NFL Offseason Thread

[mardigan]

Giants | J. Mitc signed
Mon, 2 Apr 2007 13:24:11 -0700

Michael Eisen, of Giants.com, reports the New York Giants have signed street free-agent LB Jason Mitc . Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Mitc did not play football during 2006 after suffering a knee injury during his final season with the University of Tennessee.





Giants | Massey released
Mon, 2 Apr 2007 12:49:44 -0700

Michael Eisen, of Giants.com, reports the New York Giants have released DE Pat Massey.

[mardigan]

Updated: April 2, 2007, 5:05 PM ET
Reid arrested on su ion of drug possessionAssociated Press


FREEHOLD, N.J. -- Indianapolis Colts defensive end Darrell Reid was arrested over the weekend on su ion of possessing marijuana, borough police said.


Reid

The 24-year-old Freehold native was stopped by police on a downtown street early Saturday after they received an anonymous call reporting an intoxicated person. The officer who responded noticed a strong smell of marijuana and saw a small plastic bag in the open door of Reid's rental car that contained marijuana, police said.

Reid was arrested on su ion of possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana, obstruction and possession of a controlled dangerous substance in a motor vehicle, which are all misdemeanors. He was released Saturday after making bail and is scheduled to appear in municipal court Tuesday afternoon, according to Lt. Mark Wodell.

Reid has played for the Colts the last two seasons and in 2006 was second on the team in special teams tackles with 19. He was signed as a free agent in 2005 after playing four years at the University of Minnesota.

A message left for Colts spokesman Craig Kelley at his office Monday was not immediately returned.

Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press

[sa_butta]

That would kick so much ass for any Broncos fan..........not so much for you though.

Depending on what we got in return, but I cant think of anyone or anything worthy of a trade.

[mardigan]

Chargers' Turner drawing interest from ansAssociated Press


NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Tennessee ans are getting serious in their search for more help at running back and they started Monday by visiting with restricted free agent Michael Turner of San Diego.

Michael Turner
Running Back
San Diego Chargers

Profile
2006 SEASON STATISTICS
Rush Yds TD Rec Yds TD
80 502 2 3 47 0




ans general manager Mike Reinfeldt was not available for comment. But San Diego general manager A.J. Smith had said several teams had inquired about Turner as the NFL meetings wrapped up last week.

Agent Bus Cook said he hadn't had much time to talk with Turner, who was checking out of a Nashville hotel Monday afternoon. But he said Turner enjoyed his visit with the ans.

"We've just got to wait and see," Cook said. "The ans have got to talk to San Diego. Even if they want to offer him, they have to know what he's going to want and what it's going to take to get him and have to work the other side of this, and that's the Chargers."



The ans released Travis Henry last month, and he quickly signed a new deal with the Denver Broncos. Henry rushed for 1,211 yards last season, a big reason why Tennessee ranked fifth in the NFL in rushing with Vince Young.

Henry's departure has left Tennessee with LenDale White and fullback Ahmard Hall, both rookies last year, on the roster with Quinton Ganther and Dontrell Moore. White, a second-round draft pick in 2006, had 61 carries for 244 yards.

Turner is a restricted free agent who the Chargers tendered high enough that any interested team would have to sign the running back to an offer sheet and pay up with a first- and third-round draft pick to San Diego.

Or they could try and lower that cost in a sign-and-trade with San Diego, which Smith said he is open to before the draft April 28-29.

Running backs have done well this offseason. Frank Gore got a four-year extension from San Francisco that included more than $14 million in guaranteed money, and Willis McGahee picked up a contract with a maximum value of $40.12 million after being traded to Baltimore earlier this year.

Both running backs have had serious knee injuries in their past.

Turner has been healthy and averaged 6.3 yards a carry last season as backup to LaDanian Tomlinson and finished with 80 carries for 502 yards.

Turner is scheduled to make $2.35 million in 2007, and Cook said the Chargers have incentive to make a move if they choose.

"If they can get a nice draft pick for him right now, next year they get nothing for him," Cook said.

The ans entered free agency with lots of room under the salary cap, and they still have plenty of space left.

Their biggest moves included signing cornerback Nick Harper away from Indianapolis. They also lured restricted free agent linebacker Ryan Fowler away from Dallas, safety Bryan Scott and receiver Justin Gage.

The ans also have Corey Dillon scheduled to visit Wednesday.

Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press

[DNS Error]

Falcons | G. Jackson wants to stay
Thu, 29 Mar 2007 14:00:04 -0700

D. Orlando Ledbetter, of the Atlanta Journal Cons ution, reports Atlanta Falcons DT Grady Jackson would like to stay with the team, despite filing a lawsuit against the team and three of its officials.

[/QUOTE]

what the happened here?

