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| Mark Brunell is set to visit the Saints on Tuesday, this according to a report on ESPN. The Trent Green signing will likely mark Brunell as a bit of a commodity as one of the few experienced, veteran QB worth signing. According to the report Burnell has lost 10 pounds and he is a prime target of the Saints and Packers who need veteran depth. |
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| According to a report in the Sacremento Bee, JaMarcus Russell is much closer to the 260 pounds he finished with last season with than the 300 pounds that SI.com reported he weighed earlier in the day. Russell doesn't figure to be in great shape given the fact that the report of his obesity likely wouldn't have started if he was in good shape. One things for sure and that is that Russell could stand to lay off the donuts and hit the weights this summer. |
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| Warrick Dunn, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Monday 3/10, 6:42 PM CT |
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| Warrick Dunn has signed a 3-year, $6 million contract in order to play with the Buccaneers, this according to the Dallas Morning News. Dunn will support Ernest Graham as a pass catching threat who can give Graham an occasional break as both runners certainly bring different running styles to the table. Coming off a season where he averaged just 3.1 YPC and caught only 37 passes, the question for Dunn is how much does he have left? |
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| Antonio Bryant signed a contract with the Tampa Bay Bucs on Monday though no terms have yet been announced, this according to AP. Bryant sat out the 2007 season, so it's questionable just how much he has left at this point though he is still just 28-years of age. Given the team's lack of depth at WR, Bryant could certainly figure into the mix this coming season, though he will be forced to sit out the first two games of the year for violating the league's substance abuse policy. |
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| Eric Johnson re-signed with the Saints on Monday, this according to the Times_Picayune. Terms of the deal were not announced, but the length of the deal is one year. Johnson started 12 games last year and was valuable in PPR formats as he hauled in 48 passes, but only two scores and 378 yards certainly aren't numbers you want to see in your lineup. Mark Campbell and Billy Miller are also in the mix at TE for the Saints. |
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| Trent Green has signed a contract to join the Rams, this according to Pro Football Talk. The report says that Green signed a 3-year, $9 million deal to back up Marc Bulger. Green decided to give it one more shot in his attempt to overcome his head injury, and by signing with the Rams he figures to see some playing time as Bulger is far from an iron man behind center. |
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| Rex Hadnot, C, Cleveland Browns | Monday 3/10, 4:31 PM CT |
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| Rex Hadnot has agreed to terms with the Cleveland Browns, according to the Palm Beach Post. Hadnot is a versatile offensive lineman, who started 16 games at right guard in 2007 and 16 games at center in 2006 for the Miami Dolphins. He was looking for a four-year deal worth $20 million, but terms of the deal with Cleveland are undisclosed. |
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| Free agent wide receiver D.J. Hackett is scheduled to arrive in the Washington area later this week to meet with the Washington Redskins, according to the Washington Post. While the Redskins are usually quite active in free agency, Hackett will be the first free agent to visit with the team since the period opened Feb. 29. "We'll take a look and see if there's something that can work there," said Vinny Cerrato, Washington's executive vice president of football operations. "It's got to work for both sides, so we'll see what happens." Hackett, 26, could provide a big target for quarterback Jason Campbell. Hackett has played for the Seattle Seahawks since entering the league in 2004, and new Redskins coach Jim Zorn previously worked as the Seahawks' quarterbacks coach. |
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| Mark Bruener signed a contract to remain with the Texans, this according to the AP. The team also signed S Glenn Earl. Bruener is merely a blocking TE and has absolutely no value in the fantasy game. |
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| David Carr, QB, New York Giants | Monday 3/10, 3:57 PM CT |
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| The New York Giants will host free agent quarterback David Carr this week, according to the Star-Ledger. The Giants are shopping for a veteran backup for Eli Manning, and New York quarterbacks coach Chris Palmer used to tutor Carr in Houston, so there's a connection. Unless Carr can rectify his horrible decision making tendencies, he will never amount to anything in the NFL. |
