RUMOR MILL ARCHIVE

by Profootballtalk editor Mike Florio

POSTED 8:11 p.m. EDT; LAST UPDATED 8:41 p.m. EDT, August 31, 2004

RAVENS SPLIT ON SIGNING SANDERS?

Word around the league is that there's a difference of opinion in the Ravens' front office as to whether 37-year-old cornerback Deion Sanders should be added to the roster.

Though we don't have names of front office personnel who are in the "yea" or "nay" category, we're told that owner Steve Bisciotti quietly is pushing for the addition of the player formerly known as "Prime Time."

Bisciotti, as one league insider told us, is regarded in some circles as a "closet Danny Snyder," hoping to influence the team without taking a front-and-center role.

Beyond Baltimore, some teams are questioning the Ravens' sanity.  "What the f--k are they doing?" asked one league insider with classic league insider syntax.

We're not so sure that the Ravens have gone cuckoo, however.  Deion has been on the shelf for three seasons -- and that's three less seasons of wear and tear on his body.  The fact that he generally avoided contact while playing suggests that his body is in even better condition, and if it's true that he recently ran a 4.38 in the 40, he's faster than most guys currently in the game.

And regardless of what anyone within or without the Ravens' organization thinks, the truth is that Sanders will be joining the team as soon as he passes his physical.  It'll be his fifth NFL franchise.

PACE GETTING DUMPED BY DENNY?

A league insider tells us that Cardinals defensive end Calvin Pace, a first-round pick in 2003, is in danger of not making the final roster in Arizona.

Denny Green, per the source, "is still busting ass" in Cardinals land.  Pace has an injury history and a perceived attitude problem.

So as Green continues to put his thumbprint on the franchise, look for Pace to possibly get thrown under the bus. 

HAMBRICK, ZELLNER TRADED TO CARDS

The Arizona Cardinals have acquired running back Troy Hambrick and defensive end Peppi Zellner in a trade with the Raiders, in exchange for an undisclosed conditional 2005 draft pick.

Hambrick, a former Cowboy, will serve as the backup to Emmitt Smith, another former Cowboy.

As we reported on Monday, Hambrick walked out of Raiders camp and would have been released.  Published reports state that Hambrick was missing from practice on Monday, and the team explained that he was absent for "personal reasons." 

But anyone who frequents this here site knows otherwise.

TUESDAY NIGHT ONE-LINERS

Raiders CB Charles Woodson signed a one-year, $8.782 million tender offer and joined the team.

Falcons CB DeAngelo Hall will miss 6-10 weeks with a hip fracture.

The Panthers have parted ways with WR Donald Hayes, via an injury settlement; the Cats made other roster moves to get their roster down to 65.

The Giants have cut K Bill Gramatica, who could land in Minnesota if Aaron Elling doesn't get right on Thursday night.

The Pats released QB Jim Miller, and placed DT Dana Stubblefield on IR.

The Chiefs cut rookie QB Casey Clausen.

The Jets are expected to announce a long-term contract agreement with QB Chad Pennington, with $20 million in guaranteed coin.

The Giants picked up G Jason Whittle in a trade with the Bucs.

The Lions have parted ways with five Edsels.

QB Shane Matthews has signed with the Bills.

Vikings coach Mike Tice said that DT Brock Lesnar could be added to the practice squad later this year.

POSTED 4:06 p.m. EDT, August 24, 2004

DEION CAN EARN UP TO $3 MILLION

While the media at large continues to ignore the question of what Deion Sanders will make in his one-year stint with the Ravens, a league source tells us (in response to our question from earlier on Tuesday openly questioning the issue of Sanders' pay) that Deion's contract will be worth up to $3 million based on play-time incentives which he can easily reach if healthy.

His Paragraph 5 salary, we're told, will be for more than the $750,000 veteran minimum.

Though it's not a bad deal, it's hardly the kind of blockbuster contract to which Prime Time's name has been affixed in past years.  

But the source told us that there was a market for Sanders' services but that he specifically wanted to play for the Ravens, given his relationship with linebacker Ray Lewis and cornerback Corey Fuller.

"He wants to show people that he can still play and he wants to play with" Lewis and Fuller, the source said.

POSTED 6:01 a.m. EDT, August 31, 2004

WHAT WILL DEION EARN?

Ain't it odd that the one topic that no one has discussed in connection with cornerback Deion Sanders' triumphant emergence from retirement is the amount of money he'll be paid by the Baltimore Ravens to return to the football field?

Even ESPN's Chris Mortensen, who reports that Deion will arrive in Baltimore on Tuesday to sign a contract, glosses over the question of what the contract will promise Deion in exchange for a season of football.

Some league insiders believe that mum's the word when it comes to Deion's actual deal because he's only going to get the one-year veteran minimum, which will pay him $750,000 at a cost of only $450,000 to the Ravens.

It's possible that the Ravens will give Sanders a low-money deal with incentives based on playing time, but they'll forfeit the lower cap number if they insert provisions that will pay Deion more money for achieving certain performance goals.

The irony is that Deion returns to the NFL for a peanuts deal while cornerback Chris McAlister signs a one-year franchise tender with the Ravens, worth nearly 10 times the one-year veteran minimum.

We suspect that Deion's camp will be prepared to put their best spin on his contract, if indeed he plays for the minimum.  But there's no denying the fact that, if he does indeed sign for the minimum, the move confirms that there essentially was no market for his services.

We also believe that Deion opted to sign now in lieu of waiting for the Ravens to prove that they are a contender because of the "vested veteran" rule, which makes his salary for the year guaranteed if he's on the roster on opening day.  This will reduce the chances that the Ravens will cut him if he's not playing up to par, since they'll save no money by doing so.

POSTED 9:43 p.m. EDT; UPDATED 9:50 p.m. EDT, August 30, 2004

DOUGLAS RETURNS TO PHILLY

A league source tells us that defensive end Hugh Douglas has agreed to terms with the Philadelphia Eagles, the team with which Douglas earned three Pro Bowl berths before signing a free-agent deal a year ago with the Jaguars.

Douglas will receive a $150,000 signing bonus and a base salary of $700,000.  

Incentives based on sacks and making the Pro Bowl account for up to a total of $2.55 million additional money, enabling Douglas to earn up to $3.4 million if he has a monster year in Philly.

Specifically, Douglas will get $150,000 if he has six sacks, another $700,000 if he has 10 sacks, and another $800,000 with at least 12 sacks.  He gets $150,000 if he leads the team in sacks, and $800,000 if he gets back to the Pro Bowl.

Douglas received offers for the one-year veteran minimum from the Bears and Redskins.  The Dolphins and Bucs were interested, but made no offer.  The Giants also were in the mix.

In the end, Douglas wanted to return -- quickly -- to the Eagles, where he believes he can help the team get to the Super Bowl.

First, he'll have to get into the starting lineup, where Jevon Kearse and Derrick Burgess currently are at the top of the depth chart.  Two weeks ago, the Eagles lost starter N.D. Kalu for the season.

POSTED 8:31 p.m. EDT, August 30, 2004

HAMBRICK WALKS OUT ON RAIDERS

A league source tells us that running back Troy Hambrick, frustrated by the fact that he wasn't slated to be the starting running back in Oakland, walked out of camp on Monday.

Per the source, Hambrick will now be released by the Raiders.

Look for Hambrick to draw immediate interest from the Dolphins, who are starved for running backs.  Another possibility is Philadelphia, where the Eagles lost Correll Buckhalter a week or so ago.

The winner in this one might be running back Amos Zereoue, who might have been on the bubble with Hambrick, Ty Wheatley, and Justin Fargas on the depth chart.

POSTED 7:40 p.m. EDT; LAST UPDATED 8:17 p.m. EDT, August 30, 2004

BOLDIN HAS NEW AGENT, WANTS NEW DEAL

A league source tells us that Cardinals receiver Anquan Boldin, the 2003 offensive rookie of the year, has hired agent Drew Rosenhaus with an eye toward getting a new deal.

In only his second NFL season and with a knee injury that will cause him to miss several games of the regular season, Boldin doesn't have much leverage, on paper.  But with a healthy dose of cap room and a desire to turn the trio of Boldin, Bryant Johnson, and Larry Fitzgerald into the second coming of his 1998 Vikings, which had perhaps the best receiving corps in league history, coach Dennis Green might be inclined to lobby for Boldin to be paid more like Fitzgerald, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2004 draft who got $15 million to sign -- and who'll earn millions more in incentives based merely upon minimum playing time over the next few years.

Boldin previously was represented by IMG.  He was one of the players who wanted to defect from the megafirm with Darell Will, who was summarily decertified by the NFLPA shortly after he left IMG.  Other Will clients include Patriots tight end Ben Watson, who eventually dumped IMG before signing a long-term deal with the Pats. 

BOERIGTER DELAYS SURGERY

Chiefs receiver Marc Boerigter was expected to undergo knee surgery on Monday, which was intended in part to confirm the extent of his absence from the lineup.

Unexpectedly, Boerigter opted to delay the procedure.

"He's going for a second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh opinion," coach Dick Vermeil said Monday.  "He just wants another opinion on the proposed operation.  That's his right."

But Vermeil's words suggest that he doesn't agree with Boerigter's decision to wait.

"I know how serious it is because I don't need a second opinion from my doctor.  I think it's very serious," Vermeil said.

On Sunday, Vermeil said that he expects Boerigter to miss the entire season.

DEWEY DEFEATS TRUMAN, AGAIN

Monday's Washington Post reports that the Redskins have cut defensive back Ryan Clark.

The only glitch in the report is that, well, they haven't.

"Imagine how Ryan felt after reading this morning's paper, packing up his bags and coming to Redskins Park to turn in his playbook," said Vinny Cerrato, Redskins vice president of football operations. "As his fellow players were commiserating with him in the locker room, the coaches were frantically searching for him to tell him the newspaper had it all wrong.  Ryan is not being cut."

Clark's reprieve might be brief.  Final cuts are only a week or so away.

MONDAY NIGHT ONE-LINERS

Packers C Mike Flanagan practiced Monday for the first time since the conclusion of the 2003 season.

Cardinals WR Bryant Johnson returned to practice on Monday after a couple of months on the shelf.

QB Mark Brunell will start the Redskins' opener over QB Patrick Ramsey (the Washington Post is reporting that Ramsey won the job).

RB James Jackson says he wants out of Cleveland.

Vikings RB Michael Bennett has gone from "questionable" to "out" of the regular-season opener against the Cowboys.

Bills QB Travis Brown will miss six weeks with a sprained knee.

Falcons Mike "Anyone Who Knows Me Knows How I Get Down" Vick shrugs his shoulders at criticism based on his apparently low pain threshold.

Two seventh round draft picks were among the Giants' roster cuts.

The Texans said "see ya" to 15 pieces of camp meat.

Brock Lesnar's fantasy camp with the Vikings came to an abrupt end on Monday.

Jags TE Kyle "Superfreak" Brady will miss at least two games after having surgery on Tuesday for an injured finger.

POSTED 11:40 a.m. EDT; UPDATED 11:53 a.m. EDT, August 30, 2004

JAGS DUMP DOUGLAS

In a move that stunning but not hardly shocking, the Jaguars have released former Pro Bowl defensive end Hugh Douglas.

Douglas was one of the prize free agents in 2003, lured to the Eagles after visiting several other teams.  But Douglas has been a disappointment to date in Jacksonville, notching only 3.5 sacks in 2003.

The Jags will avoid Douglas's salary for 2004, resulting in a $3.345 million savings.  This year, he will count $1.2 million against the cap due to the proration of his signing bonus.  The remainder of the cap hit -- $3.6 million -- will come next season.

Douglas, says a league source, already is generating interest.  We're told that the Eagles and the Redskins will pursue his services, which could enable him either to get another big-money deal as these two NFC East rivals battle it out.  

PLAX FIRES AGENT

It's been a bad month or so for agent Eugene Mato.  After getting dumped by fifth overall pick Sean Taylor days after Taylor signed his rookie deal with the Redskins, a league source tells us that Mato has gotten poop-canned by Steelers receiver Plaxico Burress.

Burress, who'll be an unrestricted free agent after the 2004 season, potentially damaged his value on the open market by skipping two mandatory minicamps and boycotting most other offseason activities in lieu of working out with Edgerrin James and others in the Miami area.  Although Burress's performance in training camp and the preseason has prompted the Steelers to look past his indiscretions, it's possible that Plaxico blames Mato for advising him to skip the mandatory minicamps.

Regardless of the specific reason, something has prompted Burress to go in a different direction as he prepares to maximize the value of his next contract -- with the Steelers or elsewhere -- by having a banner year. 

POSTED 11:21 p.m. EDT, August 29, 2004; UPDATED 7:46 a.m. EDT, August 30, 2004

MORA GETTING SICK OF VICK?

Word around the league is that new Falcons coach Jim Mora quickly is tiring of quarterback Michael Vick's "I'm hurt/I'm not hurt" routine.  

In fact, it's getting to the point that some league insiders are openly wondering whether the Falcons will turn the team over in due time to rookie Matt Schaub, one of the most highly regarded college quarterbacks entering the 2003 NCAA season.  Injuries marred a potential Heisman run and dropped him into the third round of the draft. 

As one scout told us, "Vick is a talent but has a low pain threshold.  I don't think the Falcons will move him, but if the aches continue and Schaub shows he can get it done, down the line you never know."

Vick was a late scratch from the Falcons' most recent preseason game due to tightness in his right hamstring.  He has thrown a total of nine passes in his first preseason working with the West Coast offense.

Just for fun, we made a short list of potential destinations for Vick, if the Falcons decide within the next year or so to make a move.  As of now, we could envision the Dolphins, the Browns, the Cowboys, the Lions, the Packers, the Saints, and the Cardinals as having an interest in acquiring Vick's services.

CHIEFS FINALLY MAKING A RUN AT PLEX?

With their receiving corps decimated by injury and coach Dick Vermeil looking for one more shot at the Super Bowl before he rides off into the sunset again, there is renewed talk around the league that the Chiefs might try to swing a trade for Steelers receiver Plaxico Burress.

Rumors of a possible trade circulated before the draft.  But no talks ever materialized.

Burress's potential trade value plummeted in May and June after he boycotted two mandatory minicamps and stayed away from voluntary workouts.  But after he reported for training camp in excellent shape and showed an appropriate degree of contrition for his actions, the Steelers welcomed the prodigal son back home.

And with the prospects of Burress bolting via free agency after the 2004 season, the Steelers now have to revisit the question of whether they should grab maximum value for the former first-rounder now.

One NFL insider believes that the Steelers won't be willing to give up Burress even though he'll be jockeying for salary cap dollars at the same time the team is trying to re-sign receiver Hines Ward and linebacker Kendrell Bell.  Still, the source tells us that the Steelers probably would not turn up their noses at an offer of a first-round and second-round draft choice for Burress.

The real question is whether Vermeil (who might not be around in 2005) will be able to convince G.M. Carl Peterson to mortgage the future by dropping two high picks on a guy who's under contract for only one more season.  From Vermeil's perspective, pilfering Plex from Pittsburgh should be a no-brainer. 

Whether he's in Pennsylvania or Missouri, the thinking is that Burress will have a big year, thanks to the renewed focus on enforcing the illegal contact rule.  With his size, speed, and strength, Burress can wreak havoc on an opposing defense if he has the ability to run free. 

MONDAY MORNING ONE-LINERS

Giants players publicly are saying all the right things following coach Tom Coughlin's decision to install Kurt Warner as the starting punching bag, er, quarterback come opening day.

Chiefs WR Marc Boerigter will have knee surgery on Monday, and he's likely done for the year; coach Dick Vermeil said that WR Keenan McCardell isn't an option.

The Ravens expect to add franchised CB Chris McAlister and retired CB Deion Sanders this week.

Bears LB Brian Urlacher practiced for the first time in 31 days following an early-camp hamstring pull.

Seahawks DE Grant Wistrom practiced for the first time since June due to a chronic bout with plantar fasciitis.

Jags TE Kyle Brady is trying to stay out of coach Jack Del Rio's dog house.

