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POSTED 10:04 p.m. EDT; LAST UPDATED 11:59 p.m. EDT, August 15, 2007

ANDREWS DONE FOR THE YEAR?

There are plenty of reports, rumors, and speculation emerging from Philly that guard Shawn Andrews is out for the season with an ankle injury.

There are also suggestions that the injury might be career-threatening.

"I don't know what to think right now," Andrews said of the injury. "Just rehabbing, trying to rest it, stay off of it."

Andrews also called his meeting with a specialist a "tear-jerker."

Unless Andrews actually was saying "I want some beef-jerky," none of this sounds good.

NO. 23 IS UP

We continue our climb up the NFL ladder, one team at a time.

Up today is team No. 23.

The full list is here. No. 22 is coming tomorow.

MORE ALL-SEINFELD ENTRIES

Yeah, we're not sick of it yet. We've got more All-Seinfeld entries.

And more to come.

Keep sending your ideas.

TIGHT END FANTASY RANKINGS ARE UP

The title pretty much speaks for itself. Here they are.

And quarterbacks. And running backs.

Coming Thursday -- receivers.

POSTED 9:43 p.m. EDT; UPDATED 9:54 p.m. EDT, August 15, 2007

VICK OFFER INCLUDES AT LEAST ONE YEAR OF PRISON

The Virginian-Pilot reports that federal prosecutors have offered to Mike Vick a plea deal that will include a recommendation of a sentence of at least one year in prison.

Vick has until 9:00 a.m. EDT on Friday, August 17 to accept the deal, or to face additional charges.

There were reports on Tuesday that Vick's lawyers wanted a deal that would entail less than one year in jail. Earlier on Wednesday, a report emerged that Vick's legal team is divided on whether he should plead guilty. Our take on that specific information leak is that the Vick P.R. machine (to the extent that there even is one) realizes that news of such a split is necessary to support the eventual conclusion that Vick didn't do it.

Dave Forster of the Virginian-Pilot explained on MSNBC moments ago that Vick would be required to plead guilty to the pending conspiracy charges, which include conspiracy to maintain an interstate gambling operation and conspiracy to engage in interstate dog fighting.

LEAGUE WON'T PLAY "LET'S MAKE A DEAL"

Though Mike Vick's lawyers had been shooting for a plea deal that would entail less than a year of jail for Vick and a negotiated suspension with the NFL that would allow Vick to return to pro football, Chris Mortensen of ESPN reports that Commissioner Roger Goodell "refuses" to engage in such negotiations.

Instead, the league will continue with its own investigation, and will also monitor developments in court.

If Vick pleads guilty to conspiracy charges based on interstate gambling, he could be on the wrong end of a lifetime ban from the NFL.

Then again, the Commish probably doesn't need to go that far. We simply can't imagine any team hoping to make more money than it spends choosing to give Vick a chance to return to the NFL. Ever.

PLAYERS CAN'T CLAIM IGNORANCE OF GAMBLING POLICY

A reader who recently toured the Heinz Field locker rooms tells us that both the home team and the visiting team dressing areas display a notice explaining the NFL's gambling policy.

The reader sent us a photo of the notice. Here it is.

Several readers have asked us why NFL players can go to casinos, where they presumably do things other than beat each other up. The distinction apparently is that legal casino gambling does not constitute "[a]ssociating with gamblers or with gambling activities in a manner tending to bring discredit to the NFL."

Gambling incident to dog fighting, we suspect, is another story.

POSTED 8:09 p.m. EDT, August 15, 2007

JETS SIGN REVIS by Michael David Smith

Rich Cimini of the New York Daily News is reporting that the Jets have finally signed their first-round draft pick, cornerback Darrelle Revis.

The signing of Revis, a speedy cornerback out of Pittsburgh whom the Jets traded up to select with the 14th overall pick, comes after a lengthy contract dispute in which the Jets insisted that they would only agree to a six-year contract, and the Revis camp insisted that they would only agree to a five-year deal. So far there is no word on which side capitulated on the length of the contract, or on any of the financial terms.

Revis missed the first 19 days of training camp as a result of the contract dispute. He also missed the first preseason game and presumably won't be ready for the Jets' second preseason game, Friday night against the Vikings.

Revis probably won't be ready to start at cornerback Week 1, but he's a skilled special teams player and will be expected to contribute immediately in the kicking game.

Cimini reports that the Jets are arranging a news conference at their Hofstra headquarters to make the official announcement.

The signing leaves Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell as the NFL's lone rookie holdout.

POSTED 4:05 p.m. EDT, August 15, 2007

BOTH MCDOUGLE BROTHERS OUT FOR SEASON by Michael David Smith

In a cruel twist of fate, NFL brothers Stockar and Jerome McDougle both sustained season-ending injuries on Monday.

Stockar, a guard and tackle for the Jaguars, suffered a ruptured left Achilles tendon during practice Monday night. The Jaguars confirmed the severity of the injury yesterday.

Stockar was the Lions' first-round pick in 2000, and he played five years in Detroit before spending 2005 in Miami and 2006 in Jacksonville.

Jerome, a defensive end for the Eagles, suffered a right triceps injury during Philadelphia's preseason game Monday night in Baltimore. The Eagles said today that he's expected to miss the season.

Jerome was the Eagles' first-round pick in 2003, and he's had a star-crossed career. He was shot just before training camp started in 2005 and missed the entire 2005 season and the start of the 2006 season as a result. He also missed portions of his rookie year with knee, ankle and hip injuries, and portions of his second year with a knee injury and an irregular heartbeat.

POSTED 3:26 p.m. EDT, August 15, 2007

PACMAN TO RELEASE HIP-HOP SINGLE by Michael David Smith

Showing yet again that he just doesn't get it and never will, suspended Titans cornerback Pacman Jones says he will release a hip-hop single about "stones, big money and cars."

Jones provides the financing for a record label called National Street League Records (MySpace page here), and that label announced that he will team with a producer named Spoaty in a duo called "Posterboyz" with their first single "Let it Shine," which will be released Aug. 27. An album is due to be released in 2008, according to a news release.

"Looking from the outside in, I have been the example for many to see the poster child if you will; and from that sentiment the 'Posterboyz' group name was born," Jones said in a statement, according to the Associated Press.

When NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell suspended Jones for the 2007 season, the commish said he would leave open the possibility of reinstating Jones after the Titans' 10th game, if Jones conducted himself in a way that reflected well on himself and the league. Instead, Jones has been giving interviews in which he comes across like an idiot, engaging in lame pro wrestling stunts, and talking about how he didn't really mean it when he said he would go back to school to get his college degree.

Pacman had better write all his songs about "big money" now. He won't have big money much longer.

POSTED 12:36 p.m. EDT, August 15, 2007

DEANGELO HALL COULD TESTIFY by Michael David Smith

PFT Editor Mike Florio has checked in to report that he's hearing from sources with knowledge of the investigation that cornerback DeAngelo Hall could be the Falcons player called to testify if quarterback Michael Vick goes on trial.

We previously noted that CBS 46 in Atlanta is reporting that an unnamed teammate of Vick's, described as "a prominent member of the team," could testify if Vick chooses to face a trial rather than plead guilty.

Vick and Hall grew up in the same area of Virginia, and both attended Virginia Tech. Vick is three years older than Hall, and Hall has described Vick as a role model.

