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now thats some bull there.
i'm sure the people up there don't mind seeing their tax $$ squandered on a no win trial.
Updated: April 11, 2007, 3:20 PM ET
McCown's agent looking for trade from LionsAssociated Press
DETROIT -- Josh McCown's agent said Wednesday he is hoping the Detroit Lions will find a new home for their backup quarterback.
McCown
"Josh sees himself as a starting quarterback, and I agree with him," Michael McCartney said. "We hope before draft day that something works out beneficial to Josh and the Lions."
McCown signed a two-year contract a year ago after starting 22 games over the previous three seasons in Arizona. He did not throw a pass for the Lions, but was used sparingly as a receiver.
Jon Kitna started every game for the Lions last season, and coach Rod Marinelli has said Kitna again would be his No. 1 quarterback in 2007.
Marinelli told reporters on Tuesday that he only would talk about players attending the organized team activity at the practice facility in Allen Park. McCown and receiver Mike Williams, whose future with the team is in doubt, did not attend the workouts.
A message seeking comment was left for Williams' agent, Mitch Frankel, on Wednesday.
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press
now thats some bull there.
i'm sure the people up there don't mind seeing their tax $$ squandered on a no win trial.
Updated: April 11, 2007, 4:28 PM ET
Miami Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter told ESPN on Wednesday that he hopes to get past his fight with Cincinnati Bengals left tackle Levi Jones.
"I wish it never would have happened," Porter said. "I don't know how Levi feels, but the faster we can get this behind us, [the better]."
Jones told the Cincinnati Enquirer last week that during an altercation in a Las Vegas casino March 18, he was jumped by six other men from behind before Porter hit him. Porter 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.
"[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."
Porter told ESPN he was in Las Vegas to celebrate his mother's 50th birthday and would like to apologize to Jones.
"I don't mind calling him. If he truly believes, if he feels like I was wrong, I'm sorry," Porter said. "I can apologize. I am reaching out now."
The Bengals play at Miami in the teams' regular-season finale Dec. 30. Jones has previously said he isn't concerned with facing Porter on the field, but he didn't say if he would file a civil suit.
"We'll see how it plays out," he said.
"At the end of the day, none of us is going to get anything good out of this," he told the Enquirer.
Dolphins | Green deal could come at draft
Wed, 11 Apr 2007 20:41:54 -0700
Jeff Darlington, reporting for the Sporting News, reports a deal for Kansas City Chiefs QB Trent Green could materialize moments before the NFL Draft, as the Chiefs and the Miami Dolphins have hit a stalemate in trade talks. The draft serves as a deadline, which would force the teams to make a deal.
Dolphins to receive 7th-round pick if Jones leavesBy John Clayton
ESPN.com
The Rams, who have been back and forth in stalled negotiations with punter Matt Turk, signed restricted free agent punter Donnie Jones of the Dolphins to an offer sheet Thursday.
Jones
Terms of the deal weren't immediately available. If the Dolphins don't match the offer on Jones, they would get 10 years younger at the position. The 26-year-old Jones averaged 42.8 yards a punt for the Dolphins last year. His net punting average was 36.2.
The Dolphins have seven days to match the offer. If they don't, the Rams would have to give the Dolphins a seventh-round pick. That would give the Dolphins 10 draft choices in the 2007 draft, a net gain of four from the end of the season. They went into the offseason with only six draft choices.
They picked up a second- and a seventh-round choice for wide receiver Wes Welker. They got a sixth-round choice last week in a trade with the Saints for kicker Olinda Mare. They had a trade for a sixth-round choice with the Broncos for defensive tackle Dan Wilkinson voided when he failed to report in time for a physical.
Turk, 36, is an unrestricted free agent. He had been discussing a contract with the team but talks were going nowhere.
John Clayton is a senior writer for ESPN.com.
Broncos | Terrell re-signs
Thu, 12 Apr 2007 13:46:02 -0700
The Denver Broncos have re-signed unrestricted free-agent WR David Terrell to a one-year contract. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Lions | Beckham signs
Thu, 12 Apr 2007 09:37:31 -0700
The Detroit Lions have signed unrestricted free-agent CB Tony Beckham (Vikings). Terms of the contract were not disclosed.
