NFL Columns

Lions might draft backup QB? Don't believe it
"One thing is for certain. The Detroit Lions will not draft a quarterback in the first round of the draft this year. However, Lions coach Jim Schwartz opened the door to the possibility that they might do it at some point later in the draft. While discussing how the Lions are going to fill their backup quarterback position (behind Matthew Stafford), Schwartz said: "We'll weigh each option. We'll keep grinding until we find a good fit and something that makes sense. There are a lot of different ways you can go there with older players and, while you can take that first-round draft pick off, maybe at some point in the draft, a quarterback makes sense. "I don't think we've gone into this ..."
Tim Tebow's Wonderlic score? It's a wonder anyone cares
"Tim Tebow took some severe poundings at Florida and kept coming back for more. Now we're supposed to believe that a mild Wonderlicking is enough to put his pro football career in jeopardy? No chance. Scoring a below-average 22 on the 12-minute Wonderlic exam given players at the NFL Scouting Combine won't be what keeps the former Heisman Trophy winner from being drafted high enough to matter as a pro quarterback candidate. If teams pass on him, it will be because they don't like what they see on the field, not what this SAT-style test demonstrates to be floating around inside Tebow's helmet. If this test of a person's basic problem-solving abilities is a valid indicator of who should be ..."
Death of Hall of Famer Merlin Olsen saddens 'Fearsome' mate
"When he received word Thursday morning that close friend and former teammate Merlin Olsen had succumbed to cancer, Rosey Grier cried. He had planned to visit Olsen at a Los Angeles area hospital Wednesday but was told by Olsen's brother, Phil, that it probably would be better if he waited until Friday."So Phil put the phone to his ear and we were able to talk," Grier said by telephone Thursday. "He sounded sick but the thing was, he still sounded like Merlin." Grier paused to collect himself before continuing. "I loved that man," he said. "I really loved him." Olsen, who was 69, died from complications related to malignant mesothelioma, which erodes the protective lining around the lungs. ..."
A Clinton Portis-Larry Johnson backfield: What's it all about?
"With Friday's signing of Larry Johnson, the Redskins' top two backs are Clinton Portis and Johnson. Wow. There are a million directions, if not more, I could take this post about those two and their history. It might be more productive, however, to simply focus on what such a tandem could mean for Washington's backfield. Johnson, as I'm sure most astute Insider readers are well aware, was a classic power runner in his prime. In fact, earlier this decade, Johnson was second to none as a downhill runner. His punishing style and above-average speed for a back his size (he's listed at 6 feet 1, 230 pounds) helped Johnson rush for more than 1,700 yards with at least 17 rushing touchdowns in ..."
Spare me the change
"We're now a week into NFL free agency and the Patriots have been polishing up their return game. Their motto: No change is good. The status quo has elicited a lot of woe from Patriots fans and pigskin prognosticators who have been disappointed by the team's retention strategy following a 10-6 season and an ignominious first-round playoff defeat. The constant complaint as the Patriots have re-signed their own free agents -- nose tackle Vince Wilfork, cornerback Leigh Bodden, linebacker Tully Banta-Cain, right guard Stephen Neal and running back Kevin Faulk -- without making a major addition from outside is that the Patriots haven't gotten any better. Well, they certainly haven't gotten any ..."
Poll on Tim Tebow puts Jaguars GM in awkward spot
"A teleconference fan forum conducted by the Jaguars on Tuesday, a good idea designed to engage season-ticket holders and encourage them to renew, turned into an embarrassment when word got out that a poll revealed participants were against drafting Tim Tebow by a 55-45 percent margin. It was an innocent question aimed at entertaining the fans, but the fallout was harsh. Some ESPN on-air talent mistakenly assumed that general manager Gene Smith, who participated in the fan forum, had something to do with initiating the Tebow poll. Anybody with an understanding of how an NFL front office works would know that is an absurd notion. Smith and major Jaguars decision-makers had no idea the Tebow ..."
