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| Roy Williams will not be traded this off-season even after the Eagles offered a deal of Lito Sheppard and a draft pick, this according to Profootballtalk. |
Our View: The Detroit Free Press has also spoken about a bunch of rumors surrounding Williams, but the Lions continue to say that they will not trade their top wideout this off-season.
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| Albert Haynesworth wants to remain with the Titans moving forward, this according to the AP. “I’m not really worried about it, I guess I’ll have a job next year. Hopefully we can work something out long-term so I can stay here,” Haynesworth said. “We’ve negotiated, but it’s really, really, really slow. My agent thinks it will pick up when it gets closer to the deadline [July 15th].” |
Our View: If an agreement cannot be reached by July 15th, the team could only sign Haynesworth to a one year deal worth $7.8 million as a franchise player, and that certainly wouldn't be the best thing to happen to the team's best defensive player since he is willing to remain with the club.
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| Neil Rackers failed to recapture the glory that he found during the 2005 season when he made 40 of 42 field goals last season, but that doesn't mean that the Cardinals will selecting a kicker in the upcoming draft, this according to the Arizona Republic. Punter Dirk Johnson also seems to be secure in his job. |
Our View: With the Cardinals needing help all over the field, it would seem that they will target other needs on draft day and possibly bring in free agent kickers in camp.
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| The Colts re-signed tight end Bryan Fletcher, guard Dylan Gandy, and defensive tackle Darrell Reid on Monday, the team's official web site confirms. The club did not release the details of the contracts. |
Our View: These are nice depth guys for the Colts, but there's not much for fantasy owners to care about here.
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| The Toronto Argonauts have signed ex-NFL wide receiver David Boston, according to TSN. |
Our View: Seven words: The Argonauts receiver corps must really stink.
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| The Kansas City Chiefs have announced the acquisition of center Wade Smith, according to Pro Football Talk. |
Our View: Smith was picked by the Dolphins in round three of the 2003 draft, and played in Miami for three years. He started 18 games during his first two seasons; however, he hasn’t started a game in the past four seasons. Smith will likely compete with Rudy Niswanger for the starting job in Kansas City.
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| Seattle defensive tackle Rocky Bernard has been arrested and charged with domestic violence assault, according to Pro Football Talk. |
Our View: Bernard is being held in the Seattle Correctional Facility, and bail has been denied. No further details are available at the current time.
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| Odell Thurman learned this afternoon that he has been reinstated by the NFL, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. |
Our View: Thurman has missed the past two seasons because of repeated violations of the NFL substance abuse policy. Official announcement is expected to come from the Bengals organization later today or tonight.
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| With their preparation for the NFL draft completed, the Washington Redskins are among the teams considering making trades to change their draft position. The Redskins hold the 21st pick in the April 26-27 draft, and they are expected to discuss trading down if the top players on their draft board have been selected when they are scheduled to pick, according to the Washington Post. "You never rule anything out," Executive president of football operations Vinny Cerrato said recently. "When you're trying to improve, you explore all your options to make the team better. If someone comes to you with something that makes sense, you think about it." |
Our View: The Redskins are in the unusual position of having a full cupboard of picks, but they also have several positions of need including offensive and defensive lines, wide receiver, cornerback and safety.
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| Atlanta general manager Thomas Dimitroff says he has heard from teams interested in moving up to the Falcons' No. 3 overall pick in the 2008 NFL draft, according to NFL.com. Dimitroff, in his first year as general manager, said Monday "Right now there's nothing concrete at all" in talks with teams interested in moving up in the first round. "We've obviously gotten phone calls," Dimitroff said. "I don't want to necessarily mention who they are right now, but there's definitely been some interest." |
Our View: The Falcons, only 4-12 in 2007, are believed to be considering several players, including Louisiana State defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey and Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan, with the No. 3 pick.
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| Baltimore general manager Ozzie Newsome knows the Miami Dolphins need an offensive tackle. He is aware the Dolphins are talking to Jake Long. But that doesn't make him believe the Dolphins are going to actually draft Jake Long, according to the Miami Herald. “I think one of the best parts of the draft is the intrigue that goes with it with what other teams are going to do," Newsome said. "Right now, probably half of you think Jake Long is going to be the No. 1 pick. I’d probably smile and say that’s not going to happen. And, [Miami is] negotiating with the kid right now, for whatever reason." |
Our View: Newsome believes the Dolphins are still desperately trying to trade out of the top pick, but would end up picking defensive end Chris Long if they have to stay in the one hole.