In an interview with the Associated Press shortly after Vick was indicted, Hall said, "Mike became Mike at Virginia Tech. ... Just seeing him in college, seeing him grow and mature as a player, it was a beautiful thing. It’s one of the reasons I decided to go to Tech.”

POSTED 12:06 p.m. EDT, August 15, 2007

BULLOCK PLANNING PRESEASON PAYBACK? by Michael David Smith

Titans linebacker Keith Bulluck is still hopping mad, eight months later, about the Titans' Week 17 loss to the Patriots.

In that game, New England put in quarterback Vinny Testaverde and had him throw a touchdown pass with 1:45 remaining and the Patriots comfortably ahead. Afterward, Patriots receiver Reche Caldwell celebrated on the field.

As the Titans prepare to play the Patriots Friday night, Mike Reiss of the Boston Globe reports that Bulluck sounds like a man who'd like some payback.

"Just the way they were acting after the game kind of irked me," Bulluck said. "A couple of the guys on the team weren't being too professional. It is only a preseason game, but 87 [Reche Caldwell] needs to keep his head on a swivel, that's all I've got to say."

Bulluck then proceeded to show that he actually had more to say: "He is probably the sixth receiver, so I don't even know if he'll be in when I'm in. If he is, I'll know, trust me."

Of course, if you're really planning to lay a guy out on the field, the worst possible thing to do is inform him of your plans ahead of time. And even if Bulluck is the type of guy who would deliver a cheap shot in a preseason game because he's mad about something that happened the year before, he can't possibly be stupid enough to announce that publicly. More than an indication that Bulluck will go after Caldwell Friday, this is a demonstration of the way NFL players use perceived slights to motivate themselves.

POSTED 9:20 a.m. EDT; LAST UPDATED 10:17 a.m. EDT, August 15, 2007

FALCONS TEAMMATE TO TESTIFY IN VICK CASE? by Michael David Smith

Citing unnamed sources, CBS 46 in Atlanta is reporting that if Falcons quarterback Michael Vick stands trial in federal court, one of his teammates could be called to testify.

CBS 46 does not identify the teammate, other than to call him "a prominent member of the team." The report says the Falcons are aware of this angle to the story. It is not clear whether the teammate would be a prosecution or defense witness.

If it's true that another Falcon would be one of the witnesses, the NFL and Falcons owner Arthur Blank must be hoping Vick pleads guilty. Even if the teammate did nothing wrong and would testify truthfully about something he saw Vick do, the last thing they want is more players dragged into this mess.

CBS 46 is also reporting that Vick’s defense team is divided over whether Vick should plead guilty.

According to the report, sources on Tuesday told Gil Tyree of CBS 46 that one part of the defense team wants to reach a deal with prosecutors, while the other wants to go to trial.

WEDNESDAY MORNING TRAINING CAMP ONE-LINERS by Michael David Smith

The Giants' pass rush looked a lot better than their run defense in the preseason opener.

Someone played a prank on TE Jeremy Shockey, putting the unwashable purple dye that banks use to mark money in his glove.

RB Tyson Thompson and WR Miles Austin are competing to be the Cowboys' kick returner.

Cowboys FB Oliver Hoyte says he's fully healthy after playing last year through a torn rotator cuff and torn meniscus in his knee.

Andy Reid's overall preseason record in Philadelphia is 12-21.

Australian punter Sav Rocca got drilled in his first NFL preseason game, but he shrugged it off afterward and said, "If that's the best he's got, good luck to him."

LB Rocky McIntosh was already in the Redskins' practice facility Sunday morning, just hours after the team arrived home from a Saturday night preseason game at Tennessee.

Redskins DT Lorenzo Alexander is making a serious push for a roster spot -- but he'll probably want to wear a helmet the next time he makes a tackle.

Bears offensive coordinator Ron Turner says of QB Rex Grossman, "I liken him to a baseball player who has a little bit of a slump."

Devin Hester says having to fight through the physical coverage of Bears CB Charles Tillman is helping him on his transition to wide receiver.

Lions WR Shaun McDonald says offensive coordinator Mike Martz yells at him to make him better.

The Lions put a punter on injured reserve.

Packers coach Mike McCarthy says of QB Brett Favre, "I don't need him to play like a wild stallion anymore."

The Packers have faith in young WR Carlyle Holiday.

Vikings QB Tarvaris Jackson threw two interceptions in Tuesday morning's practice.

Vikings LB Jason Glenn announced his retirement.

A lower stomach infection caused Falcons RB Jerious Norwood to sit out Tuesday.

Falcons special teams coordinator Jerry Rosburg said of the preseason opener, "Nobody was happy about the kickoff coverage, least of all me."

Several injured players returned to Panthers practice Tuesday.

Panthers OT Kenyatta Walker says he's buried the hatchet with his new teammates, with whom he feuded when he was a Buc.

QB Matt Baker will play most of the second half in the Saints' exhibition game against the Bengals.

Mike Karney knows that playing fullback in New Orleans makes him a glorified guard.

Bucs coach Jon Gruden says he wants receivers who can make "the freak catch away from your body, the ones you see on SportsCenter every Sunday night."

Defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin says of the Bucs' safeties, "They just missed too many tackles last year."

Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt says of rookie DT Alan Branch, "I'm very encouraged."

Rookie OT Levi Brown got more work in individual pass-rush drills Tuesday than any other lineman.

Rams coach Scott Linehan says of CB Ron Bartell's performance in the preseason opener, "It wasn't awful."

Rookie DT Adam Carriker says of the first preseason game, "To be honest with you, after the first series, I was like, 'This ain't really any different than practice'."

Coach Mike Nolan wants more discipline from the 49ers' defensive line.

WR Brandon Williams had nine touches in the preseason opener because the 49ers' coaching staff wants to see him in a variety of roles.

Seahawks DEs Darryl Tapp and Patrick Kerney joined assistant head coach Jim Mora for an off-season workout on Cougar Mountain.

Coach Mike Holmgren lost his temper on several occasions Tuesday.

POSTED 7:53 a.m. EDT; UPDATED 8:27 a.m. EDT, August 15, 2007

PETRINO'S PRIVATE NUMBER WAS FOUND AT VICK'S VIRGINIA HOUSE

A source with knowledge of the Mike Vick investigation has shared with us some previously unknown details about the situation.

Here's the kicker, in our view. The feds' initial search of Mike Vick's house in Virginia turned up Falcons coach Bobby Petrino's private phone number. The implication is obvious -- Vick goes to the property, and had been there this year, because Petrino was hired in January 2007.

Compare that nugget to Vick's only comments on the matter: "I never go there."

Also, the second federal search of the Vick property in Surry County was aimed at confirming the reliability and credibility of the informants. The dog carcasses found on the second dig meshed with information given regarding the means of death; thus, an indictment was obtained 10 days later.

SO WHO BOUGHT VICK'S HOUSE?

Once of the details that has gotten lost in the shuffle during the past month or so since Mike Vick was indicted on federal conspiracy charges is the sale of his property in Surry County, Virginia, which apparently was never consummated.

A local business owner said that "heads will turn" when the identity of the new owner is revealed.

It has never happened.

So who was it?

We've picked up some information in this regard, but aren't quite ready to reveal the name. We might ultimately have to hand it over to someone from the "real" media who is in a position to confirm it.

But, yeah, heads will turn if what we're hearing ends up being true.

ARE THERE FOLKS AT ESPN WHO FEAR THE "G" WORD?