In response to Sunday's blurb that the Colts sold out their first preseason game in nearly 18 years, a Packers fan reminded us that the Irsays required anyone purchasing single-game tickets to the Sept. 26 contest versus Green Bay also had to buy tickets to the preseason contest against Buffalo.

The Redskins' first wave of cuts included veteran LB Kevin Mitchell.

Jets RB LaMont Jordan is still pissing and moaning about his status as the No. 2 tailback.

Broncos RB Mike Anderson will miss at least two months and possibly the entire season following a groin injury while playing special teams in garbage time.

An MRI showed no damage to the knee of Packers RB Ahman Green.

Former Dirty Bird TE O.J. Santiago is one of several Broncos who won't be Broncos much longer.

The Seahawks have placed QB Brock Huard on IR due to a bad back.

Looking for a replacement for OT Kyle Turley, the Rams brought in veteran Blake Brockermeyer -- who failed his physical. 

If the Jets sign QB Chad Pennington and DE Shaun Ellis to long-term deals, they might use the franchise tag on John Abraham.

The Redskins have worked out RB Stacey Mack.

Pats coach Bill Belichick says that the last-minute scratch of CB Ty Law had nothing to do with a rocky offseason or his recent displeasure regarding the team's decision not to pay his workout bonus.

Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil is happy with the preseason performance of DT Ryan Sims.

POSTED 9:10 a.m. EDT, August 29, 2004

BOERIGHER GOES BUH-BYE FOR CHIEFS?

Kansas City receiver Marc Boerigter, thrust into the starting lineup due to a cocktail of injuries to Eddie Kennison and Johnnie Morton, suffered a knee injury on Saturday night that could have serious consequences for Boerigter and the team.

"It's not a real good injury," coach Dick Vermeil said after Saturday night's game against the Browns.

Jason Whitlock of the Kansas City Star writes that he won't be surprised if the injury is season-ending.

The end result is that the Chiefs' current No. 1 receiver is Dante Hall -- who might as well change his name to Desmond Howard since, like the other D.H. who made a name for himself in the NFL, Hall can return kicks like a madman but can't work the same magic in the passing game.

For the Chiefs supposedly high-powered offense, the lack of healthy receivers is an ominous development.  Sure, they've still got running back Priest Holmes and tight end Tony Gonzalez, but there's no way this team can go blow-for-blow with the AFC's best if it doesn't have the horses on the outside.

SUNDAY ONE-LINERS

The Falcons unexpectedly kept QB Mike Vick out of Saturday night's game against the Bengals as a precaution.

From the "Hey Geniuses, It's The Freaking Preseason" file, the Broncos lost RB Mike Anderson for several weeks with a serious groin injury sustained while on punt coverage with less than two minutes remaining in the game.

Bucs G.M. Bruce Allen denied suggestions that the team has a trade offer on the table for WR Keenan McCardell.

Rams OT Kyle Turley has been placed on the injured reserve list, which means he won't play at all in 2004; he'll be replaced at right tackle by Grant Williams or Scott Tercero.

From the "Delusion Is As Delusion Does" file, Saints wideout Joe Horn thinks he's the best receiver in the league.

We're hearing that there's no interest around the league in RB Skip Hicks -- even in tailback-starved Miami.

Giants coach Tom Coughlin says that rookie QB Eli Manning is still in the hunt for the starting job despite a poor performance on Friday night against the Jets.

Ricky Williams backed out of plans to present a moon man at the MTV video awards.

Vikings RB Michael Bennett might miss the Sept. 12 opener with a sprained knee; LT Bryant McKinnie -- who sprained his knee on the same play as Bennett -- will be ready for the regular-season opener.

WR Marty Booker started for the Fins on Saturday night against Tampa.

The new contract for Jets QB Chad Pennington is thought to include as much as $24 million in guaranteed money.

The Redskins will dump 14 players on Sunday, and the list could include some surprises, predicts the Washington Post.

Ravens LB Ray Lewis, with five years left on his current deal, could be getting a new contract.

The Tampa Bay Bucs will be launching their own 24-hour cable channel.

The Saints parted ways with 11 John Doe's.

Steelers linebackers Kendrell Bell and Clark Haggans returned to practice without limitations.

The Rams cut six Joe Blows to get down to 66 players.

A sore arm for QB Tim Couch (which followed generally substandard performances) apparently has cemented Doug Pederson's status as the primary backup to Brett Favre.

A group of Texas businessmen is proposing a privately-funded stadium adjacent to an executive airport as opposed to the venue that will appear on the Arlington ballot in November.

Rookie first-round WR Reggie Williams started for Jacksonville on Friday ahead of Troy Edwards, and Williams expects to stay there.

Jets coach Herm Edwards took up for DT Dewayne Washington, who got blown up by LT Luke Petigout on Friday night during a Ron Dayne touchdown run.

Giants coach Tom Coughlin is trying to get QB Kurt Warner to keep two hands on the ball when he's in the pocket.

The Vikings will give K Aaron Elling one more chance to keep his job; if he fails on Thursday against the Seahawks, however, the Vikes will not be bringing back 66-year-old K Gary Anderson.

Colts second-round S Bob Sanders still isn't with the team because they haven't heard whether he passed his physical.

Another guy who might benefit from the more aggressive enforcement of the 5-yard contact rule is Steelers WR Plaxico Burress, who picked up two calls on Thursday; "For the last three or four years I've been getting the Shaquille O'Neal treatment a little bit -- I'm so big, I don't really get a lot of the calls," Burress said.  "But it seems they're going to stick to what they said."

The Vikings might be willing to trade DL Billy Lyon.

Jets rookie Erik Coleman apparently has beaten out veteran Reggie Tongue for the starting strong safety gig.

Steelers G Keydrick Vincent will be an unrestricted free agent after the 2004 season, and with Kendall Simmons and Alan Faneca ahead of him on the depth chart, Vincent will have to look elsewhere for a starting job.

Veteran WR Matthew Hatchette was among 11 guys who got the boot from the Jags.

The Colts saw their first preseason sellout in one day short of 18 years.

Jets coach Herm Edwards said that signing CB Deion Sanders was never a consideration for the team.

The Titans are considering moving rookie DT Jared "Poindexter" Clauss and second-year DT Rien Long to defensive end.

Broncos rookie WR Darius Watts continues to push Ashley Lelie for a starting job, but Watts says he isn't worried about whether he's the No. 2 or No. 3 guy on the depth chart.

Pats CB Ty Law was a last-minute scratch from Saturday night's Super Bowl rematch with the Panthers; coach Bill Belichick said Law's leg "tightened up."

Giants CB Will Allen will miss several days with a mildly sprained MCL.

A three-way battle for middle linebacker continues to play out in Seatlle.

Jags rookie LB Jorge Cordova will have his torn ACL repaired by Dr. James Andrews in lieu of the Jags' crack (or is it "Crackerjack"?) medical staff.  (Note to the Jaguars' medical staff.  That last comment was intended to be a joke, in reference to past issues such as malpractice suits against the Jaguars' doctors and the apparent connection between getting the gig and buying advertising from the team.  We know nothing about the skill of the current Jaguars' medical staff and we do not intend to impugn your abilities in any way.  With that said, we find it odd that a rookie with a torn ACL would go out and find his own doctor to handle an operation that, as football injuries go, has become as routine as an appendectomy.)

The Jets released eight Willie Wannabes on Saturday.

Kordell Stewart hasn't missed a beat in Baltimore -- he threw a pick and lost a fumble on Saturday night against the Lions.

POSTED 1:00 p.m. EDT; LAST UPDATED 1:57 p.m. EDT, August 28, 2004

FORMER RAM WILL BE GIANTS' LAMB?

A league source tells us that the Giants likely will dub quarterback Kurt Warner as the starting quarterback at the outset of the regular season, primarily because team's low quality offensive line is making the powers-that-be less inclined to throw their multi-million-dollar rookie into the fire until the blocking unit has a chance to jell.

So Warner will be, in essence, the sacrificial lamb that likely will be banged around as the Giants' offensive line gets some on-the-job training and experience.

There's also some concern that Manning needs some more time to mature, despite the strides he's made to date in camp.  One of his biggest flaws, we're told, is that he throws too much into double coverage.

Either way, it looks like Manning will spend far less time waiting in the wings than previously thought -- whether it's because Warner gets broken in half or Manning continues his rapid development.

RICKY NEEDS WEED MONEY?

Word around the league is that one of the factors that running back Ricky Williams might not have taken into account before abruptly retiring is the amount of money he currently has in the bank.

We're told that Williams is running low on money.  Coupled with up to more than $8 million that he might owe the Dolphins following the resolution of their pending grievance, Ricky might be bunking with Mike Tyson before everything is said and done.

And once Ricky has a chance to think through the consequences of his decision to walk away from the ability to earn (and squander) millions more, he'll likely realize that:  (1) no one will pay good money to watch him smoke pot; and (2) good money is necessary in order to smoke pot on a regular basis.

So Ricky will be back come 2005.  Somewhere, somehow, he'll be playing football -- assuming he can control his doobie habit and/or devise more reliable ways of masking the presence of marijuana metabolites in his whiz.

DAYNE DONE, FINALLY?

Though 1999 Heisman winner Ron Dayne got a long-overdue second chance when Jim Fassel was replaced with Tom Coughlin as the Giants head coach, we're hearing that Dayne's second chance is leading to the same conclusion that Fassel reached.

The thinking is that Dayne will be released or traded as the season approaches, four years after he was the eleventh overall pick in draft.

Dayne has shown some flashes of ability in the preseason, but apparently not enough to persuade Coughlin that he should remain.  Still, from our perspective, keeping the reasonably-priced Dayne in the fifth and final year of his rookie deal might not be a bad idea.  If, for example, starter Tiki Barber gets injured, Dayne provides a decent insurance policy.

Since Dayne is in the final year of his contract, trading or releasing him would result in no additional cap consequences.

STEELERS LOOKING FOR O-LINE, D-BACK HELP

As roster prepare to be pared down over the next couple of weeks, with reductions down to 65 players due to come on Tuesday, we're hearing that the Steelers will be looking closely for help along the offensive line and in the defensive backfield.

Arguably the two most glaring weaknesses on the team a year ago, a season-ending injury to guard Kendall Simmons has unsettled the offensive line and the continued presence of Chad "Cleat Marks in His Back" Scott will keep the defensive backfield from conjuring memories of the days of Rod Woodson and Carnell Lake.

In either area, however, the Steelers aren't far off.  The team has looked good in the preseason.  Shoring up the offensive line and throwing a capable cover man onto the cornerback depth chart could propel the team into serious postseason contention. 

SATURDAY AFTERNOON ONE-LINERS

Ricky Williams reportedly turned down a chance in April to pay a fine and get out of the NFL drug-testing program completely.

Before sending DE Adewale Ogunleye to the Bears, the Fins turned down an offer from the Redskins including WR Rod Gardner, RB Ladell Betts, and a fifth-round choice.

The ugly situation between the Bucs and WR Keenan McCardell continues to get uglier.

Vikings RB Michael Bennett and LT Bryant McKinnie suffered sprained knees on the same play Friday night; early indications are that both will be okay, but MRIs are pending.

CB R.W. McQuarters is the 11th member of the Bears to go down this year with a hamstring injury.

The Arizona group interested in buying the Vikings apparently includes Twin Cities businessman Denny Hecker and Gateway computer founder Ted Waitt.  (Will the team's alternative jersey be purple-and-white cow print?)

Redskins OT Chris Samuels suffered a sprained ankle in the second quarter of Friday night's preseason game against the Rams.

The Steelers shed six players on Friday; they need to dump seven more by Tuesday.

The Vikings might bring back 45-year-old K Gary Anderson.

POSTED 6:33 a.m. EDT, August 27, 2004

G-MEN WANT MANNING TO START

Word out of New York is that veteran members of the Giants prefer Eli Manning over Kurt Warner as the starting quarterback on opening day.

The thinking, we're told, is that the players believe Manning can get the job done as a rookie -- and that they don't believe Warner is all that good.

Still, Warner gets the start in the third preseason game against the Jets on Friday night.  Coach Tom Coughlin has said that Warner and Manning will split the reps with the first team offense.

Coughlin, in our view, is keeping his cards close to the vest in part to see how his two quarterbacks handle the uncertainty.  And based on the public comments both players have made, Eli is the one who's acting like the cagey veteran, shrugging his shoulders and not worrying about the decision.

Then again, Manning knows he'll still be getting paid even if he's on the bench come September 12.  Warner, a vested veteran whose $2.5 million salary becomes guaranteed on opening day, might be concerned that he won't be on the payroll if he's not on the field.

MCNABB DECLINE COMING?

Some league insiders believe that Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb has maximized his NFL potential.  He's a "good but not great" quarterback, said one league source.

The feeling is that his play has leveled off, and that he might actually begin to start declining in his sixth NFL season.

With a backfield depleted by the loss of running back Correll Buckhalter and a receiving corps pumped up by the presence of Terrell Owens, all eyes will be on whether McNabb can make the passing game go.  And if the folks in cities other than Philly who rate football players for a living are right, McNabb might not be able to do it.

TUNA LOOKING FOR ANOTHER QB

We're told that Cowboys coach Bill Parcells will be watching the waiver wire very closely in the hopes of picking up another quarterback prior to the start of the season.

And we won't be surprised to see a big name or two on the open market.  Kurt Warner is a possibility if he's not the New York starter.  Rich Gannon could walk the plank in Oakland if (as we've been predicting) the team asks him within the next two weeks to take a deep reduction in his $7 million salary.  Even Brad Johnson isn't safe in Tampa, given Chris Simms' development.

Regardless of who it is, there always is at least one surprise or two when the final cuts come down.  If one of those guys is a veteran quarterback, the first call they likely will receive will be from Big D.

POSTED 7:38 p.m. EDT; UPDATED 8:20 p.m. EDT, August 26, 2004

WILLIAMS NEXT MOVE AN NFL LAWSUIT?

With his bid to return to the USC Trojans officially dead, don't be surprised to see receiver Mike Williams make one last push to get into the NFL via a late-summer supplemental draft.

And if the NFL tells him (again) to get bent, look for Williams to file suit.

As we explained several months ago (check out the archives and search for "NCAA" and/or "spineless, money-grubbing hypocrites"), Williams pursued a return to the Trojans in order to best set the table for legal action against the NFL, which invited him into the draft after the initial Maurice Clarett ruling -- and then disinvited Williams after the Clarett ruling was thrown out on appeal.

Williams likely pursued a return to the NCAA before filing suit against the league in order to take the steam out of the argument that the NFL would have made if he hadn't tried to get back into school (i.e., you should have tried to get back into school).

And although, on the surface, the NCAA showed the NFL no appreciation for its efforts to preserve a rule that forces football players to spin their wheels for three years, the fact that the NCAA sat on its hands (thumbs pointed up) for weeks and weeks after Williams filed his petition for re-entry significantly reduces the likelihood that Williams will get a chance to play in the NFL this year.

But Williams still could try to sue the NFL for money damages resulting from the fact that he didn't get a first-round contract in 2004.  Since the legal theory would likely be based on a claim for misrepresentation or fraud, Williams would be able to recover his financial losses along with so-called "general damages" for annoyance, mental anguish -- and possibly punitive damages.

Of course, Williams need to ask himself whether he wants to pursue a verdict against the entity that, by the time the case goes to trial, will be employing him.  In the end, our guess is that he'll sit tight until April and hope for the best when he finally enters the draft.

THURSDAY NIGHT ONE-LINERS

The Cowboys are launching their own 24-hour cable channel, which fairly should include periodic screenings of "Cops."

The Bills have dumped a half-dozen no-names.

Lions RB Olandis Gary could miss the 2004 season after he undergoes surgery to remove a possible cyst from his shoulder.

Ford Field will see its first postseason game ever when it hosts the MAC title game in December.

The Cardinals have claimed nine players on waivers in 10 days, and coach Denny Green plans to hit the waiver wire hard looking for help.

With rookie fifth-rounder Josh Scobee struggling, the Jags have signed veteran K Steve Christie (moral of the story -- don't waste draft picks on kickers unless they are donkeys named "Gus").

