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| With the rumors and headlines starting to ramp up yet again, the New England Patriots have issued a statement concerning the news that Matt Walsh, former assistant claiming to possess evidence of further transgression on the part of coach Bill Belichick and the Patriots, has reached an agreement to meet and discuss these issues with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, according to Patriots.com.
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Our View: The statement reveals little, though the Patriots were quick to note that Walsh is not hampered by any contractual agreement with the team that states he can't talk about such matters, the Patriots agree to be fully compliant with any ongoing investigation, and that the team is focused on the NFL Draft and is anxious to put this episode behind them. The team is placating the oncoming rush of reporters sure to hound team officials for statements. The Patriots are not likely to say much more on the matter.
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| ESPN's Ed Werder has reported that the Titans have agreed in principle to trade Pacman Jones to the Cowboys in exchange for a fourth-round pick. However, because Jones has yet to be reinstated from his suspension, the deal is not yet official. |
Our View: This deal has been rumored for months. We'll let you know what happens with Jones' potential reinstatement.
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| Terry Glenn still appears to be in the plans of the Cowboys as they try to find a compliment to Terrell Owens if you ask owner Jerry Jones, according to the Dallas Morning News. "I am thinking positive about Terry Glenn. I don't have any idea how he is going to continue to go, but he is going to be very much a part of our plans," Jones said. |
Our View: Glenn was a non-entity last season because of his knee, and the hope is that injury and the subsequent surgeries haven't diminished the speed that he needs to contribute.
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| The Bears have re-signed Rashied Davis to a three-year deal on Wednesday, according to the AP. Financial terms were not disclosed. |
Our View: He will likely get more passes thrown his way with Bernard Berrian departed to Minnesota, but probably not enough to make a significant fantasy impact, as Devin Hester is also going to see a higher percentage of passes thrown his way this season. His fantasy value remains marginal.
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| Daunte Culpepper is reportedly on the Packers' radar, according to The Green Bay Press Gazette. He arrived in Green Bay on Tuesday night, and is visiting the team today. |
Our View: He would be brought in as the top backup to Aaron Rodgers, but the team could still add another quarterback through this weekend's draft or via free agency. His fantasy value would remain limited.
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| The Minnesota Vikings and defensive end Jared Allen agreed on a six-year, $73.26 million deal that includes $31 million in guaranteed money, according to NFL.com. The deal will pay $38.4 million in the first three years. |
Our View: No debating the fact that Allen is extremely talented, but that’s a huge investment for a player who could be one strike away from a year long suspension if he is involved in another alcohol related episode. We would be remiss if we didn’t mention the fact that several Minnesota players have had off-the-field issues in the recent past. It should be interesting to track how Allen adapts to his new surroundings.
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| General manager Mickey Loomis spoke excitedly about the progress of last year's first-round draft choice, receiver Robert Meachem, who didn't play a game in 2007 after being slowed by a knee injury in the summer and fall, according to the New Orleans Times-Picayune. "He's had what we would characterize to this point as a great offseason," Loomis said. "He's worked very hard and really never took any time off from the end of last season. He's worked with (veteran receiver) David Patten, who's a great role model for him. He's in great shape. He doesn't have any issues with his knee that he had a year ago. He's done a great job in the weight room and the off-season conditioning program to date, and he did a lot of work before he came to us in our offseason program, and he looks fantastic. There's a determination you can hear in his voice and see in his eye about wanting to prove he was worthy of being a first-round pick, so we feel real good about Robert Meachem right now." |
Our View: Meachem is expected to do battle with Devery Henderson for the No. 3 role, but it’s no secret that the Saints organization would like to see him ascend to the No. 2 spot on the other side of Marques Colston.