Lions | Charlton signs
Thu, 12 Apr 2007 09:37:52 -0700
KFFL has learned the Detroit Lions have signed unrestricted free-agent DB Ike Charlton (Patriots) to a one-year deal. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Texans | A. Davis signed
Thu, 12 Apr 2007 14:19:15 -0700
ESPNews reports the Houston Texans have signed unrestricted free-agent WR Andre' Davis (Bills). Terms of the contract were not disclosed.
Last edited by mardigan; 04-12-2007 at 04:32 PM.
Updated: April 13, 2007, 11:03 AM ET
Ex-Broncos lineman Carlisle agrees with RaidersBy Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com
Unrestricted free agent Cooper Carlisle, one of the few starting-caliber offensive linemen still available in the veteran unrestricted free agent talent pool, has reached a contract agreement with the Oakland Raiders.
CarlisleCarlisle, 29, played the first seven years of his career with the Denver Broncos. The Raiders saw the chance to get a quality player from a division rival as a bit of a coup. Carlisle will sign a two-year contract, the financial details of which were not yet available.
With 38 career starts, including 16 starts at right guard in each of the last two seasons, Carlisle figures to quickly challenge for a job in the Oakland lineup. The Raiders are revamping their offensive line after surrendering a league-worst 72 sacks in 2006, and are transitioning to a zone-blocking scheme under first-year head coach Lane Kiffin.
For his entire Denver tenure, Carlisle played in the zone-blocking scheme, which calls for smaller, quicker offensive linemen. His familiarity with the blocking system system should give Carlisle an edge in competing for a starting job and should help speed implementation of the new style in Oakland.
Over the last few weeks, Carlisle has been one of the league's most popular and well-traveled players in the second wave of free agency. He visited with officials from Seattle, Houston and Tampa Bay before meeting Wednesday with the Raiders. Once he felt comfortable with the staff and the direction of the team, he agreed to the two-year deal.
Denver is expected to elevate second-year veteran Chris Kuper or former New Orleans starter Montrae Holland, who was signed as an unrestricted free agent last month, into the vacancy created by Carlisle's departure. Carlisle joins Jeremy Newberry and Cornell Green as veteran linemen added by the Raiders in free agency.
A fourth-round choice of the Broncos in the 2000 draft, Carlisle began his career playing mostly at tackle before the former University of Florida star settled in at guard. He has appeared in 95 games.
Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.
Updated: April 12, 2007, 8:13 PM ET
Saints sign former Pats WR Patten to one-year dealBy Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com
Seeking to add veteran leadership to a very young wide receiver contingent, the New Orleans Saints on Thursday night signed unrestricted free agent David Patten, released earlier in the spring by the Washington Redskins, to a one-year contract.
The much-traveled 10-year veteran, who was part of three Super Bowl championship teams during his tenure with the New England Patriots, will try to resurrect a career that has slumped in recent seasons. Patten caught just one pass for the Redskins in 2006 and had only 22 receptions in 2005.
He became expendable when he fell behind three younger wide receivers on the depth chart and his salary became too exorbitant for the Redskins to carry.
In New Orleans, Patten will be counted on in part to lend guidance to one of the NFL's youngest receiver corps. The Saints' top three wideouts total only six years of league tenure and the departure of Joe Horn, who was released early in the spring and then subsequently signed with division rival Atlanta, took the most experienced veteran away from the unit.
"We believe that his track record as a proven winner, and his veteran leadership on and off the field will be a benefit to our team," general manager Mickey Loomis said.
Patten recently visited with New England officials, but it is not known if he was offered a contract. The Saints have considered a number of other longtime veteran wide receivers, and quarterback Drew Brees at one point recommended the team think about adding Keenan McCardell, his former teammate in San Diego.
Patten, 32, has 259 career receptions for 3,761 yards and 20 touchdowns, He has posted 35 or more catches four times and his best seasons came with the Patriots in 2001-02, when he averaged 56 receptions and 786.5 yards while scoring nine touchdowns. At one point, the former Western Carolina star was regarded as one of the fastest players in the league. He still runs well, but he has clearly lost a step in the last few years.