Concussion awareness makes major strides
"Active players were represented at the two-day symposium called: "Is Football Bad for the Brain?", which concludes today at Duquesne University. But today's players have done much to advance concussion awareness during the past couple of years, a handful of experts said Friday. That players are more forthcoming than ever about brain injuries has helped change the culture that has long prevailed in football and aided experts as they tackle the issue of managing concussions. "We're much farther along than where we were five years ago," Dr. Kevin Guskiewicz, who chairs the department of exercise and sports science at the University of North Carolina, said of players' attitudes toward ..."
Authors explore Art Rooney's roots, life
"Art Rooney is remembered as the congenial owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers. His profile -- a thatch of white hair offset by thick eyeglasses, an ever-present cigar in his mouth -- is cherished by many sports fans. Lost in time is the image of Rooney in his youth: solidly built with whippet-like speed, a multi-sport athlete whose talents emerged at an early age. As a teenager in the late 1910s, Rooney was akin to Terrelle Pryor, the talented athlete from Jeannette High School who currently plays quarterback at Ohio State. When he was only 16, Rooney played for sandlot baseball teams against the Homestead Grays, the Kansas City Monarchs and the House of David. Rooney was one of the best ..."
Oakland Raiders need to sign Terrell Owens
"T.O. a Raider?Assuming he came at a reasonable price, there's only one pertinent question: How fast can he get here?Even with the admittedly loose standards of Internet journalism, the Terrell Owens-could-be-a-Raider story is a flimsy one.But Al Davis just loves picking up Hall of Famers en route to retirement. He also doesn't believe in chemistry, and even invoked Owens' initials once when making his point."
Fossil hunting could become a great gig for the Vikings
"He's too old. He's washed up. Just look at how much he struggled last season. LaDainian Tomlinson? Well, yeah, those things are being said about L.T. But that's not whom I was thinking about. In the months leading up to the Vikings' signing of Brett Favre, those were the knocks on ol' No. 4. And you know how that turned out. Tomlinson could turn into another feel-good story for the Vikings — if they can persuade him to sign with them. After spending most of Thursday at the Vikings' Winter Park facility, Tomlinson left in a black limo while clutching a purple jersey. (Don't read too much into the jersey. The team usually gives visiting free agents jerseys.) Tomlinson plans to keep an ..."
Brewster has nothing but high praise for LT
"If the Vikings listen to Gophers football coach Tim Brewster, they will sign former Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson on his visit here Thursday. Brewster spent three years on the Chargers staff as tight ends coach from 2002 to '04, taking on additional duties as assistant head coach in 2004. "He takes an extremely professional attitude to a job," Brewster said of Tomlinson, perhaps the NFL's greatest running back of the past decade. "He's one of the hardest-working players I've ever been around. He's one of the classiest players. He does a great job of helping young players." Asked if Tomlinson, who turns 31 this summer, has anything left, Brewster said: "Absolutely, in the right ..."
For 1st title, LT willing to play 2nd fiddle
"LaDainian Tomlinson is humbling himself for the chance to be exalted. The most accomplished running back still active has swallowed his pride, checked his ego and traveled to Minnesota to discuss a supporting role behind pro football's foremost fumbler, Adrian Peterson. Though this is tantamount to Aretha Franklin auditioning to sing backup for Lady Gaga, it is consistent with LT's stated purpose and top priority: to chase a championship. Tomlinson has more money than he will ever need and enough fame for 10 lifetimes. What he lacks after nine mostly splendid seasons with the Chargers is the validation of ultimate victory, the closure only a Super Bowl can bring. Toward that elusive end, ..."
Rams dig deep on Suh's pro day
"By the time the plane from St. Louis landed at the airport early Thursday morning, the thick fog and ugly white-out conditions that had swirled around the University of Nebraska's indoor football practice facility just past sunrise already had begun to improve dramatically. But let's get real here. It would have taken a lot more than a potential blizzard to have kept Rams general manager Billy Devaney and his new road partner Steve Spagnuolo from another excellent football adventure like this. There's no place on earth quite like Lincoln in the early spring, when the snow, slush, freezing rain and fog make it just a little slice of football heaven. Consider this Stop No. 3 on Billy and ..."
