2006 NFL Offseason Thread

[GrantDawg]

I'll be glad if this works out for the Vikings, but I'd be shocked if this kind of move isn't outlawed by the NFL in the very near future.


No joke. It really destroys the spirit of the rules.

[wade moore]

Ok, so i'm dumb.. what is the "poison pill"?

[TazFTW]

Cowboys sign LB Rocky Boiman to a 3 year deal.

[wade moore]

lame.

[Travis]

Ok, so i'm dumb.. what is the "poison pill"?

Clause in Hutchinson's contract stating that if he isn't the highest paid offensive lineman on the team, his entire contract becomes guarenteed.

On the Seahawks, as of the offer, Walter Jones was being paid more than Hutchinson, and as it turns out, once the offer was signed by Hutchinson, the Seahawks could not then restructure Jones' contract to pay him less on average than Hutchinson.

Meanwhile, Hutch would have been the highest paid lineman on the Vikings, so the clause would not have kicked in, and they likely wouldn't have had to worry about it until McKinnie's contract needed to be redone, at which point they'd like restructure Hutchinson's contract as well to avoid the clause that was included.

For all intent's and purposes, the clause's intention is to either stick the Hawks with all $49 million on the deal, or (preferably for Minnesota) force them to step back and allow Hutch to walk.

[dawgfan]

It's a bullshit provision in the first place and an even bigger bullshit decision by the arbitrator to uphold it - by the definition of his ruling, there was no possible way for the Seahawks to "match" the offer since they would have to guarantee the entire deal and the Vikings wouldn't.

[Honolulu_Blue]

I think it's pretty creative. I like seeing stuff like that from teams when competing for free agents.

It reminds me of what happened with Fedorov and Carolina back 1998 in the NHL. Fedorov was holding out for a long time and then near the end of the season Carolina signed Fedorov, a restricted free agent at the time, to a massive offer sheet that the Wings either had to match or let him go. It was a 6 year, $38 million deal. The "poison pill" in that contract was a clause that trigged a massive bonus ($12 million) if his team reached the Conference finals. Carolina had no hopes of doing that in 1998 and the Wings had a very good chance (they won the Cup that year). The Wings matched the deal and had to cough up $26 million to Fedorov that year: $14 million signing bonus + $12 million that was triggered when they reached the conference finals.

[Honolulu_Blue]

It's a bullshit provision in the first place and an even bigger bullshit decision by the arbitrator to uphold it - by the definition of his ruling, there was no possible way for the Seahawks to "match" the offer since they would have to guarantee the entire deal and the Vikings wouldn't.

Based on my understanding of the rules of the CBA, the arbitrator got it. In order to "match" a deal a team has to match all the principal provisions of the contract and and clauses that trigger guarantees are considered within that definition.

[Poli]

All football contracts should be guaranteed, with exception to the stupid motorcycle/other stupid act not otherwise defined clause.

[General Mike]

JMO, but the Vikings overpaid for Hutchinson. You don't give that kind of money to an OG.

[st.cronin]

JMO, but the Vikings overpaid for Hutchinson. You don't give that kind of money to an OG.

I agree. Both teams are actually hurt by this move.

[wade moore]

All football contracts should be guaranteed, with exception to the stupid motorcycle/other stupid act not otherwise defined clause.

Ummm, no.

[Poli]

Ummm, no.Baseball players get guaranteed contracts, correct?

[wade moore]

Baseball players get guaranteed contracts, correct?

yes.

[Poli]

yes.Are you the one word answer man? Don't answer that.

Get rid of the cap. Let the players get paid for the length of their contracts.

[Cuckoo]

Cowboys sign LB Rocky Boiman to a 3 year deal.

Don't know much about him. I'm assuming this is a depth move rather than picking up a starter.

[TazFTW]

Don't know much about him. I'm assuming this is a depth move rather than picking up a starter.

Hmm, not sure. Ourlads has the starters as Singleton and Ware on the outside and Bradie James and Ayodele on the inside. Ware is a lock and with the money given to Ayodele, he should be a lock. Boiman could compete for the other spots.

[wade moore]

Are you the one word answer man? Don't answer that.

Get rid of the cap. Let the players get paid for the length of their contracts.

If you're saying you'd like the NFL to be MORE like MLB, then we might as well stop because we have completely different views on what is an enjoyable professional sports league.

[Crapshoot]

It appears to be a moot point now since the arbiter doubly screwed the Seahawks, but there's no reason, had the Seahawks matched the offer for Hutch, that they then couldn't have turned around and traded him.

Yes, they could have, but they would have to have paid the $13 million bonus immediately, or in any case, take the entire cap hit of the bonus.

[Crapshoot]

All football contracts should be guaranteed, with exception to the stupid motorcycle/other stupid act not otherwise defined clause.

yup.

[Poli]

I can understand the enjoyable part, but I still feel players should get what they're signed for, whether it counts to the cap or not.

[GrantDawg]

I can understand the enjoyable part, but I still feel players should get what they're signed for, whether it counts to the cap or not.


I couldn't disagree more.

[Poli]

It happens in baseball, I don't know or care about other sports other than football.

Pay the players for what they signed for.

I would be ticked if the Navy told me they'd sign me to a six year contract (which I'm currently on) to release me three years in because they have a new sailor they want to break in and he's cheaper.

Meh. You want to release a guy? Fine, that money counts to the cap at the rate (if there is one) that it does now, and you have to pay the guy the money he is owed. NFL teams should have to be more responsible with their money than they are.

Can the player break the contract? You start letting players break their contract when they want to, and I will be happy.

[mckerney]

I agree. Both teams are actually hurt by this move.

The Vikings overpaid, but I don't think the contract is that bad for them. Having $30+ million in cap space this year it was unlikely they would have used it all and 13 million of it counts under the cap this season. That means after this season the deal has $36 million remaining over 6 years, which I believe is slightly less per year than Larry Allen's contract pays him, who I believe has a deal that averages more than $6 million a year. So after one year in which money under the cap wasn't an issue, the deal is on par with what had been the going rate for a top guard in the league.

[DeToxRox]

You can't have garunteed contracts in the NFL. Injuries are too frequent and severe and it'd bankrupt teams when the average career length is like 4 years. You'd only see 1 year contracts.

[Abe Sargent]

I couldn't disagree more.


Me either. There are so many circumstances where a player shouldn't get non-guaranteed money.

1). In real life, I don't get the full value of my contract if I retire, why should an athelete automatically?

2) I don't get the full value of my contract if I am injured, just part of it, so why should an athelete?

3) I don't get the full value of my contract if I misrepresented myself at contract time, so why should an athelete?

4). I don't get the full value of my contract if I'm lazy and fired, why should an athelete?



-Anxiety

[Poli]

1). In real life, I don't get the full value of my contract if I retire, why should an athelete automatically?

Otherwise not defined category. I agree with that.

2) I don't get the full value of my contract if I am injured, just part of it, so why should an athelete?

If you're injured as part of your job, you do.

3) I don't get the full value of my contract if I misrepresented myself at contract time, so why should an athelete?

Do you get scrutinized as much as the athlete?

4). I don't get the full value of my contract if I'm lazy and fired, why should an athelete?

I'd like to know how many of the players released as a salary cap casualty are in the lazy category.

[sovereignstar]

athlete

[Abe Sargent]

athlete


Heh - what I get for typing and watching the WBC at the same time.

-Anxiety

[Cuckoo]

Hmm, not sure. Ourlads has the starters as Singleton and Ware on the outside and Bradie James and Ayodele on the inside. Ware is a lock and with the money given to Ayodele, he should be a lock. Boiman could compete for the other spots.

No way he beats out James. Word from the coaching staff was James had a very good year and is really coming into his own. Singleton has had health issues, though, so it wouldn't surprise me to see him compete there. I had hoped they'd go after someone like Peterson to play opposite Ware. A group with Ware, James, Ayodele and Peterson would not only be very solid but still fairly young as well.

[dawgfan]

Based on my understanding of the rules of the CBA, the arbitrator got it. In order to "match" a deal a team has to match all the principal provisions of the contract and and clauses that trigger guarantees are considered within that definition.
Except that it's not a match - the Seahawks had absolutely no way to avoid triggering the full contract guarantee, whereas the Vikings will have the option at any time during Hutch's contract to renegotiate his contract in whatever way they see fit. The fair thing would've been to rule that the provision is valid, but rule that the Seahawks had until the time at which they submitted the matching offer to make Hutch their highest paid offensive lineman. As it stands now, the arbitrator is ruling that the Seahawks not make a matching offer to the Vikings, but a superior one, where the entire contract is guaranteed.

[ISiddiqui]

Except that it's not a match - the Seahawks had absolutely no way to avoid triggering the full contract guarantee, whereas the Vikings will have the option at any time during Hutch's contract to renegotiate his contract in whatever way they see fit. The fair thing would've been to rule that the provision is valid, but rule that the Seahawks had until the time at which they submitted the matching offer to make Hutch their highest paid offensive lineman. As it stands now, the arbitrator is ruling that the Seahawks not make a matching offer to the Vikings, but a superior one, where the entire contract is guaranteed.

I'd 100% agree with this. By saying the matching offer has to be automatically back dated from the time the offer sheet is signed, Seattle has to make a greater offer than Minnesota made. They were able to get Jones to redo his deal to not trigger that part of the Hutch deal, but they weren't allowed to basically 'match' the deal instead of being forced into a superior one.

[Travis]

Seahawks move on?

http://www.nfl.com/nflnetwork/story/9324476

(March 20, 2006) -- One of the busiest teams of the offseason struck again when the Seattle Seahawks reached agreement with former San Francisco linebacker Julian Peterson (http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/187396) on a blockbuster seven-year, $54 million deal.


The deal, which the Seahawks and agent Kevin Poston spent today finalizing, includes $18.5 million worth of guarantees, including $10 million this season.


A Seahawks official confirmed the agreement in principle with the linebacker the San Francisco 49ers designated their franchise player one year ago.
Even with Peterson's mega-contract, the Seahawks still have the wherewithal to match the $49 million offer sheet Pro Bowl guard Steve Hutcinson (http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/235219) signed with the Vikings. The Seahawks had to announce their decision by tonight at midnight ET.


And they are not done there. Still in place is a contingent deal for defensive end John Abraham (http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/187381), whom the Seahawks have the exclusive negotiating rights for from the New York Jets in exchange for Seattle's first-round pick.


Already this offseason, the Seahawks have re-signed NFL MVP running back Shaun Alexander (http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/187382) and defensive tackle Rocky Bernard (http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/301984).


But now, the Seahawks are bolstering their defensive line, landing Peterson tonight and former Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Russell Davis (http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/133269) over the weekend.


Peterson now is expected to start ahead of D.D. Lewis, and the Seahawks also could use him as a pass-rushing end. But the NFC champion Seahawks have options for the 28-year-old Peterson, whom the Miami Dolphins also pursued until he reached agreement with Seattle.


With Peterson off the market, former Washington Redskins linebacker LaVar Arrington (http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/187383) now will be the most coveted defensive player available. His decision should come soon.

A good signing, I'm still holding out hope on the Hutchinson front, but this should really solidify our front seven. Add a corner and if Hamlin returns, could be a very scary defense.

[ISiddiqui]

Seahawks move on?

Seems like it:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2377300

Seahawks let Vikings take Hutchinson for $49M

<!-- end pagetitle --> <!-- begin bylinebox --> By John Clayton
ESPN.com

<!-- begin presby2 --><!-- end presby2 -->
<!-- end bylinebox -->
<!-- begin text11 div --><!-- begin leftcol --> <!-- template inline -->The Seahawks decided Monday not to match the seven-year, $49 million offer sheet on Steve Hutchinson, allowing the All-Pro guard to go to the Minnesota Vikings.
The seven-day deadline to match the Vikings' seven-year, $49 million offer sheet expired at midnight ET Monday. The Seahawks did not notify Hutchinson, the Vikings or his agent, Tom Condon, that they were going to match the offer. By letting the deadline pass, Hutchinson became property of the Vikings.
As the deadline was passing, the Seahawks entered serious negotiations with 49ers linebacker Julian Peterson. The Seahawks regained $6.391 million of cap room by letting Hutchinson leave for Minnesota. The $6.391 million represented the one-year tender Hutchinson had as a transition player.
Earlier Monday, the Seahawks lost a ruling with special master Stephen Burbank in which they wanted to make a slight change in the language of the Vikings' offer sheet to avoid having to guarantee the entire $49 million had they matched. Burbank called the adjustment a change in the principle term of the contract and ruled in favor of Hutchinson and the Vikings.


John Clayton is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.

[ZXTT]

I've seen some speculation that this Hutchinson affair will essentially remove the transtition tag as an option for teams and make restricted free agency a situation teams may need to avoid: any team that does not have high paid players at a position is free to sign a restricted/transition player from a team that does have a high paid player and throw in a guaranteed provision and voila...

Salary cap/guaranteed contracts: the salary cap almost certainly causes players to be paid more by increasing interest in the league. Contracts have a guaranteed portion: the signing bonus, and to a lesser extent, roster bonuses. I believe players can insure the contract against injury and they can probably buy disability insurance - it's bound to be expensive, but c'mon, skip the Ferrari and insure yourself. Frankly, I think guaranteed contracts simply allow underperforming players to continue to be paid while more deserving players are paid less.

[kingfc22]

That's a lot of money for Peterson. This will be his 2nd season after his major achilles injury and he did not play that well last year for the Niners.

[Swaggs]

That's a lot of money for Peterson. This will be his 2nd season after his major achilles injury and he did not play that well last year for the Niners.

Agreed. I am shocked to see that number for him. The last I read, he was considering re-signing with S.F. on a one-year deal for like $3-4M. I am really surprised that the Seahawks gave him that much guaranteed money. It seems like they may have been bidding against themselves.

[flere-imsaho]

Meanwhile, Hutch would have been the highest paid lineman on the Vikings, so the clause would not have kicked in, and they likely wouldn't have had to worry about it until McKinnie's contract needed to be redone, at which point they'd likely cut McKinnie.


Fixed. :)

[Cuckoo]

Hmm, not sure. Ourlads has the starters as Singleton and Ware on the outside and Bradie James and Ayodele on the inside. Ware is a lock and with the money given to Ayodele, he should be a lock. Boiman could compete for the other spots.

After doing a bit of checking, it looks like he'll be a depth guy for the most part, and he's supposedly a monster on special teams.

What do you think about Allen? Rumors are flying he's going to get cut... :(

[WSUCougar]

If Peterson plays like he's capable of playing, and they can stay reasonably healthy, that Seahawks defense will be formidable, baby.

[albionmoonlight]

It happens in baseball, I don't know or care about other sports other than football.

Pay the players for what they signed for.

I would be ticked if the Navy told me they'd sign me to a six year contract (which I'm currently on) to release me three years in because they have a new sailor they want to break in and he's cheaper.

Meh. You want to release a guy? Fine, that money counts to the cap at the rate (if there is one) that it does now, and you have to pay the guy the money he is owed. NFL teams should have to be more responsible with their money than they are.

Can the player break the contract? You start letting players break their contract when they want to, and I will be happy.

One of the bad things that the NFL/NFLPA do is call the agreements that the players sign with the teams "contracts" instead of something more accurate like "CBA sub-agreements." In a normal employment contract, I promise to employ you for 3 years at $50,000 per year. In that instance, you need to work for me (with some exceptions) and I need to pay you. The money is legally guaranteed.

But NFL "contracts" are really creatures of the CBA. They are not contracts in the traditional sense. Let's say that the Titans give Eddie George a 4 year deal with a $7,000,000 signing bonus and annual salaries of $2,000,000. Here is what the team and player are really getting:

Eddie George gets:

1.) $7,000,000
2.) The right to be paid $2,000,000 for every season that the Titans choose to employ him.

The Titans get:
1.) The right to employ Eddie George (and prevent him from being employed by another NFL team) at the rate of $2,000,000 per year for four years.
2.) The unilateral right to end the agreement at any time.

Now the key thing to remember is that ALL OF THE PARTIES KNOW HOW THIS WORKS FROM THE BEGINNING. Both Eddie George and the Titans know the rules of the game. That is why Eddie George tries to get as much money as he can as a signing bonus. That is why Eddie George will try to get roster bonuses put into the contract that kick in right before UFA starts (because that will force the team to either pay him more money or release him at a time when other teams can pick him up). And that is why the team will lots of time put huge salaries at the end of agreements--they know that they will never have to pay them and it strokes the player's ego to say he has a "75 million dollar deal." If the contracts were guaranteed, then teams would never agree to the Monopoly money numbers we see at the end of agreements today.

[GrantDawg]

One of the bad things that the NFL/NFLPA do is call the agreements that the players sign with the teams "contracts" instead of something more accurate like "CBA sub-agreements." In a normal employment contract, I promise to employ you for 3 years at $50,000 per year. In that instance, you need to work for me (with some exceptions) and I need to pay you. The money is legally guaranteed.

