't preventing a player without a contract from reporting; the CBA negotiated by the league and the players' union is the source of the prohibition on the participation of a player who doesn't have a deal.

And the player is free to report whenever he wants.  Per the CBA, the teams are required to tender to all rookies a one-year contract for the first-year minimum.  If the rookie chooses not to sign it but to "hold out" for a better deal, it's the rookie's prerogative.

So why is this exercise in semantics even an issue?  Because, among agents, much of the recruiting process arises from efforts to knock down rival agents.  Thus, if an agent's name is tied to a "holdout," the agent fears that another agent will use it against that agent.

It's petty, it's childish, and the paranoia that overwhelms these otherwise poised professionals is laughable at times.  Still, that's the way the NFL world works, and we doubt that it will ever change -- unless and until the individually negotiates every player's deal.

POSTED 4:06 p.m. EDT, July 28, 2007

BRONCOS JUMP ON JARVIS

At about the same time that the Bengals were agreeing to terms with the 18th overall pick in the draft, the Broncos were hammering out a deal with the guy taken at No. 17.

As a result, defensive end Jarvis Moss is now an official member of the team.

Per Adam Schefter of NFL Network, Moss has agreed to a five-year deal with $8 million in guaranteed money and a maximum value of $15 million.

Assuming that the reported numbers are accurate, the guy taken at No. 18 received $200,000 more in guaratneed money than the player taken one spot in front of him.

All first-round signings are posted right here.

POSTED 3:49 p.m. EDT; LAST UPDATED 3:58 p.m. EDT, July 28, 2007

BENGALS HAUL IN HALL

Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com reports that the team has agreed to terms on a contract with first-round cornerback Leon Hall.

A league source confirms that the deal is indeed done.  Per the source, Hall's contract is a five-year deal with $8.2 million in guaranteed money and a maximum value of $13.6 million.

Hall was the 18th overall selection in the draft.  He is the 21st first-rounder to agree to terms.

The full list of signed and unsigned first-rounders is right here.

POSTED 2:26 p.m. EDT, July 28, 2007

BEGINNING OF THE END FOR BROOKS?

With Warren Sapp and John Lynch and Booger McFarland and Dwight Smith and Shelton Quarles and now Simeon Rice gone from the Bucs, plenty of people expect weakside linebacker Derrick Brooks to be next.

Especially since the Buccaneers signed weakside linebacker Cato June in the offseason.

If coach Jon Gruden is looking for cause to supplant Brooks with June, Gruden might have found it.

Our friends at PewterReport.com report that Brooks has suffered a hamstring injury. 

"He has a slight hamstring, I believe," Bucs head coach Jon Gruden said.  "We'll see how he is in a couple of days, but I'm confident he'll be back soon."

Regardless of how much time Brooks misses, his absence opened the door for June, who was one of the players to take Brooks' place at the weakside position with the starting defense on Saturday.   

POSTED 1:42 p.m. EDT; LAST UPDATED 5:43 p.m. EDT, July 28, 2007

CAMP REPORTS ARE COMING

We might be chewing off more than we can bite (or something) with this new project, but we're going to be posting regular camp updates on a team-by-team basis over the next few weeks.  We won't be able to update every team every day, but we'll try.

First up -- the first team that opened things up this year.  The Steelers.

Second -- the Saints.

And the Dolphins.

And Cowboys.

And Patriots.

And Giants.

Browns, too.

More to come.

POSTED 12:47 p.m. EDT, July 28, 2007

VICK NOW THE VICTIM OF A DOUBLE STANDARD?

In the wake of the news that Mike Vick had been indicted by a federal grand jury, we argued that he was benefiting from a double standard.  Lesser players would have been abruptly cut if charged with the same crimes.  But because Vick is (was) a superstar, he wasn't shown the door.

But it now appears that the NFL is going the other way, barring the sale of Mike Vick jersey even though Vick has not been disciplined in any way by the league or by the Falcons.

In fact, fans can't even buy from NFLShop.com a personalized No. 7 Falcons jersey with "Vick" on the name plate.

Meanwhile, the following jerseys can still be personalized and purchased:  Titans No. 32, Jones; Bengals No. 15, Henry; Dolphins No. 34, Williams; Bills No. 32, Simpson; Panthers no. 83, Carruth.

Strangely, the only other player currently in hot water with the NFL whose jersey can't be purchased is Bengals No. 51, Thurman.  But at least Thurman is on a suspension.  Vick isn't.