Jake would start for Browns
"With Jake Delhomme visiting the Cleveland Browns in search of another job, the question is not whether he'll get one. Delhomme will be working somewhere in 2010 in the NFL. The question is whether he will be a starter. There are very few places you could say yes, but I would bet you Cleveland is one. The Browns' QB situation is a mess, as this article from the Cleveland paper notes. Noted QB guru Mike Holmgren is now the Browns team president and is going to overhaul the QB position. He already has started, in fact, releasing Derek Anderson and trading for former Seattle backup QB Seneca Wallace."
Shawn Andrews' tweets: Follow if you can
"Newspapers are finished. It's true. Old-school scribes can't compete with the modern digital bard. The first story I had professionally published ran 14 years ago. Everything I've penned since then has been garbage - at least relative to the stuff Shawn Andrews is tweeting. Compared with him, we're all Tucker Max, slopping words onto the page and lowering the level of the language. Twitter and athletes is an old story. This isn't about that. This is about Andrews and how Twitter has become his addiction and best form of expression, which is great for the rest of us (though I suspect the Eagles organization might not agree). For that reason alone, the Birds should keep Andrews around. ..."
Trust is the key for Peppers
"Julius Peppers has cruised on the bling-crusted path to athletic superstardom, dominating at Southern Nash Senior High and at the University of North Carolina -- where he also dabbled in basketball -- and distinguishing himself as a Pro Bowl player in five of his eight seasons for the Carolina Panthers. He enjoys the fruits of his labor -- he owns a lakefront home, flies first class and drives three luxury vehicles -- yet he also defies some of the unofficial requisites of the uber-elite athlete. He isn't a self-promoter or a prolific pitchman, and he doesn't roll to nightclubs every weekend with an entourage. Sure, he purchased 25 bottles of champagne last Friday at a Chicago club, hours ..."
"A start" to ending gang killings
"For three years, Rosalind Williams waited for justice for her murdered son. For three weeks, she sat stoically in a Denver courtroom, still waiting. During the prosecution's closing argument, they put up the awful postmortem close -up of a bullet jacket in her son's neck. She maintained, still waiting. And when the judge read the guilty verdicts on all counts against Willie Clark in that stone-silent courtroom Thursday morning, she wept. A few minutes later, she stepped to a microphone and put into words the lesson her son's death brought home to his adopted city: "Something has to happen in society for us to stop gang violence," she said. "It just has to stop." It took the death of ..."
Merlin Olsen was Hall-of-Famer in many ways
""It's just hard to accept he's not here anymore." Those were the words of former Rams coach Chuck Knox upon hearing the news Thursday that Hall-of-Fame defensive tackle Merlin Olsen had passed away earlier that morning after a short battle with mesothelioma. Olsen, 69, was diagnosed less than a year ago, and began treatment for the usually fatal form of cancer brought on by exposure to asbestos. Late in 2009, he filed a lawsuit, naming at least 27 companies that allegedly and negligently exposed him to asbestos during his life, including as early as when he was 10 or 11 years old and did manual labor. Named in the lawsuit are NBC Studios and NBC Universal. After his NFL career, Olsen was ..."
Spagnuolo has more than first round on his mind
"While St. Louis fans and NFL pundits are gaga over whom the soon-to-be-sold Rams will select with the first pick in the April 22 NFL draft, head coach Steve Spagnuolo and his staff are also searching for those valued diamonds in the rough. Playoff teams are peppered with them. The Rams need some of them badly. The rosters of the league's best teams seem to always include a solid – if not spectacular - quarterback. The final eight teams playing this season had these starting quarterbacks: Drew Brees, Brett Favre, Joe Flacco, Payton Manning, Philip Rivers, Tony Romo, Mark Sanchez and Kurt Warner. The Baltimore Ravens' Flacco is still a work in progress, but has led his team to the playoffs ..."