Vikings DT Brock Lesnar likely won't make the active roster or the practice squad; if he's serious about football, he should head straight to Canada.

The Falcons have signed G Kynan Forney to a four-year extension.

Redskins coach Joe Gibbs is holding his starting quarterback cards close to his vest.

POSTED 9:08 a.m. EDT, August 26, 2004

RIVERS TO START FOR BOLTS?

The San Diego Union-Tribune reports that Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer has said that newly-signed quarterback Philip Rivers might get some work with the first team in Friday's preseason game against the Seahawks.  This development has prompted speculation that Schottenbolts might be considering making Rivers the opening-day starter, even though he missed nearly a month in a contract dispute.

As we see it, Schottenheimer needs to throw Rivers into the fray quickly in order to best set himself up for the "How Can You Expect Me To Win With A Rookie Quarterback Who Missed Training Camp?" argument when the Spanos family is considering in January whether to go "Opa!" on his ass.

Remember, Schottenheimer originally resisted the notion of taking a quarterback with the first overall pick because he needed to win now after nearly getting poop-canned last season.  But then when he realized that he'd buy himself another grace period if he were grooming a new quarterback, the Bolts suddenly were in the market for their biannual quarterback of the future.

And now Marty has an even greater excuse for failure, since Rivers is behind the curve.  

This also tells us that Schottenheimer has zero confidence in Drew Brees, who has been running the offense in Rivers' absence.

POSTED 6:10 a.m. EDT; UPDATED 6:16 a.m. EDT, August 26, 2004

RUMORS OF RICKY'S RETURN ARE WRONG

Former Dolphins running back Ricky Williams told the Miami Herald on Wednesday that he has contacted the team, but that he did not (contrary to rumors reported in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel) talk to them about playing in 2004.

''Yeah, it's true that I called them,'' Williams told the Herald.  "You need to understand that I didn't call them to see if I could come back.  I was just causing a conversation to happen."

Williams called the team at the behest of agent Leigh Steinberg, who apparently made the request in response to the team's recent letter demanding repayment of more than $8 million in bonus and incentive money.

Williams also shed some more light on the decision to retire.  ''I felt that if I played I probably would have gotten hurt,'' Williams said.  "It was my opinion that Marc Trestman should be the coordinator.  When Chris was going through things in practice, it didn't make sense to me.  I felt they were going to run me again as they had in the past.  I would feel more comfortable if [Trestman] was the coordinator because then we at least would have had balance.''

Of course, even if Trestman were the coordinator Ricky likely wouldn't be playing this year, given a string of recent positive tests of marijuana, which put him in jeopardy of a year-long suspension.

Williams also said that he was in the process of working on a restructured contract with the Dolphins at the time he retired.  With three more years remaining on his current deal, it's possible that the team resisted, given more pressing matters such as receiver Chris Chambers and defensive end Adewale Ogunleye.  With Chambers signed to a long-term deal and O-gun gone via trade, the Dolphins might be in better shape to give Ricky a new deal if he decides to return in 2005.

And our guess is that he'll be back with the Fins in 2005 (unless they trade him to someone else), primarily since he doesn't want to have to pony up big money to the team.    

JETS DEALS COMING?

The New York Daily News reports that Jets quarterback Chad Pennington is close to getting a new deal with the team as an artificial deadline of September 1 approaches.

Pennington imposed the deadline several weeks ago, hoping to either get the deal done or pull the plug on negotiations before the regular season starts.  He is set to become an unrestricted free agent in March.

The Daily News says that there's a chance the deal could be done over the weekend.  

Also in line for a new contract is defensive end Shaun Ellis, who like Pennington was drafted in the first round of the 2000 draft.  A contract agreement could come before the end of the preseason.

Meanwhile, we've heard rumblings that receiver Santana Moss is also looking for a new contract.  However, he is under contract through the 2005 season.

POSTED 9:15 p.m. EDT; UPDATED 9:32 p.m. EDT, August 25, 2004

BEARS READY TO DEAL A-TRAIN?

With one trade in the books this week, our Chitown mole tells us that the Bears are ready (finally) to move running back Anthony Thomas, who was bumped to the No. 2 spot on the depth chart when Thomas Jones signed on the first day of free agency.

Per the mole, the team is waiting for A-Train's injured oblique muscle to heal before trading him.  The Bears believe that third-year pro Adrian Peterson and second-year man Brock Forsey will be more-than-capable off of the bench.

We're also hearing that the Dolphins initially asked for Thomas to be included in the deal for defensive end Adewale Ogunleye, but G.M. Jerry Angelo declined.  Apparently, however, Angelo was ready to pony up Thomas, if the Dolphins had made it a deal-breaker.

Now, Angelo hopes to use Thomas in order, at a minimum. to recoup the third-round pick that was sent to Miami with receiver Marty Booker for Ogunleye.  

LENNY'S ERROR DU JOUR

Several readers pointed out to us that Len Pasquarelli's article regarding the prevalence of quarterbacks coaches contains a fairly significant error, especially coming from a guy with strong ties to the Pittsburgh area.

Pasquarelli states in the (snore) fifteenth paragraph of the story that the Steelers, "who did not employ a quarterbacks coach since former Patriots signal-caller Babe Parilli tutored Terry Bradshaw 1971-73, hired one this offseason."

Um . . . the Steelers hired a quarterbacks coach three years ago.  

Making the error even more glaring is that the first coach mentioned in the story -- Bills offensive coordinator Tom Clements -- was the guy who served as the Steelers quarterback coach from 2001 to 2003 before accompanying offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey to Buffalo.

Do we hold Len to a higher standard than anyone else?  Sure we do.  Football is the guy's only gig, and there's no excuse to get something like that so wrong -- especially when he has the resources of ESPN to assist with proofing and editing of his work product. 

WEDNESDAY NIGHT ONE-LINERS

The NFL is talking to Anaheim officials regarding the possible placement of a franchise by 2008.

Seahawks LB Chad Brown had successful surgery on his broken left fibula.

The NFL has rejected the appeal of the two-game suspension of Vikings DE Kenny Mixon.

QB Kurt Warner will start the third preseason game, but will split the snaps equally with Eli Manning.

OT Solomon Page signed with the Giants after getting cut by the Lions.

49ers LB Julian Peterson signed his one-year franchise tender and reported to camp.

DT Chad Eaton has signed with the Cowboys.

POSTED 8:56 a.m. EDT, August 25, 2004

WEDNESDAY MORNING ONE-LINERS

Raiders CB Charles Woodson will sign his franchise tender and report to training camp next week.

Rams OT Kyle Turley likely will miss the season due to lingering back troubles.

From the "Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor, Your Huddled Masses, . . . Your Cokeheads" file, New York Newsday columnist Jon Heyman dresses down the Cowboys for cutting Quincy Carter and gives attaboys to the Jets for throwing their arms around a guy who apparently has some serious self-discipline issues.

The Packers have signed DE Kenny Holmes to a one-year contract for the veteran minimum.

Talks have broken off between the Steelers and LB Kendrell Bell on an extension for a contract that expires after the 2004 season.

Giants coach Tom Coughlin says that both of his top two quarterbacks will receive time with the first-team offense in the third preseason game.

Raiders OT Barry Sims has played well enough to win the starting left tackle spot from No. 2 overall pick Robert Gallery, who will be moved to guard.

Dolphins rookie first-rounder Vernon Carey acknowledges that tackle John St. Clair will be the starting right tackle.

The Giants might have signed former Redskins T Brandon Winey in order to get a peak into D.C. game planning that is occurring under a thick cloak of secrecy.

Jags RB Fred Taylor has a foot sprain that likely will keep him out for the rest of the preseason, and possibly longer.

The Packers claim that they haven't given up on third-round P B.J. Sander, even after they've signed veteran Bryan Barker as a potential insurance policy.

A Vikings intrasquad scrimmage on Tuesday night was capped off with a pose-down between DT Brock Lesnar and 173-pound WR Kelly Campbell.

Bucs WR Tim Brown isn't trying to be a mentor in his new NFL camp:  "If young players come and ask about certain things, I try to help out, but I don't think it was my role to come in here and start dictating."  (It probably wasn't your role in Oakland either, Tim, but that sure as hell didn't stop you.)

Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald has a full account of how the Ogunleye-Booker trade went down.

All sides involved deny that there are any meetings between the Packers and representatives of holdout CB Mike McKenzie.

Bears OT Marc Colombo promises that he will play football this season (Xbox doesn't count, Marc).

49ers QB Ken Dorsey has two bulging disks in his back.

POSTED 6:22 p.m. EDT; LAST UPDATED 7:49 p.m. EDT, August 24, 2004

COUGHLIN TO NAME STARTER WEDNESDAY

Okay, so Giants coach Tom Coughlin won't be naming his regular-season starter on Wednesday, but only his starter for the team's third preseason game, against the cross-stadium rival Jets.

But the man whose name is revealed by Coughlin on Wednesday likely will have the instant inside track toward winning the starting job.  With a high degree of consternation being applied by Coughlin to naming the starter of the preseason game that historically sees the starters getting their most action before making token appearances in the slate of games before the season opener, it's safe to say that, whether the winner is Kurt Warner or Eli Manning, the job will be his to lose.

We're sticking with our prediction that Manning will get the job, and that Warner will get an overdue one-way ticket back to the Piggly Wiggly.

TUESDAY EVENING ONE-LINERS

Bills OT Jonas Jennings and QB J.P. Losman suffered ankle injuries during practice on Tuesday.

The Panthers have acquired OT Javier Collins from the Cowboys for a conditional draft pick, and they have reached an injury settlement with CB Hank Poteat.

Ravens coach Brian Billick broke camp on Tuesday without the traditional final-day practice.

Cardinals coach Denny Green expects to have WR Bryant Johnson and WR Larry Fitzgerald back for the season opener.

RB Duce Staley will start for the Steelers against his former team, the Eagles.

Jets DE John Abrahan will be meeting with NFL representatives on Wednesday regarding a possible second violation of the alcohol policy.

The Lions finally have parted ways with WR Scotty Anderson, the guy whom CEO Matt Millen reportedly called a "devout coward" a couple of years ago.

The Jets have decided to take a chance on QB Quincy Carter (and with Brooks Bollinger and Ricky Ray as the only options behind Chad Pennington, we wonder what took them so damn long).

The Pats have announced that they have released FB Fred McCrary, and that rookie S Guss Scott will be placed on injured reserve following a knee injury suffered on Saturday night against the Bengals.

Vikings coach Mike Tice has demoted WR Marcus Robinson to No. 3, behind WR Nate Burleson.

Panthers WR Steve "Mama Said Knock You Out" Smith is still upset with Pats CB Tyrone Poole for allegedly spitting in Smith's face during Super Bowl XXVIII (we recommend that Tyrone not be caught alone with Smith in any dark film rooms). 

The Vikings have signed CB Derek Ross, his fourth team since December.

Saints CB Keyou Craver has been suspended for a year for violating the substance-abuse policy.

The AP rates ESPN NFL 2K5 as a shade better than Madden NFL 2005; we think that the ESPN version looks better, but that Madden provides a far more challenging and compelling football simulation.

Browns RB Lee Suggs thinks he's done enough to deserve the starting tailback job.

Bengals WR Peter Warrick likely will make his preseason debut on Saturday.

POSTED 7:10 a.m. EDT, August 23, 2004

LOVIE NEEDS TO GO EASY ON WALE

As defensive end Adewale Ogunleye prepares to embark on his career as the handsomely-paid, go-to defensive end for the Chicago Bears, league insiders are saying that coach Lovie Smith needs to go easy as he gets Ogunleye re-acclimated to the football field.

Smith was criticized in some circles for running too tough of a camp in Chicago, which resulted in a rash of hamstring injuries.  Even G.M. Jerry Angelo, as we reported, wondered whether there was a connection between the hammy outbreak and Lovie's obsession with making his players leaner and faster.

Ogunleye probably also needs to be protected against himself.  With a big contract to justify, he'll probably be inclined to come out strong -- and he could set himself back if he gets himself hurt.

NFLPA READY TO TAKE ON 5-YEAR DEALS?

Word around the league is that the NFL Players Association plans to address the trend toward forcing mid-to-late-round picks to sign five-year contracts.

Several teams have been using five-year deals for player picked in spots where, typically, a three-year or a four-year contract is used.  A five-year term prevents the player from becoming either a restricted free agent after three seasons or an unrestricted free agent after four.

For most young players anxious to get their careers started, the difference between the signing bonus offered over a five-year contract versus the money that could be earned in free agency later is a concept that they aren't able or inclined to appreciate, enabling the teams who impose the five-year deals to generally get their way.

Some agents believe that mandating five-year deals on an across-the-board basis violates the spirit of the collective bargaining agreement, which was intended to give players the chance to hit the free-agent market, subject to certain limitations such as the franchise tag and the RFA tender rules.  

Still, if the NFLPA tries to impose mandatory maximum terms for rookie contracts, the union likely will be required to give up something in return.  One wrinkle that the teams might try to obtain is a true rookie salary cap, which would go beyond the current rookie pool that restricts total rookie spending only in year one.  With contracts in the top half of round one (where roughly 50 percent of the players ever will justify the money they're paid) spiraling out of control, some league insiders believe that teams should be limited in the total dollars that can be devoted to the members of each rookie class.

In our view, those two concepts could fit nicely within the CBA.  By limiting the total money that can be devoted to each rookie class for the duration of their contracts, teams necessarily will be required to tie up players taken in the later rounds for less years.  And since limiting the total money that can be devoted to younger, unproven players will leave more cash under the cap for veterans who have earned their keep, this approach could advance the interests of all players -- with the exception of certain high-round draft picks who never become quality contributors. 

MONDAY MORNING ONE-LINERS

Former Dolphins DE Adewale Ogunleye took some shots at the team for failing to resolve his status sooner.

Bucs LB Derrick Brooks is frustrated that a knee sprain is keeping him out of practice and out of the team's preseason games.

There are indications the CB Mike McKenzie might soon be reporting to the Packers after a lengthy holdout.

The Jaguars waived DE Tony Brackens and K Jeff Chandler on Sunday.

RB Marshall Faulk is expected to make his preseason debut when the Rams face the Chiefs on Monday night.

The 49ers don't know whether LB Julian Peterson plans to sign his franchise tender and report in the short term.

With RB Correll Buckhalter out for the season, the Eagles have re-signed Dorsey Levens, who last played for Philly in 2002.

The Giants offensive line isn't pleased with criticism it received on Saturday night from ESPN's Joe Theismann.

Redskins coach Joe Gibbs will stick with his rotating quarterbacks plan, giving Patrick Ramsey the start over Mark Brunell in the next preseason game.

Lions starting weakside LB James Davis injured an ankle on Saturday and could miss the final two preseason games; rookie Teddy Lehman could move outside from the middle, where he's backing up Earl Holmes.

The Browns have fielded phone calls from the Dolphins, Vikings, Cardinals, and Eagles regarding a possible trade for RB James Jackson.

49ers S Tony Parrish will miss the team's final two preseason games with a tear in his right calf muscle.

Rams rookie Anthony Hargrove has been moved back to defensive end after a brief experiment at defensive tackle.

The Packers are wrestling with the issue of backup quarterback reps given Tim Couch's shoddy performances to date.

Dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt has yet to name a starter for the team's next preseason game.

Vikings WR Kelly Campbell is trying to work his way out of coach Mike Tice's doghouse (and an 83-yard touchdown catch-and-run against the Falcons on Friday night didn't hurt).

Broncos rookie WR Darius Watts is pushing former first-rounder Ashley Lelie for a spot in the starting lineup.

Pats LB Rosevelt Colvin participated in 33 snaps on Saturday night, his most since coming to New England.

Redskins rookie S Sean Taylor started for the first time on Saturday against the Dolphins, and he'll start again in the team's next preseason game.

RB Travis Henry's rib injury will give RB Willis McGahee more reps as the No. 1 tailback, providing him with a shot at nailing down the starting job.