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| The Miami Dolphins still don't know whether quarterback John Beck will become a mainstay at the position for years to come - but they at least seem poised to give him a shot, according to the Sporting News. Miami likes Beck's work ethic, his passion and his arm strength. Now, the team will let quarterbacks coach David Lee work with him to tweak a few of his mechanical tendencies, including raising his release point. The Dolphins want Beck to release the ball above his shoulder so that his lack of size (6-2, 216) doesn't become a problem when he is trying to throw over tall linemen. And Beck is definitely open to change. He has thrown nearly 4,000 balls already this offseason, and his relentless work ethic has earned him the early admiration of the new regime. |
Our View: Josh McCown currently sits at the top of the depth chart, but he's nothing more than stopgap solution. We will get a better gauge for how the organization really feels about Beck after the draft, because there are rumors swirling that the organization could select a quarterback with one of their two second round draft picks.
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| Bill Parcells, the vice president of football operations for the Miami Dolphins, had set an internal deadline of Tuesday to get the deal done with tackle Jake Long, or he would have turned to his attention to Virginia defensive end Chris Long, according to ESPN. |
Our View: It never came to that because Parcells instructed his negotiators to begin the negotiating process with Jake Long on April 7, after the organization finalized their draft board with the Michigan tackle at the top.
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| Shaun Alexander has told teammates he has received interest from the Indianapolis Colts and the New England Patriots, according to the Boston Herald. Neither Indianapolis nor New England offers much more than a reserve role for Alexander, but both teams give him a legitimate shot at a championship ring. Alexander will likely receive better offers with the possibility of greater playing time as the offseason progresses. |
Our View: From a fantasy perspective, it’s difficult to overlook the fact that the former MVP’s average yards per carry has dipped in each of the past three seasons. And he has missed nine games due to various injuries in the past two years.
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| An agreement has been completed between the NFL and Matt Walsh that will allow Mr. Walsh, a former videotape operator with the New England Patriots, to share with the NFL information about activities occurring during his employment with the club from 1997-2003, according to NFL.com. Commissioner Roger Goodell will meet with Mr. Walsh in the commissioner’s office on Tuesday, May 13, the earliest date that Mr. Walsh, who lives in Hawaii, will be available on the East Coast. |
Our View: The agreement also requires Mr. Walsh to return any tapes and other items in his possession that belong to the Patriots. In return, the NFL and the Patriots have promised not to sue Mr. Walsh. They also will indemnify him for any expenses, including legal fees that he incurs in connection with the interview.
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| ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported yesterday that the St. Louis Rams, who hold the second pick in the NFL draft, were advised by the NFL management council that they do not have permission to begin negotiations with any player now that the Miami Dolphins have signed Jake Long. The novelty of Long's early signing apparently created some uncertainty. Normally, if the team selecting first signs a player before the draft, it happens in the 24 hours leading up to the first pick, which allows very little time for the team with the second pick. |
Our View: The top 5 picks of the draft have become somewhat of an albatross, since teams have to guarantee between $20-30 million for a rookie, who has never played a down in the league. We think these teams should be able to negotiate with their target, as long as the team above them in the pecking order has a sealed deal with their pick.
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| There’s a good chance that at least two of Seattle’s young reserves at wide receiver will be counted on more often in multiple receiver sets in 2008, according to Pro Football Weekly. With D.J. Hackett walking in free agency and Deion Branch facing an extended rehabilitation from knee surgery, Courtney Taylor and Ben Obomanu, both have the chance to make an impact in 2008. Taylor has the most upside due to his athletic ability and route running prowess, but Obomanu has made the most of his limited opportunities. Additionally, Logan Payne is being groomed to take over in the slot after Bobby Engram, 35, retires and the team is also high on Jordan Kent, who is raw, but has blazing speed and phenomenal athleticism. |
Our View: Dynasty league heads should keep an eye on this situation, as Engram is getting up there in age, and one of these young guys could emerge down the road.