But NFL "contracts" are really creatures of the CBA. They are not contracts in the traditional sense. Let's say that the Titans give Eddie George a 4 year deal with a $7,000,000 signing bonus and annual salaries of $2,000,000. Here is what the team and player are really getting:

Eddie George gets:

1.) $7,000,000
2.) The right to be paid $2,000,000 for every season that the Titans choose to employ him.

The Titans get:
1.) The right to employ Eddie George (and prevent him from being employed by another NFL team) at the rate of $2,000,000 per year for four years.
2.) The unilateral right to end the agreement at any time.

Now the key thing to remember is that ALL OF THE PARTIES KNOW HOW THIS WORKS FROM THE BEGINNING. Both Eddie George and the Titans know the rules of the game. That is why Eddie George tries to get as much money as he can as a signing bonus. That is why Eddie George will try to get roster bonuses put into the contract that kick in right before UFA starts (because that will force the team to either pay him more money or release him at a time when other teams can pick him up). And that is why the team will lots of time put huge salaries at the end of agreements--they know that they will never have to pay them and it strokes the player's ego to say he has a "75 million dollar deal." If the contracts were guaranteed, then teams would never agree to the Monopoly money numbers we see at the end of agreements today.


All contracts in life are not guarenteed. They generally do have clauses to allow for early release in certain situations, or buy-outs. These are contracts because they are agreed upon conditions by the teams and the player's association. If the NFL guarenteed contracts, they would be in the mess the MLB baseball is in quickly, and in even worse shape within a few years. It would be the worst thing that could happen to the sport. Luckly, the men involved (including the players) are smart enough to see that.

[Honolulu_Blue]

This was taken from profootballtalk.com, so the be mindful of the source:

LIONS FEAR A REVOLT

We're told that management of the Detroit Lions is bracing themselves for a backlash once new coach Rod Marinelli begins to apply his military mindset to a locker room containing more than a few guys who might not be inclined to respond to such tactics.

Although the hiring of Marinelli won praise in some circles since he's the kind of take-the-bull-by-the-bouncy-things leader that the team needs, there's only so much of the roster that can be turned over in a single offseason. So when guys like receiver Mike Williams (who showed up, we hear, for offseason workouts overweight) or receiver Charles Rogers (who continues to be a lazy turd, we're told) start to piss and moan about Marinelli's manner, other guys might be influenced by their complaints.

The other problem is that, if Marinelli and the Lions take liberties with any of the offseason workout rules, one of the guys who haven't bought in to Marinelli's approach could blow the whistle to the NFLPA, which is exactly what happened during Tom Coughlin's first season with the Giants and Denny Green's first year with the Cardinals.

So maybe, in the end, the decision to boot quarterback Joey Harrington sooner rather than later was an effort to win over the players, many of whom had decided that Harrington should go. Indeed, the move could win over just enough guys to keep the ones who might be inclined to rebel in check.

--------------------------------------

There have been rumblings about this for a while. Apparently Mooch ran things like a country club. Very little hitting, not too demanding, etc. He basically left it up to the players to be disciplined enough to work hard. It was pretty obvious that wasn't working. Quite obvious.

As for a revolt, I think a little revolution every now and then is a good thing. These players need a kick in the ass. I don't think it needs to go to a ridiculous, Tom Coughlin/Boot Camp level of things, but this team needs a fire light under its collective ass and needs someone who will push these guys, force them to work hard, and form an identity. As for those players who aren't up for it... the Lions are probably better off without them, even if they include a lot of their "best" players.

It will be interesting to see what unfolds. Most likely it wont work and the Lions will continue to suck.

[WSUCougar]

Apparently Mooch ran things like a country club. Very little winning, not too demanding, etc.
fixed

[TazFTW]

After doing a bit of checking, it looks like he'll be a depth guy for the most part, and he's supposedly a monster on special teams.

What do you think about Allen? Rumors are flying he's going to get cut... :(

He's gone if they have to free up cap room to sign somebody. The 'boys would save $3.4 million if he were released. They still haven't gone after a kicker. I'm surprised that they haven't gone after Vinatieri or that Vinatieri hasn't gotten any offers besides the Packers.

[scooper]

HB, before you brought him up, I was asking myself, didn't they say the same things about the Giants when Coughlin came in? Things have gone smoothly there. If they win, it will solve everything.

[Travis]

He's gone if they have to free up cap room to sign somebody. The 'boys would save $3.4 million if he were released. They still haven't gone after a kicker. I'm surprised that they haven't gone after Vinatieri or that Vinatieri hasn't gotten any offers besides the Packers.

Been reading that Dallas may still make an offer to Josh Brown, which barring some sort of clause making him the highest paid player on the team, I'd imagine the Seahawks would have to match.

That said, if Allen gets cut, I wonder (re: hope) if that's an avenue the Seahawks might explore for a short term solution to replacing Hutchinson.

[miami_fan]

This was taken from profootballtalk.com, so the be mindful of the source:

LIONS FEAR A REVOLT

We're told that management of the Detroit Lions is bracing themselves for a backlash once new coach Rod Marinelli begins to apply his military mindset to a locker room containing more than a few guys who might not be inclined to respond to such tactics.

Although the hiring of Marinelli won praise in some circles since he's the kind of take-the-bull-by-the-bouncy-things leader that the team needs, there's only so much of the roster that can be turned over in a single offseason. So when guys like receiver Mike Williams (who showed up, we hear, for offseason workouts overweight) or receiver Charles Rogers (who continues to be a lazy turd, we're told) start to piss and moan about Marinelli's manner, other guys might be influenced by their complaints.

The other problem is that, if Marinelli and the Lions take liberties with any of the offseason workout rules, one of the guys who haven't bought in to Marinelli's approach could blow the whistle to the NFLPA, which is exactly what happened during Tom Coughlin's first season with the Giants and Denny Green's first year with the Cardinals.

So maybe, in the end, the decision to boot quarterback Joey Harrington sooner rather than later was an effort to win over the players, many of whom had decided that Harrington should go. Indeed, the move could win over just enough guys to keep the ones who might be inclined to rebel in check.

--------------------------------------

There have been rumblings about this for a while. Apparently Mooch ran things like a country club. Very little hitting, not too demanding, etc. He basically left it up to the players to be disciplined enough to work hard. It was pretty obvious that wasn't working. Quite obvious.

As for a revolt, I think a little revolution every now and then is a good thing. These players need a kick in the ass. I don't think it needs to go to a ridiculous, Tom Coughlin/Boot Camp level of things, but this team needs a fire light under its collective ass and needs someone who will push these guys, force them to work hard, and form an identity. As for those players who aren't up for it... the Lions are probably better off without them, even if they include a lot of their "best" players.

It will be interesting to see what unfolds. Most likely it wont work and the Lions will continue to suck.

I would definitely expect the revolt and I agree it will be a good thing. That is exactly why they hired him. To kick the soft guys in the ass. I am pretty sure someone will complain about the tough practices and workouts. That is a-okay in my book.

[miami_fan]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2378389

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Defensive tackle John Henderson signed a six-year contract extension with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Tuesday, locking up another cornerstone of one of the team's defenses.


Terms of the deal were not released, but Henderson's agent, Tim McGee, said the new contract gave Henderson more guaranteed money than any other NFL tackle.

Henderson is the fourth defensive starter, and third lineman, to sign a long-term contract with the Jaguars since early last year.

End Reggie Hayward, cornerback Rashean Mathis and tackle Marcus Stroud each signed five-year contracts that totaled $82 million, including about $30 million guaranteed.

Henderson made his lone Pro Bowl in 2004, but coaches believe he has been equally important to the team's success as Stroud, a three-time Pro Bowler.

Henderson had three sacks and 70 tackles last season, the most by any interior lineman in the AFC.

The 6-foot-7, 328-pound former Tennessee star and first-round draft pick has started every game in four seasons and has 254 tackles and 18½ sacks.

So is this the new claim du jour? Instead of getting big signing bonuses, it will be about getting the most guaranteed money.

[TazFTW]

Adam Vinatieri and the Colts have agreed in principle.

[jeff061]

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2006/03/eyes_on_adam.html

The Colts better have offered him about 3.5 million or my patience with the Pats has just about worn out.

[TazFTW]

Abraham has been traded.

Broncos | Team acquires No. 15 overall pick in Abraham trade
Tue, 21 Mar 2006 15:58:39 -0800
<A href="http://www.kffl.com/link/14">Jay Glazer, of FOXSports.com (http://www.kffl.com/link/189), reports the New York Jets (http://www.kffl.com/team/27/nfl) have traded DE John Abraham (http://www.kffl.com/player/1322/nfl) to the Atlanta Falcons (http://www.kffl.com/team/7/nfl) as part of a three-way trade between the Jets, Falcons (http://www.kffl.com/team/7/nfl) and the Denver Broncos (http://www.kffl.com/team/15/nfl). If the trade is approved, then the Falcons (http://www.kffl.com/team/7/nfl) will have traded their first-round pick, No. 15 overall, to Denver, who in turn will trade their first-round pick, No. 29 overall, and two additional picks to Atlanta. Atlanta then sends the 29th pick to the Jets (http://www.kffl.com/team/27/nfl) for Abraham. The Jets (http://www.kffl.com/team/27/nfl) would receive a draft pick two slots higher in the first round than the Seattle Seahawks (http://www.kffl.com/team/33/nfl) were able to offer.

[SackAttack]

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2006/03/eyes_on_adam.html

The Colts better have offered him about 3.5 million or my patience with the Pats has just about worn out.

Apparently he's getting a *signing bonus* of $3.5 million. No idea what the base salaries look like.

[GrantDawg]

Abraham has been traded.

Broncos | Team acquires No. 15 overall pick in Abraham trade
Tue, 21 Mar 2006 15:58:39 -0800
<A href="http://www.kffl.com/link/14">Jay Glazer, of FOXSports.com (http://www.kffl.com/link/189), reports the New York Jets (http://www.kffl.com/team/27/nfl) have traded DE John Abraham (http://www.kffl.com/player/1322/nfl) to the Atlanta Falcons (http://www.kffl.com/team/7/nfl) as part of a three-way trade between the Jets, Falcons (http://www.kffl.com/team/7/nfl) and the Denver Broncos (http://www.kffl.com/team/15/nfl). If the trade is approved, then the Falcons (http://www.kffl.com/team/7/nfl) will have traded their first-round pick, No. 15 overall, to Denver, who in turn will trade their first-round pick, No. 29 overall, and two additional picks to Atlanta. Atlanta then sends the 29th pick to the Jets (http://www.kffl.com/team/27/nfl) for Abraham. The Jets (http://www.kffl.com/team/27/nfl) would receive a draft pick two slots higher in the first round than the Seattle Seahawks (http://www.kffl.com/team/33/nfl) were able to offer.

Ummm....That sucks.

[Ksyrup]

Awesome! Denver's now got the #15 and #22. I am officially on board with Abraham's pushing the Jets to trade him to Atlanta. :)

[TazFTW]

Hmm,

Broncos | Targeting QB with No. 15 overall pick
Tue, 21 Mar 2006 16:35:07 -0800
ESPNews reports the <A href="http://www.kffl.com/team/15/nfl">Denver Broncos are expected to target a quarterback after acquiring the No. 15 overall pick from the Atlanta Falcons (http://www.kffl.com/team/7/nfl) in a three-team deal.

They're going after Cutler? I don't think the 15th and 22nd would get you into Matt Leinart range.

[Swaggs]

Hmm,

Broncos | Targeting QB with No. 15 overall pick
Tue, 21 Mar 2006 16:35:07 -0800
ESPNews reports the <A href="http://www.kffl.com/team/15/nfl">Denver Broncos are expected to target a quarterback after acquiring the No. 15 overall pick from the Atlanta Falcons (http://www.kffl.com/team/7/nfl) in a three-team deal.

They're going after Cutler? I don't think the 15th and 22nd would get you into Matt Leinart range.

That would be an interesting call. Denver is pretty close to the top right now, so I wonder if there will not be pressure to add immediate contributors, rather than a QB to develop.

It would also be interesting to see if the Denver would consider moving up with that 15th pick to get Leinart. Shannahan has to be looking around and thinking that having Jake Plummer, while the other top teams in the AFC have franchise guys (Manning, Brady, Big Ben, Palmer) might not be his best bet to get back into the Super Bowl.

[Logan]

Hmm,

Broncos | Targeting QB with No. 15 overall pick
Tue, 21 Mar 2006 16:35:07 -0800
ESPNews reports the <A href="http://www.kffl.com/team/15/nfl">Denver Broncos are expected to target a quarterback after acquiring the No. 15 overall pick from the Atlanta Falcons (http://www.kffl.com/team/7/nfl) in a three-team deal.

They're going after Cutler? I don't think the 15th and 22nd would get you into Matt Leinart range.

You can have #6 and take Young. Please?

[TazFTW]

Abraham has been traded.

Broncos | Team acquires No. 15 overall pick in Abraham trade
Tue, 21 Mar 2006 15:58:39 -0800
<A href="http://www.kffl.com/link/14">Jay Glazer, of FOXSports.com (http://www.kffl.com/link/189), reports the New York Jets (http://www.kffl.com/team/27/nfl) have traded DE John Abraham (http://www.kffl.com/player/1322/nfl) to the Atlanta Falcons (http://www.kffl.com/team/7/nfl) as part of a three-way trade between the Jets, Falcons (http://www.kffl.com/team/7/nfl) and the Denver Broncos (http://www.kffl.com/team/15/nfl). If the trade is approved, then the Falcons (http://www.kffl.com/team/7/nfl) will have traded their first-round pick, No. 15 overall, to Denver, who in turn will trade their first-round pick, No. 29 overall, and two additional picks to Atlanta. Atlanta then sends the 29th pick to the Jets (http://www.kffl.com/team/27/nfl) for Abraham. The Jets (http://www.kffl.com/team/27/nfl) would receive a draft pick two slots higher in the first round than the Seattle Seahawks (http://www.kffl.com/team/33/nfl) were able to offer.

Updating the draft picks, the Falcons get a 3rd in '06 and a 4th in '07.


The Dallas Cowboys release Larry Allen.

Cowboys | Allen cap savings
Tue, 21 Mar 2006 17:15:47 -0800
Nick Eatman, of DallasCowboys.com, reports the earlier release of OL <A href="http://www.kffl.com/player/518/nfl">Larry Allen saves the Dallas Cowboys (http://www.kffl.com/team/14/nfl) a total of about $3.55 million on the salary cap. It also frees them from paying a $2 million roster bonus due to Allen April 1.

So, I guess the starting Oline is now Adams, Kozier, Gurode/Johnson, Rivera, and Fabini.

[ISiddiqui]

Ummm....That sucks.

Yeah, the Falcons better be signing Hopkins now. Maybe McKay is close with Hopkins. Hopefully!

[cthomer5000]

Abraham is gone. thank GOD. I hope Atlanta doesn't plan to make the playoffs, because that guy will either be getting sick or whining about some nagging injury. Worthless piece of shit. Good riddance.

[fantastic flying froggies]

So the Broncos give away only a 3rd and future 4th to move up 14 spots in the 1st round? That seems like a very good deal to me.

[ISiddiqui]

So the Broncos give away only a 3rd and future 4th to move up 14 spots in the 1st round? That seems like a very good deal to me.

I'm sure that it adds up based on the sheet of values assigned to each pick, but I guess it depends on what the Broncos are looking to getting with that pick.

[stevew]

I'm sure that it adds up based on the sheet of values assigned to each pick, but I guess it depends on what the Broncos are looking to getting with that pick.

It doesnt even come close to adding up to what is considered "Fair value" on most charts. Denver trades picks worth about 800 points for a pick worth 1050. Now I think that Atlanta probably got the best deal that they could, however.

[Cuckoo]

The Dallas Cowboys release Larry Allen.



:(

[cthomer5000]

It doesnt even come close to adding up to what is considered "Fair value" on most charts. Denver trades picks worth about 800 points for a pick worth 1050. Now I think that Atlanta probably got the best deal that they could, however.

Basically, Atlanta didn't care to get full value... They're giving up the 1st for Abraham either way. So instead of giving up the 15 to get Abrham, they gave up the 15 for Abraham and 2 mid-round picks.

It's a win-win deal for all parties, in my opinion.

[Honolulu_Blue]

The Lions continue to gobble up career back-ups and depth guys. They signed OL Barry Stokes to a 3 year deal and LB Paris Lenon (Green Bay) to an undisclosed contract. Stokes has played with 6 different teams in 8 years. Wheee!

I reckon the Lions will try and take a run at Larry Allen. Millen tried to trade for him a few years back, but it fell through. The Lions are in desperate need of help on the offensive line. I imagine Allen would have absolutely zero interest in playing for the Lions, so if the Lions did manage to sign him, they would have to over pay big time.

[JeeberD]

:(

Yup

:(

[ISiddiqui]

Btw, news is that the Bears have signed Brian Greise to back up Rex Grossman. I wonder if there will be a QB controversy if Grossman isn't the savior he's been held up as?

[GrantDawg]

It doesnt even come close to adding up to what is considered "Fair value" on most charts. Denver trades picks worth about 800 points for a pick worth 1050. Now I think that Atlanta probably got the best deal that they could, however.


