Preseason - August
8/10/05
- The Pacman Jones situation in Tennessee has been heating up
with veteran defenders Albert Haynesworth and Keith Bullocks
calling out the team's 1st round pick for not reporting to camp.
The veterans know the team is weak at cornerback after the loss
of last year's starters (Samari Rolle and Andre Dyson) and are
counting on Jones to effectively step into the starting line-up.
The players picked before and after Jones (Tampa Bay's Cadillac
Williams and Minnesota's Troy Williamson) have signed contracts,
causing Haynesworth and Bullocks to question why Jones hasn't
signed. There are two issues here. First, Bullocks and Haynesworth
are a little miffed at going through two-a-days at training
camp while a rookie who needs to be practicing is sitting at
home. Second, Jones hasn't signed because he and his agent do
not want to sign a contract that spreads out the signing bonus
over a number of years or one that will force him to return
a portion of his signing bonus in the event of any further off-field
misdeeds.
- The Jaguars appear to have improved their defense from a
year ago, however they have to be concerned about the situation
at right cornerback opposite Rashean Mathis. Kiwaukee Thomas,
a 5th round pick in 2000, was expected to challenge for the
spot but has been supplanted by rookie 3rd round pick Scott
Starks, Kenny Wright and David Richardson, an undrafted free
agent from last year's squad. After ascending to the top of
the depth chart, Richardson suffered an ankle injury that could
cost him a shot at the starting position. Look for the team
to add a veteran to the roster unless this situation improves.
- Given the number of veteran defenders the Broncos have along
the defensive line, it is almost a certainty a number of big
names will not make the roster. With Courtney Brown out four
to six weeks with a dislocated elbow, Marco Coleman and John
Engelberger have likely solidified roster spots. However, it
appears Raylee Johnson and Ebenezer Eukuban are fighting for
one spot at defensive end while tackles Monsanto Pope, Luther
Ellis and Dorsett Davis are also after one roster spot. Almost
certainly out of the mix is former Colt and Packer Chukue Nwokorie.
- Keeping with the Broncos, 3rd round pick Maurice Clarett
will undergo an MRI to determine the extent and cause of his
groin injury. Clarett has failed to impress in his quest for
a roster spot and, with veterans Mike Anderson, Tatum Bell and
Quentin Griffin ahead of him on the depth chart, was unlikely
to dress on game day anyway. Given his lack of progress, two-year
layoff, injury problems and place on the depth chart, it won't
be a surprise if Clarett is placed on injured reserve prior
to opening day.
- The Chargers appear to have settled on Keenan McCardell,
Eric Parker and Reche Caldwell as the team's top three wideouts,
although not necessarily in that order. Caldwell is currently
penciled in as the team's third receiver but that is more the
result of his coming off knee surgery than anything else. He
appeared poised for a breakout season in 2004 prior to the injury
and, if healthy, likely has the most natural talent of any of
the team's receivers. Currently out of the mix is the team's
2nd round draft pick, Vincent Jackson, who is attempting to
make the jump from Division I-AA. However, the team is hoping
Jackson can contribute by mid-season.
- When Hines Ward held out, the Steelers initially moved Antwaan
Randle El into Ward's split end position and left Cedrick Wilson
at the flanker position, indicating the team planned on using
Randle El in a back-up role in 2005 when Ward returned. However,
the roles have been reversed and unless there are further changes,
it now appears Randle El will line up as the team's starting
flanker this season.
- With the Chargers' Ben Leber having arthroscopic surgery
to remove bone spurs on his right ankle, the door has opened
for Shawne Merriman to win a spot at outside linebacker. The
1st round pick did himself no favors by holding out of mini-camps
and arriving to camp late but the team cannot ignore his significant
upside. Merriman has more pass rushing ability than Leber, an
area that needs improvement given the team's lack of sacks from
the defensive line.