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| After a productive two-day visit in Minnesota during the weekend, defensive end Jared Allen is headed to Tampa Bay this week, and Philadelphia is also interested, according to ESPN. |
Our View: The Eagles have cornerback Lito Sheppard to use as possible trade bait, and we expect other pass rushing starved teams to step forward before this situation comes to a conclusion.
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| The pre-draft chatter from Pittsburgh is that the organization wouldn't mind finding a bigger back to complement, and reduce the wear-and-tear on running back Willie Parker, according to Pro Football Weekly. |
Our View: The Steelers need offensive line help first and foremost, but could burn a second-round or second day pick to bring in some competition for Najeh Davenport, Gary Russell and Mewelde Moore.
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| The Steelers are looking to move down in the upcoming draft. In fact, the club may trade right out of the first round, director of football operations Kevin Colbert tells the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. The team believes the second round will be deep with talent. Colbert says the Steelers would consider anything but a quarterback or a tight end with the No. 23 pick. |
Our View: The Steelers may be looking to do what the Eagles did in 2007, when Andy Reid dealt the 26th pick for a choices in the second (36), third (87), and fifth (159) rounds. Or maybe the Steelers are just blowing smoke screens and actually want to trade up for an offensive or defensive lineman.
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| The Washington Redskins are still interested in disgruntled receiver Chad Johnson, and the Washington Post has heard it will take $20 million in guaranteed money to make Ocho Cinco happy, if he were to be traded. |
Our View: There have been rumblings that Johnson is actually more upset about his contract, than he is about the rumors that Cincinnati was attempting to trade him last season. Meanwhile, league sources suggest that old school owner Mike Brown will never give in to the trade demands of Johnson.
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| The Baltimore Ravens, holders of the No. 8 pick in the draft, are calling around to gauge a possible trade-up scenario in order to land Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan, according to the Miami Herald. These inquiries have reportedly gone no higher than the third overall pick held by Atlanta, but it’s possible Baltimore may soon be checking on the availability of Miami's first overall pick. Last week, general manager Ozzie Newsome denied the Ravens were discussing the possibility of trading up because the team was ''still gathering information,'' and trying to set its board. But he wouldn't deny that the Ravens would look at a trade-up scenario if the right player were available. |
Our View: The recent retirement of Steve McNair has the organization rethinking their draft strategy, though the Ravens might not have to move up to the one hole, if recent reports are true that Miami is close to inking tackle Jake Long.
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| Over the past few months, Clinton Portis did pretty well for himself. He received a $9.32 million signing bonus when he restructured in March, and the Redskins guaranteed his 2008 and 2009 salaries, the Washington Post reports. The club also locked in a sizable chunk of his 2010 pay. |
Our View: So you're saying Portis isn't in danger of being cut, huh? Clinton led the NFL with 325 carries in 2007, and we expect the Redskins to continue leaning heavily on him. Whether his body can take it or not is a big question.
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| The Steelers officially announced on Monday that Max Starks has signed his one-year, transition tag tender. The deal is worth nearly $6.9 million, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review confirms. Starks lost his starting right tackle job in 2007, but he filled in at left tackle late in the season. He'll have a chance to regain his starting gig this summer. |
Our View: That's a hefty price to pay for a guy who isn't necessarily assured of a job. We still believe the Steelers will make offensive line a priority in the upcoming draft.
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| The Atlanta Falcons announced that they have re-signed running back Corey McIntyre, according to NFL.com. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. |
Our View: McIntyre, who is the backup fullback, resides behind Ovie Mughelli on the depth chart.
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| The Miami Dolphins flirtation with Michigan tackle Jake Long over the past few weeks has been well-publicized, but this morning with six days to go before the draft, a league source is indicating that a contract agreement is nearly in place, according to NBC Sports. |
Our View: If this deal gets finalized it would be a step in the right direction of repairing an offensive line that has allowed 83 sacks over the past two seasons. Additionally, St. Louis is expected to select defensive end Chris Long, if this rumor turns into reality.