Originally signed by the Giants as an undrafted free agent, Patten has spent time with New York (1997-99), Cleveland (2000), New England (2001-04) and Washington (2005-06). He has appeared in 126 games and started 65 of them.
Financial details of the one-year contract that Patten signed were not yet available, but it is likely for the minimum base salary.
Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.
Most NFL scouts said their stopwatches timed Ted Ginn Jr. in 4.4 seconds in the 40-yard dash during his private workout in Columbus, Ohio. Ginn made three tries, and his father, Ted Ginn Sr., said his son went in 4.38, 4.40 and 4.41. Ginn's agent was not permitted to attend but said Ginn's times were all 4.3s. His father, Ted Ginn Sr., said his son was "75 to 80 percent." -- Akron Beacon-Journal
General manager Phil Savage said it's unlikely that the Browns will trade for Trent Green, but if they do, it could come down to draft day. -- Cleveland Plain Dealer
The race for the Bucs' starting quarterback's job is on, and the early leader might come as something of a surprise. Though Chris Simms and Jeff Garcia wound up taking virtually the same number of snaps, Simms led the way this week as the Bucs began installing their offense for the 2007 season. -- Tampa Tribune
In his last NFL start, Drew Bledsoe's lack of confidence in Terrell Owens and his passion for receiver and close friend Terry Glenn was the cherry on top of getting him benched. During a timeout, Owens told Bledsoe he was getting open near the goal line. Bledsoe ignored the pleas and said "I'm throwing the ball to Terry." Out of the timeout, Bledsoe forced a pass to Glenn and it was picked off by Sam Madison. Bill Parcells benched Bledsoe to start the second half. -- Dallas Morning News
Falcons guard Kynan Forney was critical of former offensive line coach/consultant Alex Gibbs' policy of making the offensive linemen weigh less than 300 pounds. It was a rule that Forney said Thursday resulted in some players drastically cutting weight a night or two before weekly weigh-ins. -- Atlanta Journal-Cons ution
The ans are still talking to the Chargers about acquiring running back Michael Turner, Tennessee GM Mike Reinfeldt said Thursday. The Chargers put a first- and third-round draft pick compensation on Turner, a restricted free agent, but the ans won't give up that much. -- The Tennessean
Corey Redding, quarterback Josh McCown and receiver Mike Williams did not participate in the Lions' three-day, voluntary camp. Williams' days with the Lions appear to be numbered. McCown has asked to be traded. Redding is involved in contract talks. -- Detroit News
Shaun Rogers has a reputation -- great talent, not-so-great at ude. But Rogers has a clean slate with new Lions defensive coordinator Joe Barry, and Rogers says everything is hunky-dory. After speaking to coach Rod Marinelli, Rogers came to Detroit for off-season conditioning. -- Detroit News
Seattle's Grant Wistrom hasn't officially retired, and everywhere he turns people he trusts and respects are telling him to keep his options open and not make a hasty decision that he'll later regret. -- Seattle Post-Intelligencer
The Broncos are likely to make a move with linebacker Al Wilson before the draft. The Broncos' options are to trade, cut or keep Wilson - with a pay reduction on that last possibility. -- Denver Post
The Dolphins will likely have two new kickers this season. Donnie Jones, their punter for the past two seasons and a restricted free agent, has agreed to sign a five-year, $5.85 million offer sheet from the Rams, his agent said Thursday. -- Palm Beach Post
David Patten to a one-year contract. Patten will add a veteran presence to a young Saints receiving corps and compete for the starting job that opened when the team released Joe Horn last month. The Saints have browsed through an assortment of veteran receivers ever since they released Horn, a group that includes Brandon Stokley, Bobby Engram and Keenan McCardell. -- New Orleans Times-Picayune
The Giants will be counting on Reuben Droughns to complement Brandon Jacobs, who was Barber's understudy since coming into the league in 2005. -- New York Post
Andre Davis, a second-round draft pick in 2002, will compete for playing time with Texans receivers Jerome Mathis, David Anderson, Charlie Adams and Jamall Broussard. -- Houston Chronicle
The Cardinals' new weight room and strength program has drawn rave reviews, but will it help the team win? The upgrade cost the team around $200,000 and was overdue, according to players. -- Arizona Republic
Colts | Team signs Sorgi
Fri, 13 Apr 2007 09:15:02 -0700
The Indianapolis Star reports the Indianapolis Colts re-signed restricted free-agent QB Jim Sorgi to a one-year, $850,000 contract.