No, the best deal was to let him go. He is not worth a first in any way, shape or form. If Seattle wanted to give it, let them. I'm glad he is on the team, but giving up the number 15 pick when the team really needed that pick was a mistake.

[stevew]

No, the best deal was to let him go. He is not worth a first in any way, shape or form. If Seattle wanted to give it, let them. I'm glad he is on the team, but giving up the number 15 pick when the team really needed that pick was a mistake.

Paying the guy over 8 million per does not seem to be a silver lining in this mess, as well.

[GrantDawg]

Paying the guy over 8 million per does not seem to be a silver lining in this mess, as well.


No, but I could live with that without giving up the first. If this guy goes down in training camp, I'm going to beat McKay and Blank with a wiffle bat.

[ISiddiqui]

If the Falcons don't get their OT in free agency, I'd say the trade was almost a total waste.

[WSUCougar]

Btw, news is that the Bears have signed Brian Greise to back up Rex Grossman. I wonder if there will be a QB controversy if Grossman isn't the savior he's been held up as?
Kyle Orton, we hardly knew ye.

[JAG]

The Dallas Cowboys release Larry Allen.

Sad day. Best offensive linemen I've seen play for Dallas (and the only one I've ever seen a crowd chant for). I wonder if he'll retire.

[WSUCougar]

Sad day. Best offensive linemen I've seen play for Dallas (and the only one I've ever seen a crowd chant for). I wonder if he'll retire.
Also the perennial winner of the "Player Most Likely to Give John Madden an Eternal Stiffy" award.

[rkmsuf]

Local radio just said that the Cowboys are talking to Vanderjagt...


good, keep him away from NE

[JeeberD]

Local radio just said that the Cowboys are talking to Vanderjagt...

[Cuckoo]

Local radio just said that the Cowboys are talking to Vanderjagt...

So they'd have to keep an extra kicker for kickoffs? Just doesn't make much sense to me, but... I guess the options are pretty limited now.

[rkmsuf]

Hopefully the Pats can sign Edinger. He did a pretty good job in Chicago and can hit from 50+. Get him in for like 1.5 and you've done well.

[TazFTW]

The Raiders sign Aaron Brooks.

[dawgfan]

Can any Niners fans elaborate on Julian Peterson? If he's fully healthy, is he one of the top OLB in the league? I confess I haven't paid a lot of attention to him up till now, other than knowing about him by reputation.

[TazFTW]

Cowboys | Team close to a deal with Vanderjagt
Wed, 22 Mar 2006 17:02:44 -0800
Nick Eatman, of DallasCowboys.com, reports the <A href="http://www.kffl.com/team/14/nfl">Dallas Cowboys appeared to be closing in on a contract agreement with free agent PK Mike Vanderjagt (http://www.kffl.com/player/855/nfl) (Colts).

It's a shame we won't have Larry Allen to knock him down when he misses a PAT.

[Dutch]

I can't wait to see Vanderjagt tell the media that Terrell Owens sucks. That will be awesome.

I am surprised that the Bucs let Griese get away. Griese really appears to be a "system" quarterback, so I'm not sure how he'll fit in with the Bears.

That leaves the Bucs free to call Chris Simms their starter.

Maybe we better trade up. :)

[Travis]

Can any Niners fans elaborate on Julian Peterson? If he's fully healthy, is he one of the top OLB in the league? I confess I haven't paid a lot of attention to him up till now, other than knowing about him by reputation.

Not a Niners fan myself (definite preference towards Seattle), but when healthy, Peterson is a terror. Fast, strong and a guy the offense has to account for on every snap.

More importantly, whether or not he is at 100% health, he'll be a great source of knowledge and experience for Tatupu and Hill. I think Hill will benefit the most from watching Peterson and how he plays while Tatupu relies more on anticipation than flat out athletisicm. By all accounts Peterson is supposed to be an excellent locker room influence (one reason they likely went for him over Arrington), and with all the youth Seattle has at LB, hopefully this turns into a dual reward pickup.

[pennywisesb]

The Raiders sign Aaron Brooks.

Its good to see we won't be relying on Marques Tuiososopo and Andrew Walter next year. From Brooks' numbers, he doesn't look so bad, but I know a ton of people are down on him about his leadership ability and because he can be aloof at times. I hope he cleans up his act for us.

[Ksyrup]

I'm psyched. This means twice the fumbles and WTF plays since Denver plays the Raiders twice a year. A great day for AFC West teams.

[Dutch]

Its good to see we won't be relying on Marques Tuiososopo and Andrew Walter next year. From Brooks' numbers, he doesn't look so bad, but I know a ton of people are down on him about his leadership ability and because he can be aloof at times. I hope he cleans up his act for us.

Nothing says rehabilitation quite like the Oakland Raiders.

[dawgfan]

Its good to see we won't be relying on Marques Tuiososopo and Andrew Walter next year. From Brooks' numbers, he doesn't look so bad, but I know a ton of people are down on him about his leadership ability and because he can be aloof at times. I hope he cleans up his act for us.
I think if a team gave Tui an extended shot at being a starter they'd be pleasantly surprised. He doesn't fit the vertical stretch passing game that Al Davis favors, but I think he'd be pretty good in a West Coast or similar type of offense.

At this point though, he's going to have to get lucky to get that shot, i.e. be the backup on a team that suffers a season-ending injury to their starter and Tui himself stays healthy (his problem in Oakland, as he got injured himself immediately after getting his first real shot at being 'the Man').

[ZXTT]

Can any Niners fans elaborate on Julian Peterson? If he's fully healthy, is he one of the top OLB in the league? I confess I haven't paid a lot of attention to him up till now, other than knowing about him by reputation.

Seahawks fan here, but I got to drive down I-5 in Dec 2002 going down to Las Vegas/LA and for about an hour south of Sacramento we had "Julian Peterson, the greatest football player in the world" on the radio. Even adjusting for bias, I figured he must be pretty good...

[ISiddiqui]

Vince Young may be dropping further down the board:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft06/news/story?id=2380236


Quarterback Vince Young was timed in 4.58 seconds in the 40-yard dash Wednesday on what is considered a fast track at the University of Texas in Austin, one NFL scout told ESPN's Chris Mortensen. The scout said Young's time was slower than anticipated.

<!---------------------INLINE TABLE (BEGIN)--------------------->

<TABLE id=inlinetable cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 width=200 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TH style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #000000"><CENTER>QB 40-yard dash times</CENTER></TH><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ececec" vAlign=top><TD width=184>Reggie McNeal (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=138583), Texas A&M, 4.35
Marcus Vick (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=135239), Va. Tech, 4.42
Brad Smith (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=120165), Missouri, 4.46
D.J. Shockley, Georgia, 4.56
Barrick Nealy (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=120407), Texas St., 4.57
Bruce Gradkowski (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=114338), Toledo, 4.59
Ingle Martin, Furman, 4.68
Tarvaris Jackson (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=115521), Alabama St., 4.75
Brett Basanez (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=116993), Northwestern, 4.75
Jay Cutler (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=115374), Vanderbilt, 4.77 -- Vince Young's time of 4.58 would put him in sixth place among QBs
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<!---------------------INLINE TABLE (END)--------------------->According to the same scout, Young's overall workout was "fairly impressive," but the scout said that Young was not asked to make certain drops and throws that he would have to perform in a private team workout.


While Young completed all but five of more than 50 passes, a scout told Mortensen, "That wasn't a remarkable achievement because he wasn't asked to make many tough throws and he waited a lot on his receivers to get out of their breaks. Teams that are curious about the guy are going to want to see more when they work him out."
One of those teams is the Tennessee Titans (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=ten), who will give Young a private workout on Thursday in Austin, site of Wednesday's pro workout day for Young his his Longhorn teammates.

Other teams that have scheduled private workouts include the Houston Texans (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=hou) and New York Jets (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=nyj).


Asked to compare Young's workout to one given last Friday by Vanderbilt's Jay Cutler in cold weather and swirling winds, one scout said told Mortensen, "There was no comparison. Cutler made all the throws in tough conditions while Young limited his range of throws and he was indoors."

[rkmsuf]

Here's what I don't get about the Young 40 time disappointment. Does it really matter at all what his 40 time is? I mean 4.3, 4.6, 4.8, who gives a fuck.

I'm not a VY fan per se but really, the 40 has about zero to do with playing quarterback.

We know he's generally fast, can be mobile. Isn't that enough?

[ISiddiqui]

Here's what I don't get about the Young 40 time disappointment. Does it really matter at all what his 40 time is? I mean 4.3, 4.6, 4.8, who gives a fuck.

I'm not a VY fan per se but really, the 40 has about zero to do with playing quarterback.

We know he's generally fast, can be mobile. Isn't that enough?

That's the problem. He wasn't all that fast in his time. For a QB that has had questions about if he can play in the NFL with his wierd motion, taking the ball under center, the Wonderlic score, now you have this. It's just a bad sign.

[rkmsuf]

That's the problem. He wasn't all that fast in his time. For a QB that has had questions about if he can play in the NFL with his wierd motion, taking the ball under center, the Wonderlic score, now you have this. It's just a bad sign.

Why? Because he was going to outrun the secondary for touchdowns on a regular basis but now not so much?

[ISiddiqui]

Why? Because he was going to outrun the secondary for touchdowns on a regular basis but now not so much?

Who said he was going to outrun the secondary in the first place? You have to see if he can before saying he will.

[rkmsuf]

Who said he was going to outrun the secondary in the first place? You have to see if he can before saying he will.

just seems silly to me to judge qb worth on their 40 time. if anything the relationship is inverse. the slower ones are better in general.


I agree though in the big picture that if you were under the impression he was a lightning bolt and see the time and combine it with the other issues maybe you back off.

[Butter]

His 40 time = Bruce Gradkowski's????

[WSUCougar]

I think the concern is being raised because much of the hoopla over Young has been that he is a superior athlete, particularly so as a QB. If his speed is deemed pedestrian than his stock drops a bit. If you're not taking him for his incredible athleticism then he is quite mortal.

[rkmsuf]

I think the concern is being raised because much of the hoopla over Young has been that he is a superior athlete, particularly so as a QB. If his speed is deemed pedestrian than his stock drops a bit. If you're not taking him for his incredible athleticism then he is quite mortal.

taking the athletical qb has worked well

[JeeberD]

So he doesn't run sprints well...hasn't he proven over the last year or two that he can outrun defenses on a consistent basis?

[jeff061]

College defenses.

[ISiddiqui]

I think the concern is being raised because much of the hoopla over Young has been that he is a superior athlete, particularly so as a QB. If his speed is deemed pedestrian than his stock drops a bit. If you're not taking him for his incredible athleticism then he is quite mortal.

Indeed. That's my point. He is so high on the board because of his athletic ability. He played in the shotgun most of his career and has a funky motion, so teams are drafting him based on his potential and he'll probably take the McNair path of sitting on the bench learning for a few years.

Slower than anticipated speed downgrades some of that percieved athletic ability. I do think that some teams looked at Young and thought he was just as fast as Marcus Vick.

[Daimyo]

40 times aren't a measure of top end speed, but of acceleration which I imagine is very important for a QB who depends so much on making people miss. If this was the only knock on him i think it would be easy to look past it, but combined with all the other knocks I wouldn't want my team picking him in the first round.

[stevew]

Vince Young in FOF terms is a QB with 10/80 talents and (99) volatility. He has the potential to cost you your job, or take you to the promised land.

[GrantDawg]

40 times aren't a measure of top end speed, but of acceleration which I imagine is very important for a QB who depends so much on making people miss. If this was the only knock on him i think it would be easy to look past it, but combined with all the other knocks I wouldn't want my team picking him in the first round.


He is a great pick for team that doesn't need a QB right now. He is a future pick, not an immediate need pick.

[Butter]

He is a great pick for team that doesn't need a QB right now. He is a future pick, not an immediate need pick.

Maybe, but it's pretty rare that in the first round of the draft you take a player whom you don't expect to help you right away. So, someone is going to have to take that leap and see what happens.

[GrantDawg]

Maybe, but it's pretty rare that in the first round of the draft you take a player whom you don't expect to help you right away. So, someone is going to have to take that leap and see what happens.


When was Willie McGahee picked, knowing he had a whole year of rehab ahead of him? When McNair picked when the team had no intention of starting him for a couple of years? Shoot, the Falcons traded to take Vick number one with no intention of him starting right away. Teams often take players with huge upsides in the first round.

[Travis]

When was Willie McGahee picked, knowing he had a whole year of rehab ahead of him? When McNair picked when the team had no intention of starting him for a couple of years? Shoot, the Falcons traded to take Vick number one with no intention of him starting right away. Teams often take players with huge upsides in the first round.

And while not necessarily picked with that entirely in mind, the Eli/Rivers situation has the potential to end up working out quite well for San Diego if Rivers steps up and doesn't have all the growing pains of a rookie.

[Butter]

When was Willie McGahee picked, knowing he had a whole year of rehab ahead of him? When McNair picked when the team had no intention of starting him for a couple of years? Shoot, the Falcons traded to take Vick number one with no intention of him starting right away. Teams often take players with huge upsides in the first round.

So, 1 out of 32 picks = not rare?

[Huckleberry]

I know I'm shocked Mortensen had a negative take on Young's workout.

AP review and Sean Salisbury/Ed Werder gave a night and day take.

http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/9329181

Perhaps people are upset Young didn't show he has been working at being a wide receiver? Perhaps people are upset he has spent the last two months working on his NFL QB skillset instead of 40-yard dash technique and form?

The idea that a 4.49-4.61 40 is going to drop his stock as a QB is retarded.

[rkmsuf]

I know I'm shocked Mortensen had a negative take on Young's workout.

AP review and Sean Salisbury/Ed Werder gave a night and day take.

http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/9329181

Perhaps people are upset Young didn't show he has been working at being a wide receiver? Perhaps people are upset he has spent the last two months working on his NFL QB skillset instead of 40-yard dash technique and form?

The idea that a 4.49-4.61 40 is going to drop his stock as a QB is retarded.

Here we stand united. I still want to know your secrets though.

[scooper]

So, 1 out of 32 picks = not rare?
It's more than 1 out of 32.

Carson Palmer ring a bell? Especially with QB's teams often take them in the first with intentions to groom them for a year or two out.

[Butter]

It's more than 1 out of 32.

Carson Palmer ring a bell? Especially with QB's teams often take them in the first with intentions to groom them for a year or two out.

QB is the only position that happens with. So, I'll give you that it's not rare to take a QB to do this with. McGahee was a very rare exception, though.

[scooper]

QB is the only position that happens with. So, I'll give you that it's not rare to take a QB to do this with. McGahee was a very rare exception, though.

Yes, and this discussion involves a QB. In recent years, more first round QB's have NOT started immediately than vice versa.

[mckerney]

Mike McMahon to Minnesota. w00t for a backup QB who doesn't complete 50% of his passes.

[TazFTW]

The Cowboys sign Mike Vanderjagt.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Mike McMahon to Minnesota. w00t for a backup QB who doesn't complete 50% of his passes.

This move pleases me greatly.

[Greyroofoo]

The Cowboys sign Mike Vanderjagt.

Can't wait for Vandy to start trash talking with T.O

[WSUCougar]

ESPN should do a Sportscenter commercial with T.O, Vanderjagt, and the Tuna. Have a host pop off about T.O., have Vanderjagt agree with him, have T.O. come in and go ape shit, then have Parcells come in, pick up Vanderjagt, and lob-toss him at T.O., knocking him down like a bowling pin. Maybe have Drew Bledsoe sitting in the background with his feet up on the desk, reading a comic book. And Jerry Jones face down in a bowl of Texas chili. And Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders everywhere.

Laugh-riot.

[Greyroofoo]

take out everything but the cheerleaders and I'm in.

[Honolulu_Blue]

The Lions continue to gobble up yet even more back-ups and injury-riddled linemen.

They just signed tackle Courtney Van Buren (San Diego) to a one year deal. Apparently he has had a number of knee injuries over the course of his brief career.

I think all of the depth linemen they've signed so far - Stokes, Tucker, and Van Buren - are coming off serious injuries.

Good times!

[Warhammer]

I know I'm shocked Mortensen had a negative take on Young's workout.

AP review and Sean Salisbury/Ed Werder gave a night and day take.

http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/9329181

Perhaps people are upset Young didn't show he has been working at being a wide receiver? Perhaps people are upset he has spent the last two months working on his NFL QB skillset instead of 40-yard dash technique and form?

The idea that a 4.49-4.61 40 is going to drop his stock as a QB is retarded.

However, the idea that he is slower than anticipated with a QB who is valued for his physical gifts, not his mental ones, it is a blow. If I am touted as a physical wunderkund that turns in a 4.8 40, and doesn't have the zip on the ball as expected is going to hammer my draft stock, if I don't have other reasons for me to be picked.

In the case of Young, it is another item that increases his risk. Let's face it, prior to the USC game, no one expected the kid to come out, everyone said he needed another year. He has the huge game in the Rose Bowl, and he is the second coming of Michael Vick.