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| Defensive end Jared Allen is back home in California contemplating the Minnesota Vikings’ contract offer, which is believed to be a six-year deal that includes $25 million in guarantees and carries a total value between $50 million and $60 million, according to the Tampa Tribune. |
Our View: Getting the money straight is only step one in the process. Reportedly, Kansas City will settle for no less than a first- and second-round draft pick for their disgruntled “franchise’’ pass rusher, while Minnesota has supposedly offered their first-round (17th overall) and third-round (73rd overall) picks in the 2008 NFL draft.
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| Running back Michael Turner, did not practice during the Falcons’ recent minicamp as he continues to recover from offseason shoulder surgery; however, he is in good enough shape to participate in a practice of greater significance, like training camp, according to Pro Football Weekly. |
Our View: It sounds like the organization is being cautious with the prized free-agent, but we will continue to monitor this story.
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| Domonique Foxworth signed a one-year, $927,000 tender offer that will keep him with the Denver Broncos during the 2008 season, according to the Denver Post. |
Our View: Foxworth will man the nickel cornerback role behind starters Champ Bailey and Dre Bly.
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| Dewayne Robertson met with the Eagles nearly a month ago to undergo medical tests, but the two sides did not work out a trade. A source tells the Philadelphia Inquirer that a deal is "a long shot but not dead" at this point. |
Our View: The Eagles likely wouldn't want to pay a big price for Robertson, as they used their first-round picks in 2005 and 2006 on defensive tackles.
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| While there are no indications that the 49ers are even considering versatile running back Michael Robinson as the front-runner at fullback, daily team observers believe the 228-pound bruiser wouldn’t be a bad candidate to fill that role, provided he put on 10-15 pounds, according to Pro Football Weekly. It shouldn’t be too hard to find an upgrade for Moran Norris, who regressed last season, and Robinson provides an extra dimension, beyond being just a pile-moving blocker, with his running and receiving skills. |
Our View: During the offseason, San Francisco signed DeShaun Foster to backup Frank Gore. Moving Robinson, who is third on the running back depth chart, to fullback makes some sense if the organization wants to get their best players on the field.
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| Wide receiver was the most popular position group among the 26 draft prospects who paid pre-draft visits to Rams Park this past week, according to Pro Football Weekly. Five receivers, including DeSean Jackson (California) James Hardy (Indiana), Donnie Avery (Houston), Andre Caldwell (Florida) and Limas Sweed (Texas) — paid their respects. |
Our View: Inside skinny suggests head coach Scott Linehan is particularly intrigued by Jackson’s big-play ability, and with Isaac Bruce’s defection to San Francisco, the organization needs help in the slot.
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| Don’t be surprised if Jacksonville tinkers with some 3-4 defensive alignments next season, according to Pro Football Weekly. Despite the fact that the backgrounds of coach Jack Del Rio and new coordinator Gregg Williams are primarily rooted in the 4-3, personnel groupings make the experimentation an enticing option. The Jaguars lack prototypical speed at defensive end; however, their starters have enough bulk to hold up as bookends in three-man fronts. The coaching staff also feels they have the cast of linebackers necessary to dabble in the scheme. |
Our View: The defense has finished top-12 overall or better in every season during Del Rio's five-year tenure, so we don't expect too much "tinkering".
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| There is growing evidence coming out of Carolina that the Panthers have targeted Florida defensive end Derrick Harvey with their 13th overall pick, according to MLive.com. |
Our View: The Lions were hoping Carolina might opt for an offensive tackle but, like the Lions, they know that position can be addressed in the second or third round. The way it appears right now, the Detroit Lions will have to trade up from No. 15 to either No. 11 or No. 12 if they're going to draft Harvey.
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| Houston head coach Gary Kubiak said this week that right guard Fred Weary, currently an unrestricted free agent, is recovering well from a broken right leg and should be ready to play by the time training camp starts, according to Pro Football Weekly. |
Our View: Kubiak said the Texans would have interest in re-signing Weary once he gets healthy. Weary started the first 12 games last season before suffering the injury.
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| Nose tackle Vince Wilfork is in the thick of his conditioning program and claims he’s already lost 10 pounds since getting an early jump on things, according to Pro Football Weekly. “Conditioning is a huge area when playing this sport, especially for me, being able to stay on the field as long as I can,” Wilfork said. |
Our View: Wilfork, who is the linchpin of the Patriots’ 3-4 defense, isn’t an IDP star, but his girth occupies two offensive linemen freeing up the linebacker corps to make tackles.