[DNS Error]

The National Football League, which last summer trumpeted so proudly its entry into China with a planned preseason game between Seattle and New England that would take place in August, will announce early this week the game is canceled.

And the league won't take just a one-year hiatus from the Asian experiment, according to those with knowledge of plans for the game the NFL was calling the China Bowl. Because the Summer Olympics are set for Beijing in 2008, the league will skip 2008 and look to put a game in Olympic Stadium, now under construction, in the summer of 2009. The Pats and Seahawks were to have played Aug. 9 in the well-worn Workers Stadium in Beijing, built in 1959 and renovated three years ago.

The reason for putting off the China Bowl, according to those familiar with the league's thinking, is twofold. The NFL is devoting tremendous manpower to the first regular-season game ever played outside North America -- Miami and the New York Giants will play Oct. 28 in London -- and the league doesn't want to risk cutting corners on either of the massive projects in order to stage both games 11 weeks apart. And though the Chinese would have put on a fine show this summer, doing it with more preparation time two years later -- particularly in a stadium that critics are already saying will be the finest outdoor sports venue in the world -- fits more into the NFL's vision of what its China debut should be.

League spokesman Greg Aiello, reached Sunday afternoon, declined comment. Spokesmen for both teams also declined comment. But an announcement could be made as early as Monday detailing the two-year postponement of the game.

The NFL rarely is caught with its pants down on a major story like this one. But why they had to pull the plug on the China game is easy to explain. The league announced the China Bowl last August, and it was expected that this would be the only international game of 2007. It took many at 280 Park Avenue by surprise in October, when owners voted to play an overseas regular-season game as early as 2007. And then again in February, when the league announced the regular-season game between the Giants and Dolphins in the new Wembley Stadium next October. And it soon became apparent, particularly with the England game being a regular-season one, that it would be impossible for each game to be the standard NFL production. Which is to say, big and brassy. "And there's no way the league would have gone to China for the first time unless they felt everything would be perfect about it,'' said one league insider.

The China Bowl was going to be a big event, not only in the country of 1.3 billion but in America as well. NBC planned to televise the game live at 8:30 a.m., using the Today Show as a lead-in. But NBC is probably not disappointed that the game will be called off, because the costs for staging such a game would likely far outweigh the return in ratings and ad revenue for a midweek morning preseason game, particularly one in which the starters would play such a small role. Preseason games in prime time get lousy ratings, so playing one when the country's at work would probably get microscopic ones.

theres more but its late.......dunno if its here yet...

[Pugglekicker_21]

I like this one cause there's a bleak look at the 2nd...

Mock draft No. 4

As the free agent feeding frenzy levels off, teams now have a better grasp on putting together their NFL draft boards.

The Cleveland Browns, the most active team during free agency with a top-5 draft choice, now seem intent on targeting the best available player opposed to the initial theory of grabbing a franchise running back. Meanwhile, the Detroit Lions' No. 2 pick seems to be the most likely traded – assuming an offer meets their expectations without them having to slide too far down in the round. Here's the latest mock draft, which also includes second-round projections.



ROUND 1

1. Oakland Raiders – LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell.

They could completely pass on quarterback and either select wide receiver Calvin Johnson or deal down several choices. They will narrow down the options to three or four by April 1 and then spend the final three weeks concentrating on those prospects.

2. Detroit Lions – Wisconsin offensive tackle Joe Thomas.

The Lions will not pick a quarterback here nor do they feel drafting Thomas or a defensive player is worth the value of this selection. I anticipate them making a draft-day deal with someone who wants a quarterback or receiver Calvin Johnson and then taking Thomas a few picks later.

3. Cleveland Browns – Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn.

The Browns have made a number of short-term free agent moves to help fill their most glaring needs, including running back, offensive line and their defensive front four. They are sure to address cornerback later on the first day, but this pick comes down to adding a new face to the franchise and getting the most bang for your buck. Quinn does both for the “Dawg Pound."

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Georgia Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson.

There is a very good chance that the Bucs try to deal up in order to secure the services of Johnson, who would bring their offense out of the stagnant shape it was in all of last season. They also have needs up front on defense, so they could deal down from this spot to select a defensive lineman.

5. Arizona Cardinals – Arkansas defensive lineman Jamaal Anderson.

He gives them a versatile defender capable of creating matchup problems. However, if they are desperate to add an offensive tackle, they could deal down with a team looking for a pass rusher.

6. Washington Redskins – Clemson defensive end Gaines Adams.

They can go after a pass rusher here like Adams or use this choice as part of a package to obtain the services of cornerback Dre' Bly from Denver. If a trade for Bly happens, they could possibly use the Broncos' pick to take a pass rusher at No. 21.