Packers DB Darren Sharper doesn't like the new emphasis on  protecting receivers; "“Those horse-whatever calls they’re calling, it’s ridiculous,” Sharper said, “because [cornerbacks] are running with [the receivers] and Joey [Thomas] has his head and eyes looking back for the ball, and they’re still calling a flag when both guys are chicken fighting back there and just doing little things that are not impeding anyone’s progress.

With help acquired at the receiver position, the Dolphins are now looking to upgrade the running back position via trade, possibly using the third-round draft pick they snared in the Ogunleye deal as bait.

Eagles DT Hollis Thomas was scheduled for an MRI after waking up Sunday with a swollen calf (pun regarding Thomas waking up with other oversized barnyard animals has been omitted, since Hollis goes about 310).

Titans S Lance Schulters is scheduled to take the witness stand on Monday in the criminal trial of the guy who carjacked him in June 2003.

The Giants are expected to part ways with WR James McKnight.

Broncos RB Mike Anderson racked up 120 yards on 21 carries Saturday night against the Seahawks.

Bills DB Terrence McGee could be in position to win the kick-return gig after picking up 136 yards on three returns Saturday night against Tennessee.

Broncos CB Lenny Walls is expected to return to practice on Monday.

Steelers QB Tommy Maddox says that an improved running game already is helping the passing game; he's generated passer ratings of 110.0 and 136.9 in the team's first two preseason games.

Jags rookie DE Jorge Cordova wants to get a second opinion on his ACL injury before undergoing surgery.

Ravens coach Brian Billick stopped short of criticizing the officials for flagging Ed Reed and Ray Lewis for excessive celebration after the team's defensive touchdown on Friday night against the Eagles.

Colts WR Troy Walters might need surgery for a broken arm, which would knock him out for the entire season.

Jets DE John Abraham passed a lie detector test after reportedly testing positive for alcohol (he's in the league's alcohol-testing program because of a DUI incident a year ago).

Jets DE Bryan Thomas could miss two weeks with a strained hamstring.

Seahawks WR Koren Robinson is on track to get back into the starting lineup after injuries and missed practice time put him on the second team.

Jaguars DT John Henderson doesn't plan to change his pre-game ritual of getting slapped in the face -- hard -- by assistant trainer Joe Sheehan.

Proving yet again that they're interested in anyone with NFL name recognition, the Bucs signed DT Oliver Gibson over the weekend, a slow-footed run-stuffer who doesn't fit the team's typical profile for interior defensive linemen.

POSTED 11:31 a.m. EDT; LAST UPDATED 12:11 p.m. EDT, August 22, 2004

BOOKER BLASTS ANGELO

Word out of Chitown is that receiver Marty Booker gave G.M. Jerry Angelo more than an earful upon learning that the veteran receiver had been traded to the Dolphins (along with a third-round draft pick) for defensive end Adewale Ogunleye.

The Chicago Tribune contains a sanitized version of the events, explaining that coach Lovie Smith showed up at Booker's hotel room on Saturday afternoon to explain that the deal had been done.  Smith was followed by Angelo, and although the Tribune says nothing about the exchange between Angelo and Booker, our understanding is that Booker lit into Angelo verbally.

And perhaps the bridge-burning exchange between Booker and Angelo enabled Ogunleye and agent Drew Rosenhaus to finagle a legitimate $15 million bonus from the Bears, with $10 million paid now and a $5 million option payment due on the first day of the 2005 NFL year.  

BEARS BACKED THEMSELVES INTO A CORNER

The Bears put themselves in a position to get raped at the bargaining table by working out the trade with the Dolphins -- and allowing word of the trade to be leaked -- before a deal could be struck with Ogunleye.  In our view, the Bears would have been better off to seek permission to negotiate a contract with the 2003 AFC sack leader, and then to work out the terms of a trade after terms had been reached.

A league source tells us that the Bears opened by offering Ogunleye a $4 million signing bonus.  Several hours later -- and with the heat squarely on the Bears' bee-hinds -- Ogunleye got even more up-front money than he had been seeking from the Dolphins.

Ogunleye had hoped to be paid commensurately with Packers sackmeister Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (who got $11 million to sign) and/or Sehawks newcomer Grant Wistrom (who snagged an above-market $14 million from Paul Allen's vault).  By trumping both of them, Ogunleye nearly pocketed as much bonus money as defensive end Jevon Kearse, who got $16 million from the Eagles.

FINS GOT BETTER OF THE DEAL?

For the Dolphins, the addition of Booker helps to prop up a receiving corps that had been decimated by likely season-ending injury to David Boston, who like Booker had been acquired via a trade.  Miami G.M. Rick Spielman was in the Bears' front office when Booker was selected as the team's third pick in the third round of the 1999 draft.  Booker signed a seven-year extension with the Bears in June of 2002, giving the Dolphins the rights to Booker for five more seasons -- with no signing bonus to pay.  He also has a reputation for being a solid presence in the locker room, something the Fins desperately need after one of the rockiest offseasons in league history.

In contrast, there were concerns that Ogunleye might not have received a warm welcome if he'd signed a long-term deal with Miami.  We're told that his former Dolphins teammates didn't react very kindly to Ogunleye's recent suggestion that he'd only need a week or so of practice to be ready to play, which was interpreted by some as a suggestion that they're wasting their time with training camp and the preseason.

We'll rate the overall deal, then, as a winner for the Dolphins.  The jury's out on whether it's a win-win situation, since it remains to be seen whether Ogunleye can perform at a high level without a solid supporting cast on defense.  Though Ogunleye's numbers don't lie, there's a school of thought in some league circles that his sack totals might have had a lot to do with the fact that he had Jason Taylor on the other end of the line -- and a strong group of linebackers to account for in blitz situations and an excellent secondary that gave Wale more time to pursue the opposing quarterback.

Time will tell.  If Ogunleye performs in Chitown like he did in Miami, Angelo will be vindicated for making an extremely daring move only three weeks before the start of the season.  If Ogunleye struggles, Angelo will have a lot of 'splaining to do -- to the media, the fans, and the McCaskeys.  

VIKES PROBABLY COULDN'T HAVE DEALT SMITH

In the immediate aftermath of running back Onterrio Smith's four-game suspension for participating in Ricky Williams' favorite off-field activity, we criticized the Vikes for not moving Smith when they had the chance.

After all, the Vikings had to have known that Smith was a positive test away from a four-game sit, given their access to the confidential information regarding a player's status within the drug-testing program.  

Put multiple league sources tell us that, for various reasons, the Vikes probably couldn't have generated value for Smith, who has star potential but who is stuck behind starter Michael Bennett.

First, teams who are considering a trade are able to obtain information from the league's Medical Advisor as to whether a subsequent violation of any substance-abuse policy would trigger a suspension.  Thus, if the team who was considering trading for Smith had merely made the call, they would have found out that Onterrio was one doobie away from missing a fourth of the season.  Given Smith's history, it would've been reckless for a team to trade for him without making the call.

Second, we're told that Smith's reputation throughout the league is well known.  As one source told us, it's likely that ten or less teams had him on their draft boards, given his well-documented struggles with smoking pot.  A team would have had to be beyond desperate to offer any value to the Vikings.  Even the Dolphins, who might fall squarely into that "beyond desperate" category when it comes to beefing up their running game, surely would have shied away from Smith, since the last thing they need is another guy who apparently likes his stash more than he likes his cash.

For the Vikings, selecting Smith in the fourth round of the 2003 draft was a calculated risk at a time when they feared that starter Michael Bennett would miss significant time with a foot injury.  Bennett did -- and Smith filled in capably, finishing second on the team with 579 yards and an impressive 5.4 per-carry average.

In hindsight, the Vikings offered a peek into their predicament with pick when they took running back Mewelde Moore in the fourth round of this year's draft, with the pick they acquired from the Dolphins for flip-flopping their spots in round one.  Moore is slated to be Bennett's primary backup during Smith's four-game suspension, and we wouldn't be surprised to see Moore become the full-time answer behind Bennett.  

A year ago, coach Mike Tice had Pro Bowl tight end Byron Chamberlain on a short leash after he was suspended for four games to start the season.  Tice promptly cut Chamberlain when he reported out of shape.  

Look for Tice to apply even more pressure upon Smith.  In the end, he might get cut even before he has a chance to rack up a one-year suspension, which would be the result of his next violation.     

PETERSON MIGHT REPORT?

The San Francisco Chronicle, citing radio station KGO-AM, reports that 49ers franchised linebacker Julian Peterson could be ending his holdout and reporting to the team as soon as Monday.

Peterson reportedly has been offered a six-year, $37.8 million contract with a $15.5 million signing bonus.  However, he must first sign his one-year tender offer of $6.07 million before signing a long-term deal, or the 49ers will lose the franchise tag for the life of the contract.

Unless a long-term deal is in the offing, there's no reason for Peterson to report until the eve of the regular season, since he'll be guaranteed the full $6.07 million merely by being on the roster come opening day. 

SUNDAY ONE-LINERS

Bills G.M. Tom Donahoe insists that RB Willis McGahee has said nothing about wanting to be traded if he isn't the opening-day starter.

Despite some optimism over the past couple of days, the Chargers apparently are no closer to signing first-round pick Philip Rivers.

Saints QB Aaron Brooks took himself out of Saturday night's preseason game after re-injuring his right quadriceps.

Rams TE Cam Cleeland was involved in a car accident Saturday roughly 100 yards from Rams Park.

Vikings rookie DE Darrion Scott will be working with the first-team defense, possibly as the replacement for starter Kenny Mixon during his two-game suspension.

POSTED 5:40 p.m. EDT, August 21, 2004

O-GUN TO BEARS HINGES ON $12 MILLION

Our Chicago mole tells us that the only remaining glitch in the trade of Dolphins defensive end Adewale Ogunleye to the Bears for receiver Marty Booker and a third-round draft choice is the willingness of ownership to pay Ogunleye a signing bonus of $12 million.

Per the mole, the total deal that G.M. Jerry Angelo and agent Drew Rosenhaus negotiated is a five-year deal with a max value ranging from $25 million to $50 million.

If the McCaskeys ultimately refuse to fork over so much coin to Ogunleye, our guess is that the development won't bode well for Angelo's future tenure in Chitown -- and it won't do much for Booker's morale to know that he was a whisker away from getting dealt out of town, roughly two years after signing a long-term deal with the Bears.

POSTED 2:47 p.m. EDT, August 21, 2004

COUGHLIN STILL MUM ON STARTER

Giants coach Tom Coughlin continues to say nothing about his thought processes regarding the identity of the team's starting quarterback.

"I'll make that decision forthcoming when I feel like it's something that's definite in my mind, and it'll give us plenty of time to react for the season," Coughlin said on Friday.

Though Coughlin previously has said that Eli Manning started the second preseason game in favor of Kurt Warner because Coughlin plans to rotate both of them into the starting position, Coughlin likewise refused to identify his starter in the team's third preseason game.  Based on his previous explanation, the starter should be Warner.

Although there's a school of thought that Warner will be the starter/sacrificial lamb at the start of the season in order to permit a young offensive line to gel, we're sticking with our prediction that, if Warner isn't the Sept. 12 starter, he'll be cut.

As a vested veteran, Warner's entire $2 million salary for 2004 becomes guaranteed if he's on the roster come opening day.  And that's a lot of money to pay for a guy who most likely will yield to Manning at some point in 2004, probably sooner instead of later.

SATURDAY AFTERNOON ONE-LINERS

Vikings owner Red McCombs says a sale of the Vikings to Arizona businessman Reggie Folwer is far from close.

Despite off-season rumbings that Eagles coach Andy Reid would get an extension, there currently are no talks in this regard.

Rookie CB Lance Frazier is getting reps as punt returner for the Ravens.

The Pats are going for their ninth straight preseason win on Saturday night against the Bengals; New England also is riding a 12-game regular season winning streak, and a seven-game postseason winning streak.

POSTED 11:11 a.m. EDT; UPDATED 11:28 a.m., August 21, 2004

QUARTERBACK CONTROVERSIES IN FLORIDA?

In a year when ballot-box issues loom as the biggest fall source of controversy in Florida, we're hearing that each of the Sunshine State's three NFL teams could end up in the throes of full-blown quarterback controversies as the season unfolds.

In Miami, of course, everyone knows that Jay Fiedler and A.J. Feeley are battling it out for the top spot on the depth chart.  But in the other two cities, where the starter is supposedly set in stone, word is that the backups could make solid pushes for playing time.

In Tampa, Chris Simms is, for now, jockeying with Brian Griese for the No. 2 spot behind Brad Johnson.  But we're hearing that there were rumblings among league insiders on Friday night at the Jags-Bucs preseason tussle that Simms could supplant Johnson at some point during the 2004 season.

Johnson's position has seemed tenuous in Tampa ever since coach Jon Gruden arrived two years ago.  But with none of the other guys on the roster stepping it up, Gruden has stuck it out with the aging veteran who was a ninth-round draft pick of the Vikings way back in 1992.

Jacksonville provides the most unlikely setting for a quarterback controversy, but we're hearing that there's a growing belief that backup David Garrard is outplaying starter Byron Leftwich.  Garrard, who underwent offseason surgery in connection with Crohn's disease, is healthy and effective -- possibly more effective that Leftwich, the team's somewhat slow-footed gunslinger who was drafted at the top of round one a year ago.

The problem, per a league source, is that the Jags won't sit Leftwich unless he flat-out stinks up the field.  They've made too much of an investment in Leftwich, and they couldn't afford to keep both Garrard and Leftwich if Garrard develops into a game-day stud.  

CHARGERS PLAYERS MIFFED AT TEAM

There's a general feeling among some members of the San Diego Chargers that the team is to blame for the protracted holdout of first-round draft pick Philip Rivers.

It's hard not to disagree with the players, since the negotiations have been (in our view) bungled by the Chargers.  Indeed, there's a prevailing feeling in some league circles that agent Jimmy Sexton is a fair-minded guy who wouldn't be stretching this matter out if he didn't genuinely believe that the team's contract offer doesn't match Rivers' value.  Though we still have some suspicions that Sexton made a moon-shot on this one in the hopes that the Chargers would overpay in order to take some of the sting out of the Eli Manning trade debacle, it's important to remember that, after all, these are the Chargers we're talking about here.

Two weeks ago, G.M. A.J. Smith went public with the fact that the team had given Rivers its best offer, and he promised that the offer would only decrease as time passed.  More recently, however, Smith hasn't made good on a threat to pull $500,000 off of the table after last weekend's preseason game, supposedly because (drum roll, please) agent Jimmy Sexton ended a week of silence and called the team.

Smith should've known that tough talk wouldn't get Rivers in the fold, and as Rivers lags behind a team that hasn't done much to improve itself since the end of the 2003 season looks to be headed for another embarrassing campaign.

And in an era where the compression of talent among the various 32 teams makes intangibles even more important, the fact that some of the players have no faith in the front office will make it even harder to coax the best performance out of them on a consistent basis.

With all that said, the San Diego Union-Tribune suggests that a deal could be on the horizon.  The deeper question, however, is whether the damage will be undone at any time in 2004.

TITANS THINK THEY'LL BE VINDICATED

The Tennessee Titans, we're told, are thrilled with the development of second-year running back Chris Brown, the heir to Eddie George's spot at the top of the tailback depth chart.  Although they signed veteran Antowain Smith to fill the depth chart void created when George was released, the team believes that the bulk of the touches will go to Brown.

Then again, it could be wishful thinking.  In choosing Brown over George, the Titans need the youngster to have a big year in order to vindicated the Titans' decision to part ways with George, especially after George scored a contract in Dallas that pays him substantially more than Tennessee's bottom-line offer.

Brown, a second-year pro from Colorado, had 221 yards rushing on 56 attempts in 2003.  He had six carries for 46 yards in the team's preseason opener.

EDWARDS IN JAGUAR-SIZED DOGHOUSE

A league source tells us that veteran receiver Troy Edwards, a former top-ten pick who landed in Jacksonville after stops in Pittsburgh and St. Louis, could be in danger of landing on the bench.

Edwards was picked up by the Jags a year ago, and he had his biggest year statistically since his rookie season with the Steelers.  He promised to hang onto his spot as the No. 2 receiver after the team drafted Reggie Williams in round one this year, but it's now becoming more and more likely that, when the team issues its first official depth chart, Troy will be running with the twos.

