Titans' RB White Slims Down -- Fri Jul 3 6:15 pm --
New And Improved RB Promises Stricter Diet | LenDale White has come too far to blow it now — he promises. Since the end of last season, the Titans running back has remained on a strict diet and been loyal to the team's offseason conditioning program. The results have shown up in his shrinking waistline, as well as on the scale — he weighed in at 229 pounds last week. The seemingly new-and-improved attitude of White, headed into his fourth NFL season, has been one of the most pleasant surprises for the Titans this offseason. In his first three seasons, White was constantly dogged by questions about his work ethic and criticized for being overweight and out of shape. White admitted in May he weighed a whopping 261 pounds when he made his 80-yard touchdown run at Kansas City on Oct. 19, 2008. For one reason or another, however, White decided to get serious this offseason. Whether it's because he's headed into the final year of his contract or because he's sincerely motivated by his critical fumble in January's playoff loss to the Ravens, it doesn't matter to anyone with the team as long as White stays committed. When paired with running back Chris Johnson (RB, DB, DB), a Pro Bowl player in his rookie season a year ago, the tandem could be even more productive this fall, at least that's the team's hope. Johnson ran for 1,228 yards and nine touchdowns last year, while White rushed for 773 and 15 touchdowns. "He seems more in shape in practices and a lot quicker,'' fullback Ahmard Hall said of White. "He's hitting the hole faster, you can tell. And I notice a difference in him physically when he walks through the locker room. He looks like a different guy and it should pay off.''
(Tennessean.com)
FF Today's Take: While it's encouraging that White has lost the weight and improved his quickness, he may not be the same bruising force near the goal line like he was last year when he rushed for 15 TDs. Regardless, the thought of a second year Chris Johnson (RB, DB, DB) and improved White tandem is enough to instill fear in even the best defenses.
|  | Jets' LB Pace Suspended 4 Games -- Fri Jul 3 5:20 pm --
For Violating League's Substance Policy | The NFL announced Thursday that Calvin Pace had been suspended without pay for the first four regular-season games for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances. “This is a situation that resulted from an over-the-counter dietary supplement that contained a substance that I did not know violated the league’s policy,” Pace said in a statement released by the Jets. “I am responsible for what I put into my body and I should have paid closer attention to the league’s guidelines. I regret that this has happened and apologize to my teammates, the entire Jets organization as well as the fans.” The 6-foot-4, 270-pounder set career highs with seven sacks and four fumble recoveries in his first season with the Jets after leaving the Cardinals for a reported six-year, $42 million with $20 million in guaranteed money, and is eligible to return to practice Oct. 5 and play in the Jets’ Monday night game at Miami on Oct. 12. (NorthJersey.com)
FF Today's Take: An integral part of the Jets' defense, Pace will surely be missed during the first quarter of the season when the Jets are set to face Houston, New England, Tennessee, and New Orleans. The Jet's first round pick from last year, Vernon Gholston, will likely fill in during Pace's absence.
| | Titans, TE Cook Agree To Terms -- Thu Jul 2 11:00 pm --
Third-Rounder An Intriguing Option Down The Road | The Titans agreed to terms with third-round draft pick tight end Jared Cook on Thursday, according to sources familiar with the situation.
The deal is reportedly for four years and includes a signing bonus of roughly $700,000.
The 6-5, 246-pound Cook, who played at South Carolina, becomes the 7th player from the Titans’ 11-man draft class to reach a deal with the team. (Nashville Tennessean)
FF Today's Take: Cook has been equal parts jaw-dropping and frustrating in his short time with the Titans, making all-world catches during one drill and dropping catchable balls in the next set. His fantasy upside for 2009 is limited as he currently stands third on the depth chart, well behind Bo Scaife. But with Scaife a free agent at the end of this season, the incredibly athletic Cook becomes a very interesting player for keeper and dynasty league owners in 2010.
| | Arrest Warrant Issued For Chris Perry -- Thu Jul 2 7:00 pm --
Ex-Bengal Sought For Failure To Pay Taxes | Wyoming Police in Hamilton County (OH) have issued an arrest warrant for Chris Perry, a former first-round pick of the Cincinnati Bengals in 2004.
Because Perry failed to show up to court on June 17, a warrant for his arrest was issued on July 1 for failure to pay taxes in 2006 and 2007 to the City of Wyoming Income Tax Department. (WCPO 9 Cincinnati)
FF Today's Take: Before the jokes begin again in regards to Bengals players going to jail, it should be noted that 1) Perry is no longer with the team and 2) until CB Leon Hall's arrest this spring, 27 other NFL teams had seen one of its players arrested since a Cincinnati player ran afoul of the law. Until this issue arose, Perry was expected to start at running back for the Orlando franchise of the UFL this season.
| | NFL Suspends Jets' Pace For Four Games -- Thu Jul 2 6:00 pm --
Absence Will Likely Throw Gholston Into The Fire | New York Jets DE/OLB Calvin Pace has been suspended without pay for the first four games of the 2009 season for violating the NFL Policy on Performing Enhancing Substances.
Pace, who is eligible to practice with his teammates during training camp and participate in all of the club’s preseason games, will begin serving his suspension prior to the Jets’ regular season opener at Houston on September 13.