7. Minnesota Vikings – Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson.

This is the worst-case scenario for the Vikings. It's possible the top two quarterbacks and top two defensive linemen will be off the board, and they would likely be over-drafting if they selected a wide receiver or defensive back with this choice. The Falcons have already made their move to get ahead of the Texans in order to secure the top-rated safety on their board, but more than likely this would be a trade-up spot for a team that has extra draft choices on the first day. Ultimately, the Vikings will seek the best playmaking option to jolt one of the worst big-play offenses in the league.

8. Atlanta Falcons – LSU safety LaRon Landry.

Their trade with the Texans on Wednesday, sending quarterback Matt Schaub to Houston, gives them options. They have the ammunition to deal up into the back end of the first round, as well, or possibly make a last-minute push toward a top-3 pick as they have a total of four second-round picks in the next two drafts. Landry would give them an instant playmaker in the middle of the field to pair with All-Pro cover corner DeAngelo Hall. A pair of wild-card options would be for them to go after offensive tackle Levi Brown, who would give them the bigger, more physical type blocker that head coach Bobby Petrino prefers, or select Petrino's former man-child Amobi Okoye.

9. Miami Dolphins – Louisville defensive tackle Amobi Okoye.

They are ideally hoping to find 1-2 players for their secondary, a pass catching tight end and an interior defender to create havoc inside and allow their pass rushers less opportunity to be double-teamed. The fact that new head coach Cam Cameron has had a lot of success with Antonio Gates will lead them to take a long look at Greg Olsen, but their actual choice will come down to the defensive side of the ball. Okoye’s ability to get up field, handle double teams and give them the type of force in the middle to allow Jason Taylor and Joey Porter easy lanes to the quarterback will make this an easy decision.

10. Houston Texans – Penn State offensive tackle Levi Brown.

With a new starter at quarterback (Schaub) and running back (Ahman Green), Brown would help fortify a position that has been one of the most inconsistent since the team began play in 2002. Not everyone is convinced Brown can be a shutdown left tackle and they cannot afford to miss with this selection. However, with Landry off the board, Brown is the best option. If both are off the board, the Texans could trade back and pick up an extra pick for the one they just traded.

11. San Francisco 49ers – Nebraska defensive lineman Adam Carriker.

Picking Carriker over Amobi Okoye will simply come down to the type of scheme and versatility one player brings over the other. Okoye could easily be the choice here, but finding a guy who can make plays from defensive end in a 3-4 is far too rare to pass on since they have the expectation of challenging for a playoff spot this coming season.

12. Buffalo Bills – Mississippi linebacker Patrick Willis.

The loss of linebacker London Fletcher-Baker is weighing more on the minds of front office folks and coaching staffs than the recent trade of starting running back Willis McGahee. I expect them to stick with choice of Willis here and then go after a back in Round 2 or 3. If they trade up for someone such as Peterson, chasing down a linebacker in the second becomes a major necessity.

13. St. Louis Rams – Pittsburgh cornerback Darrelle Revis.

The Rams have needs at both defensive line and cornerback, and will likely use their second pick (No. 52 overall) on an interior defender to help them improve against the run. Revis seems to be on the fast track to start as a rookie and over time, could develop into one of the better young, man cover corners in the league. There will be an array of talented defenders on the board at this point, but Revis' size, speed (4.38) and return skills help put him over the top.

14. Carolina Panthers – Miami (Fla.) tight end Greg Olsen.

The Panthers have a number of needs for a team that was one of the trendy choices to win the NFC just a year ago. However, adding Olsen, who can flex out to receiver and even line up in the slot, would help open up an offense that was way too inconsistent last season. They would take a very close look at Brown if he were here, since he has the experience and ability to move Jordan Gross back to the right side of the line. A source close to the team also identifies linebacker and safety as positions they intend to monitor heavily in the first day of the draft.

15. Pittsburgh Steelers – Michigan cornerback Leon Hall.

Hall seems to resemble Ronde Barber, the All-Pro cornerback who thrived in the same defensive scheme and mentality that new coach Mike Tomlin is bringing to the Steelers. Cornerback and home-grown talent Darrelle Revis is also an option if still available.

16. Green Bay Packers – California running back Marshawn Lynch

The Packers need to find another playmaker on offense and address their lack of depth in the backfield. Lynch fits their play style, although they seem to be looking more at the possibility of passing on running back in the first round.

17. Jacksonville Jaguars – Florida defensive back Reggie Nelson.

They seem convinced that keeping him in-state could help their drive toward a le. There should still be a solid group of pass rushers on the board in the middle of the second round if they address safety here.