The problem, we're told is that Edwards is blowing his assignments -- just as he did in Pittsburgh.  If he keeps it up, he could also fall behind fourth-rounder Ernest Wilford, a former Virginia Tech Hokie who is turning heads with his performances to date, especially on special teams.  

BILLS SCOFF AT MCGAHEE MALCONTENT

Loyal followers of this here site know that we were first to the punch (by four hours or so) with the story that Bills running back Willis McGahee wants to be traded if he's not the opening-day starter in Buffalo.  (And we've got to give special thanks to Leo Roth of the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle for pointing it out.)

Not surprisingly, the Bills deny that McGahee is unhappy with his possible role as the No. 2 guy behind Travis Henry.

"There's nothing to it," G.M. Tom Donahoe told the AP. "Willis is making progress and is very happy.  We have no intention of trading him.  We need them both."

As Roth reports, however, McGahee's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, threw some gasoline on the fire on Friday.  After declining to comment, Rosenhaus said, "Hopefully the silence is enough of a comment for you, you know what I'm saying?  It's not a topic I care to talk about, but maybe down the road."

The problem is that McGahee signed a rookie deal with loads of incentives and escalators.  To earn that money, McGahee has to be on the field -- and not splitting touches with Travis.

And as we explained on Friday, Donahoe has no incentive to trade either of them, since his butt could be squarely on the hot seat in 2004 if the team struggles.  Look no farther than Correll Buckhalter's season-ending knee injury from Friday night to realize that every team needs at least two solid running backs on the roster.

The problem, however, is that the Bills have a proven star and a potential superstar, neither of whom wishes to take a back seat to the other.  In the end, it's Donahoe's responsibility to devise a way to keep both of them happy, and the blame falls squarely on his shoulders if one or both of them are displeased with their roles.

After all, Donahoe knew what he was getting himself into when he drafted McGahee with the 23rd overall pick a year ago.  He should have, quite frankly, had the foresight to realize the looming problem -- and he should have taken steps to avoid it.

So it's no surprise that he's now denying that McGahee is unhappy.  An admission that Willis wants out is likewise a concession that Tom didn't do enough to get both guys in the right frame of mind.   

POSTED 8:40 a.m. EDT; UPDATED 9:04 a.m. EDT, August 20, 2004

WILLIS WANTS OUT OF BUFFALO?

As Bills fans brace themselves for running back Travis Henry to demand a trade based upon the presence of heir apparent Willis McGahee, a league source tells us that, if McGahee isn't the opening day starter for the Bills, Willis "would love to be traded."

The reality is that neither Henry nor McGahee wants to be the No. 2 guy on the depth chart, per the source.  So whoever loses out on the starting job will want out of town.

As to Henry, there have been periodic grumblings since McGahee was drafted by the Bills in the first round of the 2003 draft.  With Willis a year away from playing after he joined the team, Henry made the most of what many thought would be his final year as the Bills' go-to tailback, putting up more than 1,500 total yards and 11 touchdowns. 

But with a healthy and apparently effective McGahee ready to take over, Henry is still on the roster.

With Travis surely chagrined by the possibility that his 1,500-yard season will land him on the bench, McGahee likewise is concerned that he'll remain in mothballs at a time when he could be earning some of the NTLBE incentives and escalators in his rookie deal.

Our guess is that, even if McGahee wins the starting running back gig from Henry, neither man will be happy until one of them is traded.  The real question is whether the Bills plan to make a move.

For G.M. Tom Donahoe, swapping Henry or McGahee for draft picks is essentially meaningless, since Donahoe likely needs to win now in order to keep 80-something owner Ralph Wilson willing to keep issuing Tom paychecks.  And with player-for-player swaps less common given the cap consequences, it's unlikely that any team will be able to offer a player or two whom Donahoe could use to upgrade his team now.

Instead, our guess is that he'll keep both of them as a hedge against injury -- and in the hopes that they'll play like Pro Bowlers when they're on the field.    

Of course, there's always a chance that a team like Miami will make an offer for Henry or McGahee that the Bills won't be able to refuse, even if Donahoe doesn't want the draft picks.  But with the Bills on the short end of the last high profile intra-division trade (Bledsoe, Drew), our guess is that the Bills will shy away from sending one of their studs to a team they face twice a year.     

ONTERRIO LIKES HIS WEED, TOO

Another running back with a penchant for a temptress named Mary Janes won't be suiting up for his team on opening day.

But unlike Dolphins running back Ricky Williams, who retired in lieu of facing further punishment for his doobie-smoking ways, Vikings running back Onterrio Smith has been suspended for four games based upon a positive test, according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.

It's a repeat of behavior that got Smith run out of the University of Tennessee several years ago -- and that caused his draft stock to plunge in April 2003, when he fell to round four.  And although his experiences at Tennessee reportedly placed him into the NFL's drug-testing program, the imposition of a four-game suspension suggests that he previously have a positive test that resulted in a fine in the amount of four game checks.

This makes us wonder why the Vikes didn't trade Smith when they had the chance to do so.  Now that he's a joint away from a one-year ban, they'd be lucky to get a fourth-round pick to replenish the pick they used to draft him.

For the Dolphins, it's a very good thing that the Vikings didn't offer Smith for a second-round pick as soon as news broke of Ricky Williams' retirement.  The Fins likely would have jumped on the offer -- and they'd now be the team finding out to their chagrin that the guy who is replacing the guy who quit so he could smoke weed was suspended for smoking weed.  

FRIDAY MORNING ONE-LINERS

The Dolphins have sent RB Ricky Williams a letter explaining that he'll owe them $8 million if he doesn't return to the team in five days (our guess is that Ricky cut the letter into a bunch of small squares in the event he runs out of EZ Wider).

Arizona businessman Reggie Fowler could be getting ready to make a formal offer to buy the Vikings. 

Keydrick Vincent will replace Kendall Simmons (ACL tear) at guard in the Steelers' offensive line; it's also possible that C Jeff Hartings will end up moving to guard.

The Chicago media is starting to get suspicious about the supposedly minor injury suffered by QB Jonathan Quinn.

CB Ty Law apparently skipped a couple of days of practice this week because the Pats refused to pay him a $106,000 offseason workout bonus.

Giants QB Kurt Warner seems to realize that rookie Eli Manning probably isn't pay much attention to Warner's advice (unless his advice is "don't marry a crazy woman who likes to hear herself talk").

Deion Sanders says he'll make a final decision on whether he'll join the Ravens "very soon."

POSTED 8:04 p.m. EDT; LAST UPDATED 8:34 p.m. EDT, August 19, 2004

AHMAN NEARLY LEFT CAMP

If the Packers' faithful were looking for something to worry about other than the play of No. 2 quarterback Tim Couch, we've found it.

A league source tells us that Green Bay running back Ahman Green nearly walked out of camp recently after news broke of LaDainian Tomlinson's new mega-bucks deal with the Chargers.

With two years left on his current contract, which was signed in 2002, Green is scheduled to earn $3.632 million in base salary in 2004, and $4.375 million in 2005.  

Green, we're told, is unhappy with the magnitude of the contracts given to Tomlinson and Redskins running back Clinton Portis.  Though Green was talked out of joining cornerback Mike McKenzie in the holdout club, it remains to be seen whether this issue bubbles up at an inopportune time for a team that is trying to parlay the pairing of a running back entering his prime and a quarterback on the back end of his into another Super Bowl title.

O-GUN MAKES MAJOR CONCESSION

Though a deal probably is still not close between the Dolphins and defensive end Adewale Ogunleye, a league source tells us that Ogunleye recently has made a significant concession as to one of the big sticking points in the negotiations.

Previously, Ogunleye insisted on his bonus being paid in a lump sum, with no second-tier option bonus payable in 2005.  The Fins stood firm on the two-tiered approach.

Earlier this week, we're told, Ogunleye relented, including a two-tiered bonus in the latest offer communicated by agent Drew Rosenhaus to the team.

We're also hearing that Ogunleye remains committed to sitting out for a big chunk of the regular season if a long-term deal isn't done. 

Coincidentally, we're told that Dolphins did not communicate to Ogunleye an intention to place him on the so-called "roster exempt" list, which would have required Ogunleye to report after week seven in order to qualify for unrestricted free agency after the 2004 season.  As it stands, Ogunleye can report after week ten and still get his six regular-season games, thereby making him eligible for free agency -- unless, of course, the Dolphins apply the franchise tag.

SHOCKEY'S FOOT IS HEALED

As the Giants prepare to place the Carolina Panthers in their second preseason game, we're hearing that New York tight end Jeremy Shockey visited Dr. Robert Anderson, the North Carolina surgeon who tinkered in June with Shockey's right foot.  And a league source tells us that Anderson gave Shockey a clean bill of health, declaring his foot to be healed and clearing him to participate fully in practices and in games.

For Shockey, then, the decision to surgically correct the nagging foot injury apparently had paid off -- allowing him to potentially have a monster year in his third NFL season.

And if he's only half as good as his counterpart in Madden NFL 2005, the folks in Canton might want to start designing a bust with a mullet and a dopey look on its face. 

THURSDAY NIGHT ONE-LINERS

The Bears have moved DE Michael Haynes from the left side to the right side.               

Steelers RG Kendall Simmons will miss the year with a torn ACL.         

Rape charges against former NFL offensive lineman Stan Thomas have been dropped.

EA Sports sold more than 1.3 million copies of the new Madden game in one week -- at $49.99 a pop, that translates to $64.987 million, which would buy more than a few Bloomin' Onions.

POSTED 8:46 a.m. EDT, August 19, 2004

RAVENS WANT DEION TO POOP OR GET OFF POT

The Baltimore Sun reports that the Ravens aren't willing to wait until November to acquire the services of cornerback Deion Sanders, and that they want him to join the team, if at all, in time to suit up for the September 12 opener.

Such rumblings, in our view, could prompt Deion to back off.

As we see it, Sanders doesn't want to come back to football so he can play with the Ravens.  He wants to come back to football so that he can acquire maximum attention in the hopes of re-igniting his failed television career.  

To make that happen, he needs to land on a "hot" team at the right time.  In today's NFL, it's impossible to determine whether that team will be the Ravens or anyone else before the first half of the season unfolds.

Instead, we think Sanders is merely using the Ravens now in an effort to get the word out generally that he's available to the right team at the right time for the right price.  

And we also think the Ravens are placing deadlines on Deion because they're starting to sense that he might be playing them.

In the end, our prediction is that he won't be playing for them -- but that he will end up on the best team with the biggest need for his services (through injury or otherwise) after November 1.

CHEESEHEADS NEED TO CHILL

As the Green Bay media and fans continue to scrutinize every move made by Packers No. 2 quarterback Tim Couch, the presumptive heir apparent to Hall-of-Famer-to-be Brett Favre, we've got some free advice.

Easy, big fella(s).

There's been an obsession of sorts over the past few years regarding the issue of replacing Favre.  And this obsession has morphed into a commonly-held belief that the guy who's going to take Brett's place needs to be in the fold for as long as possible before Favre up and decides that he's done with football.

But why?  This is the new NFL, where every offseason sees at least a handful of capable quarterbacks landing on the open market.  This year, Jeff Garcia or Kerry Collins would have ended up in Wisconsin if Brett had bolted.  A year before, Jake Plummer might have been the guy.  Next year, it'll be someone else. 

Wouldn't it be far better to enjoy the remainder of Favre's career than to worry about what will happen after his career ends?  Part of the reality of having a great quarterback is that the great quarterback someday will leave.  Over the past decade, it's happened to the Bills, the Dolphins, the Cowboys, and the Broncos.  

The only team over the past generation that was insulated from this phenomenon was the 49ers, who were able to keep Steve Young around long enough to succeed Joe Montana in the days before free agency and the salary cap.  Nowadays, there's no way that the Niners could have kept both of them on the roster for so many seasons.

So relax, Cheeseheads.  Don't spend all your time worrying about life without Favre.  Instead, enjoy him while you can.  And worry about his replacement only when Favre actually needs to be replaced.

THURSDAY MORNING ONE-LINERS

Giants coach Tom Coughlin continues to grouse about injuries.

On the final day of training camp, the Vikings players gave Brock Lesnar a proper initiation to the team.

Jags WR Jimmy Smith says that the team still hasn't found an adequate replacement for WR Keenan McCardell.

Texans NT Seth Payne likely will see his first game action after tearing an ACL in 2003 on Aug. 27.

Rams DE Leonard Little will be gone for a couple of days following the death of his grandmother.

Vontez Duff and J.J. Moses are battling for kick-return duties in Houston.

Although the official word is that nothing should be read into it, Lions No. 2 QB Mike McMahon got all of the first-team reps at practice on Wednesday as starter Joey Harrington took the day off to rest his arm.

Redskins S Sean Taylor is closer to cracking the starting lineup.

The Colts preseason game against the Jets won't be televised locally since all tickets weren't sold.

The Bucs might give refunds to folks who were unable to use their tickets to Monday night's game against the Bengals, which had been bumped from Saturday due to Hurricane Charley.

Jags TE George Wrightster had a CAT scan on his foot, showing no serious damage; he should be back in a week or so.

The Rams have terminated the contract of C Dave Wohlabaugh, whose career likely is over due to injury.

Giants coach Tom Coughlin hasn't been happy with K Bill Gramatica's performance, and the team could shop for a veteran before the season starts.

Titans TE Erron Kinney says his "chest felt like there was an elephant on it" during practice on Wednesday; he was scheduled to see a doctor Wednesday night.

The Cowboys will announce on Thursday or Friday whether they will return to Oxnard, Calif. for training camp next year.

Falcons CB DeAngelo Hall will return punts and match up with Randy Moss on Friday night at the Georgia Dome.

The Packers are willing to pay DE Kenny Holmes $660,000, but he's holding out for more.

Pakcers WR Shockmain Davis will miss the season with a broken leg.

Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil didn't make attendance at the President's camp visit mandatory; "We probably have some Democrats on the team,'' Vermeil said.

POSTED 8:30 p.m. EDT, August 18, 2004

TEAMS WANT DEION TO RETURN

As the Ravens make no secret about their desire to add Deion Sanders to a defensive backs corps that was depleted by the season-ending blood clot suffered by Dale Carter, we're hearing that other teams are hoping that Sanders returns.

Specifically, other teams on the Ravens' schedule hopes that Deion will come back to football.

As one league insider explained, "Deion wasn't worth a sh-t" when he last played in 2000.  The thinking is that, more than three years later, Sanders will be easily torched by today's receivers -- especially with the five-yard chuck rule being a point of emphasis this year.

WEDNESDAY EVENING ONE-LINERS

The President visited Chiefs' training camp, and he reportedly was confused by the absence of teepees. 

Steelers coach Bill Cowher says that one fourth-quarter reception by rookie TE Matt Kranchick has resulted in a dramatic increase in his play.

The Bengals cut RB Skip Hicks and rookie WR Jay Chapman.

Giants DE Keith Washington will miss two weeks with an eye injury.

The Vikings have broken training camp after three weeks of full-pad practices.

Jaguars third-round LG Reggie Cordova injured his left knee in practice on Wednesday and was carted off of the field.

Vick King, Jarrett Payton, and Ronald McClendon are battling for the No. 3 running back spot in Tennessee.

Eagles RB Bruce Perry underwent successful reconstructive surgery on his left shoulder.

49ers QB Tim Rattay had a second MRI on his right forearm on Wednesday.

The Saints have claimed CB Derek Ross off of waivers from the Falcons.

Jets S Reggie Tongue returned to practice Wednesday after suffering a calf strain early in camp. 

Ravens CB Corey Fuller says that the chances of Deion Sanders joining the team are "50-50."

POSTED 8:02 a.m. EDT, August 18, 2004

WILL DEION WAIT?

The Baltimore Sun reports that cornerback Deion Sanders is leaning toward joining the Ravens as their nickel back.  The timing of the move, however, remains unclear.

The Sun cites an ESPN report that Sanders might wait until October or November, in order to confirm that the Ravens are indeed in contention.  Another valid concern will be whether running back Jamal Lewis is available after his November 1 drug trial is resolved.