Matt Leinart no sure thing as Arizona Cardinals QB
"NFL quarterbacks seeking work should find the Cardinals an attractive potential employer, partly because coach Ken Whisenhunt treats the position much like any other. Kurt Warner announced his retirement more than a month ago, yet Whisenhunt has yet to officially name Matt Leinart the starter, even though he's the only quarterback on the roster. Whisenhunt has professed confidence in Leinart at every opportunity but also joked that he doesn't have many alternatives. After three years under Whisenhunt, Leinart probably expects nothing more. Some coaches coddle quarterbacks. Whisenhunt, however, seems to prefer the creative tension created by competition for the job, and that should be a big ..."
Brewster has nothing but high praise for LT
"If the Vikings listen to Gophers football coach Tim Brewster, they will sign former Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson on his visit here Thursday. Brewster spent three years on the Chargers staff as tight ends coach from 2002 to '04, taking on additional duties as assistant head coach in 2004. "He takes an extremely professional attitude to a job," Brewster said of Tomlinson, perhaps the NFL's greatest running back of the past decade. "He's one of the hardest-working players I've ever been around. He's one of the classiest players. He does a great job of helping young players." Asked if Tomlinson, who turns 31 this summer, has anything left, Brewster said: "Absolutely, in the right ..."
Tomlinson deserves offer he can't refuse
"You've heard the talk about LaDainian Tomlinson: He's no longer an elite running back, not nearly as dangerous as he once was. And it's true. Tomlinson isn't a franchise back. If he were, the San Diego Chargers never would have released him. The thing is, he doesn't have to be the LaDainian Tomlinson of old. The current version is plenty good enough to help the Vikings, and not just on the field. Tomlinson is a class act. And a leader. And the kind of player who could have an influence on the entire locker room and, in particular, Adrian Peterson. Tomlinson has eight fumbles in his career. If just that part of Tomlinson rubs off on Peterson, he would be worth his weight and then some in ..."
Rams need to show some fortitude and draft Bradford
"As the Rams ponder their options for the No. 1 overall draft pick, it's probably a good time to ask a pertinent question: Are the Rams ready to rejoin the National Football League? The NFL has evolved dramatically in recent years. This is a passing league now. The salary-cap system went into place in 1994, or 16 seasons ago. Over that time, the league's second-highest average of passing yards per game occurred in 2009, and the fourth-highest passing average came in 2008. In terms of average yards per attempt, four of the five best passing seasons since '94 have come over the last four seasons. These aren't meaningless yards, either. If a team is incapable of doing considerable damage ..."
Trial a teaching moment
"With the Darrent Williams murder trial in a state of suspended animation as the jury deliberates downtown, kids in east Denver had a question: Just how successful do you have to be to avoid getting shot? "We had a discussion with our kids at our afterschool program about it just because it's all in the media and our kids, they see it on the news," said Terrance Roberts, executive director of the Prodigal Son Initiative, a gang prevention program in Tre Tre Crips territory. "Their parents know some of the perpetrators, even some family members of some of our kids, like distant cousins or different things," Roberts said. "Denver's not that big, so pretty much east Denver, where we run our ..."
Not everyone is ready to forgive Eagles' Vick
"Nearly 100 of them were out there, yelling, carrying signs. More people protested against Michael Vick on the night when he was one of 32 NFL players receiving an Ed Block Courage Award than at any single event during his season with the Eagles. Almost all of the signs were printable. Vick's Sick Not Courageous Shame on the Eagles! Michael Vick has no courage! Electrifying Dogs Drowning Dogs Dog Fighting Since when is this courage? You get the idea. The lesson is that this is not over. Even after a season with the Eagles, after all the emotions the town experienced at the time of his signing, after everybody got used to seeing him play, after the season wore on and he ended up doing a ..."