18. Cincinnati Bengals – Michigan defensive lineman Alan Branch.

The Bengals have had a run of bad luck between injuries (David Pollack) and arrests, but they could catch a break with a formidable front-four defender slipping into their lap. Branch has top-10 skill and ability, but he has had just average workouts and even looked a bit out of shape at his pro day. He can be a bit too fine at times, and some worry about whether he will be a great playmaker, but the Bengals would gamble on his upside at this portion of the first round.

19. Tennessee ans – Tennessee wide receiver Robert Meachem.

This has been a consistent pick among the mock drafts. He fits their need for adding a vertical threat to an offense that would have some very good young talent around him. The other obvious option of the ans would be that in a deep class of cornerbacks, they could jump on a cover cornerback like Darrelle Revis or Aaron Ross to protect against the outcome of legal proceedings against starting corner Adam Jones.

20. NY Giants – Miami (Fla.) linebacker Jon Beason.

The Giants have addressed their need at running back with the addition of Reuben Droughns, but have not been able to make much of a play in free agency to add depth at linebacker, offensive line or cornerback. If Beason is not the choice, left tackle Joe Staley of Central Michigan could give them the versatility of providing Eli Manning with a 10-year fixture on that side of the line.

21. Denver Broncos – Central Michigan offensive tackle Joe Staley.

They still have a glaring need for an edge rusher and left tackle. They will listen to the Redskins all the way up to draft day, but will not overpay to acquire the No. 6 pick – which could be used on Joe Thomas. If they stay put, the Broncos could grab a young, but sometimes raw pass blocker like Staley or offensive tackle Tony Ugoh.

22. Dallas Cowboys – Arkansas cornerback Chris Houston.

The Cowboys plan to meet and hopefully sign free agent safety Ken Hamlin, which would take them out of the safety market, but could help them land a top-rated cornerback like Houston. An Arkansas grad like owner Jerry Jones, Houston is a protégé of Deion Sanders. However, the chances are that if they ink Hamlin, they will trade back in order to secure either an extra pick on day one or move up in Round 2. They could grab a guy like Arkansas offensive tackle Tony Ugoh, who could take a year to progress before taking over the full-time left tackle job in 2008.

23. Kansas City Chiefs – Ohio State wide receiver/return man Ted Ginn, Jr.

The Chiefs have some concerns on the offensive line, but they seem hopeful that All-Pro guard Will Shields will return for one more season and that free agent Damion McIntosh will fill a major void at left tackle. With speedy receiver Eddie Kennison getting up in age and tight end Gonzalez now 31 years old, the chance to add a versatile playmaker like Ginn, who might slide this far if he is unable to work out for scouts prior to the draft, would be ideal to help loosen up opposing defenses that like to play eight-in-the-box against Larry Johnson.

24 New England Patriots – Florida defensive end/outside linebacker Jarvis Moss.

The Patriots have continued to solidify their offense through free agency, but now have a pair of first-round choices to improve the depth of their defensive unit. Linebackers Mike Vrabel (31) and Tedy Bruschi (33) are getting up, so a young pass rusher like Moss could fill in 20-25 plays and give them a future building block. A few sources have linked Beason to this spot if he is still available.

25. New York Jets – Purdue defensive end/outside linebacker Anthony Spencer.

Their current list of needs include finding an edge rusher who can fill the void left when they dealt John Abraham last year, cornerback and a pass-catching option at tight end. They are armed with a pair of second-round choices who could either help them fortify all three spots or give them the ammunition to make several deals. Spencer has the speed and ability to contribute instantly off the edge and showed an outstanding motor this past season.

26. Philadelphia Eagles – LSU wide receiver Dwayne Bowe.

They have All-Pro quarterback Donovan McNabb coming back off of injury and need to give him a few more weapons. However, there is also another vibe surrounding this choice that the decision-makers feel comfortable with young receivers like Hank Baskett and Jason Avant, so they could turn their attention to talented, all-around running back Brian Leonard.

27. New Orleans Saints – Texas cornerback Aaron Ross.

The Saints could be in the hunt for a pass-catching tight end even after signing under-rated Eric Johnson, but they would have to overpay to get up high enough to secure a shot at Greg Olsen. They have been auditioning veteran wide receivers to complement youngsters Marques Colston and Devery Henderson, but it would not be a shocker if they took someone like USC's Dwayne Jarrett. He would give them another strong presence in the middle of the field and continue to free up big plays for Reggie Bush. However, the run on defensive backs will start right around this area and the Saints do not want to get caught flat-footed again, so Ross or Marcus McCauley are the likely names heard on this choice.

28. New England Patriots – Syracuse defensive back Tanard Jackson.

If the Cowboys fail to come to an agreement with Ken Hamlin, the Patriots might need to make a move on a defensive back with the first of their two picks. Jackson would be a surprise choice over more recognizable names, but he is a versatile defender who can back up Rodney Harrison and even fill-in at nickel back and special teams. However, there is a good chance that more than a few teams will be making calls for this spot if the Pats are looking to deal back up into the first round.