If Lewis is convicted, the team will have a greater need for Barry Sanders, not Deion.

And with no proven back to step in if Lewis is convicted on either of the two pending charges, Deion might be thinking that a one-season tour with the Ravens isn't the best way to get himself another Super Bowl ring -- and all of the attention that goes with a Super Bowl run.

Our guess, then, is that the Ravens aren't the only team Sanders might consider joining, especially if he waits to see how things shake out in the first two or three months of the season.  There are plenty of potential contenders who could use his services as a third cornerback, including the Eagles, the Packers, and the Vikings.  Likewise, there surely will be a few surprise teams this season (Houston?  Detroit?) who will generate solid records by Halloween -- and who might become very attractive to Deion.

Remember, Sanders tried to pull this stunt two years ago with the Raiders -- after it was clear that they were the class of the AFC that season.  If Deion's ultimate goal is to apply a coat or two of polish to his suddenly fading star, his best bet is to climb on the right bandwagon, at the right time.

Is such an approach selfish and opportunistic?  Sure.  

But is Deion selfish and opportunistic?  Hell, yes.

WEDNESDAY MORNING ONE-LINERS

The Packers still believe in QB Tim Couch, despite a dismal 2-for-011 performance on Monday night against the Seahawks.

Redskins defensive coordinator Gregg Williams plans to get S Sean Taylor onto the field against Miami's starting offense.

The Lions hope that WR Az Hakim's play will improve as the No. 3 or No. 4 man on the depth chart, behind Charles Rogers, Tai Streets, and Roy Williams.

Reggie Fowler's people met with Red McCombs' people on Tuesday regarding a possible sale of the Vikings.

Pats LB Dan Klecko is leaning heavily on LB Tedy Bruschi, who also made an early-career switch from D-line to linebacker.

Jason Whitlock of the K.C. Star has a scathing critique of Chiefs DT Ryan Sims' performance in the preseason opener.

Falcons coach Jim Mora, Jr., bristled at questions regarding his preseason handling of QB Michael Vick.

The Lions have put in a waiver claim for Redskins S Ifeanyi Ohalete.

Broncos CB Champ Bailey ran with the offense in four-receiver sets on Tuesday.

With his first three receivers out due to injury, Cards coach Dennis Green is concerned with the performance of their replacements.

With rookie DB Ricardo Colclough showing big potential as a return man, don't be surprised to see WR/KR Antwaan Randle El eventually become trade bait in the 'Burgh, if the team decides to re-sign WR Plaxico Burress after the season.

Texans RB Domanick Davis most likely will sit out of Saturday's preseason game against the Steelers.

Lions RB Kevin Jones is back at practice after recovering from a pulled hamstring.

Franchised-and-unsigned Ravens CB Chris McAlister says that he'll sell his jersey No. 21 to Deion Sanders, if the price is right.

Injuries have given WR Marc Boerigter a spot in the starting lineup with the Chiefs.

POSTED 8:50 p.m. EDT; UPDATED 9:43 p.m. EDT, August 17, 2004

WINSLOW BONUS SMALLER THAN NO. 5, NO. 8

Although it remains possible that the triggers for the incentives and escalators in tight end Kellen Winslow's contract makes it more likely than not that he'll receive the full $40 million value of his six-year contract with the Browns, we've confirmed that Winslow's signing bonus and first year salary will actually be less than the money paid in year one to Redskins safety Sean Taylor, who was drafted one spot in front of Winslow.

It widely has been reported that Winslow received a signing bonus in the amount of $16.5 million.  As we reported on Friday, however, Winslow's bonus is only $11.132 million.

Coupled with a base salary of $230,000, Winslow will get $11.362 million in year one.  Conversely, Taylor will earn $13.275 million over the next 12 months -- more than $2 million more than Winslow.

Even DeAngelo Hall -- taken two spots after Winslow -- will earn more in bonus money.  Hall gets $11.8 million; more than $600,000 greater than Winslow's haul.

These discrepancies confirm the ability of some agents to manipulate the media by feeding phony information.  In the end, everyone wins -- the agents puff up the value of the contracts and the journalists get their scoop.  And the teams are typically reluctant to correct the bad numbers, since doing so could set a bad tone for their relationship with the player.

PARCELLS SEES ONE OF WORST PERFORMANCES

A league source tells us that Cowboys coach Bill Parcells privately is calling the team's initial preseason game -- and 18-0 shutout -- against the Texans one of the worst performances he's ever seen one of his teams put together.

In an improved NFC East, the development doesn't bode well for a team that unexpectedly qualified for the playoffs a year ago.

Sure, it's only the preseason and no team is opening up its playbook when the games don't count.  Still, every coach wants to win every time his team hits the field.  And getting pasted tends to stay with a team for at least a week or so, making it even harder -- and more imperative -- to turn the thing around.

ROUNDTREE INJURY CAUSES RETCHING

A league source tells us the ankle injury suffered by Dolphins defensive back Alphonso Roundtree during Saturday night's game against the Jaguars was so graphic that it caused several players who saw the mangled joint to lose their pre-game meals on the field.

For his trouble, Roundtree was waived by the Dolphins.  If he clears waivers, he'll be added to the team's injured reserve list.

TUESDAY NIGHT ONE-LINERS

From the "That Sound You Hear Is Your NFL Career Swirling Around The Drain" file, rookie QB Eli Manning will start the Giants second preseason game over QB Kurt Warner.

Eagles DE N.D. Kalu is out for the season after suffering an ACL during a non-contract drill; he'll be replaced in the starting lineup by Derrick Burgess.

Fantasy alert -- the Vikings are hoping to keep RB Michael Bennett on the field even in goal-line situations.

Giants K Bill Gramatica is out with back spasms (he really shouldn't do the worm after making an extra point in practice).

Titans CB Samari Rolle underwent an MRI on Tuesday to rule out any serious problems with an ankle that has kept him out of practice for a week.

Prosecutors have added a new charge to the November 1 drug trial of Ravens RB Jamal Lewis.

Now that the Postons have gotten TE Kellen Winslow, they're trying to finagle a shoe deal with Nike, and they're pitching a tie-in between Winslow and fellow Cleveland phenom LeBron James.

The Chiefs have fired former NFL official Woodie Dixon to serve as salary cap manager and legal counsel.

General Motors secured a defense verdict against the family of deceased NFL LB Derrick Thomas resulting from the accident that left him paralyzed.

WR Jerricho Cotchery is moving up the Jets' depth chart. 

POSTED 8:55 a.m. EDT, August 17, 2004

COUGHLIN BITES HIS TONGUE ON INJURIES

A league source tells us that Giants coach Tom Coughlin is walking a tightrope when it comes to dealing with his chief source of frustration.

Injuries.

At a time when NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue is trying to erase any unfair benefits for bettors by insisting on full disclosure regarding players who are nicked up, Coughlin is having trouble dealing with the fact that injured guys aren't available for work.

Linebacker Carlos Emmons and receiver Tim Carter currently are getting the most heat from Coughlin regarding chronic injuries, and running back Delvin Joyce recently was dumped at a time when he was missing reps due to injury.

Coughlin is concerned that he might incur (again) the wrath of the NFLPA is he goes too hard on guys who claim that they can't practice.  Indeed, cutting players primarily because they are unable to practice on a consistent basis could prompt some players who really are injured to come back too soon, risking more serious injury.

Coughlin's attitude toward injuries also places the medical staff in a tenuous position.  The folks who are signing the doctors' checks want the player on the field; the doctors at the same time have a duty to think of their "patients" overall interests.

When he was hired in January, Coughlin raised eyebrows by referring to the team's injury problems in 2003 as a "cancer."

“It is something that has to be corrected,” Coughlin said.  “It is a mental thing I believe as much as anything else.”

RAVENS HAVE BEEN RECRUITING DEION

As it turns out, several members of the Baltimore Ravens actively have been recruiting cornerback Deion Sanders to come out of retirement and join the team as its nickel back.

Ray Lewis and Corey Fuller have been persistent, according to the Baltimore Sun, in their efforts to persuade Sanders to return to the NFL after being out of football for three seasons.

Also on Monday, Sanders confirmed that he's considering a return to the field.  The Sun reports that Sanders still has "blazing" speed, but that he wants to test his conditioning over the next two weeks before making a final decision.

Or, as we believe, he wants the hype regarding his potential return to grow and grow before he makes his return to the field.

Despite suggestions in some circles that the Chargers still hold Sanders' rights after claiming him off of waivers in 2002 (which blocked his desire to join the Raiders for the playoffs),  the Sun reports that Sanders is indeed an unrestricted free agent, and that he may sign with any team.

TUESDAY MORNING ONE-LINERS

The Titans aren't interested in QB Quincy Carter, contrary to reports from ESPN's Chris Mortensen that they are.

The New York media is beginning to pick up on what we've been saying for a couple of weeks -- if Eli Manning is on track to be the Giants' opening-day starter, they don't need Kurt Warner on the roster.

On Tuesday, Giants coach Tom Coughlin will name his starting quarterback for the second preseason game.

Raiders first-round OT Robert Gallery gave his team a scare when he suffered an elbow injury in practice on Monday; it turned out to be only a strain.

A group based in Arizona reportedly is interested in buying the Vikings.

Jets backup QB Brooks Bollinger is out for at least a week with a sprained MCL, moving Ricky Ray to No. 2 on the depth chart.

Rams coach Mike Martz wasn't happy with the fact that RT Greg Randall allowed DE Leonard Little to shove him into QB Marc Bulger during practice, who suffered what turned out to be only a mild injury. 

Pats first-round TE Ben Watson is in camp after signing a six-year deal.

DE Chad Bratzke is interested in joining the Titans, but the Titans apparently believe that his asking price is too high.

Seahawks first-round DT Marcus Tubbs got a sack during his first NFL snap.

Rams RB Marshall Faulk has participated in three straight practices for the first time since camp opened.

Bears OL Ruben Brown is finally running with the ones after RT Rex Tucker dislocated an elbow on Monday.

The two remaining unsigned draft picks are Chargers first-round QB Philip Rivers and Colts second-round S Bob Sanders.

The Dolphins have moved first-rounder Vernon Carey from right tackle to right guard.

Jags DT John Henderson might be out of action for an extended stretch after injuring his ankle during practice on Monday.

Browns TE Kellen Winslow drew the ire of some teammates when he dropped a shoulder and flattened CB Roosevelt Williams during a shoulder-pads-and-shorts practice on Monday; "I just see how it is now," Williams said in response to the hit.  "When he catches the ball, it's like we're in a game."

The Jets currently have $23 million in cap room for 2005, and they'll surely need a big chunk of it in order to keep QB Chad Pennington around.

Lions No. 2 QB Mike McMahon says that the team hasn't offered him a multi-year deal; he's currently playing under a one-year, $1.3 million RFA tender.

Dolphins WR Antonio Freeman wore jersey No. 4 in his first practice with the team as a tribute to Packers QB Brett Favre.

Steelers LB Clark Haggans might be back on the field this week; he suffered a broken hand while lifting weights before training camp opened.

Jets CB Ray Mickens might be back by August 27 following a knee injury.

Falcons starting TE Alge Crumpler and MLB Chris Draft returned to practice Monday after missing a combined 23 days.

Vikings LB Dontarrious Thomas currently is in line to serve as the starting weakside linebacker in both the base package and the nickel defense.

Chargers WR Reche Caldwell, who was drafted in 2002 with one of the Michael Vick picks, might be in the early phases of becoming a bona fide contributor.

The Lions could use versatile second-year DB Terrence Holt at corner or at either safety position.

POSTED 7:15 p.m. EDT; LAST UPDATED 9:04 p.m. EDT, August 16, 2004

HASLETT, LOOMIS ON THE LINE IN LOOZIANA

A league source tells us that owner Tom Benson could be dumping head coach Jim Haslett and G.M. Mickey Loomis unless the Saints go deep into the playoffs this season.

In other words, Haslett and Loomis must guide the Saints to the best season in the entire freaking history of the franchise in order to get paychecks bearing Tom Benson's John Hancock in 2005.

Haslett did just that in his first season as head coach, taking the team to its first postseason win.  Since then, however, the Saints have underachieved under Haslett and Loomis, a non-football guy who inherited the G.M. job after Randy Mueller was dumped unexpectedly in May 2003.

If true, expect Haslett to keep starting quarterback Aaron Brooks on a short leash this year.  After breaking onto the scene in 2000 following a season-ending injury to then-starter Jeff Blake, Brooks won the job from Blake in 2001, held out in 2002 for a new contract . . . and sputtered ever since.  Backup Todd Bouman, on the other hand, temporarily bounced Daunte Culpepper to the bench in 2002 when both quarterbacks were with Minnesota.  Don't be surprised, then, to see a change early in the year -- especially if Haslett and Loomis recognize that it's gonna take a career year in order to enable their careers to continue for another.

MARTY OR ARMEY GONE AFTER 2004?

In St. Louis, the situation is slightly different.  Word is that, if the Rams underachieve again this season, it'll be the end of the line for either coach Mike Martz or G.M. Charley Armey.

Rumors have persisted for years that Martz and Armey don't see eye to eye.  Martz did little to quell such talk by insisting upon final say over personnel, a duty typically referred to General Manager types.

Regardless, the Rams generally have underachieved since Martz inherited the head-coaching gig from Dick Vermeil after the 1999 season.  Martz has now had four chances to duplicate Dick's Super Bowl win, and it's not out of the question to conclude that Martz won't get many more before getting bounced.

G.M.'s GENERALLY ON THE HOT SEAT

With seven coaches getting booted after the 2003 season, there's talk around the league that the aftermath of the 2004 campaign could result in a number of G.M.'s looking for work.

In addition to Mickey Loomis in New Orleans and Charley Armey in St. Louis, speculation regarding potential job changes at the top of the organization centers primarily on the Bills, Seahawks, Packers, Lions, and Eagles.

Of course, in Green Bay and Philly, the G.M. also is the head coach.  Like Mike Holmgren in Seattle after the 2002 season, Mike Sherman and/or Andy Reid could get squeezed out of their chief front office jobs if their respective squads underachieve this year.  Unlike Holmgren, they might choose to walk entirely if faced with a request to shed one of their two hats.

In Detroit, a solid draft by the Lions could help Matt Millen finally have a breakthrough year.  If the team flounders yet again, the Fords might finally nudge Millen out -- possibly turning over the personnel authority to coach Steve Mariucci.

In Buffalo, the Teflon is off of G.M. Tom Donahoe, whose mastery of the media insulated him from criticism through his first three seasons with the Bills.  If the team stumbles again, Donahoe will get the brunt of the blame -- and 80-something owner Ralph Wilson is far more likely to act if the guys who get paid to write and talk about football make a persuasive case that Donahoe is the root of the team's struggles of late.  

EAGLES PRESSURED ON OWENS

Although a full slate of preseason games has caused the recent comments of Eagles receiver Terrell Owens regarding the orientation of former teammate Jeff Garcia to slide off of the front burner, one group is trying to pressure the team into compelling Owens to publicly apologize for his words.

In a memo to Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie, which was copied via e-mail to a handful of media types, the Pennsylvania Lesbian and Gay Task Force asks Lurie to address Owens' not-so-implicit suggestion that Garcia is gay by explaining, "If it looks like a rat and smells like a rat, by golly, it is a rat."

Wrote Rita Adessa of the PLGTF, "We hope that you agree that public bigotry and bias is unacceptable.  So too the equation of any minority group, [i]nclusive of gay and lesbian people, as vermin.  We are human beings, Mr. Lurie, not vermin.

"We hope that you will issue a statement, shortly, that affirms the necessity to respect all people's human rights, inclusive of gay and lesbian people, and the importance of honoring human diversity as we struggle towards a just and peaceful society. . . .  On the matter of the NFL, we have and continue to encourage [the] media to examine in depth the issue of homophobia in sports -- the forced invisibility of professional athletes who are gay or lesbian -- the cult of heterosexual masculinity -- the intimidation implicit in 'outing.'"  