Chiefs | Team trying to trade D. Hall
Fri, 13 Apr 2007 08:47:02 -0700
Adam Teicher, of the Kansas City Star, reports the Kansas City Chiefs are attempting to trade WR Dante' Hall. Hall may be released if he isn't traded.
Saints | T. Evans signed
Thu, 12 Apr 2007 23:15:37 -0700
Len Pasquarelli, of ESPN.com, reports the New Orleans Saints have signed free-agent LB Troy Evans (Texans) to a two-year contract worth $1.3 million. The deal includes a $100,000 signing bonus.
Updated: April 13, 2007, 2:11 PM ET
Wilson sets news conference to thank Denver fansBy John Clayton
ESPN.com
Denver Broncos linebacker Al Wilson scheduled a news conference Friday to announce he is being released by the Denver Broncos after eight seasons, sources said.
Wilson
Wilson called a 4 p.m. ET meeting with the media in Denver to discuss his future, which will not include the Broncos, the team that made him a No. 1 draft choice in 1999 and allowed him to grow into the leadership role on playoff caliber defenses.
Wilson leaves the Broncos as a four-time Pro Bowl player and one of the top defenders in franchise history.
Last month, the Broncos tried to trade him to the New York Giants for a third-round choice. That trade didn't happen because he failed a physical. He had back problems last year along with a thumb injury. Wilson's rights returned to the Broncos, who were, at the time, seemingly willing to keep him on the roster.
With a $5.2 million salary and a $600,000 roster bonus, Wilson didn't fit into the Broncos salary cap after a busy offseason. His release will save the Broncos $1.63 million.
Wilson wanted to hold a press conference to thank the Broncos and the fans for their support through his NFL career.
Cardinals add Bailey, Tafoya, Brown to defenseBy Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com
Continuing to stress depth and versatility on defense, the Arizona Cardinals signed a trio of much-traveled unrestricted free agents on Friday, adding linemen Rodney Bailey and Joe Tafoya and cornerback Ralph Brown.
All three players signed one-year contracts for the league minimum base salaries mandated by their respective tenures. The acquisitions came as the Cardinals began their initial three-day minicamp under first-year coach Ken Whisenhunt.
The session will include the installation of some 3-4 principles into the Arizona defense. All three new players could make contributions as the Cardinals enact those changes.
Bailey and Tafoya are the latest additions to a defensive line that earlier this week welcomed unrestricted free agent Ross Kolodziej, who can play end or tackle. Bailey is a player familiar to Whisenhunt because of his years spent with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
A solid pass-rusher when healthy and a defender who has played almost exclusively in a 3-4 defense during his six seasons in the league, Bailey, 27, has appeared in 68 games. Mostly an end, the former Ohio State standout can also slide inside on passing downs and play some snaps at tackle. He has 64 tackles, 9½ sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and four passes defended in his career.
Originally a sixth-round choice of the Steelers in the 2001 draft, Bailey has also spent time with the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks. He appeared in 12 games in 2006.
Tafoya, 28, played in 13 games with the Seahawks in 2006 and had three tackles on defense and nine tackles on special teams. The former University of Arizona standout was a seventh-round choice of the New York Giants in 2001 and has also played with Tampa Bay and Atlanta. In 63 appearances, he has 36 tackles, 1½ sacks and one forced fumble. He is viewed mostly as a tackle.
Brown is a longtime nickel defender who can play cornerback and safety and who has served stints with the Giants (2002-2003), Vikings (2004-2005) and Vikings (2006). He was the Giants' fifth-round choice in the 2000 draft, and the former Nebraska star has appeared in 81 games, with 13 starts, and has 140 tackles, three interceptions and 14 passes defended.
