| Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots | Friday 2/15, 11:59 PM CT |
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| A lawsuit filed Friday by a group of former St. Louis Rams player seeks millions of dollars in damages, according to the Canadian Press. The suit originates from the alleged taping of Rams practices by the New England Patriots prior to the 2002 Super Bowl.
The $100-million suit, filed on behalf of former Rams player Willie Gary, was submitted in a New Orleans U.S. District Court. The suit names the Patriots, team owner Robert Kraft and head coach Bill Belichick.
The Patriots have yet to comment. |
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| Zach Thomas, LB, Dallas Cowboys | Friday 2/15, 11:03 PM CT |
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| According to the Dallas News, the Cowboys have had discussions with Zach Thomas' agent, Drew Rosenhaus, and plan to bring the 35-year old ex-Dolphin in for a visit. Thomas, who was released on Thursday in a salary-cap move, isn't a prototypical fit in a 3-4 defense, but he has experience in the scheme under former Miami coach Nick Saban. |
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| All the talk of organizations interested in the Bengals All Pro wide out Chad Johnson appear to be in vain. Cincinnati is offering no indication they will even discuss trading their top receiver, especially if it includes an eight million dollar cap hit. The Cincinnati Enquirer reports that Johnson gets a $250,000 workout bonus if he's in town March 24 -- and at that point leveler heads will have prevailed. We think? |
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| Brian Kelly, according to Bucs Beat, will not fulfill the final year of his current contract, officially declaring himself a free agent.
The report noted that for Kelly to become a free agent, he had to pay Tampa Bay $453,000 by Thursday's deadline to void the final year of his deal.
Kelly will find more than one willing suitor to assist him in recouping his half million dollar buyout. |
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| Lewis Sanders, who was signed by the Atlanta Falcons prior to the 2007 season, has been released, according to NFL.com. Sanders started six games in his lone season with the Falcons, but was supplanted by rookie CB Chris Houston. |
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| Wayne Gandy, who is rehabbing from surgery on a torn ACL in his left knee, was cut by the Atlanta Falcons, according to NFL.com. Gandy, 37, is a 14-year veteran who got caught up in the Atlanta roster purge. Gandy is one of the true class acts in the entire league, but at his advanced age it appears that he is close to the end of the road. |
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| Byron Leftwich, who was slowed by an ankle injury last season, has been released by the Atlanta Falcons, according to NFL.com. This is becoming a habit for Leftwich, who was cut by the Jacksonville Jaguars towards the end of training camp last year. This transaction represents quite the fall from grace for the former starter, who has battled injury issues his entire career. At this stage of the game, Leftwich will attempt to catch on with another team, either to compete as a starter or to fill a backup role. |
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| The Chiefs officially placed Priest Holmes on the Reserve/Retired List on Friday. A press release sent by Josh Looney, Kansas City Chiefs Public Relations, reported that
Chiefs President and GM Carl Peterson announced that the club will honor three-time Pro Bowl RB Priest Holmes during a retirement ceremony during a 2008 home game.
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| Ty Law, CB, | Friday 2/15, 3:29 PM CT |
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| Rototimes.com sources have indicated that the Chiefs intend to cut veteran cornerback Ty Law. Law has the Chiefs' highest salary cap figure at $9.05 million, but he would cost the team only $3.15 million against their cap if he is released before June 1, according to the Kansas City Star. Given Law's mediocre production since he arrived in KC (two INTs last year, six in two years), the decision to cut him loose isn't really a hard one. He just turned 34 but shouldn't have too much trouble finding a job somewhere. |
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| Zach Thomas is healthy and has been cleared to play football per his agent Drew Rosenhaus, according to the Sun-Sentinel. Thomas, who was recently released by Miami, has already drawn interest from a handful of teams now that he’s on the open market. "Zach will most likely be playing for a team that was in the playoffs," Rosenhaus said. "I have been very pleased by the interest so far." Thomas, 34, has missed 22 starts during his 12-year NFL career due to various injuries, but he has posted 150+ tackles in every season from 2001-06. We wouldn’t be surprised to see the seven-time Pro Bowler latch on to a team in need of a veteran presence in their linebacking corps. As for his IDP prospects, Thomas is long in the tooth, and will likely be a role player wherever he lands. |
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| Alge Crumpler was among seven players released by the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, according to NFL.com. Other players who were cut include: QB Byron Leftwich, OT Wayne Gandy, CB Lewis Sanders, WR Jamin Elliot, LB Marcus Wilkins and DT Rod Coleman. “This is a difficult day for the entire organization,” Falcons General Manager Thomas Dimitroff said. “A number of these players have contributed to this organization on and off the field at a high level and we greatly appreciate their efforts. These decisions weren’t easy, but we felt they were necessary to build a team in the long-term best interest of the Falcons and its fans.” Crumpler, a four time Pro Bowler, is the biggest name of this bunch from a fantasy perspective. During his seven-year career in Atlanta, Crumpler caught 316 balls for 4212 yards and 35 touchdowns. Crumpler will certainly catch on with another team during the offseason. |
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| Cadillac Williams, who underwent surgery last November to repair a torn patellar tendon in his right knee, is said to be a fixture at team headquarters rehabbing regularly in an attempt to return from the devastating injury, according to the Orlando Sentinel. The report speculates that Williams could return to action during the middle of the 2008 season. However, you will want to take this information with a grain of salt, because it represents the first positive news we have heard regarding this situation. Most other reports have Williams missing the entire 2008 season, and even if he is able to return it’s hard to picture him being a difference maker. |