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| The Cincinnati Bengals have agreed to terms with former Arizona linebacker Darryl Blackstock, according to bengals.com. Blackstock, 24, a three-year backup for the Cardinals, has two NFL starts and 44 tackles in 46 career games with four career sacks. Blackstock could get looks at both outside linebacker spots and as a nickel pass rusher in Cincinnati. |
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| Future Hall of Famer Jerry Rice believes that DeSean Jackson is the best wide receiver available in the 2008 NFL draft, according to USA Today. Rice, who has helped Jackson in a mentor role, says his explosive speed, sure hands and receiver/returner versatility should overcome concerns about his lack of size. "What he did at the combine increased his value," Rice says. "He ran a 4.31 (in the 40-yard dash). And he didn't drop a ball." But will Jackson's size be a liability exploited by bigger, stronger NFL defensive backs? "I think he's so fast, he'll be able to get off the jam," Rice says. "Just watching him, I don't think he'll have a problem with his size and weight. A team will probably want to get him up to that 175(-pound) range. But he'll come in and contribute right away. "I was very impressed when I worked out with him." Jackson returned six punts and one kickoff for touchdowns and caught 162 passes for 2,423 yards with 22 touchdowns during his three-year college career at Cal. |
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| Sean Taylor, S, Washington Redskins | Monday 3/10, 2:24 PM CT |
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| A rented sport utility vehicle is apparently involved in the shooting of Washington Redskins star Sean Taylor at his Miami home, according to SI.com. Court documents released Monday say the mother of a teenage girl rented a black Toyota Highlander, thinking the girl and a friend planned to attend a football game in Orlando. The mother told prosecutors she didn’t know the girls would allow young men they knew to use the vehicle. Her daughter, identified as R.L. in the documents, said Charles Wardlow and Eric Rivera drove the vehicle. It was later left at a Fort Myers school parking lot. Wardlow, Rivera and two other men are charged with fatally shooting Taylor. |
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| Left tackle Marvel Smith will become a free agent next season if Pittsburgh doesn’t sign him to a contract extension before then, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Can the Steelers keep him, and do they want to? If the Steelers draft an offensive tackle in the first round and he happens to be a left tackle, chances of them signing Smith to a big-money contract would decrease. However, if they ignore the position on the draft's first day, the organization might have little choice but to sign Smith, who will earn a $3.95 million salary in 2008. (His cap number of $6,645,500 ranks fourth on the Steelers). |
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| Vernon Gholston was a standout two weeks ago at the Indianapolis scouting combine, but blew his measurements out of the water at his recent Pro Day, according to FOX Sports. To be certain, Gholston was one of the true standouts at the NFL Draft Combine two weeks ago. At 6-3, 266 pounds, the defensive end/linebacker ran a mind-boggling 4.67 40-yard-dash and measured in with an impressive 35.5-inch vertical jump. Fast forward to this past Saturday, and Gholston blew his late February times and measurements out of the water, clocking in with a jaw-dropping 4.58 40-yard-dash and exhibiting a 42-inch vertical. Gholston, who was already a lock top 10 pick, could move into the top 5 and beyond with this scintillating performance at Ohio State’s Pro Day. |
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| The New York Jets are talking with Baltimore free agent running back Musa Smith, according to the Baltimore Sun. Smith is a five-year veteran, who has played his entire career in Baltimore. Last season, he started one game posting 74 carries for 264 yards and two scores on the ground, while chipping in 27 receptions, 192 yards and one score in the passing game. |
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| The Buffalo Bills have signed free agent tight end Courtney Anderson, according to buffalobills.com. "It's a great organization and a great coaching staff," said Anderson. "There are a lot of great players here. I just look forward to coming in and working hard and trying to get us over the hump in terms of competing in our division." New offensive coordinator Turk Schonert is expected to make more frequent use of the tight end in the passing game than that of his predecessor Steve Fairchild. Anderson now has the opportunity to compete to be that top passing target at the tight end position. Buffalo now has four tight ends on the roster including Anderson. The others: Teyo Johnson, a former teammate of Anderson's in Oakland, Robert Royal and Derek Schouman. |