Denver defense back on track
"The Oh'Jays — Justin, Jarvis and Jamal — have ridden the Love Train into Denver. The Broncos' reconstruction period continues to build momentum and build a contemporary team. In one year, from March to March, Josh McDaniels has created a new regeneration at Dove Valley. These are not your Shanahan's Broncos. With the addition of Justin Bannan, Jarvis Green and Jamal Williams — 18 feet, 9 inches high and 880 pounds wide — the Broncos have a fresh starting defensive line. Overall, the McDee-Fence has signed 17 free agents, drafted four players and changed three others to different positions. The offense isn't so far behind. At least five, maybe more, of its 2010 starters will be McDaniels' ..."
Javon Walker was merely the latest of costly free agents around the Bay Area
"Though it's exceedingly difficult for a man of action and authority to admit error, such admissions are even harder for a legendary sports executive. Maybe that's why it took Al Davis two years to dump Javon Walker. Though the troubled wide receiver needed to go, he is but the latest NFL free agent to show up here only to leave his bosses bathing in regret. Named by NFL Network as the worst free-agent signing of all time, Walker might not be the worst to hit the Bay Area. Having been provided a deep field of contenders by the Raiders and 49ers, we submit these as the 10 most regrettable NFL free agents in local history. 10: Strong safety Gibril Wilson, who received from Oakland a six-year ..."
Jaguars can't resist urge to splurge on Aaron Kampman
"Well, so much for the Jaguars being flea-market shoppers in NFL free agency. Anybody who thought this franchise would only try to win on the cheap, or not make any moves to excite the fan base, needs to rethink that misguided logic. Given the right circumstances, the Jaguars will open up the checkbook. That's why they never let Aaron Kampman go anywhere after making Jacksonville his first visit, handing him $11 million in guaranteed money to stake his future here. It's hard not to like this transaction. The 30-year-old Kampman is a high-motor pass rusher who figures to be a lot more productive than Hugh Douglas or Bryce Paup, neither of whom proved worthy of owner Wayne Weaver's ..."
McNabb is the king of generating Philly talk
"ON JAN. 26 of this year, in an upset of epic proportions, Chase Utley's photo appeared on the back page of this newspaper the same day a story comparing Donovan McNabb and Brett Favre appeared inside. There are few things more certain in our world than writing about McNabb one day and seeing his image on the back page the next. Death. Taxes. Outrage over Rollie Massimino ditching the Big 5 any time a positive article about Villanova appears. With that in mind, and the Academy Awards in the rearview mirror, and because everyone likes to make lists and rank things, I propose to list this town's can't-miss topics when it comes to tapping outrage. No. 1 is McNabb, hands down, a rank that has ..."
Dunta Robinson: Another key piece in a growing colossus
"Every big-ticket free agent says he's happy to have signed with his new team, for good reason: He has just punched a very big ticket. But Dunta Robinson wasn't just happy Monday - he was ecstatic. The Falcons' new cornerback was introduced to the media and did something previously believed impossible: He out-gushed Arthur Blank. "This red and black - I can't believe I'm standing in front of it," Robinson said, gesturing to the Falcons-themed backdrop. Actually, Robinson wanted to play for two teams that wear red and black, but one turned him down. He longed to be a Bulldog, but the hometown school, which was nearing the end of Jim Donnan's regime, didn't want him. (Robinson wound up at ..."
Ravens' passing game is better, but one more catch needed
"On paper, it appears the Ravens have upgraded their passing game, and that answer will come in time. But if they want to solidify it even more before the regular season begins, the Ravens need to add another wide receiver or tight end. If there is one area the Ravens have improved, it's speed, with the additions of Anquan Boldin and Donte' Stallworth. But there are still a lot of questions surrounding the Ravens heading into the 2010 season. If Boldin and Stallworth play up to the standards they set years ago, then the Ravens are in great shape. But if they have problems fighting through recent injuries again, then the Ravens are in trouble. We've seen substantial development in ..."
Trial shows glimpse of underworld
"With all the talk of intimidation at his murder trial Monday, I couldn't help thinking of what Darrent Williams had to say on the subject. It was the summer of 2005. Williams was a rookie Broncos cornerback. He had just spent part of his Saturday night checking Marvin Harrison, then one of the NFL's top receivers, in a preseason game. He held his own too. Afterward, he was asked the predictable questions about feeling intimidated as a 22-year-old cover guy trying to come between Harrison and Peyton Manning, the most prolific receiver-quarterback combination in NFL history. He gave us that big, gap- toothed grin. "I'm not really intimidated by too much besides God and my mom," he said. His ..."