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| Earnest Graham, who is scheduled to make a paltry $512,520 in 2008, has been in negotiations for a new long-term deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to the St. Petersburg Times. Graham is a four-year veteran, who took over the primary rushing duties after RB Cadillac Williams went down last season. Graham started 10 games, carrying the ball 222 times for 848 yards and 10 touchdowns. He was also a factor in the passing game, posting 49 receptions and 324 yards. Graham is a bruiser with soft hands, and securing his services is a pretty big deal for the Buccaneers, considering the uncertain status of Williams. |
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| Jason Brown, C, Baltimore Ravens | Friday 2/15, 11:43 AM CT |
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| Jason Brown, currently a restricted free-agent, is expected to be retained by the Baltimore Ravens with a one-year tender offer, according to the Carroll County Times. Baltimore is expected to use the second-round level of compensation on Brown, which costs $1.47 million. The ultimate goal of the organization is to sign him to a long-term contract extension. Brown started all 16 games at left guard last season, after veteran Edwin Mulitalo was cut prior to the 2007 season. He played well enough to be named to the Sports Illustrated All-Pro team, while emerging as a locker-room leader. This is obviously good news for RB Willis McGahee, who will continue to have an up-and-coming road grader clearing lanes in front of him next season. |
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| Rod Smith, WR, Denver Broncos | Friday 2/15, 10:54 AM CT |
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| Rod Smith has been placed on the reserve/retired list by the Denver Broncos, according to the Denver Post. Smith, who will turn 38 in May, is the team’s career leader in receptions (849), yards (11,389) and receiving touchdowns (68). He has had major issues with his hip since 2006, and despite holding out hope to play again, is likely to retire when all is said and done. |
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| Marty Booker, who earlier reports suggested was interested in returning to the Chicago Bears, has several suitors interested in his services, according to the Sun Times. Chicago hasn’t responded to Booker’s offer to join the organization, but interest reportedly remains strong by several NFL teams including Dallas, Minnesota, New England and Tennessee. Booker, 31, could be a solid possession receiver for a team weak at the position. |
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| The Bucs have signed Michael Bennett to a long-term deal, according to the team's official site. Terms of the deal weren't disclosed. Bennett averaged 4.6 YPC on 41 carries in eight games for the Bucs after coming over from Kansas City in a trade. He figures to back up Earnest Graham again. |
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| Roderick Coleman was released by the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
This is just the first of a bakers-dozen-plus that will be released in the next few weeks. New general manager Thomas Dimitroff is cleaning house and reshaping the team -- in the Patriots image, he hopes.
The aging veteran missed the final six games of the '07 season to various injuries. |
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| Marc Colombo is seeking restructured contract that would extend his current deal, keeping him in Dallas long term, according to the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram. "I would like them to put an investment in me for the future," said Colombo, who was at the Michael Johnson Performance Center on Thursday. "I want to be around for the new stadium." Colombo, who has resurrected his career in Dallas, hasn’t missed a start in the past two seasons. The offensive tackle is signed through the 2008 season, but is obviously enamored with the possibility of remaining in Dallas for the next few seasons. |
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| Larry Fitzgerald, who represents the Arizona Cardinals top offseason priority, is making progress in negotiations to extend his contract, according to azcentral.com. "I feel like the talks have been progressing," GM Rod Graves said of negotiations with Fitzgerald's agent, Eugene Parker. "I don't want to over-characterize our discussions. I do think Larry has indicated a strong desire to remain with our team, and Eugene has reiterated that a number of times." Fitzgerald’s current deal which carries a salary-cap figure of $16.5 million, is impeding the Cardinals ability to re-sign some of their other core players, such as LBs Karlos Dansby and Calvin Pace. |
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| DeShaun Foster, who earlier reports speculated could be a salary cap casualty, is on the trading block, according to ESPN.com. Carolina Panthers GM Marty Hurney declined comment on the matter; however, reading between the lines there is likely some legs to this story. Foster is in the last season of a three-year, $14.5 million contract, and he’s scheduled to count $5.8 million against the salary cap this season. Moving Foster would pave the way for RB DeAngelo Williams to carve out a larger role in 2008, and it’s not out of the question for the Panthers to draft a complimentary back on draft day. |
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| The Seahawks don't appear likely to pursue Alan Faneca after signing Mike Wahle on Thursday, according to the Seattle Times. Wahle is expected to step right in as the team's starting left guard. |
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| The Chiefs released reserve running back Gilbert Harris, according to the Kansas City Star. Harris only stuck as long as he did because the team had no true fullback, and due to the injury to Larry Johnson. |
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| The Chiefs released veteran John Welbourn on Thursday, according to the Kansas City Star.
Welbourn started every game for the Chiefs under performing offensive line last year.
The move saves the Chiefs about $2 million against the salary cap. Welbourn, who retired last year before training camp, decided to return and play one more year - but had to serve a six-game suspension for violating the leagues substance abuse policy. The ex-Eagle is expected to announce his retirement sometime this spring. |
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| Jerry Porter, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars | Friday 2/15, 2:04 AM CT |
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| Jerry Porter was asked by the crew of NFL Live on ESPN Thursday what the problems were in Oakland since the team appeared in Super Bowl XXXVII. The Raiders wide out blamed the five straight seasons of woe on turnover at quarterback and coaching staff. Porter told the on-air cast that it's time for him to "move on" -- from Oakland. Porter, a free agent, has several suitors according to published reports. The Eagles are reportedly the most interested in the 30-year old wide out. |
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