Ironically, another one of Lurie's employees, quarterback Donovan McNabb, was at the center of a media firestorm last September, after then-ESPN employee Rush Limbaugh attempted to attribute McNabb's arguably undeserved reputation to the media's desire that a black quarterback be successful.  Limbaugh generally was castigated by the media, and he stepped aside from his ESPN gig under duress.

Though Owens' comments were far more overt and hateful than Limbaugh's, the fact is that there's no mechanism in place to permit pressure to be exerted on those who make homophobic remarks, since any of the folks within league circles who would be most sympathetic to the cause can't speak out for fear of being outed.

But a hue and cry from the NFL's closeted homosexuals shouldn't be necessary to prompt the Eagles to take a stand against Owens' statements.  The Eagles should denounce Owens' words because it's the right thing to do.

Of course, it's the last thing the Eagles want to do at a time when the team is crossing its fingers and holding its breath that Owens will play hard and provide minimal distractions.  Rapping him on the knuckles for an incident that was not directed at the team's current roster or coaching staff would serve only to increase the chances that Owens eventually will do so. 

Perhaps the PLGTF (they need a much better acronym) would have a better chance at making something happen if they direct their campaign directly against the NFL.  Two years ago, pressure (i.e., threatened litigation) from lawyers Johnnie Cochran and Cyrus Mehri prompted the league to take steps to address glaring deficiencies in the hiring of black head coaches.  A similar tactic, as we see it, will be the only way to address the deeply-ingrained culture of homophobia that exists in virtually every corner of the NFL.

Of course, since all NFL homosexuals are in the closet, it will be difficult for litigation to be pursued against the NFL for its institutional acceptance of fear and loathing of homosexuality.  Indeed, until a player comes out of the closet during his career, the issue never will be addressed in a meaningful way.

And as to any player who thinks about coming out, he'd better be good enough to withstand the kind of discretionary coaching decisions that got a guy like Quincy Carter run out of Dallas when he was still, in theory, good enough to play.

NFLPA FILES CARTER GRIEVANCE

Speaking of Quincy Carter, the NFLPA has made good on its promise to challenge the Cowboys' decision to dump their starting quarterback.  According to the Associated Press, the union has filed a "special master" proceeding with Stephen Burbank of the University of Pennsylvania Law School.

The NFLPA's argument flows from its contention that Carter was cut solely for failing a drug test.  "You don't go from being a starting, playoff quarterback in this league to someone not good enough to make the 80-man roster the next summer," said NFLPA general counsel Richard Berthelsen.

The final outcome, in our view, will turn on whether Burbank believes that the presence of a procedure for league-imposed discipline for such violations preempts independent action by the team.

From the Cowboys' perspective, their best response might be to argue that they cannot place the team's fortunes in the hands of a starting quarterback who is one bad night away from getting suspended for four games.  The focus, however, upon the argument that they cut Carter for performance-based reasons could diminish the overall credibility of the team's presentation, since no one is going to believe that they didn't cut Carter because of the failed drug test.  The 'Boys would be far better off if they tell the truth about the reason for the decision -- and if they argue zealously that any team should have the right to get rid of a guy who can't make good decisions when it comes to using or abusing drugs.   

An interesting twist to the Carter affair is that, to date, he remains unsigned.  If he was as skilled as the NFLPA believes, wouldn't he have gotten another job by now?

Then again, perhaps other teams are avoiding him for the same reason that the Cowboys got rid of him.  And if that's the case, it's hard to fault the Cowboys for doing what they did.

MONDAY NIGHT ONE-LINERS

The Cardinals have claimed WR Chris Collins off of waiver from the Vikings, and released DE Riall Johnson.

WR Antonio Freeman agreed to terms on a one-year deal with the Dolphins on Monday.

The proposed Cowboys stadium in Arlington would be a 75,000 venue with a retractable roof (so if on certain days God wants to watch the games, he'll need to buy a ticket or a dish or, you know, not let it rain or snow). 

Former Heisman runner-up Joe Hamilton is trying to stick with the Colts as the No. 3 quarterback.

Comcast will bring the NFL Network to 8 million more homes.

NEW RULE OF THE DAY

Field goal attempts that travel into the end zone untouched by the receiving team will be immediately blown dead.  Field goal attempts still can be caught in the end zone and advanced forward by the opposing team, as Ravens CB Chris McAlister did in 2002 for a 107-yard score against the Broncos. 

POSTED 7:17 a.m. EDT; UPDATED 7:55 a.m. EDT, August 16, 2004

PRIME TIME RETURNING TO FOOTBALL?

After systematically losing out on his TV-based revenue streams, former shut-down cornerback Deion Sanders is contemplating a return to the NFL, according to the Baltimore Sun.

Sanders would serve as the nickel corner for the Ravens.

If it happens, it would be news to the Ravens.  "To my knowledge, Deion Sanders is retired," coach Brian Billick told the Sun.  "That kind of takes him off our radar. If he decides to unretire, like any number of other teams, we would be interested."

The Ravens have a glaring need at the nickel corner position, since newcomer Dale Carter will miss the year due to a blood clot.  Sanders likewise has a glaring need to get himself back into the public eye, since he lost his job with CBS's pre-game show in a money dispute and was fired from ESPN's The New American Sportsman show

Sanders is 37, and he hasn't played football since the 2000 season in Wasington.  He contemplated a return near the end of the 2002 season with the Raiders, but after the Redskins released Sanders he was required to pass through waivers.  Several teams put in claims for him, and the Chargers were awarded his rights.

MONDAY MORNING ONE-LINERS

RB Duce Staley got the start at tailback over Jerome Bettis in the Steelers' first preseason game.

Broncos QB Jake Plummer has a 13.8 passer rating through two games; on Sunday night against the Bills, he rang up a worse-than-dismal 2.7.

Falcons DE Patrick Kerney left practice on Sunday night with a sprained knee.

Dolphins CB Korey Banks is recovering from a spinal injury that left him temporarily paralyzed on Saturday night.

The Bears are experimenting with Bryan Robinson at left defensive end.

Coach Joe Gibbs' initial review on the performance of his new/old team:  "I don't think we're doing smart things."

An MRI on the knee of Vikings CB Brian Williams showed no serious damage; he'll miss the rest of the preseason and probably the Sept. 12 opener against Dallas.

Chiefs V.P. of football operations Lynn Stiles says that the new focus on enforcing the 5-yard chuck rule will help the Vikings:  "This is going to be like the Globetrotters for [Randy] Moss."

The Redskins are close to adding OT Marcus Spriggs.

Cards WR Larry Fitzgerald has a severely sprained ankle, but an MRI was negative.

Lions CB Chris Cash will make his first appearance in nearly a year in the next preseason game; he hasn't played since suffering a knee injury in the third preseason game a year ago.

Texans RB Jason Anderson is out indefinitely with a fractured right fibula.

Lions coach Steve Mariucci wants to give No. 2 QB Mike McMahon more reps in practice.

The family home of Rams rookie DE Anthony Hargrove was destroyed by Hurricane Charley.

For now, the Rams have moved Tony Newson ahead of Tommy Polley at strongside linebacker.

The Dolphins are close to adding WR Antonio Freeman.

Jets CB Ray Mickens injured his left knee in practice on Sunday; an MRI will be performed.

Packers WR Robert Ferguson is out for Monday night's game against Seattle with a leg injury.

Dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt will take his time in naming a starting quarterback.

Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera ripped into his unit after a lackluster practice on Sunday morning.

POSTED 9:42 p.m. EDT, August 15, 2004

WATSON FIRED CONDON, PERIOD

As some media types continue to perpetuate an alternative reality, we've confirmed via multiple league sources that Patriots rookie tight end Ben Watson initiated the termination of agent Tom Condon.

Condon didn't want Watson to sign a six-year deal.  Watson, we're told, decided recently that he is willing to sign a six-year deal.  Condon wanted to hold firm, so Watson got someone else to represent him.

Regardless of whether it was Watson or Condon who ended the relationship, the move convinces us that Condon is far more concerned about his image than he is about helping each and every one of his clients to get the best deal possible.  If, after all, the kid decides that he'll sign a six-year deal, then Condon's job should be to get him the best terms possible under a six-year framework.

Condon's concern, however, was that other agents would use his agreement to a six-year deal as a recruiting tool against him.  Instead, they now have an even better tool:

Condon is afraid of the Patriots.

JAGS BAILING ON BRACKENS?

As veteran defensive end Tony Brackens struggles with a muscle tear in his leg, word out of Jacksonville is that the Jags are looking for another defensive end, with an eye toward giving Brackens a permanent heave-ho.

The Jaguars have been mentioned from time to time as a possible trade partner with the Dolphins for unsigned AFC sack leader Adewale Ogunleye, but such a move is far from coming to fruition.

The market for available free agent defensive ends is somewhat limited, and it's likely that the team will instead wait for names to pop up on the waiver wire as rosters in other cities get reduced.

MCCOWN HAS HAPPY FEET

There's talk around the league that Cardinals quarterback Josh McCown has developed a case of the happy feet, which could keep him from realizing his full potential in the short term as a starting quarterback.

League insiders believe that McCown doesn't yet have the patience to remain in the pocket and scan the field for open receivers.

In a move that would be considered daring for anyone other than  Dennis Green, who has made a career out of making unconventional decisions when it comes to naming starting quarterbacks, the Cards' new coach handed the starting job to McCown in the offseason and did nothing to shore up the position -- other than signing veteran Shaun King.  

On Saturday night, McCown completed four of six passes for 29 yards in limited duty against the Vikings.

SUNDAY NIGHT ONE-LINERS

Pats OT Matt Light practiced with the team for the first time since undergoing an appendectomy in June.

The Bills cut veteran DT Oliver Gibson.

Eagles rookie RB Bruce Perry will miss the season after suffering a dislocated shoulder on Friday night.

Dolphins CB Korey Banks suffered a spinal injury on Saturday night against the Jaguars.

Falcons WR Peerless Price think he's going to have a break out year (unless, of course, one of Michael Vick's bones don't break out of his skin).

Dolphins WR David Boston plans to return to the field by November.

Vikings CB Brian Williams suffered a potentially significant knee sprain on Saturday night against the Cardinals.

NEW RULE OF THE DAY

When the kicking team is offside on a kickoff, the receiving team has the option of forcing a re-kick from five yards back or adding five yards to the end of the return.

POSTED 10:18 p.m. EDT; LAST UPDATED 11:26 a.m. EDT, August 13, 2004

IMG DOES DAMAGE CONTROL

In the wake of reports that Patriots first-round tight end Ben Watson has fired agent Tom Condon and IMG due to an inability to get a deal done, Condon and IMG are spreading the word that the agent decided to fire Watson.

Per Liz Mullen of the Sports Business Journal, Condon severed ties with Watson because the Patriots refuse to do anything other than a firm six-year deal with no voidable years.

Um, perhaps we're missing something here, but isn't the agent's job to fight for the client when the team is imposing terms that agent thinks are unreasonable?  

Instead, Condon fled.

If, indeed, the NFLPA is concerned about the growing trend of teams digging in their heels and insisting on longer-term contracts, why isn't Condon using his significant influence over the union to bring this issue to a head via the Watson negotiations?

Continue the holdout, Tom.  File a grievance, Tom.  Do anything, Tom, other than walk away from your client when your client needs you the most.

And, remember, we're talking about Tom Condon here.  The great and powerful Wizard of Oz.  He's the guy who finagled a $34.5 million dollar bonus for Peyton Manning and who masterminded a draft-day power play that got baby brother Eli a ticket out of San Diego and $15 million in bonus money of his own.

Of course, these observations presume that Condon is telling the truth.  We think he isn't.

We believe that Condon and IMG merely are engaged in damage control on this one, and that the move originated with Watson, as Mike Reiss of the MetroWest Daily News first reported on Friday.

In a week when Condon already has lost up-and-coming running back Onterrio Smith, the last thing he needs is for another client to tell him to get bent, given the reality that Condon has plenty of other high-profile clients -- and that there are plenty of other sharks in the water who'll do anything to get their teeth into them.

But, in our view, Condon's chosen strategy makes him look even worse.  The very idea that an agent will shrink away from tough negotiations is the kind of thing that could cause current and prospective clients to rush in droves to guys who have a track record of holding a guy out until the player gets what the agent wants.

For the Patriots, this development is just another example of the fact that they've figured out how to navigate the increasingly treacherous water of the post-salary cap NFL.  Our guess is that Watson will agree to the request for a six-year deal because he wants to get into camp so he can create for himself an important role with the defending Super Bowl champs.  Given that the team is loaded with talent for the foreseeable future, being a member of the roster for the next six years ain't such a bad thing.

And the deal could come sooner rather than later.  According to Patriots.com, the NFLPA has waived the five-day waiting period for the hiring of a new agent (possibly to enhance the appearance that Condon fired Watson).  Watson's new agent, Pat Dye, will be meeting with the team on Friday night.

Here's a final observation -- if Condon was the one to fire Watson, how is it that Watson landed so quickly in the lap of the guy whom Reiss reported that Watson had chosen to represent him?

Peculiar coincidence, no?  

Then again, our guess is that Condon didn't shed any tears over this one.  Like a lawyer whose never lost a trial because he settles all the ones he thinks he might not win, Condon gets to preserve the appearance that he always wins -- even when he loses.  

EARLY SATURDAY ONE-LINERS

Glen Taylor still remains interested in buying the Vikings from Red McCombs.

Cards WR Larry Fitzgerald has fairly basic aspirations as he makes his NFL debut in his hometown of Minneapolis:  "I just don't want to embarrass myself."

Falcons QB Michael Vick says the West Coast offense won't hamper his north-south running abilities.

Though coach Brian Billick has said that RB Jamal Lewis won't play if he doesn't practice during his drug trial, Lewis says he expects to play (maybe the team can practice after court hours during the trial -- in Atlanta, where the trial will occur).

With Charlie Batch out for the year following knee surgery, the Steelers have added QB Kurt Kittner as their fourth arm in camp (as the Steelers likely will end up being the fifth team to cut Kittner since April 27, joining the Falcons, Bengals, Giants, and Patriots as teams who have given Kittner the boot-- and that's gotta be a record).

Bills CB Kevin Thomas broke a bone in his hand during practice and will miss the preseason opener.

A Cowboys stadium in Arlington supposedly could result in more than $7 billion in income for the city over 30 years.

Marcus Allen's brother Damon, 41, could be finished with football after 20 years in the CFL; the Toronto quarterback suffered an ACL tear on Thursday night.

POSTED 9:54 p.m. EDT, August 13, 2004

$20 MILLION BONUS FOR L.T.

After a couple of weeks of first-round deals being erroneously reported as carrying $20 million signing bonus, Chargers running back LaDainain Tomlinson is the first player other that Colts quarterback Peyton Manning to actually crack the $20 million bonus barrier.

A league source tells us that L.T. will pocket a signing bonus of $12.4 million, plus a roster bonus due August 21 of $3.1 million and a roster bonus due on March 1, 2005 in the amount of $4.46 million.

For cap purposes, the bonus will be spread over each of the eight years of the contract at a rate of $1.55 million per season.  The full amount of the roster bonuses applies to the cap in the season in which the money is paid.

Tomlinson is scheduled to earn, in all, $60 million over his next eight seasons with the Chargers.

And since the premature retirement of running backs seems to be a growing phenomenon in the NFL, here's the repayment schedule if L.T. quits at any time after the second year of the deal:

After 2005:  $8.9 million.

After 2006:  $7.35 million.

After 2007:  $5.8 million.

After 2008:  $4.25 million.

DAYNE LOOKING GREAT

Giants running back Ron Dayne is making the most of his second chance in New York -- and he's making coach Tom Coughlin look pretty smart for realizing Dayne's potential.

Dayne also is making former Jim Fassel look like a doofis for hardly using the 1999 Heisman winner over the past three seasons.

Showing the leg drive and open-field burst that made him a star in college, Dayne is looking more like Jerome Bettis and less like the tentative, one-hit-and-down running back he'd become in his first four NFL seasons.

And although it's probably accurate to blame the kid for his troubles, it takes a good coach to bring the best out in every player, and Coughlin already has shown that he's got the magic touch, at least as far as Dayne is concerned.