As we continue to monitor ESPN's handling of the Mike Vick prosecution, we continue to see entire segments devoted to the case that mention not once the fact that the more serious charge that Vick presently faces is the claim that he conspired to maintain an interstate gambling operation.

Just now on Man-Girl & Meatball in the Morning (also known as "Mike and Mike"), Mike Greenberg and Michael Smith (who should replace one of the two Mikes permanently, in our view) talked at length with Roger Cossack about the possibility of a plea deal.

The word "gambling" wasn't uttered once.

At one point, one of the Mikes asked Cossack what Vick would be pleading guilty to if he does a deal. In his response, Cossack seemed to be deliberately avoiding the fact that conspiracy to maintain an interstate gambling enterprise is one of the three statutes that Vick allegedly conspired to violate -- and thus one of only three things to which we could plead guilty.

Also, there was no mention of the fact that Vick's biggest risk in refusing to accept a plea is that a new indictment will charge him with the underlying crime of interstate gambling, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years. Because dog fighting was a mere misdemeanor at the time all of this went down, those charges have a maximum sentence of only one year behind bars.

And, amazingly, a detailed graphic shown during the Cossack interview that attempted to summarize the charges did not contain the word "gambling."

With that said, we're told that there have been some references to the gambling angle on ESPN. For example, Chris Berman talked about the gambling aspect of the situation on Monday Night Countdown this week.

Still, we're getting the distinct impression that there are producers and on-air talent in Bristol who have decided that it's not in their best interests to mention the "G" word in this case.

But now that the Commissioner has acknowledged the league's concern about the gambling aspect (which we continue to hear is far more important to the federal government than the dog-fighting component), why does any portion of the "real" media feel compelled not to mention the gambling?

We can think of two possible reasons. First, the gambling side of it isn't as sexy as the dog fighting. But even if that's the case, wouldn't the gambling at least be mentioned?

Second, the powers-that-be at ESPN know that a certain segment of the audience that drives the rating points (and thus the advertising dollars and cable subscriber fees) is watching in order to obtain information that will assist their own gambling activities. So if the folks on the air are talking about how easy it is for anyone to establish an illegal interstate gambling operation based on any type of gambling (including betting on the sports that ESPN covers), some of the members of the audience who are currently participating in illegal interstate gambling operations might get scared straight.

And then have no further reason to watch ESPN.

Cynical? Yes. Realistic? You decide.

Before folks start filling up our in box with e-mails reminding us that ESPN has been covering the Tim Donaghy case, keep in mind that there's no way to cover that story without talking about the gambling. Also, the moral of the Donaghy story is that refs shouldn't bet on the sports that they cover; there's a subtle implication in that message that it's okay for all of the non-refs out there to put money down on the sports that they follow.

Regardless of the reason, this is one of the strangest journalistic phenomena we have ever seen. And if the gambling angle hasn't been overlooked by plenty of folks at ESPN for a specific reason, then the only explanation is that Emmitt Smith isn't the only complete ignoramus on the payroll.

POSTED 11:11 p.m. EDT; UPDATED 11:34 p.m. EDT, August 14, 2007

SIMMS, BUCS IN SALARY STARE DOWN?

Our friends at PewterReport.com report that Tampa Bay quarterback Chris Simms is prepared to sit out the 2007 season if the Buccaneers chose to cut him.

"I'll do whatever I have to do," Simms said. "If I have to sit out a year, I'm totally prepared for it. I really am. I have a long, long career in front of me."

Though Simms' words might be the result of indications he has received from the coaching staff and/or the front office, we think there's a chance that the Bucs will decide in the end to place Simms on injured reserve. Simms is an extremely sympathetic figure in Tampa, and the notion that the team would sever ties with a guy who gave his spleen (and nearly more) for the cause might not be well received by the fan base.

Just last week, the Bucs placed fullback Mike Alstott on injured reserve, despite indications that he was being pushed to retire. At the end of the day, ownership opted to give Alstott a one-year scholarship in exchange for years of loyal service. Though Simms doesn't have the same tenure as the A-Train, Simms' circumstances might justify giving him a paid year to get himself right.

Actually, Simms' stated intention to sit out the year could be a shot across the front office's bow. If Simms is released while still injured, he could argue that the team should be required to pay him his entire 2007 base salary, and his desire to take the entire year off means that the Bucs' liability wouldn't be cut short when he signs with a new franchise.

Though management has rejected the notion that Simms' current struggles arise from his splenectomy, Simms makes fairly clear his belief that his current problems trace back to that fateful Sunday in September 2006.

"As far as the injury that I had, there's only been one player in the history of NFL who has had it," Simms said. "I don't know who it was. It was somebody in the 1970s and that's the only one I ever heard of – and he wasn't a quarterback. That's a whole different game in itself. To be a good thrower, you have to use your whole torso."

The fact that Simms passed a pre-training camp physical could make it difficult for Simms to claim that he was cut while injured, but that would put the team in the awkward position of having to argue that Simms' nosedive in 2007 wasn't the result of a health condition, but because he suddenly sucks.

Bottom line -- with $2 million in base salary at issue, we have a feeling that there's more to this issue than meets the eye.

THE NEW JOEY SUNSHINE?

We've pointed out from time to time errors made by Pat Kirwan, a former front-office employee who can't and won't get another job with an NFL team until his good pal Pete Carroll returns to the level of the sport where both the starters and the backups are paid.

But Kirwan has now taken his performance to Thiesmannesque levels by proclaiming that Lions quarterback Jon Kitna will throw for 5,000 yards in 2007.

Putting that in perspective, Kitna would be only the second guy in NFL history to throw for more than 5,000 yards in one season. Dan Marino, in 1984, notched 5,084 yards.

"After watching their three- and four-wideout packages with Roy Williams, Calvin Johnson, Mike Furrey and Shaun McDonald," Kirwan said, "the one thing that looked clear to me is Kitna is on his way to a 5,000-yard season."

We've got nothing personal against Kirwan. He seems to know when to throw out certain NFL buzzwords that give him credibility with players and coaches, and he presumably gets paid fairly well to talk and write about football. But attention to detail, in our opinion, isn't one of his strong suits, and his decision to throw out a level that only one guy has ever reached rivals even the most shiny of all Joey Sunshine statements.

POSTED 10:55 p.m. EDT, August 14, 2007

VICK'S LAWYERS INCLUDING LEAGUE IN PLEA TALKS?

In an updated item on its web site, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution suggests that Mike Vick's legal team is trying not only to secure a prison stay of less than a year, but also to salvage Vick's NFL career.

The AJC points out that such an approach would require the NFL's involvement, since the league's disciplinary process is independent of the legal system. But it's unclear whether the league is inclined to participate in any such deal.

The only thing that the league would have to gain from such an approach would be to ensure that Vick doesn't blow the lid off of a suspected dog-fighting subculture among NFL players. Instead, Vick would plead guilty, keep his mouth shut, do his time, and return to the NFL at the end of a suspension of agreed length.

But even if the league were to consent to, for example, a one-year suspension to be served during the one year that Vick is in prison, that doesn't mean that he'd ultimately get a gig with another team.

Though we love redemption stories (see Albert, Marv), Vick allegedly killed Lassie. Multiple Lassies, actually. Can any NFL team justify bringing this guy on board, ever?

Our guess (hope) is that the league will, in the end, refuse to enter into any deals with Vick. Mike made this mess, for himself and for the league. The league shouldn't now help him get the lightest possible penalty for his actions.