29. Baltimore Ravens – Arkansas offensive tackle Tony Ugoh.

If Ugoh is still on the board, he gives them a valuable backup to All-Pro left tackle Jonathan Ogden, who might retire as early as the end of the 2007 campaign. Another option would be that they could find a fixture like Ryan Kalil for the pivot spot and move second-year pro Jason Brown to guard on a full-time basis.

30. San Diego Chargers – Miami (Fla.) safety Brandon Meriweather.

The Chargers biggest needs are to find a better starting safety after releasing Terrence Kiel, and adding depth at receiver and linebacker. Meriweather could be way off the board depending on what goes on with the Cowboys and Patriots, but if not, the Chargers just found themselves the first adequate replacement they have had since losing Rodney Harrison four years ago.

31. Chicago Bears – Penn State linebacker Paul Posluszny.

After acquiring safety Adam Archuleta, their biggest issues are locking up an interior run stuffer who can contribute if Tank Johnson serves an early four-game suspension and a backup plan if Lance Briggs holds out. If the Bears re-sign backup defensive tackle Ian Scott, they could turn their attention to offensive guard or even cornerback. They could lose either Nathan Vasher or Charles Tillman in free agency a year from now. Since they have pick No. 37 overall, they can add Posluszny here and find the defensive tackle a few picks later.

32. Indianapolis Colts – Rutgers running back Brian Leonard.

The Colts brass does not feel it has nearly as much of a glaring need at linebacker as outsiders do because Freddie Keiaho is expected to secure a starting spot in just his second year. Secondly, in all the years under Tony Dungy's reign, the Colts have never drafted a linebacker in the first round. They believe more in drafting the best available player instead of purely going for need. Leonard would give the Colts a dynamic 1-2 punch and offensive coordinator Tom Moore could be creative on third down by having Joseph Addai in the slot and the bigger, more physical Leonard in the backfield.

[Pugglekicker_21]

SECOND-ROUND PROJECTIONS
1. Oakland: USC WR Dwayne Jarrett
2. Detroit: Hampton LB Justin Durant
3. Tampa Bay: Georgia DE Charles Johnson
4. Cleveland: Fresno State CB Marcus McCauley
5. Chicago: N.C. State DT Tank Tyler
6. Arizona: Florida State OLB Lawrence Timmons
7. Atlanta: USC OL Ryan Kalil
8. Miami: Notre Dame OT Ryan Harris
9. Minnesota: Arizona State TE Zach Miller
10. San Francisco: UNLV CB Eric Wright
11. Buffalo: Auburn RB Kenny Irons
12. Atlanta: Nebraska DE/OLB Jay Moore
13. Carolina: Michigan LB David Harris
14. Pittsburgh: Hawaii DE Ikaika Alama-Francis
15. Green Bay: Texas CB Tarell Brown
16. Jacksonville: South Carolina WR Sidney Rice
17. Cincinnati: Maryland CB Josh Wilson
18. Tennessee: Texas OG/OT Justin Blalock
19. NY Giants: Boston College OL James Marten
20. St. Louis: Boston College OL Josh Beekman
21. Dallas: Ohio State WR Anthony Gonzalez
22. Kansas City: Tennessee DT Justin Harrell
23. Seattle: Auburn OG Ben Grubbs
24. Denver: Notre Dame DE Victor Abiamiri
25. Philadelphia: Miami (Fla.) DL Baraka Atkins
26. New Orleans: LSU WR Craig Davis
27. NY Jets: California CB Daymeion Hughes
28. Miami: Houston QB Kevin Kolb
29. Baltimore: Tennessee CB Jonathan Wade
30. San Diego: Lane (Tenn.) WR Jacoby Jones
31. NY Jets: Delaware/Duke TE Ben Patrick
32. Tampa Bay: Florida DT Marcus Thomas

[Pugglekicker_21]

7. Minnesota Vikings – Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson.

wtf.......

20. NY Giants – Miami (Fla.) linebacker Jon Beason

never heard of this kid...

2. Detroit: Hampton LB Justin Durant

Small school kid in the 2nd!

[QUOTEme]28. Miami: Houston QB Kevin Kolb[/QUOTE]


goodbye Brady Quinn in sunny South Florida....

Quinn in fin jersey # 10 =

[samikeyp]

22. Dallas Cowboys – Arkansas cornerback Chris Houston.

The Cowboys plan to meet and hopefully sign free agent safety Ken Hamlin, which would take them out of the safety market, but could help them land a top-rated cornerback like Houston. An Arkansas grad like owner Jerry Jones, Houston is a protégé of Deion Sanders. However, the chances are that if they ink Hamlin, they will trade back in order to secure either an extra pick on day one or move up in Round 2. They could grab a guy like Arkansas offensive tackle Tony Ugoh, who could take a year to progress before taking over the full-time left tackle job in 2008.