In fact, when paired with the No. 7 on any team jersey, the name "Vick" is now regarded as the equivalent of another four-letter word that ends in "c" and "k".

It makes no sense to us.  Vick hasn't been disciplined, but he has been exiled.  Suddenly, he's the NFL's version of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. 

But, curiously, that specific jersey is still available to be personalized and purchased.

This strange twist in the Vick saga is further proof that the league and the Falcons are trying desperately (and at times clumsily) to strike the delicate balance between appeasing the anti-Vick crowd and placating the pro-Vick faithful.

We think that the NFL can't have it both ways.  If "Vick" is now a dirty word for the purposes of personalized jerseys, his status should be something other than a paid leave of absence from training camp.

POSTED 12:00 p.m. EDT; UPDATED 12:08 p.m. EDT, July 28, 2007

MANGENIUS LABEL GOING TO ERIC'S HEAD?

We love guys who think they're smarter than everyone else.  Because it's guys like that who inevitably will provide proof that they definitely are not.

The latest man to wear the "everyone else is stupid" crown is Jets coach Eric Mangini, who is playing dumb about the circumstances that resulted in disgruntled offensive lineman Pete Kendall being assigned to the rookie dorm.

Look, we think Kendall is handling with contract dispute with the team poorly, but the idea that the decision to relegate a 12-year veteran to living with the youngsters was a mistake is a joke.

"I heard about the rookie dorm," Mangini said.  "There is no conspiracy theory, no grassy knoll, no secret agents.  It was a mix-up, it has been changed.  There are guys in all different dorms.  They're 100 feet apart."

Said Kendall:  "To me, it speaks volumes about what the atmosphere must be like if someone in the organization must have thought it would put them in good graces with the head coach and G.M. to turn the screw just a little bit."

We think Kendall is underestimating Mangini's reach.  Based on what we know of him, we think that Mangini was directly involved in the decision.

And we've got no problem with the Jets sending Kendall a message.  The thing that bothers us is the attempt to make it look like an accident.

Meanwhile, Kendall has been relegated to the second team in practice sessions.  We suppose that was an accident, too.

HALL OF FAME TO SAVE ON TOWELS

On Friday's Total Access, Joe Horrigan of the Pro Football Hall of Fame mentioned that this year's induction ceremonies have been moved to a 6:00 p.m. start time, which will move the various speeches and festivities out of the intense heat of an August afternoon in Ohio.

That's great news for Bills running back Thurman Thomas, who was sweating like George Costanza after eating kung pao chicken while addressing the media in January following the announcement that he'd been voted into the Hall.

And Rayfield Wright surely wishes that the move had been made a year earlier. 

POSTED 11:42 a.m. EDT, July 28, 2007

TWENTY DOWN, TWELVE TO GO

The flurry of first-round signings over the past few days means that twenty of them are under contract, and only twelve are still unsigned.

The full list of signed and unsigned first rounders is right here.

The biggest names to watch are No. 1 pick JaMarcus Russell, No. 2 pick Calvin Johnson, and No. 22 pick Brady Quinn.

We also wonder whether the holdout of No. 15 selection Darrelle Revis, who was picked by the Jets, has anything to do with the current rancor between the franchise and Pete Kendall, since Revis and Kendall have the same agent.

POSTED 9:50 a.m. EDT; LAST UPDATED 11:33 a.m. EDT, July 28, 2007

WILL QUINN CAVE?

With training camp opened in Cleveland and all of the guys drafted in front of him signed, sealed, and delivered, we're starting to wonder whether Browns quarterback Brady Quinn is getting nervous about the fact that he's on the outside looking in.

Quinn is smart, but young and (to an extent) immature.  He likely hired agent Tom Condon based on Condon's carefully manipulated reputation, and not because the two of them developed a father-son sort of relationship that would involve Condon putting his own agenda on hold in order to do what's best for Quinn over the long haul.

Look no farther than Condon's decision to part ways with Pats tight end Benjamin Watson during a contentious holdout in 2004, merely because the Patriots were insisting on a six-year deal and Condon feared the consequences to his future recruiting abilities if he were to agree to a deal of that duration for a player taken at the bottom of the first round.

Agents owe what the law calls a fiduciary duty to their clients, and thus are supposed to put the interests of their clients ahead of their own interests.  Plenty of NFL agents, in our opinion, don't do this.  For many of them, it's often about getting the next guy, not serving as best as possible the current guy.