In addition to the NFL, it also would be wise for the Vick team to be talking to Virginia authorities about joining in any agreement with the feds. Even if Vick pleads guilty to pending federal charges, he still faces multiple possible counts of animal cruelty under Virginia law. And those potential charges apply regardless of the outcome of the federal charges.

POSTED 8:44 p.m. EDT; LAST UPDATED 10:04 p.m. EDT, August 14, 2007

JETS, REVIS PLAYING NICE

After weeks of impasse over the length of the rookie contract offered to cornerback Darrelle Revis, it looks like the Jets and the player are making progress.

At a minimum, they are talking -- and jointly talking about the fact that they are talking. About talking.

"We are working hard to reach an agreement and we will continue working as long as it takes to get the deal done," said Jets G.M. Mike Tannenbaum and the agents for Revis, Neil Schwartz and Jonathan Feinsod, in an unusual joint statement. "We are planning on meeting through the night and our intent is to meet until an agreement has been reached."

We recently pointed out that, despite the team's insistence on a six-year deal, the Jets have a history of using five-year deals for first-round players not selected in the top ten. Revis was the No. 14 overall selection in the draft, and by rule the Jets may insist on a six-year deal. But all other players drafted in the vicinity have signed five-year contracts, or six-year deals that easily void to five-year packages.

Our guess? It will be a six-year deal with reasonably reachable escalators that will make the compensation in years five and six so high that the team's only option will be to sign Revis to a long-term deal, or release him. This will allow the team to avoid creating the perception that it blinked, and it will allow the agents to beat back any attacks on their 2008 recruiting efforts arising from the decision to commit Revis for six seasons.

NO. 24 IS UP

Another day, another team added to our preseason power rankings.

The list is right here.

And so it continues. No. 23 comes tomorrow.

A DOZEN NEW MEMBERS OF THE ALL-SEINFELD TEAM

The ideas keep coming, and they keep getting better.

Consider, if you will, our latest update to the All-Seinfeld Team, featuring 12 new entries.

At some point, this idea will go the way of the "Hellllooooo" voice. Until then, however, we'll keep milking it.

Keep giving us more of them.

TUESDAY NIGHT TRAINING CAMP ONE-LINERS

Bills DT John McCargo injured his ankle on Tuesday.

Bills QB J.P. Losman tried to downplay a couple of interceptions that he threw on Tuesday.

Fins K Jay Feely nailed kicks of 55 and 60 yards on Tuesday.

The Pats' defense was required to run a lap around the field after playing poorly in 11-on-11 drills.

TE Ben Watson returned to Pats practice on Tuesday.

Every Jets quarterback was picked off on Tuesday.

Ocho Stinko and S Madieu Williams mixed it up three times at practice on Tuesday.

Browns LB Willie McGinest, who had back surgery in California last week, will return to Cleveland next week.

QB Brady Quinn signed autographs after practice on Monday, for free. (So much for working down Tom Condon's marketing guarantee.)

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin observed a Festivus tradition on Tuesday.

POSTED 8:32 p.m. EDT, August 14, 2007

VICK LAWYERS WANT LESS THAN A YEAR BEHIND BARS

ESPN reports that the lawyers representing exiled Falcons quarterback Mike Vick want to secure for their client jail time of less than one year in exchange for a guilty plea.

ESPN also reports that the lawyers have recommended that Vick accept the deal, if it entails less than a year behind bars.

It's a great deal, if Vick can get it -- and if the judge approves it. But the non-prison fallout would be significant. Vick would likely owe the Falcons, as we've reported, more than $28 million in previously paid bonus money. He would receive a stiff suspension from the NFL, and possibly a lifetime ban if he pleads guilty to conspiracy to maintain an interstate gambling enterprise.

Even with a suspension of only one year, Vick would remain radioactive. The Falcons came under heavy fire from animal rights groups for employing Vick after an indictment was filed; if/when Vick pleads guilty to charges relating to dog fighting, any team that even considers bringing Vick on board would become an instant target of derision from the dog-loving public.

Considering the situation from a football perspective, what team would want to bring a rusty Vick on board as a starting quarterback? He has regressed over the past few seasons, and there's no reason to think that a year or so in prison will make him better.

He's also a terrible option as a backup quarterback, since the team would need to have a Vick clone as the starter in order to justify such a move. Otherwise, the coaching staff would need one playbook for Vick, and another playbook for the "real" quarterback.

In the end, Vick's only value might come as a Devin Hester-style player who gets the ball in his hands in traffic, and makes things happen. But Vick is no spring chicken, and the legs might start to go not long after he would be reinstated to the NFL, assuming that he ever is.

WHERE'S LEN?

A reader and our own MDS raised a great point today.

Why hasn't ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli had anything to say about Mike Vick in the past day or so?

It could be that, try as he might, Len has simply been unable to conjure any positive spin to place on the latest negative development for Vick. But this is the same guy who described the day that the feds returned to Vick property to dig up more dog carcasses as a "respite," given the ESPN.com report that the Falcons didn't expect Vick to be indicted.

Maybe Len eventually will argue that the guilty pleas of the remaining defendants is a good thing because it will give Mike more elbow room at the counsel table during the trial.

POSTED 5:47 p.m. EDT, August 14, 2007

VICK LAWYERS NEGOTIATING PLEA DEAL

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that Mike Vick's lawyers currently are negotiating a plea deal with federal prosecutors.

It's a no-brainer, we think, for Vick to cop a plea. Barring evidence that would clearly exonerate him, the risks of fighting the current (and coming) charges are too great.

As it now stands, Vick faces up to six years on federal conspiracy charges. If a new indictment includes counts based on the statutes that, for now, he is merely charged with conspiring to violate, the maximum prison time would be pushed to 27 years, if the terms run consecutively. Even if all of the terms run concurrently, the worst-case scenario would be 20 years.

There's also a real benefit to accepting guilt early. Under the federal sentencing guidelines, coming clean quickly is a factor that pushes the sentence down.

Then again, the fact that Vick will be pleading out only after the other three defendants opted to do so might not get him the full benefit of his decision to acknowledge his responsibility for the crimes.

Our guess is that the prosecutors have laid out enough evidence for Vick's lawyers to persuade them that there's no way out of this shrinking box, and that the lawyers and other Vick handlers are trying to get him to come to grips with the reality that it's in his overall best interests to accept certain jail time.

Maybe, as one reader pointed out, part of what Vick can bring to the bargaining table is a willingness to name names as to all persons (including NFL players and, perhaps, elected officials) who were involved in dog fighting and/or attended dog fights. Given that a couple of Vick's long-time friends are now willing to snitch on him, Mike might decide that it's time to snitch on everyone.

POSTED 1:53 p.m. EDT, August 14, 2007

WILL PORTER PLAY THE OPENER? by Michael David Smith

Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter had arthroscopic knee surgery last week, and on Tuesday Jeff Darlington of the Miami Herald reports that Porter might not be ready for the regular-season opener on September 9.

Coach Cam Cameron on Monday seemed to back off his previous statement that Porter will be ready to go in time for the Dolphins' Week 1 game against the Redskins, saying, ''I think we all need to be careful setting deadlines. . . . [T]here's no way that any of us are going to jump up there and predict when he's going to be healthy."

Even if Porter is healthy in time for the start of the regular season, he'll have missed a lot of practice reps and the entire preseason, which can't help as he tries to get acclimated to defensive coordinator Dom Capers' system. Although Porter played in a similar defense in Pittsburgh, the Dolphins can't like the fact that the man they signed to a contract with $20 million guaranteed is limited to sitting in meetings and riding a stationary bike.