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| One of the pressing issues confronting the Buffalo Bills is making sure they re-sign wide receiver Lee Evans before he enters the free-agent fray next offseason, according to Pro Football Weekly. |
Our View: Evans is viewed as a premier receiver by those around the league and would command a deal commensurate with some of the game’s elite wide receivers on the open market. Buffalo dishes out the big bucks judiciously, but according to team insiders there is no doubt they’ll pony up the cash to keep Evans in Buffalo, even if it doesn’t happen until deep into the ’08 season.
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| Tight end Quinn Sypniewski tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during the Baltimore Ravens’ recent three-day minicamp, and it’s expected to be a season ending injury, according to the Carroll County Times. |
Our View: This type of injury generally requires 9-12 months of rehabilitation, leaving Daniel Wilcox as Todd Heap’s primary backup. Wilcox is a journeyman type, who has posted 71 receptions during his seven-year career.
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| Eli Manning married college sweetheart Abby McGrew on Saturday during a sunset ceremony on Mexico's Baja Peninsula, according to CBS Sportsline. |
Our View: Manning, 27, and McGrew, 24, smiled and giggled during the 16-minute ceremony. They stood on a platform in the sand as waves crashed on the rocks behind them. Isn’t that special?
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| A 29-year-old man is awaiting extradition to Nevada for attempted murder charges stemming from the Las Vegas strip club melee and triple shooting that resulted in the suspension of Tennessee cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones, according to ESPN. Arvin Kenti Edwards, of Renton, Wash., faces three counts of attempted murder with a weapon and three counts of battery with substantial bodily harm. He was arrested in Yakima County, Washington, where he was already in custody on a domestic violence charge. |
Our View: Three people were shot -- one paralyzed from the waist down -- in the brawl at Minxx strip club that capped a raucous NBA All-Star Weekend in February 2007. Las Vegas police said Jones incited the fight when he "made it rain" by showering strippers with cash and then became angry when the women picked up the money.
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| Kenechi Udeze announced a pair of remarkable developments in his three-month fight against leukemia; the disease is in remission, and the Minnesota Vikings' defensive end has found a bone marrow donor, according to ESPN. |
Our View: Udeze did not rule out participation in the upcoming NFL season, but for now putting the pads back on is not a short-term goal. He must still undergo chemotherapy twice a week and has more progress to make before his body is back to normal.
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| The New Orleans Saints and are still hot for the tight end Jeremy Shockey, according to SI.com. |
Our View: Per Peter King, the deal won’t get done if New York insists on receiving safety Roman Harper plus the Saints’ second-round pick (40th overall). If the Giants were willing to settle for Harper and a sixth-round pick for Shockey, or a second- and sixth-rounder for him, then a trade could possibly get consummated.
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| The New Orleans Saints are serious about trading up into the top four of the 2008 NFL draft, according to SI.com. |
Our View: NFL insider Peter King advises the organization is enamored with LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey, and another unspecified player. The Saints have an explosive offense in place, so we are pretty sure the “unspecified player” would be on the defensive side of the football, possibly USC defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis.
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| Indianapolis Colts running back Kenton Keith was arrested early Sunday morning outside a nightclub on Indianapolis' west side, according to Indianapolis Channel 6 News. Police said Keith, 27, was arrested outside the Cloud 9 nightclub after 3 a.m. on preliminary charges of public intoxication, disorderly conduct, resisting law enforcement and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. |
Our View: Keith played his first season with the Colts in 2007, starting one game. He rushed for 533 yards and four touchdowns. There was no immediate response from the Colts Sunday night.
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| The Chicago Bears will get down to business with Devin Hester's agent, Eugene Parker, this week and try to reach a long-term deal, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. |
Our View: The Bears first approached Parker (about Hester) at the Combine and the sides have had discussions since. It's a complicated matter because there aren't any comparable deals to shape money talks. Hester is unparalleled in NFL history as a returner, and coach Lovie Smith says he has the skills to develop as a No. 1 receiver. Hester will earn a base salary of $445,000 this season and is on the books for $530,000 in 2009.
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| Defensive end Jared Allen left Minnesota without agreeing on a contract because the Chiefs and Vikings couldn't agree on terms of a trade, according to the Kansas City Star. |
Our View: Kansas City wants two first-round picks for Allen; a price that Minnesota head coach Brad Childress isn’t ready to pay.
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