The 30-year-old Brown figures to vie for playing time in nickel situations and on special teams. The Cardinals recently lost veteran cornerback David Macklin as an unrestricted free agent, and Brown could be a candidate to fill his spot as a No. 3 corner.
In addition to the acquisitions, the Cardinals signed restricted free agent center Nick Leckey, who started 11 games for Arizona in 2006, to a one-year contract. Leckey, who likely will lose his starting job to unrestricted free agent acquisition Al Johnson, signed away from the Dallas Cowboys, signed the one-year qualifying offer for $1.3 million. Unless he signs and extension, the former Kansas State star, a sixth-round choice of the Cardinals in 2004, will be eligible for unrestricted free agency next spring.
Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.
Dolphins add veteran OT RosenthalBy Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com
The Miami Dolphins on Friday created some depth and compe ion on their offensive line, signing unrestricted free agent tackle Mike Rosenthal to a one-year, $760,000 contract.
Rosenthal
An eight-year veteran, Rosenthal played for the Minnesota Vikings the past four seasons, but he was released March 1. He figures to compete for the starting right tackle spot, assuming the team follows through on its plan to switch Vernon Carey to left tackle as it reshapes its offensive line under first-year head coach Cam Cameron.
Rosenthal, 29, participated Friday in the team's initial minicamp session under Cameron.
The former Notre Dame standout has appeared in 89 games and started in 58 of them. He logged 15 starts for the Vikings over the past two years. Rosenthal has played left guard and right tackle during his career and started 12 or more games in three seasons. He started 16 games each in 2002, with the New York Giants, and in 2003 with Minnesota.
Known mostly as a power blocker, Rosenthal, a fifth-round choice of the Giants in the 1999 draft, was also sought by the Tampa Bay Bucs after Minnesota released him. His contract for 2007 includes a $40,000 signing bonus.
Miami also re-signed unrestricted free agent safety Travares Tillman, who appeared in 30 games for the Dolphins over the last two seasons, on Friday. A seven-year veteran, Tillman signed a one-year contract that includes a base salary of $720,000.
Tillman, 29, previously played for Buffalo (2000-02) and Carolina (2003-04). He has 17 starts in his two seasons in Miami but lost the No. 1 job at strong safety to Yeremiah Bell halfway through the 2006 campaign. His stint with the Dolphins includes 96 tackles, three interceptions and three passes defensed.
The former Georgia Tech safety has 175 career tackles, four interceptions and 10 passes defensed for his career. He is expected to serve as a backup and on special teams in 2006.
Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.
Giants land veteran QB WrightBy Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com
The New York Giants stabilized their quarterback depth chart Friday, with ESPN.com learning that the team has reached a contract agreement with unrestricted free agent Anthony Wright, who is expected to serve as the primary backup to Eli Manning.
Wright
An eight-year veteran, Wright will officially sign a two-year contract early next week. Financial details were not immediately available. Wright appeared in four games with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2006, completing all three pass attempts.
The Giants will be Wright's fifth team.
Wright, 31, will represent an upgrade over Tim Hasselbeck and Jared Lorenzen, the other quarterbacks on the New York depth chart. Neither backup registered a single pass attempt in 2006, and Wright, a proven commodity, has appeared in 28 career contests.
The Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers also demonstrated interest in Wright during the free agency period, and he likely could have returned to Cincinnati for another season.
A former South Carolina star, Wright has always been blessed with a strong, live arm and good movement skills. He has completed 331 of 598 passes in his career for 3,578 yards, with 20 touchdown passes, 25 interceptions, and an efficiency rating of 66.9. Wright has run 79 times for 222 yards.
Twice in his career, in 2003 and 2005, both times with the Baltimore Ravens, he has logged seven starts in a season.
Wright originally entered the league with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1999, earning a roster spot as an undrafted college free agent. He has played in Pittsburgh (1999), Dallas (2000-01), Baltimore (2002-05) and Cincinnati (2006) in the past and has 19 career starts.
Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.
Yo, idk if this been posted yet....