Porter has now had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee twice in the last 15 months. As was mentioned in a recent installment of PFTV, this is the second consecutive year that the Dolphins made a big off-season acquisition, only to find out that the player they acquired had a bum knee. Last year it became clear shortly after quarterback Daunte Culpepper arrived that his knee was in worse shape than the team's medical staff initially thought. If the same is true of Porter this year, you can bet that the Dolphins will get someone else to conduct their physical exams next year.

POSTED 11:28 a.m. EDT, August 14, 2007

PEPPERS NOT TALKING CONTRACT EXTENSION by Michael David Smith

After Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney signed a six-year contract that guaranteed him $30 million and made him the league's highest-paid defensive player, many league observers thought Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers would be next in line.

But Peppers doesn't sound like he's in any hurry to get a deal done.

"I've got two more years on the contract," Peppers tells Pat Yasinskas of the Charlotte Observer. "That's not really even a big deal right now."

If Freeney is worth $12 million a year, Peppers is worth at least that much. Both players entered the league in 2002 and have been essentially equal as pass rushers -- Freeney has 56.5 career sacks; Peppers has 53.5 -- but Peppers is generally acknowledged as the superior player against the run.

Of course, Freeney had the leverage that comes with playing out his contract. Peppers has two years left on his deal and is scheduled to make more than $16.5 million. Maybe that's why he tells Yasinskas a new contract is "something I haven't thought a lot about."

BUBBA FRANKS ON THE WAY OUT? by Michael David Smith

Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette reports that not only will Packers tight end Bubba Franks not regain his starting job, but there's a chance that he won't even make the Packers' 53-man roster.

That's quite a fall for the 29-year-old Franks, who was the Packers' first-round draft pick in 2000 and was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2001, 2002, and 2003.

But Demovsky reports that Donald Lee seems to have a strong hold on the starting tight end spot, and the Packers may decide that they don't feel like paying a $1.4 million salary to a backup tight end who isn't much of a special teams contributor.

Franks' biggest problem last season was dropped passes, and he didn't help his chances of making the roster when he dropped an easy pass in the Packers' preseason opener.

If anything could save Franks' job, it's that the Packers lost their top backup to Lee, Tory Humphrey, to a season-ending leg injury on the first day of training camp.

POSTED 9:59 a.m. EDT; UPDATED 10:37 a.m. EDT, August 14, 2007

STRAHAN NO CLOSER TO MAKING DECISION by Michael David Smith

Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News reports that Giants defensive end Michael Strahan is no closer to making a decision about whether he's going to play this year than he was when the Giants opened training camp almost three weeks ago.

At some point, though, the Giants might make that decision for him. Per Vacchiano, coach Tom Coughlin said the team has not set a deadline for Strahan to make his decision, "but that subject it going to come up."

The Giants are fining Strahan at a rate of $14,288 a day, for a total of $271,472 so far. If he doesn't show up before the end of camp -- and Vacchiano says Strahan won't report -- his fine total will reach $400,064. And if he never shows up Strahan could end up having to re-pay the Giants $4.5 million.

There are some signs that the Giants need Strahan on the field. Their first-string defense got pushed around by the Panthers' first-string offense in the preseason opener, and at Monday's practice the Giants shifted around the defensive line, promoting Justin Tuck to first string defensive end and moving William Joseph to second string defensive tackle.

But Strahan's teammates insist that his absence wasn't the reason for their poor play. In fact, the rest of the Giants' defense sounds as though it rehearsed a common answer to the inevitable questions about whether they missed Strahan. Defensive end Osi Umenyiora told Vacchiano, "That had absolutely nothing to do with Michael," and linebacker Antonio Pierce said, "That had nothing to do with it."

TUESDAY MORNING TRAINING CAMP ONE-LINERS by Michael David Smith

Eagles RB Ryan Moats is probably out for the season with an ankle fracture.

Rookie TE Brent Celek made a good impression in L.J. Smith's absence.

After one preseason game, 49ers WR Bryan Gilmore says, "We look so much better at this point than we did last year at this time, it's not funny."

CB Tarrell Brown picked off a pass and helped his chances of making the 49ers' roster.

Cowboys RB Julius Jones says, "This is my last year in my contract, and I do have a lot to prove."

Dallas S Ken Hamlin is expected to start Saturday against Denver even though he suffered a concussion in Monday's practice.

Giants coach Tom Coughlin yelled at both CB Kevin Dockery and some of the defensive assistant coaches after Dockery hit backup QB Jared Lorenzen. (Said Lorenzen, "I'm fine. Now where's my burrito?")

Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo was disappointed in the Giants' effort against Carolina.

The Redskins aren't planning any changes on their offensive line.

Coach Joe Gibbs says RB Clinton Portis's knee "is getting better for sure."

Bears LB Brian Urlacher is back to practice after missing three practices and a preseason game last week with "full body soreness."

Bears special teams coach Dave Toub is using 6-foot-6, 275-pound DE Israel Idonije as a gunner on punt coverage.

Lions RB Kevin Jones is getting treatment for his foot in an Asian man's basement.

The expectations in Detroit keep getting higher, and now people are seriously suggesting that Jon Kitna could throw for 5,000 yards?

S Atari Bigby is playing Pong with the Packers' No. 1 defense.

A meaningless Packers game gets much better TV ratings in Wisconsin than a meaningful Brewers game.

Tyler Thigpen appears to be ahead of Drew Henson for the third-string quarterback job in Minnesota.

Vikings coach Brad Childress allowed offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell to call most of the plays in the preseason opener.

Falcons RB Warrick Dunn returned to practice Monday following back surgery in July.

Falcons P Michael Koenen is back to handling kickoffs.

Panthers WR Taye Biddle claims that in his best 40-yard dash time, "I ran under a 4.1."

Panthers RB Eric Shelton has a problem with dropping passes.

The Saints had an overflow crowd at Monday's practice of injured players riding stationary bikes.

DT Kendrick Clancy is making a serious push for a starting spot on the Saints' defense.

New Bucs LB Cato June might eventually take the spot occupied by Derrick Brooks, but he says, "You don't fill a Derrick Brooks' shoes."

WR Michael Clayton says he's not paying attention to the Bucs' depth chart. (Um, he should bw.)

Calvin Pace and Darryl Blackstock will compete to replace Chike Okeafor at strongside linebacker in Arizona.

Cardinals CB Roderick Hood could earn a starting spot ahead of Antrel Rolle.

Former Michigan State head coach John L. Smith is working as a scout for the Rams.

Rams WR Dane Looker will miss at least a week after being kneed in the back against Minnesota.

Seahawks rookie LB Will Herring won't earn a spot in the starting lineup, but he'll be a factor on special teams.

Seahawks defensive coordinator John Marshall calls DE Darryl Tapp a "rolling ball of butcher knives."

POSTED 7:35 p.m. EDT; UPDATED 7:57 p.m. EDT, August 14, 2007

LEMON AIDING HIS CAUSE

Something might be happening on the way to Trent Green's coronation as the Dolphins' starter in 2007.

Green might not win the job.

More specifically, he might lose it to Cleo Lemon, who arguably is outperforming Green in camp -- and who definitely outplayed Green in the preseason opener. Green completed only six of 15 passes for 60 yards in a full half of action on Saturday night, and was booed by a sellout crowd. Lemon, in contrast, completed five of six throws for 56 yards.