- The Cowboys are giving quarterbacks Tony Romo and Drew Henson
plenty of reps in training camp with the hope one player will
emerge as the back-up to starter Drew Bledsoe. Coach Bill Parcells
has been reviewing each quarterback's performance but it's doubtful
he's going to invest many more days in either player unless
one of them emerges. Perhaps there's an opening for Vinny Testaverde
somewhere in this equation.
- Is Jon Gruden turning into Mike Tice, the Vikings choice
who is renowned for his less than stellar approach to providing
the truth to the media? With left tackle Derrick Deese out with
a foot injury, the Bucs coach had been singing the praises of
back-up left tackle Anthony Davis. Then right tackle Kenyatta
Walker went down with a sore knee. Of course, although neither
player is expected to be sidelined for long with their injuries,
Gruden, doing what he does best, goes out and re-signs Todd
Steussie. Now, there's nothing wrong with bringing in veteran
reinforcements but either Gruden isn't being totally truthful
about the extent of the injuries to Deese and Walker or else
he isn't being totally truthful about Davis' performance. Here's
what we do know - so long as Gruden continues to turn to veterans
whenever a starter goes down, the team will never receive the
injection of youth that it so badly requires.
- With no end in sight to the holdout of 1st round pick David
Pollack, Bengals coach Marvin Lewis has decided to move the
strongside linebacker to the bottom of the depth chart. Pollack
might want to get to camp soon because replacing him in the
starting line-up is 2nd year player Landon Johnson, who enjoyed
considerable success as a rookie in amassing 87 tackles while
playing out of position at middle linebacker.
- With the trade of Jon McGraw to the Lions, the Jets have
an opening at the starting strong safety position. Coach Herm
Edwards moved 2nd year player Oliver Celestin into the starting
role opposite Erik Coleman, however it's anything but a sure
bet Celestin will hold onto the role. More likely, this was
a play by Edwards to light a fire under rookie 4th round pick
Kerry Rhodes. At 6'2", 215 pounds, Rhodes has the size to play
on the strong side but has not displayed the hitting ability
the coaches expect.
- With offensive tackle Jon Stinchcomb out for the season after
a ruptured patella tendon, the Saints are now woefully thin
at the back-up positions along the offensive line. The team's
other back-up tackle, Spencer Folau, has not played after recently
having shoulder surgery, leaving Jermane Mayberry, the team's
starting right guard, as the team's only remaining option that
has starting experience on the outside.
- Keeping with the Saints, the team has been impressed by the
play of rookie 6th round pick defensive tackle Jason Jefferson.
Given the underwhelming performance of 2004 4th round pick Rodney
Leisle and 2001 1st round pick Jonathan Sullivan, Jefferson
may catapult himself from probably practice squad member to
become the team's top back-up at defensive tackle.
- It appears Andre Gurode has made his back into the good books
of coach Parcells. A former starter at offensive guard, the
2002 2nd round pick never impressed the coach last season, earning
a trip to the doghouse and causing Parcells to sign Marco Rivera
in the off-season. However, a move to center coinciding with
an injury to back-up center Tyson Walter providing Gurode with
an opportunity to earn his way out of the doghouse. Now Gurode
is fighting with Al Johnson, the team's 2003 2nd round selection,
for a spot in the starting line-up. With the team facing a host
of team's during the 1st half of the season that utilize large
defensive tackles, it is not inconceivable Gurode will enter
the season as the team's starting center.
- Browns coach Romeo Crennel has indicated many times since
taking over as the team's head coach that he would discontinue
the practice so often employed in such a detrimental manner
by his predecessor, Butch Davis, of bringing in players that
he had a history with. Of course, after determining the team
was a little thin along the defensive line and the defensive
backfield, you knew he couldn't help himself. Next thing you
know, nose tackle Ethan Kelley, a 2003 7th round pick expected
to be the Patriots top back-up at nose tackle this season until
he showed up to camp out of shape, and defensive back Antwan
Harris, who could never translate his physical abilities into
a regular spot in the line-up, were on flights to Cleveland.
Of course, they may have some friends there in Joe Andruzzi,
Greg Randall and Justin Kurpeikis.
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