Bills fail to provide sign of hope
"With free agency under way and the NFL entering an uncapped year, teams in the AFC East are losing no time in declaring their intentions to compete for a Super Bowl. The Dolphins signed Karlos Dansby, a free agent linebacker from Arizona, to a five-year, $43 million deal. The Jets acquired cornerback Antonio Cromartie for a conditional third-round draft pick. The Patriots re-signed nose tackle Vince Wilfork and linebacker Tully Banta-Cain, pulling back two defensive stalwarts from the unrestricted market. Meanwhile, the Bills were deep in talks with marginal offensive linemen. On Saturday, they entertained Wade Smith, a backup guard. On Monday, they signed Cornell Green, who started for ..."
I'm sorry the "Hoooov" got the ax
"The Carolina Panthers have confirmed today that they have released veteran fullback Brad Hoover, one of the team's most well-liked citizens and a heckuva blocking back for the past 10 years. The "Hoov" had one of the great Panther names in history -- it was so easy to yell "Hoooooooooov!" whenever he got one of his rare carries or ran over somebody on a short pass for a first down. The Western Carolina product and Thomasville native was an undrafted rookie free agent a decade ago and made a great career for himself. Stop me if you've heard this before, though: The Panthers are going to go younger and cheaper at the position. Panther coach John Fox said last week that football "was a young ..."
Feeley? Garcia? There's always a market for a solid backup
"Every year during free agency, we tend to see veteran QBs - players who haven't had a big impact on Sundays for a while - jump into the news. Names we haven't seen in the box scores for years draw interest, a market is created and multiple teams start to battle for their services. Take A.J. Feeley, for example -- a QB with starting experience, but a QB who hasn't contributed much in terms of wins for a while. On the first day of free agency, our own Aaron Wilson was on the trail of how Feeley ended up in St. Louis with a two-year deal. Today, the NFP's Joe Fortenbaugh wrote about Jeff Garcia and the interest shown by the N.Y. Giants, who just lost another QB name in David Carr. Two more ..."
Seneca Wallace has the tools and the knowledge to be Browns' starting QB this fall
"Introducing your starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns ... Seneca Wallace? Don't count it out. "He's accurate, he's decisive, he's got a strong arm and drives defenses crazy because he's very mobile," a league source said of Wallace. The perennial Seattle Seahawks backup quarterback came to the Browns in a trade Monday night for an undisclosed 2011 draft pick believed to be in the middle rounds. But nobody in the NFL probably values Wallace more than Browns President Mike Holmgren. Most Browns fans have never seen Wallace play because he has sat behind Matt Hasselbeck in far-flung Seattle for seven years. Hasselbeck's frequent injuries put Wallace on the field for spot duty. ..."
With Dansby on board, Miami Dolphins should draft Dez Bryant
"Two main thoughts strike me about the Dolphins signing Karlos Dansby as their signature prize in free agency. Well, the very first thing is to wonder why so many parents feel the need to take perfectly decent, normal names and jazz them up, like Carlos with a K. Will ask Edd or Cyndi when I see them. But that's a fleeting muse, not a thought. The first actual football thought is to wonder if Dansby will live up to the money and hype. No doubt he is a solid player in his prime, one who makes Miami's defense better. But the Dolphins just lavished the richest contract in NFL history for an inside linebacker -- $43 million over five years, with half of that guaranteed -- on a player yet to ..."
Green Bay Packers fiill one need, but another lingers
"The Green Bay Packers addressed one critical need during the first weekend of NFL free agency, but remain desperate to fill another gaping hole. The Packers' re-signing of left tackle Chad Clifton was imperative to safeguard franchise quarterback Aaron Rodgers and to avoid the disastrous pass protection problems that plagued them during the first half of last season. However, the loss of free agent Aaron Kampman to the Jacksonville Jaguars, while not a surprise, could be a serious blow to the Packers' hopes of generating a credible pass rush next season. Unless the Packers get linebacker Clay Matthews some help rushing the quarterback, they will be vulnerable to the kind of pass-happy ..."