In retrospect, who didn't have a big game against USC's defense this year? Thinking about this rationally, it was not as impressive as originally thought. ND, Fresno State, and other teams put up big numbers against the SC defense this year. Then, he goes and hires a nobody as his agent. His judgement is called into question. Then, he goes and scores a 15/16 on his Wonderlic the second time around. These last two items calls into question his decision making ability. Again, his risk factor is increased. Is this someone you take in the top 10 of the draft?

It depends, I think given the right situation, the right system, sure he could be a stud. However, given the state of today's NFL, and what teams that need QBs have been doing in FA this year, I think GMs are saying they are not sold on him. When Oakland goes out and signs Aaron Brooks, when they could get Young at #8 says a lot.

Personally, I would not touch Young with a 10' pole until the 2nd or 3rd round, but that is just me. I think WAY too many QBs are taken too early in the draft.

[miami_fan]

So is the Vince Young debate dispell the notion that teams don't want guys who score well at the combine or who look good in shorts during workouts, they want guys who perform on the football field?

[ISiddiqui]

So is the Vince Young debate dispell the notion that teams don't want guys who score well at the combine or who look good in shorts during workouts, they want guys who perform on the football field?

When looking at college QBs, how can you decide who can perform on an NFL football field? I'm sure people thought David Klingler and Akili Smith performed on the football field in college and could perform in the pros as well.

[Honolulu_Blue]

I heard on NFL radio that Larry Allen signed with San Fran... Need to confirm.

[miami_fan]

When looking at college QBs, how can you decide who can perform on an NFL football field? I'm sure people thought David Klingler and Akili Smith performed on the football field in college and could perform in the pros as well.

I am not disputing that whatsoever. It was more of a commentary on the definitive annoucers throughout the season that Player X will be a star on Sundays during many a college football games.

[TazFTW]

I heard on NFL radio that Larry Allen signed with San Fran... Need to confirm.

49ers | L. Allen contract update
Thu, 23 Mar 2006 16:52:29 -0800
<A href="http://www.kffl.com/link/14">Jay Glazer, of FOXSports.com (http://www.kffl.com/link/189), reports free agent OG Larry Allen (http://www.kffl.com/player/518/nfl) (Cowboys) signed a two-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers (http://www.kffl.com/team/32/nfl) believed to be worth between $4 million and $5 million per year. The deal is contingent upon Allen passing a physical and then signing the contract.


:sigh:

[TazFTW]

The Panthers have signed Keyshawn.

Panthers | Team lands K. Johnson
Thu, 23 Mar 2006 17:57:44 -0800
Clarence E. Hill Jr., of the Star-Telegram, reports the Carolina Panthers (http://www.kffl.com/team/10/nfl) have agreed to a four-year deal with free agent WR Keyshawn Johnson (http://www.kffl.com/player/1836/nfl) (Cowboys). Johnson received a $5 million signing bonus.

[Crapshoot]

I know I'm shocked Mortensen had a negative take on Young's workout.

AP review and Sean Salisbury/Ed Werder gave a night and day take.

http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/9329181

Perhaps people are upset Young didn't show he has been working at being a wide receiver? Perhaps people are upset he has spent the last two months working on his NFL QB skillset instead of 40-yard dash technique and form?

The idea that a 4.49-4.61 40 is going to drop his stock as a QB is retarded.

Eh - is there an issue with Moretensen and Vince Young ?

[JeeberD]

The Niners? Of all the goddamn teams in the league, he has to sign with the Niners...

Ugh.

[ISiddiqui]

Panthers get scarier... Smith on one side, Keyshawn on the other. Yikes!

[st.cronin]

Panthers get scarier... Smith on one side, Keyshawn on the other. Yikes!

I agree, that's a scary combo.

[Subby]

<inlinereplace type="RevenueScience"> <!--end revenueScience--> <!-- BEGIN WEBSIDESTORY CODE v7.4.0 (no 1.0)--> <!-- COPYRIGHT 1997-2003 WEBSIDESTORY, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. U.S.PATENT No. 6,393,479 B1. Privacy notice at: http://websidestory.com/privacy --> </inlinereplace> <object id="DIGStreamClientInfo" classid="CLSID:AAF15A90-F3EC-4FEE-9A00-F65B25B83D05" height="0" width="0"></object>Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Young good, not great at workout
<hr noshade="noshade" size="1" width="100%"> By Todd McShay
Scouts Inc.

Rarely does a pro day draw as much attention as Texas' did on Wednesday. The event began at 11 a.m. ET and 31 of the 32 NFL teams were represented, with nearly 200 coaches and personnel officials in attendance. The Redskins, who do not currently own picks in the first or third rounds of the upcoming draft, were the only team that did not send at least one scout to view the proceedings. <table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td rowspan="2" width="5"><spacer type="block" height="1" width="5"></td><td width="185">http://proxy.espn.go.com/media/nfl/2006/0323/photo/w_young_185.jpg</td></tr><tr><td width="185">Vince Young will have private workouts with a number of teams before the draft.</td></tr></tbody></table>While the Longhorns' pro day was oozing with talent, no workout was scrutinized more than quarterback Vince Young (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?id=10300)'s. All in all, Young's results can be classified as good but not spectacular. He ran the 40-yard dash only once and it was timed between 4.55 and 4.60, depending on the scout's stopwatch you believe. The result wasn't quite as fast as some expected (there were rumors that he was being timed in the 4.4's during practice runs), but Young's top-end speed is far better than most starting quarterbacks in the NFL and nobody can question his overall athleticism, especially considering his prototypical size (6-4 5/8, 228).
Far more important was Young's throwing session, which took place more than four hours later at 3:15 p.m. ET. Young got off to a hot start, connecting on his first eight attempts. He lost the "strike zone" during a couple brief stints over the course of the 45-minute exercise. Two other complaints that I heard from scouts in attendance were that Young waited for his receivers to come out of their breaks on too many of his throws and that he also was not forced to make some of the more challenging throws that he will be asked to make during private workouts. But overall, Young showed good accuracy and better-than-expected arm strength, particularly on some of the deep-out routes. Despite his unconventional throwing style, scouts were also impressed with the quickness of his release.
Young will be placed under an even more intense microscope over the next few weeks when he is brought in by interested NFL franchises for individual workouts at their respective practice facilities. However, he was at least able to effectively take snaps from under center and show a good rhythm as a passer when working off of drops, which he did little of while starting in Texas' shotgun read-option scheme.
Few prospects have seen their draft stock fluctuate as much as Young has over the course of the last three months. It seemingly peaked after his phenomenal Rose Bowl performance versus USC, which triggered his decision to leave school early for the 2006 NFL draft. At that point, Young was being discussed as a possible top-overall selection. Over the next couple of months, however, Young's value began to nose-dive a bit after he elected not to work out at the combine and scored a 15 (best of two attempts) on the Wonderlic Personnel Test. Wednesday's workout definitely helped stop the bleeding, though. As is stands right now, it's safe to say that Young has solidified a spot in the top 15 picks but he will need to impress during his more intense individual workouts for NFL teams in order to secure a place in the top 10. The Houston Texans (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=hou), Tennessee Titans (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=ten) and New York Jets (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=nyj) already have scheduled private workouts and I've been told that the Oakland Raiders (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=oak) and Baltimore Ravens (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=bal) are two of the other teams planning on doing the same.
As for the other prospects who worked out in Austin on Wednesday, defensive backs Cedric Griffin (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2006&id=9275) and Michael Huff (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2006&id=9281) continued to increase their draft stock with impressive showings in agility drills. Griffin improved on his short shuttle time from the combine (4.10) by running it in 3.97 seconds, which will only help solidify his spot on Day 1. Huff, on the other hand, helped solidify his place in the top 10 overall picks with excellent times in the short shuttle (3.96) and three-cone drill (6.68), which were two of the events that he opted out of at the combine.
Tight end David Thomas (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2006&id=10038) helped his cause as a fringe first day prospect by putting on a solid showing as a deep snapper, which is not an area he was expected to work out during the pro day. Thomas also ran an impressive short shuttle time of 4.15 seconds and registered 21 reps on the 225-pound bench press -- both of which were improvements from his combine workout.
Defensive tackle Rodrique Wright (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2006&id=9284), a fringe first-round prospect, elected to keep most of his combine results but he did improve his short shuttle time by running it in 4.47 seconds.
Conversely, defensive tackle Larry Dibbles (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2006&id=9238) and guard Will Allen (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2006&id=9815), both of whom were combine snubs, were unable to help their causes as late-round prospects during their workouts on Wednesday. Allen (6-4 7/8, 306) ran the 40-yard dash in 5.34 seconds and 5.36 seconds, notched 24 reps on the bench and ran slow times in the short shuttle (4.66) and three-cone drill (8.04). Dibbles (6-1 3/8, 290) showed up lighter than expected but still clocked embarrassingly slow times in the 40 (5.37, 5.38), short shuttle (4.75) and three-cone drill (8.08), while also failing to break the 20-rep plateau on the bench press (19).

Other Pro Days

There have been some other pro day of interest over the course of the last week, including ones held on the campuses of Penn State, Pittsburgh, Colorado, Georgia Tech and Oregon. • Penn State: Penn State's workout could be considered one of the most important in this year's draft process, as the majority of their top prospects opted not to participate at this year's scouting combine. Of the 19 players (all from Penn State) who worked out at State College on March 17, seven were invited to the combine but only one (safety Calvin Lowry (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2006&id=9884)) completed a full workout that week.
As such, the pressure was on for prospects such as defensive end Tamba Hali (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2006&id=9818), QB/wide receiver Michael Robinson (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=120321), safety Chris Harrell (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2006&id=9672), defensive end Matthew Rice (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=120356) and cornerbacks Anwar Phillips (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2006&id=9203) and Alan Zemaitis (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2006&id=9255).
Robinson helped his cause by working out at multiple positions, including wide receiver and return specialist. He also ran his 40s in the mid-4.5's, had a vertical jump of 32 ½ inches and ran a good three-cone drill time of 6.95 seconds. Phillips had a decent all-around workout thanks to a good vertical jump (35½ inches) and a fast time in the short shuttle (4.09), but he will have a difficult time slipping into the top-40 overall picks with 40-yard dash times of 4.59 and 4.63 seconds. In reality, none of the top prospects from Penn State ran well in the 40-yard dash, including Hali (4.86 and 4.87), Zemaitis (4.58 and 4.57), Harrell (4.82 and 4.81) and Rice (4.93 and 4.87). Of those times, Hali's has to be considered the most damaging. Hali wasn't expected to turn heads with his top-end speed, but failing to crack the 4.7-second barrier could cause him to slip to the bottom of the first round. Notching only 18 reps of the 225-pound bench press won't help Hali's cause, either.
• Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh did not have nearly as much talent on display at its pro day as Penn State, but its top draft prospects had much more success overall. Guard Charles Spencer (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2006&id=9248), who had impressive showings at the Senior Bowl and combine, continued his ascent up the draft board with strong showing on March 18. Spencer kept his 40-yard time (5.28) and bench press (30 reps) from the combine but participated in the vertical jump (27½"), long jump (8-3), short shuttle (4.64) and three-cone drill (7.74). Spencer has solidified a spot on Day 1, likely late in the second round or early in the third round. Also helping his cause was WR Greg Lee (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2006&id=10414), who improved on his 40-yard dash times from the combine by running in the mid-4.6's and also turned in a solid 34½-inch vertical jump. Lee currently grades out as a fringe Day 1 prospect.
• Colorado: One of the highlights of Colorado's March 17 pro day was the solid showing of late-round prospect QB Joel Klatt (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2006&id=9242). The somewhat undersized (6-1, 205) signal caller showed good arm strength and adequate accuracy during his passing drills, while also running solid times in the 40-yard dash (4.83) and three-cone drill (7.12). Klatt got off to a strong start as a senior but fizzled down the stretch. By turning in an impressive performance in front of the 25 NFL teams that were in attendance in Boulder last week, Klatt might have earned a spot in the late rounds of the upcoming draft.
Tight end Joe Klopfenstein (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2006&id=9199) is one of the fastest rising prospects in this year's draft class right now and he only continued to improve his stock with a near-flawless position-drill workout and two 40-yard dash times of 4.56 and 4.57 seconds. Outside linebacker/strong safety Brian Iwuh (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2006&id=10368) did not work out due to an injured hamstring and will run in Houston on March 27.
• Georgia Tech: Georgia Tech's pro day was rather uneventful. Defensive end Eric Henderson (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2006&id=9328) put up 28 reps of the 225-pound bench press but kept all the rest of his times from the combine. Inside linebacker Gerris Wilkinson (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2006&id=9912) should have solidified a spot late on Day 1 by running his 40's in the low 4.6's, while also impressing in the short shuttle (4.08) and vertical jump (41 inches). Running back P.J. Daniels (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?id=9266&draftyear=2006), on the other hand, was unable to disprove critics who question his speed when he ran his two 40-yard dash attempts in 4.67 and 4.70. His unimpressive workout could keep Daniels out of the first four rounds of the draft.
• Oregon State: WR Demetrius Williams (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2006&id=9305) made a risky decision not to run at the combine but he erased doubts by running a best of 4.44 seconds in his two 40-yard dash attempts at Oregon's March 16 Pro Day. Tight end Tim Day (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2006&id=9187) had a good position-drill workout and also showed good quickness in the short shuttle (4.36) and three-cone drill (6.89). Defensive tackle Haloti Ngata (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2006&id=10294) (6-4 1/2, 340), the highest rated Oregon prospect as a potential top-10 pick, opted to keep all of his test results from the combine but did have a strong showing during his position-drill portion of the workout.
• Brett Elliott: Finally, one small school prospect worth noting is Linfield quarterback Brett Elliott (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2006&id=9774), who worked out at Portland State's pro day on March 17. Elliott, who was awarded the Gagliardi Trophy as the outstanding football player in NCAA Division III last season, is considered a fringe late-round prospect in this year's quarterback class. He did not impress in the 40-yard dash (5.11 and 5.17) or agility drills (4.59 short shuttle and 7.68 three-cone), but he did display adequate arm strength and impressive accuracy during his passing session.

Remaining Pro Days

There are only two weeks of pro days remaining but many of the top schools have yet to partake, including USC. Below is a schedule of upcoming pro days. I will continue to update the players helping and hurting their draft stocks the most over the course of the final two-week stretch. March 23: Auburn, Connecticut, Duke, Georgia, Miami (Ohio), North Carolina Central, Notre Dame (2nd) and Shippensburg (Pa.)
March 24: Colorado State, Georgia Southern, Hofstra, Indiana State, Louisiana Tech (1st), Memphis, Northwestern State (La.) and Portland State
March 27: Houston and Rice
March 28: Jacksonville State and Utah State (2nd)
March 29: Arizona State (2nd), Central Florida (2nd), New Mexico State, Tennessee (2nd) and Utah
March 30: Carson-Newman and Stephen F. Austin
March 31: Louisiana Tech (2nd) and Purdue (2nd)
April 2: Southern Cal. Scouts Inc. (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?page=ScoutsInc) watches games, breaks down film and studies football from all angles for ESPN Insider.


<hr noshade="noshade" size="1" width="100%"> <inlinereplace name="nav" type="espn_footer_textonly_motion"></inlinereplace><!--begin revenueScience--><inlinereplace name="ad" type="RevenueScience"><!--end revenueScience-->
</inlinereplace>

[Dutch]

I agree, that's a scary combo.

As long as Keyshawn realizes he's just the other guy, it will work out well. He's old enough now that I don't expect that to be a problem. But....ya never know till you play the games. :)

[ISiddiqui]

Well I don't think he's deluded enough to think that the Panthers won't keep Smith as their #1 reciever. No matter who they sign (Yes, that includes T.O. or Moss).

[Swaggs]

As long as Keyshawn realizes he's just the other guy, it will work out well. He's old enough now that I don't expect that to be a problem. But....ya never know till you play the games. :)

If he doesn't realize it, I'm sure Steve Smith will let him know. :)

[kingfc22]

Larry Allen. Love the move.

[mckerney]

Tank Williams is a Viking.

[TazFTW]

The Cowboys aggressively tried to retain Keyshawn Johnson while he was closing his deal with the Panthers.
Why didn't they pay his roster bonus in the first place then? It would have been very interesting to see Terrell Owens and Keyshawn on the same team. Terry Glenn probably would have come off the bench. Mar. 24 - 4:03 pm et
Source: ESPN.com Insider (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/insider/columns/story?columnist=pasquarelli_len&id=2382383)

That would have made an interesting locker room.

Cowboys scouts are reportedly interest in making Charlie Whitehurst their next "quarterback of the future."
Something tells us Drew Henson lost the tag the minute he went to NFL Europe. Whitehurst looks like a second or third-round pick. Mar. 24 - 4:07 pm et
Source: ESPN.com Insider (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/insider/columns/story?columnist=pasquarelli_len&id=2382383)

Hmm, not too sure about Whitehurst. I just bought Pro Football Weekly's Draft guide and under Whitehurst it says that NFL scouts call him a poor man's Drew Bledsoe and question how much upside he has.