The 6-4, 270-pound Pace was a key free agent acquisition when he joined the Jets last offseason and did not disappoint, racking up a career-high seven sacks, a career-best four fumble recoveries and five forced fumbles for his new team. (Jets' Official Website)
FF Today's Take: The timing of this suspension is dreadful for Gang Green and its fans. The Jets' first four games feature three teams who finished in the top five of total offense in 2008 - Houston, New England and New Orleans. Pace's suspension likely forces 2008 rookie disappointment Vernon Gholston into the lineup, which may or may not be a good thing depending on who is answering the question about how he is doing. Jets' coaches have liked the progress he has made, but NFL insider Adam Schefter made an entry on his Twitter page that "signs from OTAs were not encouraging" regarding Gholston's development.
| | Eli Set To Lead Young WR Corps -- Wed Jul 1 7:35 pm --
With Departure Of Burress And Toomer | It was more a challenge than a reminder when general manager Jerry Reese said this offseason that Eli Manning is "not a veteran any more, he's a Pro Bowler -- we'll put some of this on his back." With so much talk about the tall and talented receivers the Giants lost, Reese wanted everyone to consider the great asset he believes Manning can and must be. "We're going to put more of the onus on him," Reese said. And how did Manning respond? "I think you got a quarterback going into his sixth year and . . . some young receivers," Manning told The Post yesterday. "It's my job to make sure those guys are on the same page and my job to be a leader and take control of the offense and the passing game. "As a quarterback you're always going to be a leader, but now I'm one of the older guys on the offense." (The New York Post)
FF Today's Take: After a career year, the pressure's mounting for Eli Manning, who'll be expected to turn a couple of these young, unproven receivers into legitimate offensive threats.
| | McGinest Eyes Return To Pats -- Wed Jul 1 7:10 pm --
To Play With Former Teammates | Free agent linebacker Willie McGinest continues to eye the Pats as a possible landing spot, the 15-year veteran linebacker told Albert Breer of sportingnews.com. McGinest, who was part of three Super Bowl championships with the Patriots before leaving as a free agent for Cleveland in 2006, expressed his desire to play one more season. “Yeah, I’ve talked to (quarterback) Tom (Brady), (defensive end Richard) Seymour and some other guys there,” McGinest said. “Those guys are lifelong friends, and I’ve heard some people say that it’d be a good fit. Why wouldn’t you want to be a part of that? And with all the history I have, what we accomplished in the playoffs, that wouldn’t be a bad way to finish up.”
(Boston Herald)
FF Today's Take: McGinest is looking for one final "hurrah" with his old buds, but at 37 now, his value as a sack-threat has all but deteriorated to nothing.
| | CB Jenkins Considers Himself Starter -- Wed Jul 1 10:15 am --
Battling Orlando Scandrick For Starting Spot | Mike Jenkins considers himself the Cowboys' starting right cornerback, according to a blog post on his Web site. "Heading into training camp, I'm the starter at right cornerback, and my job is to maintain that position," Jenkins' blog post read. "It's my job to lose, but there's a guy behind me with nothing to lose. If he makes a mistake, it's not going to cause him to lose his job. If I make a mistake, the coaches are going to take a long, hard look at me in that position." (Dallas Morning News)
FF Today's Take: Nothing offical from team officials yet, stay tuned.
| | Andre Smith Hopes To Be Signed Soon -- Tue Jun 30 10:00 pm --
Picked 6th Overall By Bengals | PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- Cincinnati Bengals rookie Andre Smith, the sixth overall pick in the draft, said Tuesday that he hopes to be signed and in training camp on time because a holdout could hamper his transition from left tackle to right tackle. Negotiations could get sticky, but the fact that Smith has acknowledged that he needs to be in camp on time and wants to continue the momentum he started in offseason workouts is a good sign that he is focused on being a better player. Smith said he plans on working out in Tuscaloosa, Ala., where he played collegiately at the University of Alabama, in preparation for training camp. (NFL.com)
FF Today's Take: We will have to wait and see how these negotiations play out.
| | Giants Ink Travis Beckum -- Tue Jun 30 7:40 pm --
G-Men Eyeing Rookie TE For H-Back Role | The New York Giants signed Travis Beckum, the second of their two third-round selections in this year’s NFL Draft, on Monday. Beckum, a 6-3, 239-pound tight end from Wisconsin, was the 100th overall choice in the draft.
Last year, Beckum was a preseason first-team All-America but was limited to six games and four starts because of a fractured left fibula, an injury that required surgery.
Beckum played linebacker and defensive end in this first season with the Badgers before switching to tight end. In three years on offense, Beckum caught 159 passes for 2,149 yards and 11 touchdowns in 30 games (20 starts) with Wisconsin. His 159 catches rank third in school history and shattered the previous UW tight end record of 121 catches. His 75 receptions in 2007 tied Lee Evans (2001) for the school season-record. (Giants.com)
FF Today's Take: Typically, a third-round rookie TE changing positions and heading to a run-based offense isn't all that noteworthy. But much like the Washington Redskins with a young Chris Cooley, the Giants want to use Beckum at H-back, a role very well suited for his talents. Beckum is a very athletic pass catcher who is well below average as a blocker. So while the Giants try to improve his blocking prowess, they will capitalize on the rookie's other well-developed talents. He merits consideration as a late-round fantasy TE2.
| | Holmes Looking For Bigger Role -- Tue Jun 30 6:15 pm --
Bulked-Up Steelers WR Hoping For Beefed-Up Production | Santonio Holmes' physical remake, particularly around his neck and through his shoulders, is the next step in the development of the MVP of Super Bowl XLIII.
The increase in Holmes' upper body is becoming so pronounced that he's beginning to look like an entirely different player.
"I tipped the scales (Monday) at 201 (pounds)," Holmes said proudly following his workout at Tom Shaw Performance at Disney's Wide World of Sports complex.
That's an all-time high for Holmes, who played in the 190's last season and joined the league weighing considerably less. The 25-year-old, who used to struggle against physical corners — partly because of his size — is seeking an edge to help him get open.
"I look at it as if I have to be a complete receiver" said Holmes, who had nine receptions for 131 yards and the game-winning touchdown against Arizona in Super Bowl XLIII. (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)
FF Today's Take: Holmes, who missed just one game last season due to a misdemeanor marijuana arrest and subsequent team suspension, was on pace to match his 2007 totals across the board (accrued in just 13 games). But it was his performance - especially in the fourth quarter - of Super Bowl XLIII that will have fantasy owners paying a fairly steep price for him this summer. Assuming he is starting to mature in his fourth season in the league (and putting on upper-body muscle is a good start), this should be the season when Holmes overtakes Hines Ward as the WR1 in this offense. A 70-catch, 1,000-yard season is a possibility.
| | Bengals To Rely On Rookie Punter -- Tue Jun 30 11:29 am --
Will Hold For Graham | When the Bengals released the two punters on their roster, Kyle Larson and Ryan Plackemeier, on April 28, Kevin Huber found himself in an interesting situation.