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| The Denver Broncos continue to explore the possibility of moving down from the No. 12 overall pick in 2008 NFL Draft, according to the Denver Post. Logical trade partners would be the Houston Texans, who have the No. 18 pick, and the Dallas Cowboys, who have two first-round selections: Nos. 22 and 28. |
Our View: If the Broncos stand pat, the players they are considering with the 12th overall pick include: Running backs Jonathan Stewart of Oregon and Illinois' Rashard Mendenhall; offensive tackles Ryan Clady of Boise State, Virginia's Branden Albert, Vanderbilt's Chris Williams, and Boston College's Gosder Cherilus; and Miami safety Kenny Phillips.
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| The Miami Dolphins are busy. While they were working to finalize a five-year contract with first-round draft pick Jake Long, they were operating behind the scenes to strike a deal with another undisclosed team for defensive end Jason Taylor, according to CBS Sportsline. |
Our View: The Dolphins are reportedly looking for a mid-to-low first round pick for Taylor, 33, but at his advanced age, they will be lucky to receive anything more than a third-rounder for the veteran defensive lineman.
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| Like all NFL teams, the Buffalo Bills are being secretive about their plans for the draft. But team sources indicate Michigan State wide receiver Devin Thomas is highly regarded at One Bills Drive, according to the Buffalo News. The Bills need to do something to bolster a passing game that ranked 30th in the NFL last season and has ranked among the bottom six in the league for five straight years. |
Our View: Thomas is rated by many draftniks as the best receiver in the draft, but most experts don’t place him among the top 12 players overall. Which means Buffalo would either have to reach for Thomas at No. 11 overall or drop down in the first round and save some money, while still securing the player they desire.
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| The New Orleans Saints have already expressed their interest in Jeremy Shockey and now the Seattle Seahawks and possibly the Atlanta Falcons are interested in working a trade to acquire the disgruntled tight end, according to the New York Daily News. Per media reports the Giants aren't actively trying to trade Shockey, but they are listening to offers and have discussed the possibility. |
Our View: Shockey has been telling friends he wants to go to the Saints, where he would be reunited with head coach Sean Payton - and play in a more tight end friendly offense.
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| The New York Jets own the sixth selection in the 2008 NFL draft, and there is a growing belief around the league that running back Darren McFadden is their primary target. The organization is concerned that Oakland (No. 4) might select the dynamic running back, which could make it necessary for them to trade up (the Rams are at No. 2) for McFadden, according to the New York Daily News. McFadden believes he has convinced the Jets he won't be a problem if they draft him, after visiting with the organization for the second time in less than a week. "I feel like if I'm there at No. 6, they're going to take me," McFadden told the Daily News at a promotional appearance in lower Manhattan. |
Our View: McFadden would certainly add some explosiveness to a bland Jets offense, though he would probably share time with Thomas Jones, if he lands in the Big Apple.
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| FOX 25 has learned that the New England Patriots are close to a deal with Ty Law that would bring the 34-year old cornerback back to Foxboro. |
Our View: The Patriots have already signed three free-agent cornerbacks (Jason Webster, Lewis Sanders and Fernando Bryant), and it appears they are interested in adding additional competition to the unit that lost Asante Samuel and Randall Gay to free agency.
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| David Tyree will be out of commission for the next couple of months after undergoing surgery on his right knee last week, according to the New Jersey Star-Ledger. Tyree didn’t reveal the details of the injury and said he didn't suffer it during the off-season workouts; however, he did say it "locked up on him" at some point in the last couple of weeks and not during last season. |
Our View: Tyree hopes to be 100 percent for training camp, but his fantasy value is limited, due to the fact he sits on the fifth rung of the New York Giants wide receiver depth chart.
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| The New Orleans Saints are interested in dealing for a draft pick higher than their current No. 10 slot in the first round, but have had only informal talks about it, according to NFL.com. "We've talked to a number of teams in front of us about the possibility of moving forward. It's all preliminary discussion," general manager Mickey Loomis said. "We've just expressed a desire to talk about it with a number of teams." |
Our View: There are rumors circulating that the organization is very interested in fortifying their interior defensive line with either Glenn Dorsey or Sedrick Ellis. Dorsey would be a nice drawing card in the Big Easy, after playing his college football at LSU.