Most NFL scouts said their stopwatches timed Ted Ginn Jr. in 4.4 seconds in the 40-yard dash during his private workout in Columbus, Ohio. Ginn made three tries, and his father, Ted Ginn Sr., said his son went in 4.38, 4.40 and 4.41. Ginn's agent was not permitted to attend but said Ginn's times were all 4.3s. His father, Ted Ginn Sr., said his son was "75 to 80 percent." -- Akron Beacon-Journal
General manager Phil Savage said it's unlikely that the Browns will trade for Trent Green, but if they do, it could come down to draft day. -- Cleveland Plain Dealer
The race for the Bucs' starting quarterback's job is on, and the early leader might come as something of a surprise. Though Chris Simms and Jeff Garcia wound up taking virtually the same number of snaps, Simms led the way this week as the Bucs began installing their offense for the 2007 season. -- Tampa Tribune
In his last NFL start, Drew Bledsoe's lack of confidence in Terrell Owens and his passion for receiver and close friend Terry Glenn was the cherry on top of getting him benched. During a timeout, Owens told Bledsoe he was getting open near the goal line. Bledsoe ignored the pleas and said "I'm throwing the ball to Terry." Out of the timeout, Bledsoe forced a pass to Glenn and it was picked off by Sam Madison. Bill Parcells benched Bledsoe to start the second half. -- Dallas Morning News
Falcons guard Kynan Forney was critical of former offensive line coach/consultant Alex Gibbs' policy of making the offensive linemen weigh less than 300 pounds. It was a rule that Forney said Thursday resulted in some players drastically cutting weight a night or two before weekly weigh-ins. -- Atlanta Journal-Cons ution
The ans are still talking to the Chargers about acquiring running back Michael Turner, Tennessee GM Mike Reinfeldt said Thursday. The Chargers put a first- and third-round draft pick compensation on Turner, a restricted free agent, but the ans won't give up that much. -- The Tennessean
Corey Redding, quarterback Josh McCown and receiver Mike Williams did not participate in the Lions' three-day, voluntary camp. Williams' days with the Lions appear to be numbered. McCown has asked to be traded. Redding is involved in contract talks. -- Detroit News
Shaun Rogers has a reputation -- great talent, not-so-great at ude. But Rogers has a clean slate with new Lions defensive coordinator Joe Barry, and Rogers says everything is hunky-dory. After speaking to coach Rod Marinelli, Rogers came to Detroit for off-season conditioning. -- Detroit News
Seattle's Grant Wistrom hasn't officially retired, and everywhere he turns people he trusts and respects are telling him to keep his options open and not make a hasty decision that he'll later regret. -- Seattle Post-Intelligencer
The Broncos are likely to make a move with linebacker Al Wilson before the draft. The Broncos' options are to trade, cut or keep Wilson - with a pay reduction on that last possibility. -- Denver Post
The Dolphins will likely have two new kickers this season. Donnie Jones, their punter for the past two seasons and a restricted free agent, has agreed to sign a five-year, $5.85 million offer sheet from the Rams, his agent said Thursday. -- Palm Beach Post
David Patten to a one-year contract. Patten will add a veteran presence to a young Saints receiving corps and compete for the starting job that opened when the team released Joe Horn last month. The Saints have browsed through an assortment of veteran receivers ever since they released Horn, a group that includes Brandon Stokley, Bobby Engram and Keenan McCardell. -- New Orleans Times-Picayune
The Giants will be counting on Reuben Droughns to complement Brandon Jacobs, who was Barber's understudy since coming into the league in 2005. -- New York Post
Andre Davis, a second-round draft pick in 2002, will compete for playing time with Texans receivers Jerome Mathis, David Anderson, Charlie Adams and Jamall Broussard. -- Houston Chronicle
The Cardinals' new weight room and strength program has drawn rave reviews, but will it help the team win? The upgrade cost the team around $200,000 and was overdue, according to players. -- Arizona Republic
Updated: April 14, 2007, 12:01 PM ET
Overpaying Westbrook could hit Eagles in capBy Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com
How good was Philadelphia Eagles running back Brian Westbrook in 2006?
Westbrook
So good, apparently, that the Eagles paid him twice. Or at least they anted up twice on the $3 million roster bonus that Westbrook was due.