Huber, who had been selected in the fifth round of the NFL Draft out of the University of Cincinnati just two days earlier, found himself being counted on to take over the team's punting duties. He immediately experienced some added pressure, but he also knew he would receive plenty of instruction from special teams coach Darrin Simmons.
Simmons said the team did not take that hometown connection into consideration when it drafted Huber; rather, it was influenced by Huber's performance at the Senior Bowl, in which the Bengals' staff coached the North Team, and at the NFL Scouting Combine.
(Cincinnati.com)
FF Today's Take: Punters are not usually fantasy worthy however rookies make mistakes and Huber is also expected to be holding for Shayne Graham on field goals.
| | Eagles Sign LeSean McCoy -- Mon Jun 29 9:18 pm --
Four-Year Deal | The Philadelphia Eagles agreed to terms on a four-year deal with second-round draft choice LeSean McCoy on Monday.
The running back from Pittsburgh, taken by Philadelphia with the 53rd overall selection, is the first second-round pick to sign, according to agent Drew Rosenhaus. McCoy, who provides insurance behind the dynamic but injury prone Brian Westbrook, rushed for 2,816 yards and 35 TDs, and caught 65 passes for 549 yards and one score in two seasons at Pitt. He ran for 1,488 yards and 21 TDs last year.
(AP)
FF Today's Take: With Brian Westbrook another year older and already battling injury this preseason, McCoy will be a coveted handcuff in fantasy drafts this summer. His current ADP ranking for 12-team leagues is 9.03; roughly the 40th running back taken.
| | Hester Defends New QB Cutler -- Fri Jun 26 9:25 pm --
And His Leadership Ability | Devin Hester says he has heard enough. He is tired of hearing the criticism that new Bears quarterback Jay Cutler is not a mature, capable leader. "If you haven't been around a person like Cutler, how could you say something like that?" Hester said before appearing in a photo shoot Monday evening at Soldier Field for an Under Armour commercial. In recent weeks, Super Bowl-winning coaches Tony Dungy and Mike Ditka have been among those who have expressed reservations about Cutler's maturity level. "Can't judge a book by its cover," Hester said. "If you haven't sat down and talked to him, how could you say something like that? He's calm in the huddle. He makes us laugh and he jokes around before the ball is snapped. That's the kind of quarterback who is relaxed and says, 'Let's play ball.' "
Cutler, 26, threw for more than 4,500 yards last season for Denver but raised eyebrows when he basically forced a trade after he learned that new Broncos coach Josh McDaniels had considered trading him. "Just from the OTAs we've had, our offense has changed a whole lot," Hester said. "I feel like we're stronger than we have ever been. I feel like we're going to take the ball up and down the field. That's the kind of quarterback Jay brings to this team." (Chicago Tribune)
FF Today's Take: It would appear that Hester and the Bears have welcomed their new hurler with open arms. Coming off a career year, will Cutler shine or fall flat in his new leadership role in Chi-town?
| | Jags Deal Northcutt For Lions' Alexander -- Fri Jun 26 9:05 pm --
Lions Reportedly Add To WR Corps; Jags Get Safety Insurance | The Lions have agreed to trade safety Gerald Alexander to Jacksonville for wide receiver Dennis Northcutt.
While the Lions had nothing to announce, the deal likely is contingent on the players passing their physicals and cannot become official until after the NFL reopens for business Monday.
Northcutt, 31, is a 5-11, 172-pounder who could fit in the slot between Calvin Johnson and Bryant Johnson and return punts. He caught 44 passes each of the past two seasons for the Jaguars after seven seasons with Cleveland. He has returned punts throughout his career.
Alexander, 24, was one of three recent second-round picks the Lions had at safety. The Lions drafted him in 2007, between Daniel Bullocks and Louis Delmas. He started all 16 games as a rookie in 2007 and intercepted two passes, but he suffered a fractured vertebra five games into last season. (Detroit Free Press)
FF Today's Take: Adding Northcutt gives the Lions a decent trio of receivers behind Calvin Johnson, with Bryant Johnson and Ronald Curry already on the roster. Northcutt doesn't figure to have much fantasy value initially, but he is a good fit in the slot for a team in need of a solid pair of hands. The move does signal that Derrick Williams needs to have a strong camp because Northcutt is really an older, proven version of the Penn St. rookie. It also suggest the Jaguars are happy with the upgrades they have made at receiver, led by the signing of Torry Holt.
| | Giants Sign Rookie RB Brown -- Fri Jun 26 8:25 pm --
4-Year Deal For Fourth-Rounder | Running back Andre Brown (RB, WR), the Giants’ fourth-round draft choice (129th overall out of N.C. State), agreed to terms earlier today on a four-year contract. That came one day after the Giants announced the signings of their third-round pick (WR Ramses Barden) and their fifth-round pick (QB Rhett Bomar). They now have five of their nine draft picks under contract with a little more than five weeks to go before the start of training camp. According to a league source, Brown’s deal is worth approximately $2.2 million, including a signing bonus of about $430,000. It also includes about $500,000 in what a source called “reachable incentives” and other incentives and escalators that could push the total package to around $4 million. (NY Daily News)
FF Today's Take: Brown is unlikely to be a factor for the Giants this year with their plethora of established RBs, but he adds a new dimension with his ability to receive out of the backfield. He posted 309 receiving yards at North Carolina State last year. Their third-rounder, 6'6" WR Ramses Barden, will look to make some noise in training camp, while their first-round pick, WR Hakeem Nicks, remains without a contract.
| | Seahawks Backfield Roles Defined -- Fri Jun 26 5:05 pm --
Knapp, Mora On Same Page Regarding Sharing The Load | New Seahawks OC Greg Knapp believes in using a rotation with the backs, for the obvious reasons.