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| Indianapolis running back Kenton Keith will only be charged with one count of criminal trespassing for refusing to leave a nightclub parking lot being cleared by police, according to ESPN. Keith will not face the charges of disorderly conduct, resisting law enforcement, public intoxication and contributing to the delinquency of a minor on which he was arrested early Sunday, said Matthew Symons, a spokesman for the Marion County prosecutor's office. |
Our View: Last season was Keith's first with the Colts after playing in the Canadian Football League. He ran for 533 yards and scored four touchdowns, backing up Joseph Addai. In the grand scheme of things, this is a fairly minor brush with the law, but according to team sources head coach Tony Dungy will be tempted to sever ties with Keith if he's found guilty of the charges.
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| The New England Patriots signed veteran free agent defensive lineman Kenny Smith, according to the Boston Globe. |
Our View: Smith participated in training camp with the Patriots last year, but was cut before the season began. Smith provides defensive line depth, but the odds are long for him to secure a roster spot.
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| The Arizona Cardinals have no interest in dealing wide receiver Anquan Boldin, despite trade inquiries from other teams and a trade request by Boldin's agent, according to ESPN. "We're not interested in trading Anquan," general manager Rod Graves said. "That's the short of it." Boldin is reportedly unhappy with his contract after the organization re-signed fellow receiver Larry Fitzgerald to a four-year, $40 million deal. |
Our View: The Washington Redskins and Philadelphia Eagles have both made inquires into the availability of Boldin, but for now Arizona is standing pat.
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| New York Jets tight end Chris Baker, disgruntled with his contract status and management's apparent refusal to renegotiate, has left the team's offseason strength and conditioning program in protest, according to FOX Sports. Baker, fresh off the best season of his career, caught 41 passes last season and became more of a focal point in the Jets' offense. He has two years remaining on his $6.6 million contract. |
Our View: Good luck getting more money out of the Jets, who spent $140 during the offseason upgrading the roster. The front office exacerbated this situation by signing tight end Bubba Franks to a $1.65 million deal, which is more than Baker is being paid in 2008.
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| Lawyers for the NFL and former New England video assistant Matt Walsh are close to a deal in which information and materials pertaining to past videotaping practices would be handed over to the league, according to FOX Sports. A report in February alleged the Patriots’ might have had access to tapes of a walkthrough by the St. Louis Rams on the day before their Super Bowl loss to New England in 2002. Head coach Bill Belichick has emphatically denied ever seeing footage of an opponent's practice or ordering a practice taped. |
Our View: Walsh has agreed to talk to the league but the date of the meeting is uncertain. It is believed Walsh has been negotiating for complete indemnification. A source with knowledge of the negotiations expects the NFL to announce the agreement today.
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| The St. Louis Rams possess the No. 2 overall pick in the 2008 draft, and have plenty of options, according to ESPN. |
Our View: LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey is the top-rated player on their board, but the organization is also weighing trade offers from the New York Jets and New Orleans Saints. If a trade goes down, it would more likely be with the Jets, as moving down to the No. 6 is much more palatable, than moving all the way down to No. 10.
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| Don't believe for a second that the Kansas City Chiefs will use their draft picks to move up in order to select Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan, according to ESPN. The Chiefs still plan to go with Brodie Croyle as their starter, as they aren't ready to hand over the starting job or the franchise to a rookie quarterback in 2008. |
Our View: The Chiefs have holes all over the roster so it doesn’t make much sense to package picks in order to move up. The trade of Jared Allen creates a gaping hole at defensive end, and the offensive line is in shambles as well. This is a critical draft for the Chiefs, who have six of the top 82 picks in the draft.
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| A federal judge has denied the NFL's motion that he vacate his earlier ruling that allows suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick to keep $16.5 million in bonuses, according to ESPN. U.S. District Judge David Doty also declined the NFL's motion that he recuse himself from the case, after the league accused him of bias. |
Our View: Doty had jurisdiction over the case because he has long handled matters arising from the NFL's collective bargaining agreement with its players and has developed special expertise along the way. In his 15-page ruling Tuesday, he wrote that the NFL had failed to meet the "high bar" necessary to get a judge disqualified.