An important factor to keep in mind with Lemon is that he was traded to the Dolphins in 2005 without the knowledge of the Chargers' coaching staff in one of the many moves that widened the rift between G.M. A.J. Smith and former head coach Marty Schottenheimer.

Assuming that former San Diego offensive coordinator Cam Cameron felt the same way about Lemon as Schottenheimer did, then Lemon has a better chance to be the starter than anyone realizes, given that Cameron is now the head coach of the Dolphins.

But why, then, did the Fins continue to pursue Green? Our guess is that the team hoped that Green would be even better than Lemon, but that (for whatever reason) Lemon is potentially getting the better of it for now.

The more compelling angle to this story is that Lemon is playing for a shot to be the starter elsewhere, since he's due to become an unrestricted free agent in March. We're told that Lemon has turned down a multi-year offer from the Dolphins, opting instead to take his chances.

And he doesn't need to start every game and lead the Dolphins to the playoffs to become an attractive option for teams looking to improve the position in 2008. There have been plenty of quarterbacks over the years who have gotten paid a lot of money based on a handful of solid appearances -- since that proven (albeit limited) performance at the NFL level is more of a track record than any draft pick can ever claim.

The ultimate irony here could be that Lemon develops into one of the only really good quarterbacks the Dolphins have had since Dan Marino retires . . . only to watch Lemon walk away.

PHILLIPS PLEA MAKES IT HARDER FOR VICK TO SELL THE SGT. SCHULZ DEFENSE

One of the practical realities of the news that the other remaining co-defendants in the Mike Vick litigation will plead guilty to federal conspiracy charges relating to gambling and dog fighting is that it will become much harder for Vick to say that he didn't know what these guys were doing.

Quanis Phillips, as our own Taco Bill discovered while this story was barely a blip on the national media's radar screen, was listed as the contact person on Vick's supposedly legitimate dog-breeding web site. And Phillips was with Vick when an airport employee's Rolex came up missing in October 2004.

The following year, Vick (who has been described by some as a victim of his friendships) stood up for guys like Phillips. "We all grew up tight," he said. "We all stuck together before I was Mike Vick . . . before the fame and stardom, before the money. There's not one new guy in my circle. Everybody I have around me is out for my best interests."

Now, let's rewind to April 2007, when Vick claims that he never goes to the Surry County property, and thus doesn't know what's happening there. The image created by his denial was that Vick allowed cousin Davon Boddie to live at the house, and that Boddie and/or other Vick family members and friends were fighting dogs without Vick's knowledge of involvement.

With Quanis Phillips prepared to admit in open court that he was part of the dog-fighting operation, Vick's denial becomes far more suspect, because it would be even more difficult (in our view) for a guy like Phillips to be able to engage in dog fighting (and all of the training and prep work that goes along with it) without Vick being aware of what was happening.

And before anyone else in the media suggests that Vick can beat the rap because the people testifying against him are of suspect character, consider the fact that these men weren't strangers to Vick. Vick chose to associate with at least one of them, Quanis Phillips, for years. The fact that Phillips or any of the other witnesses have warts on their butts shouldn't be a determining factor as to whether they are telling the truth. The warts weren't big enough to keep Vick from associating with them; thus, the warts shouldn't allow Vick to distance himself from them now.

POSTED 10:44 p.m. EDT; LAST UPDATED 11:43 p.m. EDT, August 13, 2007

CLEARLY, VICK DID IT

As the sports world continues to get its arms around Monday's surprising news that Mike Vick's two remaining co-defendants are going to plead guilty to charges that they conspired with Vick to maintain an interstate gambling enterprise and an interstate dog-fighting operation, we think it's time to apply some common sense to the current state of affairs.

Throw the presumption of innocence out the window, folks. Clearly, Vick is factually guilty of the charges filed against him. Why else would each of the three men with whom he allegedly conspired admit that there was a conspiracy?

Each of the three men will go to jail. The only benefit that they'll derive from their decision to 'fess up is that they'll avoid being charged with the underlying crimes, which in the case of the interstate gambling enterprise carries a far stiffer maximum penalty.

And now Vick must ask himself whether he wants to take advantage of that same benefit. He can plead guilty to conspiracy charges and hope for the best when it comes to sentencing, or he can roll the dice and hope that his lawyer can discredit seven witnesses (and counting), each of whom will presumably testify that Vick was involved in the gambling and dog-fighting venture.

The fact that Vick is reportedly contemplating his options reinforces our belief that Vick is by no means innocent. Innocent men don't ponder pleading guilty; they proclaim their innocence in clear, certain terms and they prepare to prove their innocence in court.

Per ESPN, if Vick doesn't plead guilty to the conspiracy charges by Friday, a new indictment with at least two new dog fighting charges will be filed. We believe that the new indictment will likely also include a count based on Title 18, Section 1952 of the U.S. Code, which is titled "Interstate or foreign trade or travel in aid of racketeering enterprises," and which carries a maximum penalty is 20 years behind bars.

It is a tremendous dilemma for Vick. The man who has spent his life escaping with ease from difficult situations is now backed into a corner. One option means certain imprisonment for a relatively short period of time. The other option means a strong likelihood, but not a certainty, of an even longer period behind bars.

Vick might be inclined not to plead guilty because to do so would likely end his NFL career permanently, but even an acquittal at this point won't be enough to get Vick back inside a shirt with the shield at the bottom of the collar. We've said all along that Vick will have a chance at returning to the NFL only if there is Duke lacrosse-style evidence that fully exonerates him. With Purnell Peace and Quanis Phillips pleading guilty as charged, that's simply not going to happen.

So we think Vick's best bet is to plead guilty, bid farewell to the NFL, do his time quickly and quietly, and then return to the CFL or the UFL or whatever other FL is out there when he gets out.

And, if all else fails, there's always pro wrestling.

UPDATE: ESPN's Kelly Naqi just said on SportsCenter that if Vick doesn't plead guilty to pending charges by Friday he'll face at least two new counts for "felony dog fighting." But dog fighting didn't become a felony under federal law until a couple of weeks after the initial search of Vick's property in Virginia. Under federal law, it was a misdemeanor at the time Vick was allegedly engaged in it. And ESPN continues to ignore the gambling aspect of these charges.

MONDAY NIGHT TRAINING CAMP ONE-LINERS

Bills WR Sam Aiken is anxious to make a contribution on offense.

Fins LB Joey Porter was riding a bike at practice on Monday.

Miami LT Vernon Carey was okay after suffering a knee injury against the Jaguars on Saturday night.

Pats RB Laurence Maroney is still wearing the red "no touchy" jersey.

New England WR Jabar Gaffney is helping his cause; WR Bam Childress and WR Kelvin Kight aren't.

"Pees at the podium" is a headline that nearly made us piss in our pants.

Jets K Mike Nugent nailed a 60-yard field goal in quasi-game conditions.

Ravens QB Troy Smith was so-so in his debut.

Bengals coach Marvin Lewis says he hasn't even considered the possibility of signing Corey Dillon to replace Kenny Irons.

Browns LT Joe Thomas avoided being kicked in the groin by Chiefs DE Jared Allen.

The Texans are looking at bringing in some defensive backs, after losing two of them on Saturday.

Colts WR Marvin Harrison doesn't think about how much longer he'll be able to play.