“I definitely prefer that,” he said. “I think it’s important, because the game has gotten so physical. The defense has gotten so strong and so fast, it’s hard for one back to carry the load. So I’m a big believer in having two, if not three, backs involved as the season goes on.”
Also count new HC Jim Mora among the believers in the new system and the backs who will be featured in it.
“I believe in our running backs,” he said. “I believe in Julius Jones. I believe in T.J. Duckett. I believe in Justin Forsett. I believe in those guys. I think they’re good players.
“I believe in our offensive line and our tight ends and our receivers, and their ability to block. I think with a healthy Matt Hasselbeck and his ability to stretch the field; not only vertically, but horizontally; that will open things up in the running game. So I believe we’ll be able to run the ball, and I’m pleased with our running backs.” (Seahawks.com)
FF Today's Take: It is always nice as fantasy owners to get clarification as to what a team plans to do with its backfield. With that said, still expect something along the lines of a 60-30-10 split among the backs, with Jones getting the bulk of the work, Duckett the short-yardage and goal-line carries and Forsett giving Jones the occasional rest in between the 20s and some of the third-down work.
| | Redskins Were Outbid For Haynesworth? -- Thu Jun 25 9:20 pm --
Former Titans DT States Bucs Offered More Money | Washington Redskins defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth told Sirius NFL Radio in a recent interview that he did not simply just go to the highest bidder.
When he was asked if money was the No. 1 issue in him choosing the Redskins, Haynesworth said, "No, I could've made more money with Tampa Bay if I really wanted to."
Asked why he chose the Redskins, the ex-Titan said:
"They (the Bucs) offered me a whole lot more, and even with their tax situation, it could have been 20 percent more. But you look at Washington, they've got a lot of the pieces together. They're right there. They're in a huge market...Going to Tampa, I mean, great city...It's just awesome, but it would've been like another Nashville. Tampa doesn't have that big market and they don't have a huge fan base like the Washington Redskins do, so I think it was just a choice just to look at it that way." (St. Petersburg Times)
FF Today's Take: As the article goes on to say, Washington D.C. is the nation's ninth-largest TV market, while Tampa is 13th, so the size of market seems to be more of a figment of Haynesworth's mind than anything. But in reality, he was right about the Redskins having more pieces in place than the rebuilding Bucs, so no one should fault him for that. As it stands, a happy and motivated Haynesworth should make Washington's defense one of the better options in fantasy this season.
| | Vick Decision May Not Come Before Season -- Thu Jun 25 9:15 pm --
Goodell Says Decision On QB To Come "In Due Time" | Commissioner Roger Goodell says he is beginning to focus on evaluating Michael Vick's future in the NFL.
But Goodell said Thursday his decision on the former Atlanta Falcons star quarterback will come "in due time" and not necessarily before the season begins.
"I haven't given a timeline," on a decision about reinstatement, Goodell told The Associated Press during a telephone interview.
Goodell says he has yet to speak to Vick, and won't sit down with him until after Vick is released July 20 from home confinement and federal custody.
Vick is currently suspended from the league because of his involvement in a dogfighting ring. (AP)
FF Today's Take: Any delay on Vick's NFL future likely also delays the likelihood of any team signing him before training camp. Vick would seem to be a good fit in a team that wants to make the "Wildcat" a significant part of its offense, but his 2009 fantasy prospects grow dimmer by the day with this news.
| | Jags Looking To Trade WR Northcutt -- Thu Jun 25 4:05 pm --
Following Addition Of Holt And Rookie Receivers | Another high-priced Jaguars acquisition appears to be headed out of town. Multiple league sources confirmed Wednesday that Jacksonville seeks to trade Dennis Northcutt, one of the longest-tenured receivers remaining on the roster. Northcutt’s age (31) and salary (scheduled to make $2.75 million), combined with the addition of veteran Torry Holt and rookies Mike Thomas, Jarett Dillard and Tiquan Underwood, appear to have made the 10-year veteran expendable. Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio didn’t immediately return calls seeking comment, and general manager Gene Smith didn’t respond to an e-mail. Northcutt’s agent, Jerome Stanley, was unavailable for comment, but he confirmed the club’s intentions in an e-mail exchange with ESPN.com. Northcutt signed a five-year, $17 million contract with the Jaguars in 2007 that included a $4.5 million signing bonus. In 29 games, Northcutt caught 88 passes for 1,146 yards and six touchdowns and also contributed as a kick returner. (Jacksonville Times-Union)
FF Today's Take: Northcutt could go to any of a number of teams looking for a veteran number 2 or 3 receiver. Speedy, rookie Mike Thomas, the Pac-10's all-time leader with 259 receptions, could be a solid option in the slot for the Jaguars.
| |  Giants' LB Boley Undergoes Surgery -- Thu Jun 25 12:40 am --
And Will Be Out 8-10 Weeks | Linebacker Michael Boley, who signed a five-year, $25 million contract with the New York Giants as a free agent, has undergone hip surgery and almost certainly will miss the start of training camp. Boley had arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn labrum in an operation performed Wednesday by Dr. Bryan Kelly at the Hospital for Special Surgery. The former Atlanta Falcon hurt his hip during the Giants' offseason program. A full recovery is expected in approximately 8-10 weeks, the team said. Training camp opens in August. Boley plays weakside linebacker. (SI.com)
FF Today's Take: Though Boley should be ready to go for the start of the season, you would have to think that missing camp will slow him down not only physically, but also mentally playing on a new team. Boley had a career year in '07 with 109 total tackles, 3 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, and 2 interceptions, and the Giants are hoping the twenty-six year old will return to that same form this season.
| | Peppers Finally Signs Franchise Tender -- Wed Jun 24 2:50 pm --
Four-Time Pro Bowl DE Could Earn Over $19 M This Season | The Carolina Panthers announced on Wednesday that defensive end Julius Peppers signed his offer sheet and will play for the team this season.