Seahawks signed WR Nate Burleson to a seven-year, $49 million offer sheet, with $5.25 million guaranteed and two comical "poison pills" provisions included.
The contract total was made to look just like the offer sheet Minnesota used to sign Steve Hutchinson away from the Seahawks. Burleson's deal would be re-worked after a few years. More noteworthy are Seattle's tongue-in-cheek 'poison pills' in the deal that guarantees the entire contract if Burleson plays a certain numer of games in the state of Minnesota or exceeds the highest paid running back on the team. Those provisions are a loud attempt by Seattle to close significant loopholes in the 'transition' tag designation that Minnesota took advantage of with Hutchinson's contract. Among all that confusion is the likelihood that Minnesota won't keep Burleson. They only offered him the 'low tender' as a restricted free agent. They would receive a third-round pick as compensation. Burleson would become an interesting fantasy bet in Seattle. Mar. 24 - 5:28 pm et
Source: The News Tribune (http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/seahawks/)

Love those poison pills.

[st.cronin]

I saw Whitehurst play a couple of games in college. I am, quite frankly, shocked that he is even remotely considered to be an NFL prospect. Not much arm strength, very little accuracy, almost zero game sense.

[Travis]

If the Burleson signing goes through, I'll be one happy Seahawks fan. Having Engram and Warrick as our 2/3 receivers just didn't have quite the same potential as throwing Burleson out opposite Jackson while using either/both Warrick and Engram as slot receivers. With the news that Hamlin has been cleared and should be ready for camp, if they can add a starting calibre G or CB prior to the draft, they should be sitting in absolutely great position to defend their NFC title and try to build towards another crack at the Superbowl.

[DeToxRox]

Is Nate Burelson really that good?

I guess he'll be better in Seattle as long as he's the #2 WR to DJ, but he's by no means a #1, and that seems like a hefty contract for a #2 not named Reggie Wayne.

[dawgfan]

The poison pills are obviously direct retribution for the contract Minnesota used to sign LG Steve Hutchinson from the Seahawks. More than anything, it appears as though the Seahawks are making a point about just how ludicrous these poison-pill clauses can be. Now we'll see if the league and its players address the issue. Just on principle, it's hard to imagine the Vikings contesting these clauses after using a similar one with Hutchinson.
Good for the Seahawks, and hopefully this is the impetus for the NFL and NFLPA to address this issue. The original provision in the Hutch offer sheet was bullshit, and it was even more bullshit for the arbitrator to rule that the provision was effective on the date that offer sheet was signed, thus making it impossible for Seattle to match the deal since they'd have to guarantee the entire deal.

The Seahawks' offer to Burleson has a more humorous aspect to it, but the principle is the same - it contains clauses that the Vikings can't match. The number of games played in Minnesota thing is silly and will likely be tossed-out, but similar to the original poison pill in Hutch's deal, the Vikings should have the ability to re-work contracts on their team to deal with the other provision that compares salaries with other positions on the team, just like the Seahawks re-working Walter Jones' deal should've allowed them to avoid having to guarantee the entire offer sheet to Hutchinson.

[stevew]

Burleson is definately worth giving up a 3rd round pick for. Especially when its #31 in the round.

[dawgfan]

Is Nate Burelson really that good?

I guess he'll be better in Seattle as long as he's the #2 WR to DJ, but he's by no means a #1, and that seems like a hefty contract for a #2 not named Reggie Wayne.
The 7 years and $49M figures are just for show. The key number is the $5.25M guaranteed, which isn't that large a number for a WR. This is really a 4-year deal dressed-up to look bigger than it really is - undoubtedly the latter years of the deal will be re-worked when it gets to that point.

[Travis]

The numbers were done in this fashion to make it look more like the offer to Hutch. Same years, same overall money, then the provisions put in for the poison pills, just a gag with a bit of a point to it.

That said, with having to deal with Alexander twice, Hasselbeck, Jones and Hutch, to only end up losing Hutch out of that group, that's a pretty impressive pair of offseasons for retaining an offensive core. With the addition of a true #2 (potentially) as well as 3 new starting LB's in the past two years, the direction this team is taking is a welcome change from their historical path.

[DeToxRox]

The 7 years and $49M figures are just for show. The key number is the $5.25M guaranteed, which isn't that large a number for a WR. This is really a 4-year deal dressed-up to look bigger than it really is - undoubtedly the latter years of the deal will be re-worked when it gets to that point.

Very true. I somehow misread that bonus figure. It's a solid deal, so long as Burelson isn't counted on to be a #1.

[dawgfan]

Very true. I somehow misread that bonus figure. It's a solid deal, so long as Burelson isn't counted on to be a #1.
I'm sure he's being looked at as a #2 complement to Darrell Jackson, allowing Bobby Engram to return to being the #3/slot WR role.

[Ryche]

I really like Burleson, although I was a bit perplexed by his lack of production this past season. Could be a great pickup for Seattle, but I don't think Minnesota will have a problem taking a 3rd round pick for him.

[stevew]

Supposedly years 5-7 pay a total of 35 million.

[Fonzie]

Good for Seattle. The league needs to address those clause-loopholes ASAP.

[TazFTW]

Packers | B. Cundiff agrees to terms
Fri, 24 Mar 2006 21:45:27 -0800
Bob McGinn, of the <A href="http://www.kffl.com/link/188">Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, reports the Green Bay Packers (http://www.kffl.com/team/17/nfl) have agreed to terms with free agent PK Billy Cundiff (http://www.kffl.com/player/5674/nfl) (Buccaneers) on an undisclosed contract.

Billy Cundiff? Hahahahaha!

[Fonzie]

Packers | B. Cundiff agrees to terms
Fri, 24 Mar 2006 21:45:27 -0800
Bob McGinn, of the <A href="http://www.kffl.com/link/188">Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, reports the Green Bay Packers (http://www.kffl.com/team/17/nfl) have agreed to terms with free agent PK Billy Cundiff (http://www.kffl.com/player/5674/nfl) (Buccaneers) on an undisclosed contract.

Billy Cundiff? Hahahahaha!

Word is that the Packers are far from settled on Cundiff as their kicker - TT is still looking at others, and are considering Edinger.

[Young Drachma]

http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/sports/14174689.htm

The NFL owners will begin the task of assembling a list of replacement candidates for the commissioner's job Monday when the league holds its annual meeting at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress resort in Orlando, Fla.

While the owners are expected to focus most of their search on candidates from within the league, such as chief operating officer Roger Goodell, chief administrative officer Jeff Pash, Atlanta Falcons president Rich McKay and Baltimore Ravens president Dick Cass, league sources say an intriguing candidate from the outside has surfaced who could get fairly serious consideration. And no, it's not Condoleeza Rice.

It's former Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Reggie Williams. Williams, 51, is the vice president of planning and new development for Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex, which is just a stone's throw away from where the owners will be meeting next week.

Williams, who spent 14 years as a player in the league before retiring in 1989, has the kind of broad appeal that makes him attractive to the league as a candidate to succeed outgoing Paul Tagliabue.

The Dartmouth grad has done an outstanding job building and operating Disney's 200-acre sports complex. His background as a player is appealing to those who feel the league needs a football guy at the top this time, rather than another lawyer.

And, last but not least, he's a minority.

"That will be one of the key things as we go forward with this search," Tagliabue said last week after announcing that he was stepping down after 17 years as league czar. "It's certainly uppermost in our minds that we need to do with this search what the diversity committee has been urging the clubs to do with coaches and front-office executives."

[JeeberD]

Packers | B. Cundiff agrees to terms
Fri, 24 Mar 2006 21:45:27 -0800
Bob McGinn, of the <A href="http://www.kffl.com/link/188">Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, reports the Green Bay Packers (http://www.kffl.com/team/17/nfl) have agreed to terms with free agent PK Billy Cundiff (http://www.kffl.com/player/5674/nfl) (Buccaneers) on an undisclosed contract.

Billy Cundiff? Hahahahaha!

*chortle*

[Honolulu_Blue]

Packers | B. Cundiff agrees to terms
Fri, 24 Mar 2006 21:45:27 -0800
Bob McGinn, of the <A href="http://www.kffl.com/link/188">Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, reports the Green Bay Packers (http://www.kffl.com/team/17/nfl) have agreed to terms with free agent PK Billy Cundiff (http://www.kffl.com/player/5674/nfl) (Buccaneers) on an undisclosed contract.

Billy Cundiff? Hahahahaha!

I like this signing.

[TazFTW]

It looks like Eric Moulds will be going to Houston as the Texans have come to terms on a contract but a trade with the Bills still needs to be worked out. It will be a good move as the Texans needed someone to help out Andre Johnson.


Mel Kiper's newest mock has the Cowboys selecting Jason Allen out of Tennessee. He is a corner who can play free safety, which is a need for the Cowboys. I'm hesitant in seeing the Cowboys select another corner from Tennessee with injury concerns.

[Poli]

I'm hesitant in seeing the Cowboys select another corner from Tennessee with injury concerns.I don't think Goodrich had injury concerns, nor Dave Thomas. Goodrich has prison concerns, but that's a different matter all together.

I can't think of a corner from Tennessee other than Allen that has had an injury concern leaving school.

[TazFTW]

I don't think Goodrich had injury concerns, nor Dave Thomas. Goodrich has prison concerns, but that's a different matter all together.

I can't think of a corner from Tennessee other than Allen that has had an injury concern leaving school.

Are you sure about that? I seem to remember Goodrich being hyped as a first round pick and then got injured (back?) before/early in the season and then struggled when he returned to the field. He was then considered a reach by the Cowboys when the took him with their 2nd rounder.

[Julio Riddols]

I really like Cincinnati's offseason moves so far, as they are about to sign Sam Adams, and they have released Kim Herring and Duane Clemons, who were both eating up cap and looked to be out of playing time (at least in Herrings case).

Now if they draft Pope and re-sign Jones and Steinbach, I think they'll be well on their way to challenging for a spot in the big dance next season and for seasons to come.

I would really like to see how much improvement Odell Thurman shows this season and hopefully have a healthy Madieu Williams all year.. Should be a big help to the defense, maybe push them into the top 10.

But, as a Bengal fan, I am also reserved, knowing that there could be hell waiting around the corner if Palmer gets hurt again. Just seems to be the way it goes for us. :)

Optimism=high.

[Honolulu_Blue]

But, as a Bengal fan, I am also reserved, knowing that there could be hell waiting around the corner if Palmer gets hurt again. Just seems to be the way it goes for us. :)

Optimism=high.

That's why you need to convince your ownership and team management that, above all other things, it's necessary for the Bengals to have a solid back-up quarterback. And we all know who the best QB still out there is... John Joseph Harrington. Start a campaign. Force the Bengals to trade for Harrington, preferably for a 3rd round pick, though a 4th will do. You can never be too safe.

[miami_fan]

Looks like the Dolphins will have no shot at getting Justice. We are left with Eric Winston. I am still not convince that he is a true LT.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft06/news/story?id=2394532

LOS ANGELES -- Scheduled to be the guest of honor at Petco Park on Monday, Reggie Bush strongly hinted that the first pitch of the San Diego Padres' 2006 season will be a curveball.


AP Photo/Ric Francis
Reggie Bush's 40-yard sprint was timed at about 4.37 seconds.

An interesting choice by the Southern California tailback and Heisman Trophy winner, since he delivered nothing but fastballs during the Trojans' "pro day" workouts Sunday afternoon, a session in which Bush clearly cemented his status as the first overall selection by the Houston Texans in the April 29 draft.


Working in front of about 150 scouts and personnel officials, a group that included four head coaches and several general managers, Bush was surgically proficient in every drill in which he participated. He posted an eye-opening 40½-inch vertical jump, performed a very solid 24 repetitions on the standard 225-pound bench press, and was clocked in the 40-yard sprint in 4.37-4.41 seconds, according to a few scouts. The electronic times for Bush were a little quicker, in the 4.33-4.37 range.


In the on-field drills, Bush demonstrated burst out of the backfield. And while there weren't as many balls directed to him as he had hoped during Matt Leinart's throwing session, he caught the ball well.


"Probably not the absolute perfect day that everybody wants to have at one of these things," Bush told ESPN.com after the nearly four hours of drills. "But I felt good. I feel like I came in here today as the No. 1 guy, and I think I'm leaving the same way. So, in that sense, it's pretty satisfying. Now I can kick back and go to the beach for a few days. For me, well, I think I'm walking out of here a winner for the day."


Probably not the biggest winner, though, since Bush's draft status wasn't going to change at all based on Sunday's audition. Unless, of course, he fell on his face in every drill.


Looking for winners? Well, try these two, for openers: The USC machine, already one of the premier football programs in the country, came out looking good. Coach Pete Carroll had 200 potential recruits on campus for the weekend, and the presence of so many NFL scouts certainly didn't hurt him when he delivered his sales pitch to possible future Trojans stars. And the Southern California offensive linemen who are draft eligible, in particular tackle Winston Justice, obviously enhanced their stock.


"Pete said that he was going to do his 'pro day' bigger and better than anyone has ever done it, and he succeeded in that," acknowledged Houston general manager Charley Casserly. "More and more schools are starting to use this kind of event as a recruiting tool and, if you're a kid considering coming here, how could you not help but be impressed by this?"


Carolina Panthers coach John Fox termed the scene "a spectacle," and that captures the essence of the buzz that was created on campus, with 1,500-2,000 fans on hand, cheering on the players. Some personnel men did feel the overall scene -- one called it "a zoo" -- was over the top and distracting to players and scouts. By nature, scouts want more control and a sterile environment when auditioning players.


As for the on-field spectaculars, Justice, who still must resolve some old character issues for scouts before the draft, was the player who inarguably helped himself the most. He checked in at 6-foot-6¼ and 320 pounds, carried his weight well, and performed admirably in every drill.


In the vertical jump, Justice did 39 inches, an incredible mark for such a big man. He registered 38 "repetitions" in the bench press. Justice pulled up toward the end of the 40-yard drill, clutching his right hamstring, but one AFC scout still said he clocked him at 5.03 seconds.


In the pass-block drills, Justice, who has the kind of wing span scouts love (34½ inches) in pass protectors, looked very agile and naturally athletic, despite the sore hamstring.


"Happy with what I did and happy it's over," said Justice, who missed time during his career because of two off-field incidents, one of which included pulling a pellet gun on a USC student. "We'll just have to see where it goes from here."


Where the talented Justice could be going, according to coaches and scouts, is perhaps into the top 10 in the draft. Fox noted that there are teams that like Justice a little better than they do D'Brickashaw Ferguson of Virginia, the consensus No. 1 tackle in the draft pool.


"On tape, he's a player, a first-rounder," Fox said. "And that's ultimately what you're looking at when you make the final evaluation. But, yeah, Justice sure jumped out today. He could climb higher [in the first round] now, no doubt."


Two other offensive linemen, guards Taitusi Lutui and Fred Matua, were also impressive. Lutui looks like a prototype NFL guard, thick and girthy, at 330 pounds, and naturally powerful. Matua, the lesser-celebrated of the two, was 301 pounds Sunday but performed as many "reps" on the bench press as did Lutui (26) and ran considerably faster (5.06-5.33) in the 40.

As for Leinart? He displayed some athleticism by turning in a 37-inch vertical jump. He completed 36 of 45 passes by unofficial count, with three drops by his receivers. His accuracy was good, not great, and his arm strength was adequate. It appeared, at times, that he aimed the ball a bit too much and some balls sailed on him. Leinart conceded afterwards that he probably pressed a little.


"In situations like these," Leinart said, "I think you tend to overdo it. You know, you try to throw a ball too hard, and it goes high, or you try to be too fine with your passes. I think I started off too tight."


Not as tight as LenDale White, the other half of the USC tailback tandem, and the man who holds the school record for touchdowns. Still nursing a sore hamstring he said he sustained at the combine sessions in Indianapolis nearly six weeks ago, White looked soft and performed only in the bench press drill, where he eked out just 15 lifts. He rarely removed his track suit and, when he did, White looked soft. He weighed in at 244 pounds, six pounds heavier than he was at the combine.


White didn't seem concerned about not being able to work out. "I'm the only true big back in the first round, and people who want the physical runner are going to have to look at me," he said.


Several personnel directors emphasized, though, that time is running out on White, who has yet to be timed in the 40.


"At some point, and real soon, he's got to take off that warm-up suit and run," said one of the head coaches on hand. "No one has a 40-time on him and that's not good."

Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.

[Julio Riddols]

That's why you need to convince your ownership and team management that, above all other things, it's necessary for the Bengals to have a solid back-up quarterback. And we all know who the best QB still out there is... John Joseph Harrington. Start a campaign. Force the Bengals to trade for Harrington, preferably for a 3rd round pick, though a 4th will do. You can never be too safe.

I actually think, for the price Harrington would cost, it is not worth it. He is likely to be looking for an audition position, but word is he is asking around 3 million, plus if a team was to trade for him, as you said.. Wait.. I smell something.