Now Allen needs to be a master of his trade
"Bruce Allen soon may prove to be his father's son. George Allen loved trading players and picks as the Redskins' coach. He rebuilt the roster in a series of moves after arriving from Los Angeles in 1971, relying so much on players from his former organization that the team earned the nickname "Ramskins." Now Washington general manager Bruce Allen has a chance to wheel-and-deal, too. During a slow opening weekend of free agency, owner Dan Snyder's zinger about his lack of compassion for the Cowboys was the biggest news out of Redskins Park. The Redskins signed a journeyman guard and missed on two offensive tackles. Indeed, Washington seems to be shopping at Wal-Mart; it's certainly not the ..."
Yeah , David Carr - that's the ticket
"It would be unfair to make the claim that the 49ers are raising ticket prices this coming season just to cover the cost of signing quarterback David Carr. And yet, it is also an opportunity not to be missed. After a day of seemingly meaningless jousting, the 49ers and Carr agreed to a deal Sunday that dooms Shaun Hill but in no other way makes San Francisco materially better. Now that he's signed, Carr becomes nothing more than the new Hill, only Alex Smith is an easier hurdle to clear than Eli Manning was for Carr last year. If what we hear about the 49ers not going whole hog for high-ticket talent in the uncapped year is true, Carr might end up being the team's biggest signing. All this ..."
Addition of Peppers to Bears' D-line makes Harris a happy lineman
"Tommie Harris believes he will be more effective on the Bears' defensive line because of the signing of Julius Peppers. "Who are you going to double-team on our defensive line now? Pick your poison, because you can't double everyone," Harris said. The injury-plagued Harris says he physically is ready to go. "When you play in the NFL you are never going to feel 100 percent, but I do feel better than I have in a long time," he said. "I started a new workout program that includes a lot of work in the swimming pool. I had no idea how much the water could help me train and feel better.""
With Dunta signed, do the Falcons still draft for D? I say yes
"The Falcons are holding Dunta Robinson's introductory press briefing today at 5 p.m. at the palatial Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation offices, and I'll be wandering over for the festivities. But first I want to think out loud. (Always dangerous, I'll grant you.) With Robinson signed and Brian Williams re-signed, the Falcons have their starting cornerbacks. Pretty much everyone had them ticketed to draft a cornerback in Round 1, but that thinking would seem to have been rendered inoperative. At issue now: Have the Falcons shored up their secondary - and thereby their defense - to the extent that they're free to draft an offensive player in Round 1 should someone of worth be available at ..."
Vikings have plan to get Favre to return
"Rest assured the Vikings, the Wilf family that owns the team, coach Brad Childress and others in the organization have a plan they will follow to try to get Brett Favre to return for a second season of his contract, one that will pay the 40-year-old quarterback about $13 million in 2010. No doubt one of the first moves in the plan was Childress' visit to Favre's home in Hattiesburg, Miss., where the coach spent all day Wednesday. If Favre didn't have any interest in playing football another year, I would think he would have not welcomed Childress like he did to his home. I believe Favre will definitely come back under the same terms of last season, when he didn't have to take part in ..."
Signing LB Morrison would be Giant help
"There's just one line in the media guide that alerts anyone that Kawika Mitchell ever wore a Giants uniform. Right there, between Mitchell, Harold (tackle, UCLA, 1952) and Mitchell, Pete (tight end, Boston College, 1999-00) is Mitchell, Kawika (linebacker, South Florida, 2007). He came to the Giants as a free agent, signing for the less-than-princely sum of $1 million for one season. That was his entire duration with the Giants, and yet in that time he proved himself to be so valuable that they never would have won the Super Bowl without him. No one really made much of a fuss when Mitchell was added to the roster, far removed from the free agent frenzy. Often, those are the best signings, ..."