A conference call has been scheduled for this afternoon.
Peppers will be perhaps the highest paid player in the league with a contract that could pay him up to $19.183 million this season. He has a guaranteed $16.683 million base salary - the amount of his offer sheet as a franchise free agent, plus an incentive of $1.5 million if he makes the Pro Bowl and $250,000 per each playoff win up to and including the Super Bowl.
Peppers' agent, Carl Carey, told the Charlotte Observer that "Julius is more than satisfied with the outcome and is prepared and ready to play football."
Carey said a statement from his client was forthcoming in which Peppers said he'd had "positive and productive" conversations with the Panthers and that he was "optimistic" about the upcoming season. (Charlotte Observer)
FF Today's Take: Peppers, 29, set a career high with 14.5 sacks last year, and tied a personal best with five forced fumbles. Often linked with the New England Patriots in trade rumors this offseason, the two-time All-Pro DE had stated repeatedly his desire to play in a 3-4 defense, not the 4-3 that Carolina plays. It was also thought that Peppers was holding out on signing the tender to not only show his displeasure, but to also avoid getting fined for his absence from the Panthers' mandatory workouts. With Peppers now in camp, Carolina stands a good chance of repeating its defensive success from a season ago and hopes that a newly happy veteran will be a willing teacher to 2009 second-round draft choice, DE Everette Brown.
| | Two Detroit Wideouts Sidelined -- Wed Jun 24 2:20 pm --
Bryant Johnson And Derrick Williams Dealing With Injuries | Receiver Bryant Johnson suffered a right ankle sprain during the workout this morning, but head coach Jim Schwartz said it wasn't serious and hopes to have Johnson back soon. ... Rookie receiver Derrick Williams, a third-round pick, is still sidelined by a sore hamstring and Schwartz said he might not take part in the three-day minicamp, which ends tomorrow.
(MLive.com)
FF Today's Take: Bryant Johnson is one of several receivers, including rookie Derrick Williams, vying for the second starting wideout spot opposite Calvin Johnson.
| | Chiefs Sign Veteran Mike Brown -- Wed Jun 24 12:00 pm --
Durability A Concern | The Chiefs have agreed to contract terms with veteran safety Mike Brown. Brown, a nine-year veteran and a 2005 Pro Bowler with the Chicago Bears, could challenge either of the incumbents, Bernard Pollard and Jarrad Page, for a starting job. (KansasCity.com)
FF Today's Take: Brown's veteran prescence will help but staying on the field will be his biggest hurdle after missing 44 games over the previous five seasons.
| | Jennings, Packers Nearing Extenstion -- Tue Jun 23 9:30 pm --
WR Reportedly Close To Rich Future With Green Bay | The Green Bay Packers and wide receiver Greg Jennings are in the process of finalizing a three-year extension that will keep him with the team through 2012.
According to a source, Jennings could make $27 million in new money with the deal, but if he performs at a Pro Bowl level, his new contract could be worth as much as $30 million. Jennings was in the last year of his rookie contract and was scheduled to make $535,000.
Jennings will earn slightly in excess of $16 million in guarantees, according to the report. The source also said that the structure of the contract is more front- than back-loaded.
Though both sides have come to an agreement on the numbers, the language of the contract still needs to be worked out.
Jennings is coming of an 80-catch, 1,292-yard season in which he caught nine touchdown passes and was a Pro Bowl alternate. (ESPN)
FF Today's Take: Just more reason to like Jennings in 2009. Clearly out of the shadow of Donald Driver, the Western Michigan alum figures to get better in his second full season of working with Aaron Rodgers.
| | Vontae Davis A Victim Of Identity Theft? -- Tue Jun 23 8:45 pm --
DB Claims He Was Not Arrested During June 9 Traffic Stop | In a story that continues to develop, it appears more and more likely Dolphins rookie CB Vontae Davis was not arrested on June 9 in Champaign as previously thought, but someone who was carrying his personal information was.
The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports that Davis and the Dolphins claim that he was in Miami for organized team activities (OTAs) on June 9 and 10.
"I talked to Vontae," Harvey Greene, Dolphins senior vice president of media relations, told the Sun-Sentinel. "And he told me he was here all day on June 9. It was an OTA day, followed by a rookie symposium that we know kept him in the building until at least 3:30 (p.m.). There was no way he could have been in Illinois at 6:40 (p.m.) or whenever that happened."
The incident occurred at 6:47 p.m. The report summary said the stop was a "Terry Stop," which Champaign Police Department spokesperson Rene Dunn defined as a routine traffic stop.
Davis told the Sun-Sentinel that his wallet was stolen before leaving Champaign and that he canceled his credit cards after his wallet was stolen. Davis said it is possible that someone is still using his driver's license as a form of identification.
According to the same report by the Sun-Sentinel, Davis claims he hasn't been in Champaign since February. (Daily Illini)
FF Today's Take: Dolphins fans should be breathing a sigh of relief if this updated story turns out being true. Davis, a 2009 first-round pick who is reportedly being outplayed by second-round selection Sean Smith (DL, DB) in OTAs, was red flagged by some teams entering the draft for behavior issues and two benchings by University of Illinois coach Ron Zook. With all the upgrades being made in the passing games around the AFC East, Miami will need at least one of its rookies stepping up in a big way this season.
| | Ronnie Brown Poised For Big 2009? -- Tue Jun 23 8:15 pm --
Dolphins RB Looking Fit, Faster Than Ever | Heading into a contract year, Miami Dolphins RB Ronnie Brown looked fit and faster than ever, almost like he should be the team’s featured back, instead of splitting carries again with 32-year-old Ricky Williams (RB, RB).