The Jags cut S Kevin McAdam to make room for S Sammy Knight.

Uncle Rico pulled a Rosenhaus on Monday.

Chiefs first-round WR Dwayne Bowe has been removed from the PUP list.

The Chiefs have added AFL WR Bobby Sippio.

Chargers starters will play for the entire first half during this weekend's preseason game in St. Louis.

POSTED 8:26 p.m. EDT; LAST UPDATED 9:08 p.m. EDT, August 13, 2007

FOX STIRRING THE POT IN CAROLINA

After a game in 2003, Panthers defensive tackle Kris Jenkins gave Kenyatta Walker the Warren Sapp treatment, hurling various insults Walker's way for a performance that was punctuated by four penalties, three of which were personal fouls.

"When you have to hit somebody's facemask every play because you cannot block people fundamentally by yourself, you are supposed to be in the CFL," Jenkins said at the time. "You aren't supposed to be in this league.

"He was doing all that talking before [the game], talking about [Julius Peppers] being sorry and [Mike Rucker] being sorry," Jenkins said. "The last time I checked both of their contracts weigh a whole lot more than his does. He can't say nothing because obviously if he was that good he'd be doing Right Guard commercials like Sapp is. But he ain't. He's sitting at home. He's crying. If you are going to work with grown men then you are going to have to do something. At least show us where you can be credible as a man.

"For me, you step up as a man, show me something on the field, show me something off the field, but show me something. Don't run your mouth. He talks too much. I'm saying he sucks. There's no question about it, he's garbage. He's horrible."

Things could get very interesting in Panthers camp, now that the team has signed Walker to a free-agent contract.

Sure, the ugliness occurred nearly four years ago, and we're talking about grown men here. But we still think that there might be some lingering animosity, which could create some awkwardness (at a minimum) in the locker room.

NO. 25 IS UP

We continue our climb from the bottom to the top of the NFL with No. 25 in the list of Preseason Power Rankings.

The list is right here.

No. 24 is coming on Tuesday.

TENSION ALREADY GONE FROM MNF BOOTH

Well, the folks at ESPN have killed all of our fun.

By yanking Joey Sunshine from the broadcast both and replacing him with Ron Jaworski, the production has instantly improved -- significantly -- by shedding the stiff undercurrent of tension that existed throughout the first and only season of the Sunshine-Tirico-Kornheier experiment.

And that's why Theismann is gone. That's why it was the right thing to do.

So thanks, Bristol, for making it much harder for us to find good stuff to talk about during our Live Blogs.

Can't you put Emmitt in the booth, too? Maybe just for a quarter?

POSTED 7:38 p.m. EDT; LAST UPDATED 8:04 p.m. EDT, August 13, 2007

GERARD GONE BY TUESDAY?

Adam Schefter of NFL Network reports that the Broncos will part ways with defensive tackle Gerard Warren as early as Tuesday. Warren will either be traded or released.

The Broncos, per Schefter, are talking to the Redskins, Saints, Colts, and Dolphins. But if Warren is going to be cut anyway, the only reason to trade for Warren would be to buy his contract.

Though Warren has reduced his 2007 pay down to $595,000, the base salary shoots up to $4 million in 2008. So there's no reason to buy that deal.

The problem with Warren, as one league insider explained it to us, is that he gets complacent when he gets paid. So after the Broncos rewarded him for a strong 2005 by giving him a new deal in 2006, Warren (some believe) went soft.

You'd think that Mike Shanahan would have learned his lesson when he paid Darryl Gardener a bunch of money after Gardener got his act together during a contract year in Washington.

Bottom line -- buyer beware. Some guys who go like gangbusters when free agency is on the horizon won't necessarily get it done after the money flows.

EMMITT REALLY IS KIND OF DUMB

Okay, so we're watching ESPN's Monday Night Countdown, and the guys are talking about the rookies who'll make an impact in 2007.

New guy Keyshawn Johnson pegs Jets corner Darrelle Revis, prompting some good-natured guffaws from the other guys on the set who point out that Revis hasn't signed yet.

Then, Emmitt Smith gets a chance to share his views on the topic. And Emmitt selected running back Travis Henry of the Broncos.

There's a slight problem with Smith's theory, however. This isn't Henry's first season in the league.

It's his seventh.

Amazingly, no one corrected Smith's glaring error, and Smith himself didn't say something like, "I know he's not a rookie, but he's a rookie on the Broncos."

The key here is that these guys don't do these segments from the seat of their pants. Instead, they're planned and discussed and, to a certain extent, rehearsed. So for Smith to get it so wrong, and for no one to say "boo" about it, makes us wonder whether the pounding that Smith took during his NFL career has already taken a toll on his brain, and whether the folks at ESPN either are afraid to set him straight -- or realize it wouldn't matter if they tried.

EMPTYING OUT THE PFTV VAULT

We just realized that we've got a couple of PFTV segements that we never posted in the Rumor Mill.

One of them is of the "must see" variety, since it tackles an angle we've never specifically addressed in this space regarding the Tarik Glenn retirement. It just might explain why he waited until late July to call it quits.

We've also got some more analysis of the Joey Porter injury, including the question of whether the Steelers know what they are doing when they let guys walk.

POSTED 7:21 p.m. EDT; UPDATED 7:29 p.m. EDT, August 13, 2007

RETURN OF THE STINKSTON

The Redskins have announced that they have signed receiver Todd Pinkston. Per Adam Schefter of NFL Network, it's a one-year deal.

Pinkston, who is simply too thin (in our view) to play NFL football, has a reputation for avoiding contact. As demonstrated by this classic clip, which for some reason the league has yet to ask YouTube to take down, Pinkston doesn't want to get hit.

But Pinkston has become a legend within PFT Planet for entirely different reasons. It was Pinkston who served as the catalyst for Len Pasquarelli's "move on or move out" meltdown while on the air with Sandy Penner and Chris McClain of WFNZ in Charlotte. (Penner has since relocated to WIP in Philly, but Mac is still holding down the fort in Charlotte, and we visit with him every Wednesday at 2:25 p.m. Eastern.)

Coincidentally, a few hours before the Pinkston signing was announced a reader told us that Adam Caplan and John Hansen of the Sirius NFL Fantasy Football Show were talking on Friday night about the origin of the "Stinkston" moniker. Hansen coined the term four or five years ago, and it spread fast -- almost as fast as Stinkston gets out of the way of a safety.

Pinkston was out of football in 2006 after being released by the Vikings. His sole NFL experience comes in the West Coast offense, where liberal use of the "9" route by the speedy receiver helps to clear out defenders who otherwise might disrupt underneath patterns.

KEYSHAWN ALREADY PISSING PEOPLE OFF

Though we didn't hear it with our own eyes (or something), a reader tells us that ESPN's Keyshawn Johnson is already spouting off like an idiot. His first topic? The Mike Vick situation.

Per a reader, Johnson said on ESPN's Monday Night Countdown that Vick fought dogs because of peer pressure and his background.

Um. Okay. So that makes it all right?

We should have known that clamoring for the termination of Michael Irvin would have resulted in someone even worse taking his place.

POSTED 7:10 p.m. EDT, August 13, 2007

KIFFIN HOSPITALIZED

Raiders coach Lane Kiffin has been hospitalized with a viral infection, according to Jerry McDonald of InsideBayArea.com.

Public relations director Mike Taylor told McDonald that Kiffin had been feeling ill for "a couple of days."