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| James Harrison didn't want to talk yesterday about his arrest a day earlier on simple assault and criminal mischief charges, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "I have no comment on that," Harrison said at his Franklin Park home. Harrison, 29, is accused of slapping Beth Tibbott, 29, at her Ohio Township home on Saturday, according to a police affidavit. Tibbott told police that she and Harrison were arguing when she locked herself in her bedroom and tried to call 911. Harrison broke through the door, snapped her cell phone in half and then slapped her across the face hard enough to knock off her glasses, according to the affidavit. Harrison's agents had no comment yesterday, said John Nubani, president of Sports Management and Marketing Inc. Harrison admitted to striking Tibbott, according to the police affidavit, but as we all know, NFL players are normally immune from jail time in these types of incidents. |
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| Adam Jones, CB, Dallas Cowboys | Monday 3/10, 11:59 AM CT |
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| There are eight teams interested in suspended Tennessee cornerback Pacman Jones, according to SBNation, including the Cowboys, Patriots, Dolphins, Saints, Texans, Chiefs, Raiders and Lions. With 25% of the league interested in Pacman, it certainly appears there will be a market for his services, when and if, commissioner Roger Goodell reinstates the troubled cornerback. |
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| Tatum Bell, RB, Denver Broncos | Monday 3/10, 11:48 AM CT |
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| After losing a bidding war for halfback Julius Jones, the Detroit Lions went back to their own roster and re-signed Tatum Bell, according to ESPN. Bell, 26, agreed to a one-year, $1.6 million deal to stay with the Lions. With Kevin Jones coming off a torn ACL, Bell will be given the chance to start this season, though there are rumors that the Lions could select a running back in the 2008 NFL draft. |
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| Rex Hadnot, C, Cleveland Browns | Monday 3/10, 11:39 AM CT |
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| The Kansas City Chiefs are planning to take a look at free agent offensive lineman Rex Hadnot, according to Pro Football Weekly. Hadnot has been advised that he is no longer in Miami’s future plans. The Chiefs have been lethargic in pursuing players on the open market and reportedly aren’t taking an aggressive approach in pursuing Hadnot. |
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| If the season opened tomorrow the Buffalo Bills’ starting linebacker corps would be free-agent addition Kawika Mitchell on the weak side, Paul Posluszny in the middle and Angelo Crowell on the strong side, according to Pro Football Weekly. Don’t forget about Keith Ellison and John DiGiorgio, who both gained the confidence of the coaches last season, and will see significant minutes as well. |
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| Rob Meier, DT, Jacksonville Jaguars | Monday 3/10, 11:27 AM CT |
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| Don’t expect the Jacksonville Jaguars to spend any time bemoaning the loss of defensive tackle Marcus Stroud, according to Pro Football Weekly. The team loves defensive tackle Rob Meier, who was one of the unheralded stars of their 2007 campaign. The team also thinks highly of second-year man Derek Landri, who came on strong toward the end of the season and should play a prominent role in the interior line rotation. |
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| DeAngelo Hall has quieted his demands to be traded after a recent conversation with head coach Mike Smith, according to Pro Football Weekly. Smith advised Hall that he was hurting his cause to get traded by venting in the media. Hall has received assurances from Smith that the organization will do what it can to accommodate his request. Thus far, the New York Giants have expressed interest, but are worried about his attitude given the fact he has only one more year remaining on his contract. The team considers giving Hall a big dollar contract to be a risky proposition. |
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| The Seattle Seahawks have only just begun to revamp the tight-end position with the acquisition of free agent Jeb Putzier, according to Pro Football Weekly. In the best-case scenario, the organization envisions Putzier as a much more dependable No. 3 tight end than Bennie Joppru, who was dreadful last season. Word is the team is more than willing to live with Will Heller as the No. 2 tight end, but considers finding an upgrade via the draft or free agency a top priority. |
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| Alex Smith, QB, San Francisco 49ers | Monday 3/10, 11:08 AM CT |
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| Alex Smith is feeling a lot better these days and is enthusiastically welcoming the challenge of battling Shaun Hill for the starting quarterback job in San Francisco, according to Pro Football Weekly. Smith, who wore a sling for six weeks following surgery in December, has begun throwing the football with his range of motion back to normal. Mike Martz has done wonders for quarterbacks in the past, so whoever wins the open competition could provide some upside in 2008 fantasy drafts. |