Forgot you were a Lions fan and this is most likely sarcasm. No, I can see it dripping off the screen now, all over my desk.

So putrid..

Anyway, I guess when Detroit finally releases him, someone will sign him.. I do have to admit that if he stepped in, we would likely have a few injuries in the receiving corps as well, and then.. Well, we'd be drafting a receiver in '07.

I think Detroit did themselves a favor signing McCown. He pretty much threw the ball all over the field last year when he played, especially the last 2 games. Yeah, he threw a few picks, but I see him as a guy with serious potential considering his stat line with absolutely no running game supporting him.

McCown- 163-270 (60.4%) 1836 yards, 9 td, 11 int, 6.8 ypa.

He also has excellent mobility. My prediction is that as soon as he supplants Kitna, you'll be watching him put up at least decent numbers and the receivers (all 48 of them) will stay healthy for a change.

[Eaglesfan27]

I was just about to post an article about USC's event. Very smart of Pete to combine Junior Day recruiting with the pro day. The article I read talked about Bush wowing people with moves and running a 4.33 in the 40.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Wait.. I smell something.

Forgot you were a Lions fan and this is most likely sarcasm. No, I can see it dripping off the screen now, all over my desk.

So putrid..

You are correct, sir!



Anyway, I guess when Detroit finally releases him, someone will sign him.. I do have to admit that if he stepped in, we would likely have a few injuries in the receiving corps as well, and then.. Well, we'd be drafting a receiver in '07.

I would advise that you draft a WR in the first round in '06, not '07. Joey is really on comfortable if there is a rookie, first round receiver on the team each and ever season... Or so Millen seemed to think.


I think Detroit did themselves a favor signing McCown. He pretty much threw the ball all over the field last year when he played, especially the last 2 games. Yeah, he threw a few picks, but I see him as a guy with serious potential considering his stat line with absolutely no running game supporting him.

McCown- 163-270 (60.4%) 1836 yards, 9 td, 11 int, 6.8 ypa.

He also has excellent mobility. My prediction is that as soon as he supplants Kitna, you'll be watching him put up at least decent numbers and the receivers (all 48 of them) will stay healthy for a change.

I certainly hope you're right! I have high hopes for McCown down the road too. Given that the Lions have spent their last three first round picks on WRs, their receiving corps is f*cking abysmal. It's shameful. Kevin Johnson was the team's leading receiver until he went down with the achilles injury last year. Roy Williams has flashes of greatness, but can't concentrate on the easy stuff and he's fragile. Charles Rogers borrowed his collar bone from Samuel L. Jackson "Unbreakable", likes to smoke doobies, and has an attitude problem. Mike Williams is fat, lazy, and has an attitude problem. Corey Bradford is a one dimensional receiver. Scottie Vines for MVP!

[TazFTW]

Ruh oh.

NFL | L. White being compared to Clarett
Mon, 3 Apr 2006 18:35:14 -0700
Jason Cole, writing for NBCSports.com, reports USC RB <A href="http://www.kffl.com/player/13320/nfl">LenDale White is being mentioned in the same company as free agent RB Maurice Clarett (http://www.kffl.com/player/8652/nfl). An NFL (http://www.kffl.com/team/77/nfl) exeutive said, "We had one of our scouts go up and ask him what was going on (after White didn't run). The kid said his hamstring was tight or something like that. Then we tried to find out when he was going to run and he didn't know. It didn't even sound like he was going to run. What does this kid think?" A former USC offensive player who once was a teammate of White's said, "The guy can play, but he just gets by. He coasted in practice and he coasted in the offseason. He came in thinking he just had to put in his time and that's what you see now." The teammate added that the things White was able to do was because he played next to RB Reggie Bush (http://www.kffl.com/player/13289/nfl) and the other guys around him. He added that White would be amazing if he really worked at it.

[RendeR]

I love the Sam Adams Signing, even if Adams doesn't play to his pro-bowl ability, he's friggin HUGE in the middle and will allow our very capable and fast ends to do much more, let alone opening better gaps for the linebackers on the blitz. With a healthy LB corps and Madieu Williams back at full speed the additions on Defense really look to have plugged the gaping wounds we had last season. If they play anywhere near their talent level this could be a top 5 defense. But then again this is the Bengals D, I'm not sure they understand its possible to be better than 20th defensively....


JEEBER: Dude...I hate Dallas, but man, you guys are making my year with all these idiot signings....Vander-twat and Terribly Overblown on the same team? with bledsoe tossing those oh-so- innacurate passes to TO?


PRICELESS.


:D

[Honolulu_Blue]

The Lions have continued their off-season "hit parade" by reeling in WR/S Michael Thomas Furrey to a 1 yr. deal. Wheeee!!!

[sachmo71]

I love the Sam Adams Signing, even if Adams doesn't play to his pro-bowl ability, he's friggin HUGE in the middle and will allow our very capable and fast ends to do much more, let alone opening better gaps for the linebackers on the blitz. With a healthy LB corps and Madieu Williams back at full speed the additions on Defense really look to have plugged the gaping wounds we had last season. If they play anywhere near their talent level this could be a top 5 defense. But then again this is the Bengals D, I'm not sure they understand its possible to be better than 20th defensively....


JEEBER: Dude...I hate Dallas, but man, you guys are making my year with all these idiot signings....Vander-twat and Terribly Overblown on the same team? with bledsoe tossing those oh-so- innacurate passes to TO?


PRICELESS.


:D


Render...there is nothing a Buffalo fan can ever say to a Dallas fan without it just sounding like sour grapes. In any sport.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Render...there is nothing a Buffalo fan can ever say to a Dallas fan without it just sounding like sour grapes. In any sport.

His skate was totally in the crease...

[TazFTW]

Merry Christmas!

Cowboys | Team to visit Philadelphia for Christmas?
Tue, 4 Apr 2006 19:12:26 -0700
Comcast SportsNet in Philadelphia reports the <A href="http://www.kffl.com/team/14/nfl">Dallas Cowboys will visit the Philadelphia Eagles (http://www.kffl.com/team/29/nfl) on Christmas, 2006. It will be a Monday night game.

[JeeberD]

TO can blow me, but I love getting Vanderjagt. Finally, I good kicker. If we had him last year we would have won at least three more games than we did...

[TazFTW]

The NFL is putting in a flexible schedule for Sunday night games.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2397614

Wednesday, April 5, 2006
Flexible NFL could create better Sunday match-ups


<HR width="100%" noShade SIZE=1>Associated Press

NEW YORK -- The NFL has its plan for eliminating those not-ready-for-prime-time matchups that too often sneaked onto national television.


The league plans to hold off scheduling Sunday night games in seven of the final eight weeks -- just as playoff races start heating up -- to ensure the best games are played on NBC. The league has long wanted some kind of flexible scheduling, but could never implement one until now.


For Weeks 10-15 and Week 17, the final regular-season weekend, all Sunday games will be listed with start times of 1 p.m. or 4:05-4:15 p.m. EST.


The league must then announce which match will be played Sunday night at least 12 days before the date of the game.


The lone exception is the season finale on Dec. 31, when the switch must be made no later than six days before the game.


Only Sunday games are subject to the flexible schedule that is part of the NFL's $3.6 billion contract with NBC for the Sunday night package.


CBS, which does the AFC games, and Fox, which does the NFC, each has the option to protect five games in the seven weeks of flexible scheduling, but neither can protect more than one game per week. So if Indianapolis is playing Pittsburgh in a late-season game and CBS does not want it moved to Sunday night on NBC, it has an option to keep the game.


Week 16 is Christmas weekend, and no game will be switched.


Teams will be told by the NFL office as soon as they are not under consideration to have a game moved. And, unlike in the past, teams are allowed to play in consecutive Sunday night games.


To make the system more flexible, up to three teams each season will be allowed a bonus sixth prime-time appearance. All the others will be limited to a maximum of five, including the Monday night ESPN package and the late-season Saturday or Thursday games on NFL Network.


The NFL often has moved games from early afternoon to late afternoon on Sundays to get a top matchup in a better viewing slot. It did so eight times in 2005. That flexibility remains.


In recent seasons, the league has faced lower prime-time ratings because of poor late-season matchups. It also has seen surprisingly successful teams shut out of prime time because the entire schedule is released in April.

Here's to hoping it works out. You can schedule what look to be good matchups but the game could still be lopsided.

[albionmoonlight]

The NFL is putting in a flexible schedule for Sunday night games.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2397614



Here's to hoping it works out. You can schedule what look to be good matchups but the game could still be lopsided.

Ugh. I suppose that this will give the media even more incentive to beat manufactured storylines into the ground--now that they know that they can see those storylines play out in primetime.

And I can't wait for the first player to claim that his team is disrespected because they were not chosen for the Sunday Night game.

[ice4277]

The Lions have continued their off-season "hit parade" by reeling in WR/S Michael Thomas Furrey to a 1 yr. deal. Wheeee!!!

I am now officially relieved that I renewed my season tickets.

[RendeR]

Render...there is nothing a Buffalo fan can ever say to a Dallas fan without it just sounding like sour grapes. In any sport.


And where do you see a Buffalo fan around here? HRM???


I Bleed ORANGE AND BLACK BABY.


Go Bengals!



Oh and his foot was SO in the crease ;)

[Daimyo]

The latest ESPN mock draft has Vince Young going to Detroit. That can't be a good fit for a team with that much invested in deep threat WR... unless of course Millen plans to use him at WR. :)

[st.cronin]

The latest ESPN mock draft has Vince Young going to Detroit. That can't be a good fit for a team with that much invested in deep threat WR... unless of course Millen plans to use him at WR. :)

care to post it? i assume it's insider only

[Honolulu_Blue]

Kiper has the Lions taking Huff. Foxsports.com (which is free) has the Lions taking Young. This draft makes me nervous. Depending on how things shake down, the Lions could be sitting at #9 with two QBs still on the board (Cutler/Young). If so, I hope they trade down. While either of those two would likely be an upgrade, the Lions just signed two free agent QBs and have far, far, far too many holes to address on defense (LB, S, DE) and offensive line (G, RT) to be drafting a QB for the future.

[Daimyo]

care to post it? i assume it's insider only
Whoops... I meant FoxSports.com. I completely switched over a while back, but I guess my brain hasn't entirely caught up to that. :)

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/5469406

[JS19]

Anyone know whats going on with Arrington?? He seems to be falling off the face of the earth. I remember a long time ago it was mentioned the Giants were interested. I would love to see the G-Men pick him up. Anyone heard anything about him?

[Honolulu_Blue]

The latest I've heard is that he's been talking with the G-Men and Dolphins, but that his asking price is still too high.

Here's more:

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/14305842.htm

Agent Kevin Poston said Sunday the Dolphins remain a player in talks for three-time Pro Bowl linebacker LaVar Arrington.

However, Poston indicated the Dolphins have not come close to matching a proposal he has asked for and that teams such as Jacksonville, Cincinnati and the New York Giants remain in the running.

[ice4277]

Kiper has the Lions taking Huff. Foxsports.com (which is free) has the Lions taking Young. This draft makes me nervous. Depending on how things shake down, the Lions could be sitting at #9 with two QBs still on the board (Cutler/Young). If so, I hope they trade down. While either of those two would likely be an upgrade, the Lions just signed two free agent QBs and have far, far, far too many holes to address on defense (LB, S, DE) and offensive line (G, RT) to be drafting a QB for the future.

I really, really, really hope they don't take a QB, especially Young. But I feel pretty confident they'll take the best WR...sorry, force of habit...defensive player on the board, or try to trade down.

[Honolulu_Blue]

I really, really, really hope they don't take a QB, especially Young. But I feel pretty confident they'll take the best WR...sorry, force of habit...defensive player on the board, or try to trade down.

This is my feeling as well. If Huff, Williams, and Hawk are all gone by #9, they eitther trade down or take the best defensive player on the board. Even if they trade down, it should be to take the best defensive player on the board at that slot. If one of the 3 QBs are available, they may have a trading partner interest in leaping ahead of Arizona.

[ice4277]

This is my feeling as well. If Huff, Williams, and Hawk are all gone by #9, they eitther trade down or take the best defensive player on the board. Even if they trade down, it should be to take the best defensive player on the board at that slot. If one of the 3 QBs are available, they may have a trading partner interest in leaping ahead of Arizona.

I've been hearing Arizona would actually be interested in trading up, but anything like that would work there.

[JAG]

Actually, if I were the Lions' GM and one of those QB's were available for the pick, I would take them in a heartbeat exactly for the reasons mentioned above. The Lions have more holes than they're going to fill in one or two drafts / offseasons, which means grab the QB now, let the unspectacular veteran QB's play this year while the young guy gets groomed, then turn him loose in year two or three, by which time they can address a few more of their holes. I can understand how the Harrington thing would make them gun shy about taking a QB, but nothing would turn their franchise around faster than hitting on one.

[ice4277]

but nothing would turn their franchise around faster than hitting on one.

And if they draft another bust, its another 4-5 year cycle wasted.

[Ryche]

There's no need for anyone to trade ahead of Arizona to get one of those quarterbacks. Green will not take a quarterback. He's coaching for his job right now and Young and Cutler would not help him win any games this year. I'm starting to think (and hope) that Cutler could slip to the Vikings at 17.

[Thomkal]

I tend to think my beloved Cards won't draft a QB either with their first rounder. I think the resigning of Warner for 3 years was a pretty strong signal there. I had thought they would go RB but then they took care of that. So the likely move would be to take a offensive or defensive lineman. Denny Green could be enamored with Young though, so who knows?

[Honolulu_Blue]

Denny Green could be enamored with Young though, so who knows?

There's that to consider and you also have to not only worry about whether the Cardinals may pick a QB, but who they might be willing to trade down with if one of the QBs are still there. Despite his many idiocies (and they are legion), Millen has shown he's willing to be a bit of a mover and shaker come draft day. In 2003, he pulled that great deal off on Cleveland to grab an extra second round pick for moving down on spot and then parlayed that pick and some others to move up and grab Kevin Jones.

[TazFTW]

You don't get many player for player deals but the Niners cut bait with Rashaun Woods and sent him to San Diego for CB Sammy Davis.

I can't believe how ineffective Woods has been in the NFL.

[RedKingGold]

You don't get many player for player deals but the Niners cut bait with Rashaun Woods and sent him to San Diego for CB Sammy Davis.

I can't believe how ineffective Woods has been in the NFL.

I really like this trade for the Niner's.

My dream is that the Niner's trade down with the Broncos (to get the 15th and 22nd picks), and take WR Santonio Holmes and another player.

[Logan]

I really like this trade for the Niner's.

My dream is that the Niner's trade down with the Broncos (to get the 15th and 22nd picks), and take WR Santonio Holmes and another player.

I'd rather they stand pat. With the lack of WR talent, they could get the 2nd or 3rd best receiver with the early 2nd rounder. I'm pretty sure they're gonna end up going with Vernon Davis in the 1st, and then an OLB in the 2nd.

[albionmoonlight]

One of my favorite things to do this time of year is go to various team message boards and read the deluded pie-in-the-sky draft secenarios they come up with to help their team.

They always involve trading marginal players for way over market value and ending up with bushels of picks.

Like a Raiders fan saying "Houston needs help on the O-Line. And I don't think that the new coach is sold on David Carr, and they won't want to wait for a rookie to develop, so we should trade them Tuiasosopo and [some random backup offensive lineman] and our first rounder for the #1 overall pick. Then we draft Reggie Bush. Then, we trade [some random scrub worth no more than a 6th round pick] and our second round pick to Green Bay for the #5 overall and use that to pick up Williams, Hawk, or D'Brick. That way, we come out of the draft with the best player and another impact player."

Of course, not picking on Raiders fans. There are 32 sets of fans across the league doing this thing right now.

[Fonzie]

Breaking news from the Onion:
(http://www.theonion.com/content/node/47431)
Packers To Favre: 'Take Your Time, Asshole'

April 13, 2006 | Onion Sports

ASHWAUBENON, WI—Green Bay Packers front-office officials have informed three-time MVP Brett Favre they can wait for his decision on whether or not he's planning to retire for "as long as it fucking takes." "This is a big decision for Brett Favre, and we can't deny that he's the heart and soul of our team, the most important Packer, the most important person in all of America, and the center of the whole entire universe," Packer general manager Ted Thompson said Tuesday. "It's not like we have to make any major decisions that all hinge on whether or not he's returning, after all. We'll just ride around on our lawn tractors on our farm in Mississippi while we wait for him to make up his goddamn mind." Favre would not say when he might announce his decision, admitting that he was "too much in awe of what Mr. Brilliant Genius Thompson did with the 4-12 Packers last year" to commit one way or the other.