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| Owner Jerry Jones said his pursuit of suspended Tennessee cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones remains stuck in neutral following the arrest of a man in the nightclub shooting, according to ESPN. "I only know what I've read about that," Jones said. "Just take that on its face." At a news conference to discuss the draft, Jones repeated his stance from last week - that talks with Tennessee heated up at the owners meetings and there's been "no movement there" of late.
"I don't know that this draft is going to create any energy, either," Jones said. |
Our View: Any missteps by Pacman could hurt his chances of coming back, which is why the Cowboys must scrutinize every new headline before deciding whether to acquire him.
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| General manager Jerry Angelo indicated that the Bears won't budge off their contract offer to linebacker Brian Urlacher, who has been skipping the team's voluntary workouts while seeking a contract extension, according to ESPN. "You're not going to have one big happy family," Angelo told reporters. "You who have kids and raise families understand it doesn't happen in your homes, and it certainly isn't going to happen at Halas Hall when you have 53 kids and we have to make every one of them happy. It's just not reality." |
Our View: Urlacher, currently signed through 2011, has been offered a one-year extension with a $5 million guaranteed signing bonus and an extra $1 million per year if he plays 85 percent of the team's defensive snaps. Urlacher, whose current deal is for nine years and $56 million, including a $13 million signing bonus, wants a multiyear extension with more guaranteed money. Urlacher is in a tough spot in this situation, because he is currently recovering from neck surgery and reportedly has a degenerative condition in his back.
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| It is unlikely that the Dallas Cowboys will have a contract extension in place with running back Marion Barber prior to the NFL draft, according to the Dallas Morning News. "That's not in any way to diminish how important our talks with Barber are. Let me be real clear about that," owner Jerry Jones said. "It's just that, first of all, nothing is going to happen between today and the draft anyway. I'm going to assume, just as we have both in the long term and the short term, that we'll get something worked out with Marion." Jones also made sure to note that he'd be fine without getting a high-round back, and having to put a heavier load on Barber. |
Our View: The two sides have a wide gap to close in the negotiations. The Cowboys have offered a deal in the $30 million range, while Barber wants between $40-60 million. Early in the season it sounded like Jones was infatuated with Darren McFadden, and might possibly move up in the draft to select him. However, those rumblings have died down, thus we expect Barber to receive an increased workload in 2008.
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| Seattle defensive tackle Rocky Bernard pleaded not guilty to a charge of domestic violence in a court hearing at the King County Correctional facility in downtown Seattle, according to the Tacoma News Tribune. "This is the situation," Bernard's attorney, Jon Fox, said after the hearing. "We are going to investigate, find out facts and everything we can about the case. Then we will determine where we are headed with this thing. We really can't have any comment beyond that. That is where we are at." |
Our View: There was a no-contact order issued, and Bernard is not allowed within 500 feet of the victim, who is also the mother of his child. Bernard was arrested early Monday morning on a charge of domestic violence. According to Seattle police, Bernard struck the victim with a closed fist and the hit at the victim's car's windows as she tried to leave.
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| Cincinnati head coach Marvin Lewis, who initially denied the team had received offers for receiver Chad Johnson, confirmed to ESPN that the Bengals turned down Washington's offer of two picks over the weekend. The Redskins offered their first-round pick, No. 21 overall, and a conditional third-rounder in 2009 that could escalate to a first-rounder if Johnson and the Redskins hit certain performance levels. |
Our View: The organization has been steadfast in their stance that Johnson will either play in Cincinnati, or sit out the entire season. It will be interesting to see if any teams, Philly and Dallas are reportedly interested, can come up with an offer too good for the Bengals to refuse, with the 2008 NFL draft fast approaching.
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