Team officials have confirmed that, because of an accounting error, Westbrook was twice awarded a $3 million roster bonus for 2006 that was part of the five-year, $25 million contract extension the five-year veteran signed in November 2005. Westbrook reportedly has acknowledged the overage and agreed to repay the money.
But because the Eagles have yet to be reimbursed, which could negatively impact on the Eagles' salary cap status, the team has been forced to file a grievance with the league office seeking repayment. A team official stressed there was no acrimony between the Eagles and their star tailback, that repayment is anticipated, and that the grievance was a technicality aimed at avoiding any cap implications.
Westbrook's agent could not be reached for comment on the extra bonus, which was first reported on Friday evening by ComcastSportsNet.com. It is not clear when, or how, the overage was discovered by the Eagles and Westbrook. One potential complication to the reimbursement is that Westbrook has already paid taxes on the extra $3 million.
Such an accounting gaffe is unusual for any NFL team, but especially for the Eagles, who are among the league's premier franchises in terms of salary cap management.
As of Saturday, the league had not charged the accounting error to the Eagles' salary cap. The team remains about $10 million under the NFL spending limit of $109 million for '07.
Westbrook, 27, registered a career season in 2006. On the ground, he posted career highs in carries (240) and yards (1,217), and tied his career best with seven touchdowns. He also had a career-high 77 receptions for 699 yards and four touchdowns.
A third-round pick in the 2002 draft, Westbrook has emerged as one of the NFL's most versatile performers and the centerpiece of the Philadelphia offense. In 70 games, including 49 starts, the former Villanova star has rushed for 3,452 yards and 20 touchdowns on 736 carries, and has 257 catches for 2,436 yards and 18 touchdowns.
http://sports.ign.com/articles/780/780170p3.html
apparently, LT will suffer an injury next year..
DUMBASSES!!
Ex-landlord, would-be agent won't sue Bush, familyESPN.com news services
Reggie Bush's would-be agent and former landlord to Bush's parents has settled with the New Orleans Saints star and his family, according to media reports.
The San Diego Union-Tribune and Yahoo Sports reported Friday that Michael Michaels, who had threatened to sue, had settled with Bush and his family. Yahoo reported that according to sources, the settlement was worth between $200,000 and $300,000.
Michaels has alleged that Bush's parents lived rent-free in his San Diego-area house for a year while Bush was playing at USC. He has said the arrangement came with an understanding that Bush would be the key figure in New Era Sports & Entertainment, a fledgling marketing agency co-founded by Michaels and Lloyd Lake.
Bush instead signed with marketing agent Mike Ornstein and agent Joel Segal. Michaels and Lake claimed to be out $300,000, including $100,000 in cash disbursements to the Bush family, and threatened to sue.
Michaels has now decided not to pursue legal action.
"I was instructed not to proceed," Michaels' attorney, Jordan Cohen, told The Associated Press on Friday. "I'm not commenting any further."
The allegations raised questions about whether Bush had viloated NCAA rules by accepting improper benefits while playing at USC. A finding that he had done so could lead to USC forfeiting games and put Bush's Heisman Trophy in jeopardy.
Bush's attorney, David Cornwell, could not be reached for comment, according to multiple media outlets reporting the story.
Lake's attorney, Brian Watkins, has said for a year that he planned to sue Bush. He said Friday that he hasn't done so yet because of "a variety of factors."
The NCAA has been investigating the possibility that Bush received improper benefits while at USC.
The NCAA and the Pacific 10 Conference are continuing their probe despite the settlement, officials of both organizations told the Los Angeles Times.
"This has not gone away by any means," Ron Barker, the Pac-10's associate commissioner of governance and enforcement, told the Times.
Furthermore, Bob DeMartino, a New Jersey memorabelia dealer, told the Times he had recently spoken with NCAA investigators. "I don't think it's going to die out, based on my conversation with the NCAA," he said. Last year, DeMartino told Yahoo Sports that Bush and his family had received cash and benefits from Ornstein while Bush was still at USC.
But Yahoo reported that according to two sources, Michaels' settlement with Bush includes a confidentiality clause which will prevent Michaels from talking with the NCAA.