I really hope not.

[mardigan]

Updated: April 3, 2007, 12:03 PM ET
Bellamy re-signs with SaintsBy Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com


Unrestricted free agent Jay Bellamy, who rescued the New Orleans Saints in 2006 when their safety corps was beset by injuries, has re-signed with the team.



Bellamy
The 13-year veteran, who started both of the Saints' playoff games in 2006, signed a one-year contract. Financial details were not yet available, but it is believed that the contract is for a base salary of $820,000, the league minimum for a player of Bellamy's tenure.

Bellamy, 34, will compete for a backup job on a New Orleans safety corps that is young, deep and talented.

The projected starters are third-year veteran Josh Bullocks and second-year pro Roman Harper, but the latter is still rehabilitating from knee surgery that cut short his 2006 rookie season. The Saints also signed former Cincinnati safety Kevin Kaesviharn, who led all NFL safeties with six interceptions.

Bellamy, who joined the Saints in 2001 as an unrestricted free agent, was released before the start of the 2006 season, then re-signed when Harper was lost to the knee injury in October. He appeared in 11 games, started the final three games of the regular season, and both of the team's playoff outings.

His 15 tackles in the postseason led the New Orleans defense.

In 176 games, starting at both safety spots at various times in his career, Bellamy has 817 tackles, and averaged 100-plus tackles from 2001-2004. He also has 24 interceptions, 43 passes defensed, 9½ sacks, 11 forced fumbles and seven recoveries.

The former Rutgers standout entered the league with the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted college free agent in 1994.

Senior writer Len Pasquarelli covers the NFL for ESPN.com.

[mardigan]

Washington awaiting Bears' answer on Briggs tradeBy John Clayton
ESPN.com




Briggs
A proposed trade sending Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs to the Washington Redskins could go through or totally collapse by Tuesday afternoon, depending on how the Bears react to the Redskins' offer.


Last week, the Redskins made a one-time offer for Briggs, offering to swap their first-round draft pick, the sixth overall, for the Bears' No. 31 overall pick. The Redskins offer was take-it-or-leave it, and they told the Bears that they wanted an answer no later than Tuesday.

The Bears have been hinting they might ask for an additional Redskins linebacker to make the trade, but the Redskins made it clear to the Bears on Monday that if they ask for more than the proposed draft-pick swap, the trade talks are over.

Briggs, the Bears' franchise player, reacted angrily to receiving the franchise tag and at first said he'd never play for the Bears again. He is now threatening to hold out the first 10 regular season games of 2007. The Bears want to keep Briggs for one season.

Based on Monday's trade talks, the Redskins were doubtful a trade could happen, but one call from the Bears accepting the proposal would make it happen.

John Clayton is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.

[mardigan]

what the happened here?[/QUOTE]
Grady Jackson Sues Falcons, Claiming Defamation
Posted Mar 28th 2007 11:20AM by Michael David Smith
Filed under: Falcons, NFL Gossip, Atlanta

Atlanta defensive tackle Grady Jackson is suing the Falcons, saying the team invaded his privacy and defamed him by releasing his medical records.

The lawsuit centers around reports that surfaced last year, before Jackson signed as a free agent with the Falcons, that Jackson had heart problems. Jackson is listed at 345 pounds and looks significantly heavier than that, and a belief among NFL teams that he had heart problems would no doubt drive down Jackson's bargaining power in contract negotiations.

So did the Falcons make those reports public in an effort to sign Jackson for less than he might have otherwise received from another team? The Falcons, of course, deny that. The team issued a statement saying, in part, "We believe that this is a continuing attempt by the agent to gain a new contract for his client."

It's a bizarre suit and a very rare one in that it features a player suing a team he still plays for. Jackson is under contract to the Falcons for two more years and is slated to make $1.5 million this season. It seems quite unlikely now that he'll still be in Atlanta when the regular season begins.
Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments [4]

[mardigan]

I really hope not.

I wouldnt doubt if we take a corner, but Aaron Ross is more likely, they have already scheduled a meeting with him, even though that doenst mean . I could see the Boys taking a reciever like Meachem or Bowe, a cb, or a d end like Moss or Spencer if they are there.

[mardigan]

Texans | Malone re-signed
Mon, 2 Apr 2007 22:05:27 -0700

The Associated Press reports the Houston Texans have re-signed free agent DT Alfred Malone (Texans). Terms of the deal were not disclosed.