Brown consistently beat the defense to the outside corner, split out wide and caught a long TD pass Saturday and handled most of the snaps out of the Wildcat. At 27, he looks poised for his best year yet. (Palm Beach Post)
FF Today's Take: There's a lot to like here. Most athletes are said to be in their athletic prime from ages 27-29, which Brown is entering. He is also out of the 18-month window that a player traditionally needs to recover from ACL surgery. With Williams maybe starting to show his age, Brown could conceivably top his previous career highs in carries (241) and rushing yards (1,008). Brown has caught at least 32 passes in each of his four seasons and will still be the featured player in the "Wildcat", so the opportunities for him to perform at a high level in 2009 are looking better by the day.
| | DT La'Roi Glover Retires -- Mon Jun 22 11:24 am --
6-Time Pro Bowler | Six-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle La'Roi Glover is retiring after 13 NFL seasons.
"I'm blessed that I was able to play this game that I love for so long," Glover said in a news release. "It has been such an incredible journey."
He led the NFL with 17 sacks in 2000 and finished his career with 83.5, tied for 37th on the all-time list. He was tied for fifth among active players. (ESPN.com)
FF Today's Take: A former fifth round pick out of San Diego State, Glover's retirement marks the end of a successful career.
| | 49ers' QB Battle Gaining Momentum -- Fri Jun 19 4:05 pm --
Smith's Arm Looking Strong After 2nd Surgery | The good news for 49ers fans: Alex Smith (QB, TE) is healthy again and throwing more sharply and with more confidence than he ever has in his troubled NFL career. Many Niners fans won’t regard that as good news. They’ve castigated Smith with regularity and are convinced that Shaun Hill is the better choice at quarterback.
But in truth, Smith has been fighting an uphill battle since he was taken as the first choice in the 2005 draft, coming to a bad team with a porous offensive line and inadequate receivers. Not surprisingly, he looked terrible. He made good progress in his second year, but then offensive coordinator Norv Turner took the coaching job with the San Diego Chargers. In his third season, he suffered a serious shoulder injury that required surgery. He tried to come back last season, but needed another surgery. “Even before that, I just didn’t feel right,” Smith said when we talked on Tuesday in Santa Clara, after the 49ers’ last workout before the start of training camp in late July. “Now, I feel very comfortable throwing any kind of pass.” Smith had to play catchup this spring, proving that he was healthy and in a good frame of mind. Coach Mike Singletary declared Hill the presumptive starter after last season but, after a lot of verbal side-stepping, said Tuesday that the two quarterbacks were in a virtual tie in their competition for the starting job. (SF Examiner)
FF Today's Take: This will be one of the more interesting QB battles during 2009 NFL training camps. Will Alex Smith (QB, TE) finally show more than just glimpses of promise in attempting to justify his first overall draft selection from 2005?
| | Manning, Giants Negotiating Contract -- Fri Jun 19 3:05 pm --
Remain Far Apart In Extension Talks | Eli Manning is still in line to get one of the most lucrative contracts in NFL history. He is just going to have to wait a little longer than expected. Manning and the Giants remain far apart in their negotiations on a new deal, according to two NFL sources with knowledge of the talks. Nobody is panicking, even though 2009 is the last year of Manning's rookie contract, and both sides expect a deal will eventually get done. But they had originally hoped to do it this spring, with the Giants prepared to make Manning one of the NFL's richest players. According to one source, Manning's agents "want to make him the highest-paid player." Another source suggested the Super Bowl XLII MVP's initial asking price was up near an average of $20 million per year. Neither Manning nor co-owner John Mara would discuss details when asked during Giants minicamp this week. And when Manning, whose original six-year deal was worth $45 million to $54 million, was asked if he wanted to be the NFL's highest-paid player, he said, "I don't have an ego about that. "I'll leave it to my agent and the Giants," Manning said. "They'll figure out all the details. My job is to prepare, get this team ready and let everything else play itself out."
(NY Daily News)
FF Today's Take: Coming off a career year, and a Super Bowl victory two years ago, it's no wonder Eli is looking for a big payday. But is a QB with a career passer rating of 76.1 really worthy of the most lucrative contract in the NFL? Regardless, look for the Giants to lock Manning up soon, so as not to let negotiations hang over their quarterback's head during the upcoming season.
| | Bucs Considering Starting Rookie QB -- Fri Jun 19 2:35 pm --
QB Battle Heating Up In Tampa | Two months after drafting Josh Freeman as their quarterback of the future, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are not ruling out the prospect of him earning the starting job much sooner than expected. Veterans Luke McCown and Byron Leftwich remain the frontrunners, however the team's first-round draft pick has shown enough during offseason workouts and this week's minicamp that the Bucs are rethinking their stance on bringing him along slowly. "I'm going to play the best guy," coach Raheem Morris said, looking forward to the start of training camp on Aug. 1. Freeman was the 17th player selected in the draft following a standout career at Kansas State, where Morris was defensive coordinator during the quarterback's freshman year.The Bucs have said they won't rush his development, however McCown and Leftwich haven't done much to set themselves apart in the competition. "He's pushing the envelope. Those guys are fighting with him. He's fighting back. That's what you want," Morris said. (AP)
FF Today's Take: Neither Leftwich nor McCown have been especially brilliant during their modest NFL careers, but Freeman will really have to impress the coaching staff during camp to earn the starter's job for week one.
| | Falcons Singing Ryan's Praises -- Thu Jun 18 10:20 pm --
Team Calling Improvement From Rookie Season "Scary" | Matt Ryan's teammates say the quarterback will be even better in 2009 than he was when he won widespread acclaim as the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year last season.
"It's actually scary how much he's improved and it's only his second year. People thought he couldn't get much better than last year...In the weight room, what he's done out here, his arm strength, the way he reads plays, he's gotten better in every aspect," Atlanta fullback Ovie Mughelli said of Ryan on Wednesday as the Falcons approached the end of their organized team activities.
Ryan led the Falcons to an 11-5 record - an unexpected jump from a 4-12 finish in 2007 - and a playoff spot last season. Michael Turner rushed for 1,699 yards and 17 touchdowns in his first season as a full-time starter, and Roddy White had 88 receptions for 1,382 yards.