In a statement from Rachel Newman Baker, the NCAA director of agent, gambling and amateurism activities, the NCAA acknowledged it was aware of the settlement between the Bush family and Michaels.
"We continue our efforts to obtain cooperation from those involved with the case, including Reggie Bush and his family," Baker said in the statement. "Hopefully, the settlement agreement will encourage individuals who previously refused to cooperate due to concerns about potential litigation to now come forward with information that may assist with our ongoing investigation."
Dolphins expected to pursue trade for Chiefs' GreenBy Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com
Having watched their offense sputter under the direction of a pair of journeymen veterans during a three-day weekend minicamp that concluded on Sunday, the Miami Dolphins are expected this week to ramp up their efforts to complete a much-discussed trade for Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Trent Green.
Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images
Coupled with Daunte Culpepper's unsure future, Cleo Lemon and Gibran Hamdan have done nothing to dissuade the Dolphins from going hard after the veteran Green.
Citing unnamed sources, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported that the trade could be completed this week, which would likely lead to the release of Daunte Culpepper, who was unable to participate in the minicamp as he continues recovering from knee surgery. League sources told ESPN.com that officials from the Dolphins and Chiefs, who have been talking about the trade for more than a month, recently resumed negotiations.
The teams are said to have moved closer to agreeing on compensation in the proposed deal. Kansas City has been seeking a second-round draft choice for Green, while Miami officials would prefer to surrender a late-round selection. The aim is to consummate a trade before the April 28-29 draft.
In the absence of Culpepper, the Dolphins relied on quarterbacks Cleo Lemon and Gibran Hamdan, untested players with one regular season start between them, in the weekend's initial minicamp under first year coach Cam Cameron. Not surprisingly, both the players struggled to move the offense.
Even before the minicamp, the Dolphins had renewed their pursuit of Green, but the poor performance of the offense over the weekend may have added further impetus to complete a trade that would provide Miami a proven starter.
Green, 36, has been deemed expendable by the Chiefs, who plan to allow veteran Damon Huard and second-year pro Brodie Croyle to compete in training camp for the starting job. A 14-year veteran, Green has six times thrown for 3,000-plus yards in a season and has three seasons of 4,000 or more yards. He has completed 2,143 of 3,527 passes for 26,963 yards, with 157 touchdown passes and 101 interceptions in 112 games, including 107 starts.
Until last season, Green had proven incredibly durable, and had started every game for the Chiefs since Kansas City acquired him in a 2001 trade. But Green suffered a severe head injury in the 2006 season opener, when he was hit outside the pocket by Cincinnati end Robert Geathers, and he started only eight contests.
There have been other teams which have indicated an interest in Green, the Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns among them, but the veteran has emphasized that his preference is to be traded to Miami, where he would be reunited with Cameron, his former quarterbacks coach with the Washington Redskins from 1995-96.
Green controls his fate to some extent, since any team that acquires him will want him to restructure a contract that has three seasons remaining, at base salaries of $7.2 million (2007), $7.7 million (2008) and $9.2 million (2009). The Dolphins and Green's agent have already agreed on the key parameters of a contract that addresses the needs of both sides.
The potential acquisition of Green, coupled with his own battle to come back from the catastrophic right knee injury he suffered in October 2005, an injury in which he tore three of the four ligaments, has left Culpepper in limbo. The eight-year veteran was supposed to answer the Dolphins' long standing quarterback issues when the club acquired him from Minnesota last spring.
But Culpepper appeared in only four games before undergoing a second surgery to repair his knee. He revealed over the weekend that the second surgery, which was designed to address scar tissue in the knee, was more serious than anyone originally divulged, and called for a rehabilitation period of 4-6 months.
There is no timetable for the return of Culpepper, 30, who is scheduled to earn a base salary of $5.5 million in 2007. It's conceivable that the Dolphins will have completed a trade for Green, and jettisoned Culpepper, before he is actually ready to return to the field.
Beyond the discussions aimed at adding Green, the Dolphins have explored other options, including the possibility of investing a high round draft choice in a quarterback. Cameron and general manager Randy Mueller have met with or auditioned each of the top four quarterback prospects in this year's draft.
Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer
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