[WSUCougar]

:D

[AlexB]

Breaking news from the Onion:
(http://www.theonion.com/content/node/47431)
Packers To Favre: 'Take Your Time, Asshole'

April 13, 2006 | Onion Sports

ASHWAUBENON, WI—Green Bay Packers front-office officials have informed three-time MVP Brett Favre they can wait for his decision on whether or not he's planning to retire for "as long as it fucking takes." "This is a big decision for Brett Favre, and we can't deny that he's the heart and soul of our team, the most important Packer, the most important person in all of America, and the center of the whole entire universe," Packer general manager Ted Thompson said Tuesday. "It's not like we have to make any major decisions that all hinge on whether or not he's returning, after all. We'll just ride around on our lawn tractors on our farm in Mississippi while we wait for him to make up his goddamn mind." Favre would not say when he might announce his decision, admitting that he was "too much in awe of what Mr. Brilliant Genius Thompson did with the 4-12 Packers last year" to commit one way or the other.

Good work fella :D

[miami_fan]

John Clayton is now reporting that LenDale White has a tear in his hamstring that might require surgery.

[stevew]

John Clayton is now reporting that LenDale White has a tear in his hamstring that might require surgery.


Must have been injured on his rush to the buffet line.

[dawgfan]

John Clayton is now reporting that LenDale White has a tear in his hamstring that might require surgery.
Ouch. That hamstring injury is going to cost him a lot of money in lowered draft status.

[miami_fan]

MRI reveals USC's White has torn hamstringBy Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com



The NFL draft's lone highly-regarded "big" back may be an even bigger gamble now for any team that selects LenDale White, but at least scouts know the other half of the stellar Southern California tailback tandem had a legitimate reason for not participating in the school's recent pro day auditions.


An MRI examination has revealed that White, whose stock has fallen because of his inability to work out for scouts, has a right hamstring tear that will sideline him for about another month and preclude him from running. That means any team selecting White will do so without the benefit of a 40-yard time, typically an important component of the draft evaluation puzzle.


White's representatives on Thursday evening confirmed the MRI results, which were initially reported by the Denver Post.


"The problem LenDale faced was that he knew something wasn't right [with his hamstring]," said agent Eugene Parker, "but there was still pressure to try to run. But had he run just to satisfy people and torn the thing up again, then things would have been even worse than they are now."


How bad things are for White, who bypassed his final season of college eligibility to enter the draft and was projected as a high first-round selection, remains to be seen. Certainly it is a problem for White and for the several teams that coveted him as a first-rounder. Those teams viewed White as the lone power back with a first-round grade.


While the MRI result vindicates White, who told ESPN.com two weeks ago that he initially injured the hamstring while performing a Cybex test at the league scouting combine in late February, it still leaves scouts with an incomplete assessment of the former Trojans star.


Most teams are reluctant to invest millions of dollars in a player who has not been fully evaluated. Of course, scouts also contend that the true measure of a prospect's ability and potential at the NFL level is his body of work on the field in college and not how well he performs in predraft workouts that occur in shorts and T-shirts.


Dr. Randall Eldridge, a Denver-area chiropractor who specializes in treatment of musculoskeletal injuries and who conducted the MRI exam, said that White will recover but will probably be sidelined until mid-May. Under that scenario, White would not only be precluded from doing any more evaluation-type work before the draft but would also probably miss the rookie orientation session or mini-camp weekend of the club that takes him. Eldridge diagnosed the injury as a "moderate" tear near the pelvic region.


"I could see where he would have been in considerable pain had he tried to run," Eldridge said.


At the USC pro day on April 2, White knelt on one knee for much of the proceedings, dressed in a track suit. He took off the top of the track suit to participate in the bench press, the only drill in which White took part. White managed only 15 repetitions of the standard 225-pound bench press, a performance that was considered disappointing. By comparison, Heisman Trophy teammate Reggie Bush, a much smaller back, did 24 lifts.


Almost as concerning to scouts as White's inability to perform at the pro day was his weight of 244 pounds, six pounds heavier than he weighed at the combine. But White suggested that he actually weighed far more, 252 pounds, for the Rose Bowl national championship game against Texas.


"I've just got to get right [physically] and then I'll be fine and do everything they want me to do," White said at the time. "But right now I'm not right."


White indicated at the time he planned to return to his native Denver, meet with specialists there to gauge the severity of his hamstring problem and then hopefully work out for scouts before the draft. That will not be the case now.


In his three college seasons, White carried 541 times for 3,159 yards and 52 touchdowns. He also added 31 receptions for 331 yards and five touchdowns. A strong runner between the tackles and bullish when he got into the secondary, he ran for more than 1,000 yards in both 2004 and 2005 and was a perfect complement to the more elusive Bush.


Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.

[TazFTW]

And he's freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

free fallin'.

[Bad-example]

MRI reveals USC's White has torn hamstringBy Len Pasquarelli


My first thought was, "How did Len Pasquarelli tear White's hamstring?"

[Shkspr]

My first thought was, "How did Len Pasquarelli tear White's hamstring?"

Ham string, ham sandwich...it's all lunch.

[rjolley]

Wonder how those experts that compared White to Clarrett feel now...

[RendeR]

Wonder how those experts that compared White to Clarrett feel now...


They probably feel just fine. White is lazy, has no real work ethic and expects to skate on through into the NFL. From every interview I'wa heard and watched of him I get the same impression, he think he doesn't need to really try that hard to get by.

The injury is going to really hurt him come draft day. THe clarett comparison is pretty valid as far as I can see...at least along the lines of what I said above. I don't think White is nearly the closet criminal that Maurice is.

[JS19]

LaVar Arrington took a physical with the G-Men. Accorsi claims it means nothing. I would love for them to sign him, besides being very thin at LB, him and Pierce would make an awesome duo.

[miami_fan]

LaVar Arrington took a physical with the G-Men. Accorsi claims it means nothing. I would love for them to sign him, besides being very thin at LB, him and Pierce would make an awesome duo.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2417903

By John Clayton
ESPN.com


LaVar Arrington got everything he was hoping for -- a seven-year contract and a chance to stay in the NFC East.


Arrington reached agreement Saturday on a seven-year, $49 million contract with the New York Giants. Further details of the contract weren't available, but the Giants came close to the number he was hoping for. The Giants gave Arrington the chance to compete against the Redskins twice a year.

"He's really elated," said Arrington's agent, Kevin Poston. "He's going to an 11-5 team. He doesn't have to move too far. He gets to play with Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora. He's excited."

Five teams were in the final bidding for Arrington, who paid back $4 million to get out of his Redskins contract. According to Poston, the Packers made a big move in the past couple of days to get something done, but talks with the Giants got serious on Thursday night.

Arrington passed a physical with the Giants on Thursday and talks picked up intensity. Both sides were close to a deal on Friday night.

"Green Bay came in there pretty hard, but he was comfortable with the Giants," Poston said.


John Clayton is a senior writer for ESPN.com.

[TazFTW]

I love scout speak/draft subterfuge.

“(Maryland TE) Vernon Davis is not dumb when you are talking to him — he just does not have a good base of football knowledge or really understand how to convert routes. … There’s a big difference between scouting and looking at numbers (production, height, weight and speed). Davis may have better numbers than (Jeremy) Shockey and (Kellen) Winslow (Jr.), but he is not nearly as refined of a pass catcher as either were coming out. Go back and watch Davis and show me one catch he makes where he does not have to stop to bring in the ball. No one can deny his physical ability, but he’s got a lot of work cut out for him.”

“I went back and watched more of (Florida State DT) Brodrick Bunkley. He is a mean sucker. Wow! You put on the North Carolina tape, and he is a man. I haven’t seen anyone kick the (crap) out of his opponents like he does in a long time.”

“Does (Michigan WR) Jason Avant get drafted on the first day? I put him in the fourth round. He can’t run. A lot of receivers are going to get drafted higher than they should. This is the worst receiving class I have seen since I have begun evaluating.”

“(Minnesota RB Laurence) Maroney is a tight, erect runner. He’s not a creator. There has to be a lane there for him to clear the line. He is a system guy. And he has an odd personality. He does not know when to shut up.”

“Vince Young has put the brakes on his slide. It’s amazing how all of these evaluations come full circle. No football has been played since January, and what you thought he was then, he still is now. I think he is still more of a thrower than a passer. He’s so big. He drops 11 yards on seven steps. His presence is so intimidating.”

“(Penn State DE) Tamba Hali cannot find the ball. He is very overrated, and when you combine the history of Penn State defensive ends — Courtney Brown, Michael Haynes — I wouldn't touch him. More mistakes are made on players at that school than any because of the way the head coach (Joe Paterno) treats scouts. Call me shortsighted, but I have never drafted one from that school, and it will take a lot of convincing before I do.”

“(Georgia TE) Leonard Pope is a 50-50 catcher with marginal concentration. He has way too many drops. With the amount of time tight ends have to catch in traffic in the pros, I don’t want him on my team. He can’t get in and out of routes.”

“(Boston College DE) Mathias Kiwanuka cannot transfer his speed into power. He has no power. He has few special qualities. He's manufactured. You don’t want to know where I graded him. I have him in the third round.”

[miami_fan]

“Vince Young has put the brakes on his slide. It’s amazing how all of these evaluations come full circle. No football has been played since January, and what you thought he was then, he still is now.

I think you could say the same thing about Bush, Leinart, Michael Huff and Jay Cutler. I am sure that every year teams are overly critical of the top players in the draft. This year seems to be the worst yet IMO.

[TazFTW]

NFL | R. Bush's family being investigated by PAC-10
Sun, 23 Apr 2006 12:21:28 -0700
Charles Robinson, of Yahoo Sports, reports USC RB Reggie Bush's family is being investigated after they were found living in a 3,000-square-foot house linked to Michael Michaels, a man alleged to have tried steering Bush towards an agent and who has ties of his own to a sports marketing company. NCAA statues prohibit student-athletes or their families from receiving extra benefits from professional sports agents, marketing companies or their representatives. A breach in statutes could result in the athlete being ruled ineligible and all games in which they played could be forfeited. USC athletic department officials looked into it following reporters' questions about the matter. USC athletic director Mike Garrett said, "Rather than jumping to conclusions, we need to determine the facts before commenting on this report. We have asked the Pac-10 to look into this."

The Yahoo article is at http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AtQbOmfBLC6.xN41wJAHVdY5nYcB?slug=cr-bush042306&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

[Logan]

Here's a quote from the article you linked to:

At some point after Bush's family moved into the residence, Michaels and an associate named Lloyd Lake are said to have contacted San Diego-based sports agent David Caravantes and offered to facilitate Bush's recruitment. A source with intimate knowledge of the meeting said it took place during the 2005 college football season and that Michaels was looking for a local agent to handle the contract negotiations for players he intended to sign to his marketing firm.

They were in the house before the initial contact took place, which, in my opinion, will allow everything to be a-ok.

[TazFTW]

I don't know... It still sounds fishy. Here's Roto's take.

Reggie Bush's family has been implicated for allegedly living in a house paid for by a prospective agent.
Yahoo Sports' Charles Robinson reports that Bush's stepfather, mother, and brother lived in a house near San Diego for the last year until moving out this weekend after facing Robinson's questions. It gets better: The house was reportedly bought by an upstart agency funded a business development officer for an Indian tribe that owns a casino and resort. Bush signed for representation elsewhere, and Profootballtalk.com reports the agent who paid for the house has been trying to get his money back before taking anything public. The implications for USC could be significant, although it's hard to imagine the story affecting Bush's draft status. Apr. 23 - 6:32 pm et
Source: Yahoo Sports (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AhaBXaTgLM3OT9uMpjsag3c5nYcB?slug=cr-bush042306&prov=yhoo&type=lgns)

Here is some comments from Profootballtalk's rumormill (they are referring to Jason Cole's article about this in the Miami Herald)


Citing NCAA bylaw 12.3.1 and an NCAA rules guide for student-athletes, Cole suggests that Bush might have been ineligible for the entire 2005 season.
The controlling language, based on our own review of the NCAA bylaws, seems to come from Rule 12.3.1.2(b) (http://www1.ncaa.org/membership/enforcement/agents/sa_info/legislation.html):
<TABLE id=table1 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=49 bgColor=transparent> </TD><TD vAlign=top width=589 bgColor=transparent colSpan=8>12.3.1.2 Benefits from Prospective Agents. An individual shall be ineligible per Bylaw 12.3.1 if he or she (or his or her relatives or friends) accepts transportation or other benefits from:</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=638 bgColor=transparent colSpan=9> </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=49 bgColor=transparent> </TD><TD vAlign=top width=48 bgColor=transparent>(a)</TD><TD vAlign=top width=541 bgColor=transparent colSpan=7>Any person who represents any individual in the marketing of his or her athletics ability. The receipt of such expenses constitutes compensation based on athletics skill and is an extra benefit not available to the student body in general; or</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=638 bgColor=transparent colSpan=9> </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=49 bgColor=transparent> </TD><TD vAlign=top width=48 bgColor=transparent>(b)</TD><TD vAlign=top width=541 bgColor=transparent colSpan=7>An agent, even if the agent has indicated that he or she has no interest in representing the student-athlete in the marketing of his or her athletics ability or reputation and does not represent individuals in the student-athlete's sport.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
As Dante suggested in the April 23 PFT PodCast (http://www.profootballtalk.com/podcasts.cfm), Bush likely will be screwed on this one if his family did not pay a fair rental price during their stay in the house owned by Michael Michaels, an aspiring sports marketing agent. Cole indicates that, even if market value was tendered to Michaels, there still could be problems for Reggie due to the fact that the NCAA frowns on relationships between athletes and agents.

[TazFTW]

Packers agree to a 7 year deal with CB Charles Woodson.

[st.cronin]

Maroney is erect.

:eek:

[WSUCougar]

The Vikings finally cut bait with Onterrio Smith

[Fonzie]

Packers agree to a 7 year deal with CB Charles Woodson.

Holy crap.

He's scheduled to get $10.5 million in the first year and $18.5 million in the first three years. That's a lot of money given his injury history.

[Arles]

Packers have a ton of cap space. Counting him $9+ million in year one and $4 mill in each of years 2 and 3 make a lot sense given GB had $17 million of space left going into the draft. This deal could be a bargain for years 2 and 3 if he stays healthy. And, if he doesn't, there's no real dead money left since most hits in year 1.

In other news it looks like GB has also signed Giants DT Kendrick Allen (terms not given). Allen is 6-6, 315 and had a strong finish for NY (9 tackles, 1 sack, 2 stuffs) in the final two games plus the Wild card game.

[Fonzie]

Oh I agree Arles - I wasn't trying to say it was a bad deal at all. I just didn't think Woodson would end up getting that kind of cash from anybody. Nice work by the Postons there.

Now if the Packers could just get some help on offense...

[TazFTW]

Vikings | Team changing uniforms
Tue, 14 Mar 2006 19:46:00 -0800

Sean Jensen, of the Pioneer Press, reports the Minnesota Vikings will be wearing new uniforms for the 2006 season. Steve LaCroix, Vikings vice president of sales and marketing, confirmed the uniform change, although he declined to say to what extent. "We are working with the NFL and Reebok on some exciting changes for the 2006 season. The process is still continuing, but we'll look to have an unveiling later in the offseason for our fans," he said.

Why? :(


http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/3417/vikingshome1ls.jpg
http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/2808/vikingsaway0ps.jpg

[flere-imsaho]

Hey Arles, good to see you back (unless you've been posting in threads I haven't been reading).

Packers have a ton of cap space. Counting him $9+ million in year one and $4 mill in each of years 2 and 3 make a lot sense given GB had $17 million of space left going into the draft. This deal could be a bargain for years 2 and 3 if he stays healthy. And, if he doesn't, there's no real dead money left since most hits in year 1.

Agree 100%.

In other news it looks like GB has also signed Giants DT Kendrick Allen (terms not given). Allen is 6-6, 315 and had a strong finish for NY (9 tackles, 1 sack, 2 stuffs) in the final two games plus the Wild card game.

Probably the bigger news, football-wise, to be honest, for Green Bay. Whenever I saw them play last year, running backs were getting at least to the LBs and often much further almost at will. Only a great consistent effort by Kampman to catch up and sporadic great efforts by KGB were stopping the bleeding.

[Honolulu_Blue]

The Lions just signed CB Jamar Fletcher to a one year deal.

The Lions desperately need some depth there, so it's not a bad signing. He'll likely be the nickle back and take over the starting role from Bryant once Bryant gets hurt. The only other corners the Lions have on the roster are Keith Smith, Stanley Wilson, and rookie Dee McCann (6th round).

[Brillig]

Trent Dilfer to the 49ers in exchange for Ken Dorsey, a 7th(?) round pick and a large pizza with extra cheese.

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/archive/2006/05/05/SPG28ILH041.DTL

Okaaaay.

[miami_fan]

Trent Dilfer to the 49ers in exchange for Ken Dorsey, a 7th(?) round pick and a large pizza with extra cheese.

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/05/05/49ERS.TMP

Okaaaay.

Has Trent been complaining about wanting to start or something like that? You would have thought they would want to keep Dilfer around for some experience behind Charlie Frye.

[TazFTW]

Has Trent been complaining about wanting to start or something like that?

Yes.

[SFL Cat]

I think Dilfer has a little too much mileage now to be a productive starter.