Ryan, Turner, White and Mughelli have been joined by 10-time Pro Bowl tight end Tony Gonzalez, who was acquired from Kansas City.
Ryan said he began studying film after the Falcons' playoff loss to Arizona as he focused on making better decisions in key situations.
"The No. 1 thing going into the offseason for me was to improve the decision making and so I've watched a ton of film, just trying to get better and to sharpen up for next season," he said. "I'm going to continue to do that for the next two or three months." (AP)
FF Today's Take: It is often said the greatest improvement a NFL player will make is between his first and second season. Unlike many mid-summer proclamations made by coaches and players, it isn't that far of a stretch to believe that Ryan may take the next step from unlikely Rookie of the Year to a top-tier signal-caller. Furthermore, having Gonzalez to throw to can only help matters. Unlike last season, however, when they had their way against the NFC North and AFC West, the Falcons will need Ryan to be even better if they hope to perform as well against the NFC East and the improved AFC East.
| | Stallworth Suspended Indefinitely -- Thu Jun 18 9:30 pm --
Goodell Promises Harsh Discipline For Alcohol-Related Crimes | Donte' Stallworth will get out of jail in four weeks. Now it's up to Roger Goodell to say when the Cleveland Browns receiver can return to the field.
Stallworth was indefinitely suspended by the NFL commissioner Thursday, two days after he began a 30-day jail sentence for killing a pedestrian while driving drunk in Miami.
Stallworth pleaded guilty this month to a DUI manslaughter charge for striking Mario Reyes on March 14. He began serving a 30-day jail sentence Tuesday and has reached a financial settlement with the family of the 59-year-old construction worker.
After jail, the 28-year-old Stallworth must serve two years of house arrest and spend eight years on probation. The house arrest provisions would allow him to play.
"The conduct reflected in your guilty plea resulted in the tragic loss of life and was inexcusable," Goodell wrote. "While the criminal justice system has determined the legal consequences of this incident, it is my responsibility as NFL commissioner to determine appropriate league discipline for your actions, which have caused irreparable harm to the victim and his family, your club, your fellow players and the NFL."
The last indefinite suspension by Goodell was of Adam "Pacman" Jones of the Dallas Cowboys in October 2008. The suspension later became a six-week ban.
Stallworth signed a seven-year, $35 million contract with the Browns before last season but was injured much of the year, finishing with 17 catches for 170 yards and a touchdown. A star at the University of Tennessee, Stallworth has also played in the NFL for New England, Philadelphia and New Orleans. (AP)
FF Today's Take: Goodell also stated in the letter that along with eventually contact Stallworth's representatives before determining the length of the suspension, he would not tolerate alcohol-related crimes from any league employee - players or non-players alike.
| | Bengals Eye Maualuga As Complete LB -- Thu Jun 18 9:00 pm --
DC Zimmer Feels Will Be Three-Down Player | As his players came off the field following the second workout, defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer wondered aloud about the pre-draft evaluation of USC linebacker Rey Maualuga. The overriding opinion was because he lacked good movement in space.
But Zimmer made it clear that Maualuga is going to get on the field for him at any point.
"I think he's a lot better in coverage than people said he was," Zimmer said. "This guy can play three downs. They say all that crap, plus, he can blitz. Why take the guy off the field if he can rush the quarterback?...I think Maualuga will show up even more when we get to training camp because he's a football player and he's physical."
Zimmer did one better and explained his rationale for leaving Dhani Jones at MLB and moving Maualuga from his college position to the strong side.
"He (Jones) asks me really good questions. They're logical questions," and he says as far as communicating and knowing the defense, Jones and ex-Cowboys MLB Dat Nguyen are the two best middle backers he's been around.
After playing under Zimmer in Dallas, Nguyen is in his second season as the Cowboys assistant linebackers coach.
"He's sharp. He tells guys where to line up. He knows the checks, he knows what everybody does on the defense. It's really nice having a guy like that." (Bengals.com)
FF Today's Take: Many draft observers wondered how Maualuga slipped into the Cincinnati Bengals' hands in the second round. Apparently, some of the league's coaches felt the same way. It is also nice to get further clarification as to why the Bengals didn't want to move Jones out of the middle after a highly underrated 2008 season at MLB for Cincy.
| | Jaguars Like What They See In Jennings -- Thu Jun 18 8:30 pm --
Rookie RB The Latest RB Steal For Jacksonville? | Maurice Jones-Drew and rookie seventh-round selection Rashad Jennings of Liberty share the same position and the same agent (Adisa Bakari), which led to the two players training with each other before the draft.
If the organized team activities are a barometer, the pair may also have another thing in common: running backs who slipped in the draft but fell into the Jaguars' laps.
"I think you see in the shorts workout here, he's done a nice job. He belongs here. I think he fits into the group nicely, and that's a competitive group," Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio said.
Jones, dogged by concerns about his 5-7, 208-pound frame, slipped into the late second round of the 2006 NFL draft despite being a consensus first-team All-American as an all-purpose back and a first-team All-Pac 10 selection as a punt returner.
Jennings, a behemoth compared to Jones-Drew at 6-1 and 230 pounds, waited until the 250th pick before hearing his name. The most popular theories seem to be that the scouts were concerned because he didn't play against big time competition at Liberty, a Division I-AA school, and that he has an upright running style.
"Some teams scout the school rather than the player," said Jaguars general manager Gene Smith, who said the Jaguars were surprised he was still on the board in the seventh round. (Florida Times Union)
FF Today's Take: Jennings faces an uphill battle at playing time with Jones-Drew the clear #1 RB. The Jaguars also want to work fellow big back Greg Jones (RB, LB) into the rotation after the team let Fred Taylor walk. But if the rookie shows more fluidity than Jones when the pads come on, there is a distinct possibility that he could overtake him and be the handcuff for MJD owners this season.
| | Romo Told To Get In Shape? -- Thu Jun 18 7:30 pm --
QB Denies He Was Told To Step Up His Conditioning | Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo denied Wednesday any notion that he had been told to get into better shape in a meeting with offensive coordinator Jason Garrett following a report earlier this week.