That's why we have a feeling that Quinn could soon snap, and tell Condon just to get a deal done.  And if Condon doesn't want to comply with Quinn's wishes (if Quinn opts to express them in that way), Quinn's holdout will necessarily be extended for at least a week because of the rule that prevents Quinn from hiring a new agent for five days.

Stay tuned.  We're not reporting that Quinn and Condon are heading for a split.  But we've got a feeling based on what we've seen and heard of Quinn that he's ready to start his career with a fair deal for the spot in which he was drafted.

NEWS-PRESS REVELING IN DEION CONTROVERSY

The newspaper business, for some publications, is more about getting people to read than it is to get people to respect what they're reading.  For the Fort Myers News-Press, the brouhaha sparked by the asinine column of former NFL player Deion Sanders regarding the Mike Vick situation has undoubtedly been great for business this week.

Our guess is that the web site of this little-known daily has had its biggest traffic numbers ever, the commencement of which likely coincided with the posting of our item on July 25 (three days after the column was published) regarding the twisted, infantile logic that Sanders applies to the Vick case.

It's no coincidence, folks, that Deion's comments were quoted on ESPN the next day.  Though it's still hard for us to get our arms around this reality, virtually everyone in the NFL print and broadcast journalism business reads this site on a regular basis, and thanks to the fact that a reader pointed out to us Sanders' piece in that slapd-ck South Florida rag, we were able to shine a light on it here.  And then the big boys were able to run with it.

Though we're reluctant to send more traffic to the web site of a newspaper that would go with such an irresponsible op-ed piece, a quick perusal of the sports page makes it clear that the powers-that-be at the News-Press welcome the controversy, and the criticism that goes along with it.

The letters to the editor generated by the Deion rant are unanimously negative.  The newspaper's online forum is busting at the seams with thoughts on the matter.  And the News-Press revels in the fact that Sanders' disturbing words drew national attention on ESPN.

The fact that the News-Press has not in any way repudiated Deion's comments tells us that the newspaper necessarily endorses them.  Not because they (or anyone with reasonable sense or intelligence) agrees with him, but because management knows that controversy creates cash.

If folks want to speak out about this, we suggest going a step higher.  The News-Press is owned by Gannett, which also publishes USA Today.  You can let the folks at Gannet know what you think about the decisions of the News-Press brass right here.

STRAHAN SNUGGLING WITH EDDIE'S EX

Adam Schefter of NFL Network reported on Friday's Total Access that Giants defensive end Michael Strahan has a new love interest -- the ex-wife of Eddie Murphy.

The irony of this is deee-licious.  After giving up a huge chunk of his own fortune to his ex-wife earlier this year, Strahan is now snuggling with the woman who took half of Eddie's fortune.

This clip illustrates the point, despite plenty of salty, Brian Billick-type language.

Unfufu Strahan . . . .  We like the sound of that.

POSTED 12:13 a.m. EDT; LAST UPDATED 12:48 a.m. EDT, July 28, 2007

PACK PAY HARRELL

The Green Bay Packers have reached an agreement with defensive tackle Justin Harrell, the No. 16 overall pick in the draft.

Harrell signed a five-year deal, making him the latest guy who could have been tied up for six years to sign a contract for one season less than the maximum.

We'll be putting together a list of who has and hasn't signed in round one on Saturday morning.

NELSON, TOO

The ssssslow pace of first-round picks has yielded in the past couple of days to a flurry of deals.

In addition to all of the others previously noted in this space, the Jags have announced an agreement with safety Reggie Nelson, the 21st overall pick in the draft.

Nelson agreed to a five-year deal.  He'll be with the team when practice opens on Saturday.

With Nelson's signing, the three slots directly in front of Browns quarterback Brady Quinn are now filled, as is the slot two spots behind him.  Directly behind Quinn at No. 23 is receiver Dwayne Bowe, selected by the Chiefs.  There are whispers that Bowe's agents pan to dig in until Quinn does a deal at No. 22, and then attempt to come as close as possible to matching it.  

NO. 3 IS FINALLY UP

We missed our submission on Thursday, due in large part to the Ookie brouhaha and the crush of camp-related news.

We apologize.  Really.  We do.

Here's No. 3 on the list.  No. 2 will be up later on Saturday.

We'll then polish off the list on Sunday, and embark immediately on Monday with our team-by-team preview, presented in reverse order of how we rank the 32 franchises from best to worst.