Texans | Maddox re-signed
Mon, 2 Apr 2007 22:01:05 -0700

The Associated Press reports the Houston Texans have re-signed free agent DT Anthony Maddox (Texans). Terms of the deal were not disclosed.


Texans | Bulman re-signed
Mon, 2 Apr 2007 21:57:49 -0700

The Associated Press reports the Houston Texans have re-signed free agent DT Tim Bulman (Texans). Terms of the deal were not disclosed.


Texans | Cochran re-signed
Mon, 2 Apr 2007 21:55:23 -0700

The Associated Press reports the Houston Texans have re-signed free agent DE Earl Cochran (Texans). Terms of the deal were not disclosed.


Texans | Steele re-signed
Mon, 2 Apr 2007 21:49:23 -0700

The Associated Press reports the Houston Texans have re-signed free agent TE Ben Steele (Texans). Terms of the deal were not disclosed.


Texans | S. Jackson re-signed
Mon, 2 Apr 2007 21:45:34 -0700

The Associated Press reports the Houston Texans have re-signed free agent OT Scott Jackson (Texans). Terms of the deal were not disclosed.


Texans | D. Anderson re-signed
Mon, 2 Apr 2007 21:35:03 -0700

The Associated Press reports the Houston Texans have re-signed free agent WR David Anderson (Texans). Terms of the deal were not disclosed.


Texans | McCleon re-signed
Mon, 2 Apr 2007 21:32:03 -0700

The Associated Press reports the Houston Texans have re-signed free agent DB Dexter McCleon (Texans). Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

[mardigan]

Bengals | G. Brooks signs
Mon, 2 Apr 2007 20:17:15 -0700

Mark Curnutte, of the Cincinnati Enquirer, reports restricted free-agent CB Greg Brooks (Bengals) has signed his one-year tender from the Cincinnati Bengals. The deal is worth $850,000.

[mardigan]

7. Minnesota Vikings – Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson.

No way that happens, they will take Landry or maybe even an end because Erasmus is still hurt

[mardigan]

Jones: I got jumped before Porter hit meESPN.com news services


Cincinnati Bengals left tackle Levi Jones is still sporting a gash over his left eye from an altercation in a Las Vegas casino two weeks ago.




Porter
Jones
And he says ex-Steelers linebacker Joey Porter is not the only one to blame.

Jones told the Cincinnati Enquirer that he was jumped by six other men from behind before Porter hit him. Porter, now with the Miami Dolphins, was cited by police for misdemeanor battery and released. Police said the players, rivals on the field, exchanged trash talk at a casino blackjack table before the fracas.


Jones called it a "cowardly act," the Enquirer reported.

"[Porter] got my attention from the front and wouldn't get near me until the six guys jumped me from behind, [then] he took part," Jones told the Enquirer. "What started everything was the dude hit me from behind. From then on, I had to protect myself. I was attacked by seven guys. I don't know what man is going to withstand that, especially with an NFL player involved."

"It was like that, it was problematic for me and my family, especially when the true story wasn't out there," Jones told the newspaper. "The particulars about how everything went down, I mean, ESPN, all they wanted to report was Joey Porter hit me in the face."


Jones, who did not need s ches, would not say if he would file a civil suit, the Enquirer reported.


"We'll see how it plays out," he told the newspaper.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this story.

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NFL | O. Smith applies for reinstatement
Tue, 3 Apr 2007 12:18:12 -0700

Kevin Seifert, of the Minneapolis Star Tribune, reports unrestricted free-agent RB Onterrio Smith (Vikings) has applied for reinstatement to the league after a two-year suspension

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Updated: April 3, 2007, 3:40 PM ET
Bears tell Redskins draft pick swap won't doBy John Clayton
ESPN.com




Briggs
A proposed trade sending Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs to the Redskins is in trouble after the Bears turned down Washington's proposed swap of draft picks.

Last week, the Redskins made a one-time offer for Briggs, offering to swap their first-round draft pick, the sixth overall, for the Bears' No. 31 overall pick. The Redskins offer was take-it-or-leave it, and they told the Bears that they wanted an answer no later than Tuesday.

The Redskins got their answer Tuesday afternoon when Bears general manager Jerry Angelo contacted the Redskins and told them he wasn't ready to make the simple swap of first-round draft choices.


The Bears had been hinting they might ask for an additional Redskins linebacker to make the trade, but the Redskins made it clear to the Bears on Monday that if they asked for more than the proposed draft-pick swap, the trade talks were over.

Briggs, the Bears' franchise player, reacted angrily to receiving the team's franchise tag and at first said he'd never play for the Bears again. He is now threatening to hold out the first 10 regular season games of 2007. The Bears want to keep Briggs for one season.


The next move for the Redskins to determine if they want to move on and work on other options for the No. 6 pick in the draft. From the Bears standpoint, though, they still believe there is a chance of making a deal for Briggs with the Redskins before the NFL draft.