As of this posting, Dayne has rushed for 116 yards on eight carries, with two touchdowns.

POSTED 12:16 p.m. EDT, August 13, 2004

WATSON FIRES CONDON

Mike Reiss of the MetroWest Daily News reports that Patriots first-round draft pick Ben Watson has poop-canned agent Tom Condon of IMG.

It's a move that might be an indication that Watson is ready to break his impasse with the team and get a deal finished.

Watson, the last selection of the first round, and Chargers first-round quarterback Philip Rivers are to only two remaining round one holdouts.  

The dispute apparently centered on the length of the deal; Condon wanted a six-year deal that could be voided to five and the Pats want a firm six-year commitment.

The Patriots other first-round choice, defensive tackle Vince Wilfork, agreed to a six-year contract with no voidable year.

Reiss reports that Pat Dye is thought to be Watson's first choice for a replacement.  Under NFLPA rules, he must wait five days to hire a new representative.

Condon essentially inherited Watson from former IMG agent Darrell Wills, who tried to bolt from the mega-firm and set up his own shop before being summarily decertified by the NFLPA.  Watson and others wanted to go with Wills, and we wouldn't be surprised to learn that Wills has been giving Watson some informal, off-the-record advice as to his negotiations with the Pats.

For Condon, it's not the only player he's recently lost.  A league source recently told us that Vikings running back Onterrio Smith has dumped Condon and IMG in favor of Octagon.  Smith, a budding star who is caught in a tailback logjam in Minnesota and who has been the subject of trade rumors, might have wanted Condon to be more aggressive about forcing a trade to another team.

POSTED 9:42 a.m. EDT; 10:44 a.m. EDT, August 13, 2004

BROWNS RIPPED FOR WINSLOW DEAL

The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that the Browns are getting bad feedback from league insiders regarding the magnitude of the contract they handed to rookie Kellen Winslow.

How bad is the deal?  It's so bad that even team president John Collins acknowledges that he got bent over and blasted.

"I'm not happy about these numbers," Collins said. "But at the end of the day, we've got the player on the field."

"They got crushed," one NFL team executive told the Plain Dealer.

But the initial information we're getting from our own sources is that the deal might not be as favorable for Winslow as initially reported.  The original number of $16.5 million might only be $11.132 million, based on information provided to us by a league source.

Per the source, Winslow's actual up-front signing bonus was $6 million, with a $4.4125 million option bonus due in 2005 and a $720,000 roster bonus paid out in 2004.

If, in reality, Winslow's bonus is $5 million or so less than reported, he'd be roughly equal to Eli Manning and Larry Fitzgerald in the signing bonus puffery category, since both of them were supposedly getting bonuses in excess of $20 million, but the real numbers for both (as we pointed out and as the rest of the football media ignored lest they admit they previously had disseminated bad info) were in the neighborhood of $15 million.

The Winslow deal also contains $4.13 million in base salary over the next six years.

The real money must be in the incentives and escalators, which reportedly can be obtained with minimal achievement by Winslow.

Stay tuned for more.

LEWIS TRIAL TO START NOVEMBER 1

Though it's gotten far less attention by the mainstream media than the pending legal matters involving Kobe Bryant, the criminal trial of Ravens running back Jamal Lewis will begin on November 1, smack dab in the middle of the 2004 regular season.

Lewis is accused of participating in a conspiracy to sell drugs, which allegedly occurred in the summer of 2000, before his rookie season with the Ravens.

Once the trial starts, Lewis won't be permitted to play in any games, since he'll be absent from practice.

The trial is expected to last less than two weeks.  If so, he'll only miss one game -- a November 7 Sunday night affair against the Browns.

Lewis faces a mandatory sentence of 10 years, if convicted of a conspiracy involving more than 5 kilograms of cocaine.

Although everyone on Lewis's side is talking tough, there's no guarantee he'll walk.  If the charges were as weak as the Lewis camp maintains, the judge wouldn't have permitted the case to proceed to trial.  

FRIDAY MORNING ONE-LINERS

New Falcons offensive line coach Alex Gibbs summarized the performance of his troops in Thursday night's 24-0 loss to the Ravens succinctly:  "Horrible." 

For those of you who accept at face value the notion that having a girlfriend, fiance, and/or wife doesn't mean that a dude isn't gay, we've got two words:  James and McGreevey. 

Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson confirmed that he's reached an agreement in principle on a six-year, $60 million extension including $21 million in guarantees.

Vikings coach Mike Tice shared with the media the other day a term as common among league insiders as "turd" when Tice explained in reference to QB Gus Frerotte, "I told you he wasn't some 'slappy'."  ("Slappy" is short for "slapdick," a big favorite of NFL types.  Another acceptable variation is "slapola.")

Greg Stroda of the Palm Beach Post makes an excellent point regarding the recent disintegration of the Dolphins' offense -- coach Dave Wannstedt no longer has to worry about getting fired if the team doesn't excel this year, since there are no longer any expectations that the team will.

Chris Simms will be the No. 2 quarterback for the Bucs in the preseason opener; Brian Griese will get that role in the second preseason contest.

The Ron Dayne era could be beginning (finally) in New York.

Vikings DE Kenny Mixon says he's no longer mixin' drinks.

Coach Mike Sherman said that lingering soreness in the foot of RB Ahman Green isn't serious.

Bucs CB Ronde Barber said that the arrival of WR Tim Brown delayed plans to install some offensive plays for the veteran defensive back.

Browns S Sean Jones might not be placed on injured reserve, despite a torn ACL suffered in June.

Bears coach Lovie Smith won't allow his assistant coaches to speak with the media after games.

Bucs LB Derrick Brooks will miss the preseason opener with a sprained knee.

POSTED 8:58 a.m. EDT; LAST UPDATED 11:19 a.m. EDT, August 12, 2004

FITZGERALD HAS JAW-DROPPING ESCALATORS

One thing that we've learned over the past several weeks is that the sports media at large spends little time breaking down the real terms of contracts paid out to rookies, specifically those drafted in the first round.

Part of the problem is that, in their zeal to "break" the story, many sports journalists rely upon information straight from the kid's agent -- and that information in the end may prove to be less than accurate.  Of course, writers who find themselves in this specific predicament rarely do anything to fix the problem.  The real numbers typically become available several news cycles later, so the safe thing for the writer who got it wrong is to keep his head low and move on to the next story.

In theory, other writers could be pointing out such mistakes.  However, there seems to be a professional courtesy among these paid writer types, which prevents them from calling each other out.

Unfortunately for some, we're not courteous.  And we're not professional.

But our goal for now isn't to rip certain rotund members of the media for obsessing over bonus money while ignoring the other key terms of the deal -- or spinning the terms in a way that makes the agents who feed them scoop look good.  Instead, we're trying to help fill in a fairly significant information gap that exists regarding the amount and the attainability of the incentive payments and escalators contained in these contracts.

Our round one contract analyzer specifically doesn't focus on these aspects of rookie contracts because the terms vary greatly from deal to deal, and because we've yet to devise a remotely objective formula for assessing the real value of future payments tied to specific events.  Sure, a player might have a $15 million escalator for 2008, but if it's due to be paid only if the team wins the next four Super Bowls and/or the kid leads an expedition to Jupiter, the chances of the money being paid aren't very high.

And that brings us (after six yawn-inducing paragraphs) to the point of this piece.  Based on our review of the contracts paid out to date to the guys at the top end of the draft (and given that we haven't yet eye-balled the terms given to Kellen Winslow), the guy with the greatest likelihood of cashing in on his incentives and escalators is receiver Larry Fitzgerald of the Cardinals.

Beyond more than $15 million in bonus money, Fitzgerald can earn a string of escalators beginning in 2006 based on the so-called "minimum playing time" trigger, which generally refers to participation in 35 percent of the snaps for his side of the ball.

Specifically, achievement of minimum playing time by Fitzgerald puts him in line for a $2.75 million escalator in 2006, $2.75 million in 2007, $3.5 million in 2008, and a whopping $11 million in 2009.  That's a total potential haul of $20 million based solely being on the field for slightly more than one out of every three offensive snaps.

He can get another $5 million in 2007 if he has 270 catches in his first three years (that's an average of 90 per year).  He also can get $10 million more for making one Pro Bowl ($5 million in 2008 and $5 million in 2009) along with another $5 million in 2008 if he makes it two two Pro Bowls in his first four years, or if he's in the top five in receptions for two of his first four years.  

Other deals might have more total potential dollars, but earning the dollars doesn't get any easier than in Fitz's deal.  As a result, a league source explained to us on Wednesday afternoon that the Cardinals will be begging Fitzgerald to restructure after four years, since the big escalators kick in for 2008 and 2009 (unless, of course, the Cardinals are otherwise far under the salary cap).

So whether he gets it in the form of escalators or in the form of an extension prior to the 2008 season, Fitzgerald will be paid handsomely over the next 48 months.  Our guess is that, by this time in 2008, Larry will have deposited more than $50 million in checks with Bill Bidwill's name on them.

And that, my friends, is what we call a financially advantageous position.

L.T. BENEFITS FROM RIVERS LOG JAM

With first-round pick Philip Rivers not likely to sign with the team any time soon, the Chargers are putting some of their money to use by working out a deal with running back LaDainian Tomlinson, who's poised to become the highest paid running back in the league.

According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, the team and Tomlinson "all but agreed in principle" to a new package to replace a deal that would have paid Tomlinson $5.5 million in 2004 and $6.5 million in 2005 (probably as a result of escalators that Tomlinson achieved under his rookie deal).

The new deal would be a six-year extension, locking LaDainian up through 2011.

Tomlinson was the fifth overall draft pick in 2001, taken by the Chargers after they swung a deal with the Falcons for the top pick in the draft (which Atlanta used to draft Michael Vick).

Although Tomlinson, like Rivers, held out as a rookie, the fact that the trade went down before the picks were exercised made it easier for the Chargers to pay L.T. like the No. 5 guy in the draft.  In contrast, the inexplicable post-selection draft-day swap of Manning for Rivers has made it harder to strike a deal, since the fact that the Chargers have the No. 1 slot in the 2004 rookie pool has enabled the Rivers camp to convince itself that he deserves to be paid like the No. 1 overall pick.

Sure, doing the trade after the picks were made ensured that the Chargers would get Rivers.  But with the Raiders locked onto Robert Gallery at No. 2 and Denny Green set to take protege Larry Fitzgerald at No. 3, it would've been worth the risk that Rivers was gone.

In fact, the willingness of the Browns to trade up to No. 4 with the Giants in order to snag Sean Taylor could have enabled the Chargers to drop to No. 7, pick up an extra pick or two, and still have a shot at Rivers.

BROWN'S WORDS JUSTIFY RAIDERS' MOVE

Veteran receiver Tim Brown had a few choice words on Wednesday for the team with which he spent 16 seasons.

And based on the content of Brown's candid comments, we think that the Raiders made the right move in getting Brown out of town.

In part, Brown explained that he was released because Raiders exec Mike Lombardi "pretty much sold [coach] Norv [Turner] on the concept of, it can never be your team as long as Tim Brown is here.  And that was the truth.  If I was there, it was going to be my team, because the guys were going to listen to me, because I had years in the league and I'd been there for so long.  And the decisions I made in the locker room had always worked out for us."

Read that last sentence again, and think about what it means.

When a player begins to think that his tenure with the team makes him anything more than a player, then it's high time for the player to move on.  Notions of structure and hierarchy are more important than ever in the post-salary cap NFL, when the annual infusion of new players necessitates a clear understanding that the coach is the coach and the players are the players.  Period.  

In fact, the idea that Brown was able for some period of time to exert such influence in the locker room tells us that the move was long overdue -- and it makes us wonder whether former coach Bill Callahan merits the brunt of the blame for last year's horrendous performance.  Hell, no coach could thrive in an environment where a player is making locker room "decisions" for the team, and no reputable coach would tolerate it for a second.

So we'll officially retract our position that the Raiders should have cut Brown loose earlier so that he could have spent time in another team's offseason program.  Brown got what he deserved (including a $240,000 roster bonus paid on June 3, two days after the date on which he could have been dumped in cap-friendly fashion).

We also wonder how Brown's new coach reacted to this admission.  Does Chucky know that Tim was making locker room decisions for the team when Jon was the head coach in Oakland?  And does Brown plan to reprise this role in Tampa?

In the old days, it was an aging athlete's on-field performance that made us embarrassed for them.  Nowadays, it's often the things that come out of their mouths that make them look far worse than their declining physical skills.

WARNER'S STATUS SEEMS SHAKY

It wasn't supposed to be newsworthy.  When Kurt Warner signed with the Giants in June, the idea was that he'd be the starting quarterback until Eli Manning is ready to take over, presumably in 2005.

But with Warner looking more like the cloudy-eyed, busted-handed has-been of 2002 and 2003 than the two-time MVP of 1999-2001, the fact that coach Tom Coughlin even had to announce that Warner will start the preseason opener tells us that Warner's tenure in New York isn't unfolding the way that either he or the team envisioned.

As a result, Coughlin won't discuss whether Warner will start the team's second preseason game, and he has described the competition between Kurt and Eli as "tight."

That statement, standing alone, is likely more of an indignity than Warner (or his wife Yoko) could bear.  Kurt the Chosen is in the same stratosphere as a wet-eared Loozianan who has never taken an NFL snap?  How can it be?

It be.

And it's not because Manning is already can play like the Peyton of today, but it's because (in our view) Warner no longer can play like Kurt of yesterday.

We'll also reiterate our prediction that, if Warner isn't the opening day starter, he'll be released.  Sure, Kurt is capable of putting on a happy face as the backup, but everyone knows that he still thinks he's got MVP talent (and our guess is that he'll feel the same way when he's 52).  Also, with Yoko a shot of espresso away from calling up a talk radio station and teeing off about Kurt not getting a fair chance to win the job and about Kurt passing up chances to be the starter elsewhere and about the Giants giving the job to Manning to justify all the money he was paid, Coughlin will sleep a bit more easily with Warner not on the roster at all.

THURSDAY MORNING ONE-LINERS

The Raiders have offered CB Charles Woodson a contract that exceeds the seven-year, $63 million deal given to Broncos CB Champ Bailey earlier this year.

Lions LB Boss Bailey is now out indefinitely after a 'scope showed worse damage to his right knee than expected.

Bengals first-round RB Chris Perry is trying to catch up mentally after holding out.

A lingering groin pull is keeping Bears OT John Tait out of action.

Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger could start the season firmly entrenched as the No. 2 guy on the depth chart -- and rising.

Giants TE Jeremy Shockey practiced for the first time in training camp on Wednesday, after undergoing foot surgery on June 22.

The Redskins signed 41-year-old OL Ray Brown to help replace Jon Jansen, lost for the year with an Achilles' injury.

Redskins S Sean Taylor is still running with the second team, despite his two-pick performance on Monday night.

Packers QB Brett Favre spoke again on Wednesday about the importance of players honoring their contract.

Green Bay cap guru Andrew Brandt has worked out a multi-year deal to stay with the Packers.

Retired DE Bruce Smith is working with Vikings rookie Kenechi Udeze.

Cards OL L.J. Shelton has lost weight, but he's still stuck on the second-string offense.

Panthers DT Kris Jenkins accidentally backed a golf cart over the legs of team director of security Gene Brown.

Bears OT Marc Colombo could make his return to the field this month, after 21 months of inaction following a November 2002 injury.

Steelers WR Plaxico Burress acknowledges that he should have called coach Bill Cowher before simply not showing up for a mandatory minicamp in May.

There's still no progress in the impasse between the Pats and first-round TE Ben Watson.

Colts LT Tarik Glenn is back on the field after his weight kept him out of action.

From the "Maybe More Big-Name Guys Should Retire Unexpectedly On The Eve Of Camp" file, the Dolphins preseason opener marks the team's first exhibition sellout in 17 years.

Pats WR Troy Brown took some reps on Wednesday as a defensive back.

The heir apparent to Packers QB Brett Favre still hasn't gotten past 36-year-old Doug Pederson.