What would Seahawks be getting with Brandon Marshall?
"What exactly would the Seattle Seahawks be getting if they sign wide receiver Brandon Marshall or work a trade with the Denver Broncos to obtain the enigmatic star? Clearly they'd be landing a big-time wide receiver, a 6-foot-4, 230-pound athlete in his prime at 26 who has averaged 102 catches for 1,236 yards over the past three seasons. T.J. Houshmandzadeh calls Marshall the best receiver in the NFL, so it's fair to say he'd have his teammate's respect ... though it's equally fair to wonder if there's enough passes in a game to keep those two happy. But with Marshall, it's never just been about the football talent. He's been in trouble with the law since his days at Central Florida ..."
Broncos still have time to make splash in NFL free agency
"Splash! No, more like a ripple. The Broncos barely have disturbed the surface of the free-agent waters in the opening days. But the second wave is coming this week. Get wet, C-McD and The X Man. How about wide receiver Antonio Bryant, running back Thomas Jones, quarterback Jake Delhomme, guard Keydrick Vincent, center Hank Fraley and defensive end Marques Douglas? Splatter! Those six should be persons of interest for coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Brian Xanders. I like what the Broncos are trying to do — becoming bigger and bulk- ier on both sides of the line — but, observably, they have more needs. It's understandable that the Broncos didn't sign the purported prize of free ..."
Time for Vikings to do what they must to bring back Brett Favre for 2010
"Relax. If Brett Favre decides not to return in 2010, most of these mediocre free-agent quarterbacks still will be available. Plus, there isn't a college player in the upcoming draft that could step in and play the position immediately. So unless you want to get involved in the Donovan McNabb sweepstakes, what's the rush? Allow Mr. Favre all the time he needs. And make sure a club employee is in Hattiesburg to peel grapes, wash the truck, gut deer, scale fish and otherwise tend to whatever else Mr. Favre might need. Everyone has it backwards. It's time for the Vikings, not Favre, to make a commitment. The Vikings need to show how serious they are about improving the team in 2010. Based on ..."
Wilf makes it known he's not cutting back
"Zygi Wilf, owner of the Vikings, wanted to make it clear that the loss of running back Chester Taylor and offensive lineman Artis Hicks in free agency had nothing to do with any effort to cut down spending on players to make this team a winner. "Our actions of the last several years have spoken larger than words," said Wilf, speaking Sunday about the team publicly for the first time since the loss to the Saints in the NFC Championship Game. "We spend when it's appropriate. "I work with my guys. When we want somebody, we go after them; that's the way we've been doing it, and we'll continue to do so when the time comes. When the opportunity arises and when the time comes, we will go out and ..."
Big Ben's latest issue shows it's all about wins
"Many if not most Raiders fans are unhappy with JaMarcus Russell, believing the quarterback is too complacent, too poorly conditioned and too careless with the football. Many if not most 49ers fans are displeased with Alex Smith, having concluded he's not worthy of Jeff Garcia's socks, much less those of Joe Montana or Steve Young. So we in the Bay Area are perfectly willing to unload on a quarterback who disappoints us. We routinely light up Russell and Smith with boos at the stadium. We sting them with harsh critiques on sports-talk radio. It's not because either man is unlikable. It's because neither is winning enough games. And that brings us to Ben Roethlisberger, a two-time Super Bowl ..."
Why the Lions hit the brakes in free agency
"After making three moves literally within minutes of the opening of the free agent market, the Detroit Lions have slowed down considerably. The reason they've pulled back from their aggressive start is they don't want to sign players who they'll be looking to replace next March. Detroit's three acquisitions -- Kyle Vanden Bosch, Corey Williams and Nate Burleson -- are all expected to be here for several seasons. What the Lions don't want to do is sign a bunch of older stop-gap players who they'll just be looking to replace as soon as possible (such as Grady Jackson and Phillip Buchanon). At the press conference introducing Vanden Bosch and Burleson, Lions head coach Jim Schwartz said he ..."
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