Kiffin is the youngest coach in the NFL, and is preparing for his first season as a head coach.

POSTED 6:50 p.m. EDT, August 13, 2007

THE OOKIE STANDS ALONE

When Tony Taylor pleaded guilty to federal conspiracy charges, the development was met with a shrug of the shoulders by the remaining Mike Vick apologists out there, since Taylor had a falling out with Vick and his other alleged co-conspirators several years ago.

But now the other two co-defendants are cutting deals, too.

Purnell Peace has a plea hearing set for Thursday, August 16 at 9:00 a.m., and Quanis Phillips has a similar hearing set for Friday, August 17 at 9:00 a.m.

The online announcement of the hearings is right here.

This is an enormously significant development, in our view. Phillips has been a long-time friend of Vick's, and Phillips was listed as the contact person on Vick's now-defunct K-9 Kennels web site. Also, although Taylor was out of the picture by late 2004, Phillips and Peace were apparently involved in the dog-fighting operation until the point that it was uncovered in late April. Presumably, they both will admit to a direct role in the killing of dogs deemed unfit for fighting earlier that same month, and could point a finger at Vick on this point, too.

Though both guys surely had planned to stand firm with Vick, they've likely decided in the 27 days since being indicted that it's in their best interests to plead guilty to the pending conspiracy charges, which could help them avoid indictment on the underlying offenses of interstate gambling and interstate dog fighting, which carry maximum penalties of another 21 years in prison.

The question now for Vick, as we see it, is whether he should plead guilty as well to the conspiracy charges, or whether he should risk getting indicted -- and ultimately convicted -- on the stiffer charges.

If Vick pleads guilty, we suspect that he'll eventually try to say that he didn't do anything wrong, but that he didn't want to take a chance of going away for so long that he could never play football again.

But if Vick thinks that this strategy will allow him to serve some time and play football he's even dumber than he was on the day that he got mixed up with Taylor, Purnell, and Peace. If Vick pleads guilty to anything, he'll be done in the NFL, either as the result of a lifetime suspension or a concerted shunning by the 32 franchises.

POSTED 6:34 p.m. EDT, August 13, 2007

JONES HAS CALF STRAIN

Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports reports that Jets running back Thomas Jones has a calf strain. Jones, per Cole, had an MRI on Monday, and will miss a couple of weeks.

Jones is expected to be ready for the regular-season opener.

Still, his absence for the second and third preseason games, and the associated practices, will affect his preparation for his first season with the team. Though the "run where they ain't" aspect of being a tailback is driven by instinct, the job is a bit more complex than that. It could mean that Jones will get less touches than he would have had, which could affect his early-season fantasy value.

POSTED 4:31 p.m. EDT, August 13, 2007

JETS MUM ON JONES INJURY

The Jets hope that running back Thomas Jones will make fans begin to forget about Curtis Martin. The process could be delayed a bit, since Jones is now hobbled by a leg injury.

Jones injured his leg on Sunday, and did not practice on Monday. His leg was wrapped from the top of his ankle to the top of his calf, and he rode a stationary bike and performed calisthenics. Jones also was walking with a slight limp.

The Jets won't comment on the injury, and aren't require to say anything about any injuries until the regular season opener approaches.

"I can tell you that he is working extremely hard, and he'll be back as quickly as he can," coach Eric Mangini said. "Thomas has a pretty strong track record. He's been pretty durable."

John Clayton of ESPN.com speculates in the for-pay side of the site that Jones' injury could be a high ankle sprain. (It's a good thing we subscribe to the Insider service; otherwise we might have concluded based on the available evidence that Jones has a broken nose.)

POSTED 2:54 p.m. EDT, August 13, 2007

JAGS SIGN KNIGHT

Adam Schefter of NFL Network reports that the Jaguars have signed free-agent safety Sammy Knight to a one-year deal.

Knight was one of three veteran safeties whom the Jags brought into camp on Monday. The other two were Shaun Williams and Tony Parrish.

As we mentioned earlier, the arrival of Knight could result in the release of Nick Sorensen or Kevin McAdam.

POSTED 1:26 p.m. EDT; UPDATED 1:45 p.m. EDT, August 13, 2007

JAGS CONTINUE SAFETY DANCE

As the Jacksonville Jaguars recover from the loss of Deon Grant to free agency and the release of Donovin Darius, the team apparently has decided that the current depth chart that features a first-round rookie (Reggie Nelson) and a backup who has gotten some game experience due to injury (Gerald Sensabaugh) isn't good enough to handle the gig.

A league source tells us that the Jags are bringing in three veteran safeties for a look-see on Monday.

Any additions in this area could mean the release of Kevin McAdam (who currently is listed as the backup to Sensabaugh at strong safety) or the release of Nick Sorensen (who currently is listed as the starter at free safety in front of Nelson).

PACMAN'S BLOOD WAS FAKE

Several wrestling aficionados cried foul regarding our reference to the blood from the off-camera "cut" over Pacman's eye on Sunday night as phony.

As one wrestling insider (hey, the reach of the PFT virus is broad) told us on Monday morning, "In pro wrestling the biggest irony is that the one of the few things that is real is the blood. Small razor blades are used to break the skin to get the blood flowing. So there is a real possibility that he 'juiced' for that backstage segment."

But we're now informed that the blood was indeed as fake as the action in the ring. Per a source with knowledge of the situation (we told you the reach of the PFT virus is broad), Jones was not touched at any time, and he did not cut himself for the backstage "ambush" aftermath.

So there you have it. No Pacmen were harmed in the filming of last night's pay-per-view event.

POSTED 11:04 a.m. EDT; UPDATED 11:40 a.m. EDT, August 13, 2007

BROWNCOS EXPERIMENT WINDING DOWN

The Denver Broncos raised eyebrows a couple of years ago for their sudden interest in Cleveland Browns defensive linemen. By the time the dust settled, the Broncos had acquired four so-called "Browncos" before the start of the 2005 season: Courtney Brown, Gerard Warren, Michael Myers, and Ebenezer Ekuban.

The following year, the Broncos added defensive end Kenard Lang, another former Brown. In 2007, the Broncos signed former Browns defensive tackle Alvin McKinley.

But Brown and Myers already are gone, and Warren apparently will be the next one out the door.

The Denver Post reports that the Broncos are tying to trade Warren.

Warren is apparently out of the plans for 2007, since he was told to stay home and not travel with the team for the preseason opener on Monday night in Denver.

Warren was the No. 3 pick in the 2001 draft, and Brown was the No. 1 overall selection in 2000.

The only remaining original Brownco is defensive end Ebenezer Ekuban, who currently is listed as the starting right defensive end, in front of 2007 first-round draft choice Jarvis Moss. Lang is the No. 3 left defensive end, and McKinley is a third-string defensive tackle, but could bump up to the second team when Warren is moved.

The decision to trade Warren is the apparent result of an offseason that has resulted in the addition of McKinley, Sam Adams, Jimmy Kennedy, and Marcus Thomas. The latter was a fourth-round draft pick who could have been a first-rounder but for some off-field issues, including getting kicked off of the University of Florida football team.

The Post explains that Warren is not a good for coordinator Jim Bates' scheme, which requires interior lineman to bottle up blockers. Warren's skills might be better suited for a Cover 2 attack, since he can penetrate the wall of blockers and get into the backfield.

With the Colts in need of some depth at the position, he could get a look there.

ALL-SEINFELD ROSTER KEEPS GROWING

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