"If there’s anything those guys tell me, it’s to throttle back sometimes just because I do a lot of running playing soccer and basketball and stuff to stay in shape, plus the stuff we do," said Romo, who added no such meeting occurred.
Romo said he has a "phenomenal" relationship with Garrett, and the two continue to work together to improve on his performance as well as the offense.
The timing of the report is coincidental because Cowboys coach Wade Phillips - long thought of as a "players' coach - said the team will levy heavy fines on a player if he is overweight.
"I expect them to be in the best shape they’ve been in. That’s part of being accountable," Phillips said. "I want them to come in the best shape they can be in. We’ve put [targeted] weights on them. The league maximum [fine] is $453 a pound. We expect them to come in [to training camp] at their weights or under and we’ll have that done when we come to training camp."
(Fort Worth Star-Telegram)
FF Today's Take: While conditioning may play a small role in Romo's well-noted struggles in December, it is all too easy to overlook what may be the real reason for his late-season struggles - the schedule. Last season's slate included Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Philadelphia and the New York Giants. For those that weren't counting, three of those teams were three of the final four teams left in the NFL playoffs and the other team - the Giants - were the defending Super Bowl champs. With that said, the NFC East isn't getting any easier and the 2009 December schedule isn't any more forgiving than in recent seasons. Add in the loss of Terrell Owens and it is hard to see Romo finishing with the Peyton Mannings, Tom Bradys and Drew Brees of the fantasy world this season.
| | Derrick Brooks Still Planning On 2009 -- Thu Jun 18 6:45 pm --
11-time Pro Bowler Doesn’t Rule Out Return To Bucs | Even though he was part of the team-wide purge that shocked the NFL back in February, Derrick Brooks is preparing to return for a 15th season in 2009.
Along with his former Florida State teammate, Warrick Dunn, the 36-year-old Brooks was one of five players cut - along with Joey Galloway, Ike Hilliard and Cato June - as part of the youth movement implemented by new HC Raheem Morris and new GM Mark Dominik.
The NFL Defensive Player of the Year when Tampa Bay won Super Bowl XXXVII, Brooks maintains he still in top physical condition.
“I could still be a Buccaneer,” Brooks said. “Stranger things have happened. Teams are talking to me so I'm going to make sure I continue to stay in shape.” (AP)
FF Today's Take: Morris, Dominik and even NFL Network (and former teammate) Warren Sapp have all slammed the door on Brooks returning to the Bucs. At this time, the rumor mill has only linked Brooks to New Orleans, but HC Sean Payton has put that notion to rest. Despite the perceived lack of interest, it is hard to believe one of the cornerstones of the “Tampa 2” and future Hall of Famer won’t be on some team’s roster by training camp.
| | Panthers’ Peppers Unreachable -- Wed Jun 17 6:25 pm --
Team Unsure Whether He Will Report To Camp | Jon Beason is the most sought after Carolina Panther these days not by going from rookie holdout to top tackler and team leader in less than two years. It's because the chiseled linebacker is apparently the only person in the organization who's been in contact with Julius Peppers, the disgruntled and absent four-time Pro Bowl defensive end. "I talked to him last weekend," Beason said Tuesday at the conclusion of the team's final offseason workout. "He said he's doing good, he's training and he'll be ready to go when training camp gets here." So despite publicly declaring he wants to play elsewhere, his refusal so far to sign a one-year, guaranteed tender worth $16.7 million and his failure to attend one offseason workout, Peppers will show up for the start of training camp on Aug. 2? Beason indicated Peppers hadn't committed to that. "I'm hoping it's the first day," Beason said. "When I talked to him I said, 'Hey, if you come in, at least come in on the first day. Don't be like me.'" (ESPN)
FF Today's Take: It appears Julius Peppers is the only person who knows whether or not he will show up at training camp August 2nd. The Panthers figure Peppers to be a key contributor in resolving the defensive struggles experienced over the second half of last season.
| | Favre Recovering From Surgery -- Wed Jun 17 6:15 pm --
Hopes To Play If Arm Holds Up | Brett Favre will know in several weeks whether his surgically repaired arm will allow him to come out of retirement again. The quarterback made his first public comments since retiring from the New York Jets in February in an interview Monday night on “Joe Buck Live.” He said the only team he has spoken to is the Minnesota Vikings—and that they would be a perfect fit because he’s familiar with their offense. The three-time NFL MVP said Dr. James Andrews performed the surgery 2 1/2 weeks ago on his throwing arm. Andrews told him it would take 4-5 weeks to know if he’ll be able to make all the throws he needs to. “If it ever gets to the point where it feels like it did before it started hurting, then the biggest question mark is out of the way,” Favre said. (AP)
FF Today's Take: Barring considerable pain, Favre will probably be tossing footballs in the NFL again this season. Move aside Tarvaris Jackson?
| | Jets Ink Rookie RB Greene -- Wed Jun 17 6:10 pm --
To A Four-Year Deal | The New York Jets signed third-round draft pick Shonn Greene on Monday to a four-year deal that includes a $905,000 signing bonus. The bulldozing running back out of Iowa was the first player taken on the second day of the draft after the Jets traded up with Detroit to select him. Greene rushed for a school-record 1,850 yards and 20 touchdowns last season, and was selected the Big Ten's Offensive Player of the Year. He could provide a goal-line complement to Thomas Jones and Leon Washington, or provide insurance if contract negotiations go awry with either of the other two running backs. Both Jones and Washington held out for parts of voluntary workouts while looking for new deals, but reported to mandatory minicamp last week. (AP)
FF Today's Take: Greene is coming off a phenomenal year with the Hawkeyes, and though it’s unlikely that he’ll figure as a key component for the Jets’ offense to start the season, injuries to Jones or Washington could provide increased touches for the rookie.
| |
|