[Northwood_DK]

What is the Browns plan for quarterback this season? This looks a bit shaky

DORSEY, KEN 4 Miami (Fla.)
FRYE, CHARLIE 2 Akron
ANDERSON, DEREK 2 Oregon State
CAMPBELL, LANG 1 William & Mary
ALMOND, DUSTIN R Southern Mississippi
HACKNEY, DARRELL R UAB

[albionmoonlight]

What is the Browns plan for quarterback this season? This looks a bit shaky

DORSEY, KEN 4 Miami (Fla.)
FRYE, CHARLIE 2 Akron
ANDERSON, DEREK 2 Oregon State
CAMPBELL, LANG 1 William & Mary
ALMOND, DUSTIN R Southern Mississippi
HACKNEY, DARRELL R UAB

That hurts just to look at.

[Daimyo]

During the draft coverage it sounded like they consider Frye to be their franchise QB.

[Swaggs]

Man, I was getting nervous during the draft when it looked like the Browns and/or Ravens might end up with a good quarterback.

[stevew]

What is the Browns plan for quarterback this season? This looks a bit shaky

DORSEY, KEN 4 Miami (Fla.)
FRYE, CHARLIE 2 Akron
ANDERSON, DEREK 2 Oregon State
CAMPBELL, LANG 1 William & Mary
ALMOND, DUSTIN R Southern Mississippi
HACKNEY, DARRELL R UAB

I believe the Browns were interested in Kerry Collins. Probably trying to wait a bit so his demands go down.

[Bee]

What is the Browns plan for quarterback this season? This looks a bit shaky

DORSEY, KEN 4 Miami (Fla.)
FRYE, CHARLIE 2 Akron
ANDERSON, DEREK 2 Oregon State
CAMPBELL, LANG 1 William & Mary
ALMOND, DUSTIN R Southern Mississippi
HACKNEY, DARRELL R UAB

Looks like they are slotting themselves for the #1 pick next year.

[stevew]

Looks like they are slotting themselves for the #1 pick next year.


Not if you listen to their fans. ;)


We signed McGinnest~!

[WSUCougar]

During the draft coverage it sounded like they consider Frye to be their franchise QB.
Yup, they are very high on Frye

[QuikSand]

The Browns feel that Charlie Frye is the QB of the future for them, and their lip service to a "competition" between him and Dilfer was just that. Dilfer was unsettled, and they got what they could for him.

[stevew]

Yup, they are very high

fixed

:)

[Swaggs]

Looks like Marcus Vick will not get a contract from the Dolphins. He and Ricky Williams may both give the CFL a shot.

Sun Sentinel (http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/football/pro/dolphins/sfl-dolnotes09may09,0,5645749.story?coll=sfla-dolphins-front)

A source said the Dolphins were unlikely to sign rookie quarterback Marcus Vick, who is expected to instead pursue opportunities in the Canadian Football League.

Sun Sentinel (http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/football/pro/dolphins/sfl-dolnotes09may09,0,5645749.story?coll=sfla-dolphins-front)

Ricky Williams' agent continues to negotiate with the Dolphins about whether the franchise will grant permission for the suspended running back to play in the Canadian Football League this season.

Leigh Steinberg said he spoke Monday with Dolphins President Bryan Wiedmeier, who echoed coach Nick Saban's concerns about the injury risk and wear and tear associated with Williams playing for the Toronto Argonauts.

"No ultimate conclusion was reached and we agreed to resume discussion [today]," Steinberg said.

The CFL is an appealing option for Williams because it would allow him to make money as he serves a one-year suspension for a fourth failed drug test. A father of three with a fourth child on the way, Williams has earned $270,000 from the Dolphins since December 2003.

Williams could earn at least $150,000 Canadian playing for the Argonauts, who have his exclusive CFL negotiating rights.

Steinberg said the earliest Williams could be reinstated to the NFL is April 26, 2007.

[sovereignstar]

What do you guys think about Vick playing in the CFL? I can't see it working.

[Swaggs]

What do you guys think about Vick playing in the CFL? I can't see it working.

If we are overlooking at the moving/adjustment issues, I think his biggest problem is that he is not very well developed. To put it into FOF terms, he has pretty high talent, but there is a lot of green. He only started for one season--another year at VT would have helped him out a great deal. He looked really great against average defenses, but struggled against more athletic teams like Miami and Florida State. If a CFL team is patient with him and willing to go through some growing pains, I would say he could develop into a serviceable QB within 2-3 seasons.

Anyone know if pot is legal in Canada? I am thinking that, if it is and he joins the CFL, a Ricky Williams reality show would have to be in order.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Sounds like the Harrington to Miami deal is going to be completed soon...

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2442339

Harrington could be a Dolphin by Monday

<HR width="100%" noShade SIZE=1>By Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com

Barring 11th-hour complications, the much discussed trade of Detroit Lions (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=det) quarterback Joey Harrington (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=5889) to the Miami Dolphins (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=mia) will be completed Friday, several league sources have confirmed.

<!--------------------------START PLAYER CARD------------------><TABLE class=tableheadFixWidth cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 width=200 align=right><TBODY><TR class=stathead><TD class=whitelink colSpan=2>Joey Harrington (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=5889)</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow align=right><TD align=left>http://espn.go.com/i/nfl/profiles/players/statsid/s5889.jpgQuarterback
Detroit Lions

Profile (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=5889)</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow><TD align=middle><TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=1 width=190 bgColor=#ffffff border=0><TBODY><TR class=stathead align=middle><TD align=middle colSpan=6>2005 SEASON STATISTICS</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND: #bcbcb4" align=right><TD width="17%">Att</TD><TD width="17%">Comp</TD><TD width="17%">Yds</TD><TD width="17%">TD</TD><TD width="17%">Int</TD><TD width="17%">Rat</TD></TR><TR align=right bgColor=#999999><TD>330</TD><TD>188</TD><TD>1885</TD><TD>12</TD><TD>12</TD><TD>72.0</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!---------------------INLINE MINI-PLAYER CARD ENDS HERE--------------------->

After more than a month of haggling, and intermittent acrimony in the bargaining between the two teams, the parties have struck a deal for compensation that will allow Harrington to begin participating in Miami's organized team activities, which begin on Monday. The Dolphins pushed for a resolution to the prolonged talks because they want Harrington to have time to assimilate the offense before the club convenes for a three-day mini-camp June 9-11.

It remains unclear what the Dolphins will send to the Lions in compensation for Harrington, a four-year veteran and the third overall player selected in the 2002 draft.
Last month, Miami offered Detroit a sixth-round selection in the 2007 draft, and the Lions refused to make a deal. In fact, Lions team president Matt Millen attempted during the draft to seek other suitors and was in talks with the Cleveland Browns (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=cle) about a trade. But because of his contractual situation, and the need for any new team to readjust a deal deemed too prohibitive for a backup, Harrington held some leverage and essentially refused to discuss a restructuring with any team but the Dolphins.
Under his Detroit contract, Harrington was due a $4 million roster bonus on June 15 and a 2006 base salary of $4.5 million. Until the latest movement in talks between the Lions and Dolphins, it appeared that Millen might simply keep Harrington until just before the roster bonus became due.
Harrington last month reached a tentative two-year agreement with the Dolphins, which prompted Millen to suggest that Miami officials had acted improperly. The NFL Management Council, the league's labor arm, ruled that there was no impropriety, and that Harrington was free to deal with teams because the Lions had granted him and agent David Dunn (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=3168) the right to seek out potential trade partners.
At various times after the Lions publicly announced that Harrington would not return in 2006, and that they would attempt to trade him, various franchises indicated interest in the former University of Oregon star. He visited with the Cincinnati Bengals (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=cin) and there were indications that the Denver Broncos (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=den) and the Kansas City Chiefs (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=kan) had varying degrees of interest as well. None of those teams stepped forward, however, with the kind of conviction the Dolphins demonstrated.
The Dolphins covet Harrington as an insurance policy against the possibility that starting quarterback Daunte Culpepper (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=4659), who is still rehabilitating from surgery to repair three torn ligaments in his right knee, might not be available at the outset of the regular season. Acquired from the Minnesota Vikings (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=min) in a trade for a second-round draft choice, Culpepper is said to be ahead of schedule for his recovery, but there are still doubts about when he will be completely rehabilitated from the severe injury suffered in October.
If Culpepper cannot open the season, Harrington would be the Dolphins' starter.
Harrington, 27, started 55 games for the Lions and posted a record of 18-37. He completed 986 of 1,802 passes for 10,242 yards, with 60 touchdown passes and 62 interceptions, for an efficiency rating of 68.1. Harrington started 11 games in 2005, was benched at one point in favor of Jeff Garcia (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=4924), and then regained his starting job. He reportedly asked Lions officials earlier in the spring, including Millen and first-year head coach Rod Marinelli, to either trade or release him. Detroit has signed a trio of veteran quarterbacks -- Jon Kitna (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=4157), Josh McCown (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=5967) and Shaun King (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=4700) -- in the offseason. Kitna and McCown will compete for the starting job.

[TazFTW]

The Dolphins signed Marcus Vick to a deal for an undisclosed amount. It is probably just a deal so they can see how he does during training camp/preseason.

[miami_fan]

Actually....
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/14586228.htm

The Dolphins have an M. Vick. Don't expect him to play quarterback, however.

Marcus Vick, the brother of Atlanta quarterback Michael Vick, was one of four free agents the Dolphins signed Monday. Like his brother, Marcus Vick played quarterback at Virginia Tech. Unlike his brother, his first NFL team likely won't see him as a quarterback.

The Dolphins have three quarterbacks already. But Marcus Vick's talents and build are similar to those of Antwaan Randle El, the 5-10, 192-pound Indiana University quarterback whom Pittsburgh deployed as a wide receiver and returner because of hi s ability in the open field.

A series of on and off-the-field incidents prompted Virginia Tech to kick Marcus Vick off the football team after the 2005 season, his junior year. NFL teams avoided him in the draft. The last of the incidents was during the Jan. 2 Gator Bowl when Vick stomped on a calf of Louisville defensive end Elvis Dumervil. Vick had been suspended for the entire 2004 season.

''I want to make it very clear that we will not condone any behavior issues in the future relative to Marcus Vick,'' Dolphins head coach Nick Saban said. ``Marcus acknowledges that he has made some mistakes, all of which have resulted in severe consequences for him. They have helped him learn that he will need to make much better choices and decisions in the future or risk similar consequences that could jeopardize his career as a professional.

``As an organization, we did an enormous amount of research, including consulting with professionals in detailed, in-depth analysis to feel comfortable that giving Marcus an opportunity as a free agent is a risk worth taking. Marcus has made a commitment to this organization and our fans to represent the Miami Dolphins in a first-class manor.''

The Dolphins also signed NFL veterans linebacker Keith Newman, cornerback Michael Lehan and tight end Keith Heinrich.

[stevew]

At 6', he really doesn't have the ideal QB size. I would think that he could be athletic enough to play WR or FS, however. He could actually be a solid risk/reward type signing. If he shows you anything, stash him on the practice squad for a year.

[sovereignstar]

Eagles and Vikings just pulled off a blockbuster:

UFA WR Hank Baskett for WR Billy McMullen

[rkmsuf]

Eagles and Vikings just pulled off a blockbuster:

UFA WR Hank Baskett for WR Billy McMullen


lol. who works on these stupid trades? way to go.

[sovereignstar]

oh, I meant undrafted free agent by the way (UDFA)

[Bad-example]

From Rotoworld:

Packers WR Cory Rodgers was arrested in a bar fight in his college town of Fort Worth, Texas.
Police said the fight started after Rodgers, 23, refused to sign autographs and buy drinks for people in the bar. Up to 50-60 people were reportedly in the fight, and some used pool cues and beer bottles as weapons. Rodgers, a fourth-round pick in April, reportedly fired two gunshots into the air.

[miami_fan]

Plagued by injuries that limited him to just nine appearances the past two seasons, and garnering only scant interest in the unrestricted free agent market, former San Francisco 49ers standout cornerback Ahmed Plummer has decided to retire from the NFL at age 30.

The six-year veteran was a first-round selection in the 2000 draft and the 24th player chosen overall that spring, but was released by San Francisco in late February for salary cap considerations, and because the 49ers' coaches had lost faith in him.

Plummer spent part of the spring in Hawaii, rehabilitating from an ankle injury that required surgery early in the 2005 season, but was still not 100 percent recovered. He received inquiries from a few franchises and visited with Tennessee Titans officials, but was not offered a contract.

His decision to retire culminates a sharp slide for Plummer, who only three years ago was regarded around the league as an excellent coverage defender and an ascending player. In his first four seasons, the former Ohio State star missed only three games, and he posted seven interceptions in 2001.

In March 2004, with the cornerback market exploding in free agency, the 49ers rewarded Plummer with a five-year, $25 million contract extension to retain his services. The deal included $11 million in guarantees. But that season, Plummer suffered neck and shoulder injuries and appeared in just six games. Last season, he underwent September ankle surgery and played in only three contests.

The new coaching staff, led by Mike Nolan, lost faith in Plummer, and there were suggestions from inside the San Francisco organization that the veteran corner wasn't as diligent as he could have been in trying to get back onto the field. Plummer bristled at those contentions. But even some teams curious about Plummer this spring questioned whether he still wanted to play.

In 70 regular-season appearances, Plummer recorded 316 tackles, 12 interceptions, 57 passes defensed, one forced fumble and one recovery.


Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.

[Bearcat729]

Plagued by injuries that limited him to just nine appearances the past two seasons, and garnering only scant interest in the unrestricted free agent market, former San Francisco 49ers standout cornerback Ahmed Plummer has decided to retire from the NFL at age 30.

The six-year veteran was a first-round selection in the 2000 draft and the 24th player chosen overall that spring, but was released by San Francisco in late February for salary cap considerations, and because the 49ers' coaches had lost faith in him.

Plummer spent part of the spring in Hawaii, rehabilitating from an ankle injury that required surgery early in the 2005 season, but was still not 100 percent recovered. He received inquiries from a few franchises and visited with Tennessee Titans officials, but was not offered a contract.

His decision to retire culminates a sharp slide for Plummer, who only three years ago was regarded around the league as an excellent coverage defender and an ascending player. In his first four seasons, the former Ohio State star missed only three games, and he posted seven interceptions in 2001.

In March 2004, with the cornerback market exploding in free agency, the 49ers rewarded Plummer with a five-year, $25 million contract extension to retain his services. The deal included $11 million in guarantees. But that season, Plummer suffered neck and shoulder injuries and appeared in just six games. Last season, he underwent September ankle surgery and played in only three contests.

The new coaching staff, led by Mike Nolan, lost faith in Plummer, and there were suggestions from inside the San Francisco organization that the veteran corner wasn't as diligent as he could have been in trying to get back onto the field. Plummer bristled at those contentions. But even some teams curious about Plummer this spring questioned whether he still wanted to play.

In 70 regular-season appearances, Plummer recorded 316 tackles, 12 interceptions, 57 passes defensed, one forced fumble and one recovery.


Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.

Ugh now I feel a little old. I played against Plummer in high school

[JonInMiddleGA]

http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/uga/stories/0714thurman.html

Ex-Dog Thurman to be suspended

By STEVE WYCHE
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 07/13/06

Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Odell Thurman, a finalist for the 2005 rookie of the year award and former University of Georgia standout, will be suspended for the first four games of the NFL season, pending appeal, a person with knowledge of the situation confirmed.

The person told the Journal-Constitution, and it was also reported by the Cincinnati Enquirer and ESPN.com, that Thurman violated the league's substance abuse policy.

Thurman, who is from Monticello, is working out in Atlanta but declined comment, canceling a scheduled interview with the Journal-Constitution Thursday afternoon.

Messages to the NFL and Bengals' offices were not answered.

The suspension signals that Thurman has violated the league's substance abuse policy for a second time, although it does not necessarily mean he failed a drug test. Missing a scheduled test or not producing a sample within a declared time frame constitutes a positive result, according to the NFL's drug policy.

This latest development extends a history of off-field problems for Thurman that date back to his freshman year at Georgia, when he was dismissed for an accumulation of transgressions. Thurman transferred to Georgia Military College for a season and was re-admitted to Georgia, where he developed into one of the SEC's top linebackers as a redshirt sophomore.

He was suspended for the first three games of his junior season - his last - for undisclosed violations.

Though the 6-foot, 235-pound playmaker was regarded as a first-round talent, Thurman was not selected until the second round (48th overall), in large part because of concerns over his character.

In media interviews before last season's draft, Thurman said he hoped his candor to team officials about his misgivings would sway opinions.

His play for the resurgent Bengals last season certainly did.

Thurman registered a team-high 148 tackles, five interceptions and forced five fumbles, outshining Cincinnati's first-round pick and former Georgia All-American David Pollack. Thurman was reportedly fined and disciplined for violating team policies and was held out of the starting lineup in the regular-season finale for breaking team rules.

The Bengals excused Thurman from attending the team's minicamp in June for personal reasons, though it is not known if that is related to this recent development.

The Bengals did select former Virginia linebacker Ahmad Brooks in the supplemental draft Thursday. Cincinnati also drafted Florida State linebacker A.J. Nicholson in April's draft.