John Clayton is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.

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Updated: April 3, 2007, 4:14 PM ET
Bucs land Falcons OG LehrBy Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who have been seeking a veteran offensive guard for much of the offseason, on Tuesday filled that need, signing unrestricted free agent Matt Lehr, who played the past two seasons with the Atlanta Falcons.

The six-year veteran is a solid in-line blocker and figures to vie for the No. 1 job at left guard, where in bent Dan Buenning is still recovering from knee surgery that cut short his 2006 season. Davin Joseph, the team's first-round pick in 2006 and regarded by many as a potential Pro Bowl-caliber player, is the starting right guard.

Versatile blocker Sean Mahan, who filled in at left guard when Buenning was injured and who would have vied for a starting job, signed with Pittsburgh as a free agent.

Lehr, 27, has 48 career starts among his 69 appearances, and that includes starting all 16 games with Dallas in 2003 and 15 games with Atlanta in 2005. Lehr was suspended for four games last October for a violation of the NFL's steroid policy. He returned from the sanction to reclaim his starting job on a Falcons' line that helped the team leading the NFL in rushing for a second straight year.

The former Virginia Tech standout was the Cowboys' fifth-round choice in the 2001 draft. He has played in Dallas (2001-2003). St. Louis (2004) and Atlanta (2005-2006).

Tampa Bay officials were tentatively scheduled to meet this week with unrestricted free agent offensive lineman Cooper Carlisle, a seven-year veteran from the Denver Broncos. It is not known how the addition of Lehr will affect that meeting.

Details of the contract Lehr signed in Tampa Bay were not yet available.

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Schaub, Johnson jell quickly with TexansAssociated Press

HOUSTON -- Andre Johnson and Matt Schaub stood on the practice field Tuesday chatting and laughing, smiles planted firmly on their faces.

It didn't take long for the Houston Texans' quiet Pro Bowl receiver to warm up to his new quarterback. On the first day of Houston's voluntary offseason workouts, the two looked like old friends.

"Every time we see each other we're just talking, trying to learn things about each other," Johnson said.

Many of the Texans joined Johnson and Schaub at the 45-minute conditioning workout, including last year's top draft pick Mario Williams and newly acquired running back Ahman Green.

Schaub came to Houston to replace David Carr in a trade March 22. Johnson thinks he's already got a feel for the former Falcons backup in the short time since then.

"Just from looking at the way he walks around the locker room and things like that, you can tell he's a leader," Johnson said. "That's something you want to have at the quarterback position."

It's one of the qualities Texans officials touted in Schaub, who has started just two games in his three-year career. He's serious about making Houston his team and has already began work on becoming a leader.

The respected but unproven player signed a six-year deal worth $48 million.

"I think this is the time of the year to do it," he said. "It's hard to start that once the season gets going because everything comes so quick and you've got to prepare for the games. It's ... getting to know one another on the field and asserting that leadership in the offseason rather than waiting for the season."

Schaub feels lucky to be moving into his first starting role in an offense that features Johnson.

"It's fantastic," he said. "It's a quarterback's dream to have a guy like that on the outside that can make people miss, go up and catch the deep ball and is fast like him. He's just a great asset to have."

While Johnson, who made his second Pro Bowl last season after catching a career-high 103 passes for 1,147 yards, embraced his new quarterback, he also shared some thoughts about the old one.

He said it was disappointing that Carr, who was the first pick in the 2002 draft, wasn't able to succeed in Houston and offered an opinion why. Johnson was the third overall pick in 2003.

"From my first year here, I think it was the way he was coached," Johnson said. "My first couple of years here he was pretty much just told where to throw the ball at, and a lot of people didn't know that. He was never really taught to go through reads and things like that. Once coach [Gary] Kubiak came in, that was his big thing, teaching him how to go through reads. So it was like he was starting all over again."

The Texans hoped Carr would blossom under the tutelage of Kubiak, a former quarterback, but he again struggled and Houston went 6-10 for its fifth losing season.

Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press

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Dolphins | Team trades Mare
Tue, 3 Apr 2007 13:16:58 -0700

ESPNews reports the Miami Dolphins have traded PK Olindo Mare to the New Orleans Saints for a sixth-round pick in the 2007 NFL draft.

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Packers | Holiday re-signs
Tue, 3 Apr 2007 13:29:20 -0700

Tom Silverstein, of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, reports the Green Bay Packers have re-signed exclusive-rights free-agent WR Carlyle Holiday to a one-year deal. Financial terms were not disclosed.

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Rams | M. Brown released
Tue, 3 Apr 2007 14:45:58 -0700

Jim Thomas, of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, reports the St. Louis Rams have released LB Michael Brown.