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| The St. Louis Rams are interested in a possible trade for Philadelphia cornerback Lito Sheppard, according to Pro Football Weekly. St. Louis would like some insurance at the position because of concerns about the long-term status of starting CB Fakhir Brown, who missed four games at the start of the 2007 season for violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy, and is one more mishap away from facing a one-year suspension. The Rams will have to get into the queue because according to rumors circulating in the media there are no fewer than 15 teams looking into the availability of Sheppard. |
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| Quinn Gray, QB, Kansas City Chiefs | Monday 3/10, 10:54 AM CT |
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| The Green Bay Packers had their eye on free agent quarterback Quinn Gray even before Brett Favre retired, according to Pro Football Weekly. Gray, who is being seriously considered for the backup job behind Aaron Rodgers, has attempted more passes during his career than Rodgers. Last year in Jacksonville, Gray completed 55.6% of his pass attempts for 986 yards with 10 touchdowns against five interceptions, good for a 85.6 QB Rating, while filling in for David Garrard. |
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| The market for the free agent receiver D.J. Hackett has been colder than many expected, and even the receiver-needy Redskins and head coach Jim Zorn — who coached Hackett in Seattle — appear to be leaning in other directions right now, though that could change, according to Pro Football Weekly. Washington has been extremely quiet on the open market, which is a rarity, but Hackett could provide an upgrade on a team desperate for playmakers in the receiver corps. |
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| The New Orleans Saints have a logjam of middle linebackers trying to return from injury following the additions of Jonathan Vilma, acquired in a trade with the Jets, and the signing of unrestricted free agent Dan Morgan, according to Pro Football Weekly. The organization also re-signed linebacker Mark Simoneau, who is expected to backup Vilma in the middle. At the weak-side, Morgan is expected to share time with incumbent Scott Shanle. |
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| The Seattle Seahawks pursued tight end Alge Crumpler on the open market, but ultimately didn’t have the salary cap space, according to Pro Football Weekly. The team also had serious concerns about the condition of Crumpler’s knee, which caused him to miss four starts and two complete games last season. |
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| DeAngelo Williams has incorporated distance running into his offseason training repertoire so that he can better finish off runs, according to the Charlotte Observer. Williams has been doing a lot of running during the offseason in preparation for the increased workload expected due to the departure of DeShaun Foster. We expect Carolina to burn a first day draft choice on a running back to provide some competition at the position, but its pretty clear at this point that Williams’ will be a key contributor in 2008. |
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| Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots | Monday 3/10, 9:52 AM CT |
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| If Mike Walsh videotaped the St. Louis Rams in their final practice prior to the 2002 Super Bowl, then the New England Patriots will say he must have done it of his own volition, according to the Boston Globe. Shortly after the Patriots added Spygate to the American lexicon last September by violating NFL rules against videotaping an opponent's signals, Walsh, a video assistant dismissed by the team in 2003, reached out to one of the few former coworkers who would take his call. He left little doubt about his intentions. "He sounded like a loose cannon," said the coworker, who asked not to be identified to avoid entangling his new employer in the controversy. "He was very bitter about how things ended with the Patriots and he seemed like he was keen on using whatever he had to get back at them by going public and really trying to damage the team." From all appearances it looks like New England is going to play the vindictive ex-employee card. |
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| Adam Jones, CB, Dallas Cowboys | Monday 3/10, 9:42 AM CT |
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| Pacman Jones needs to behave and be quiet to enhance his chances of being reinstated by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, according to ESPN. John Clayton speculates that Jones is hurting his cause by taking the airwaves and pushing for trades to teams like Dallas. If Jones is going to get a fresh start with a new team he will need to participate in mini-camps and training camp, so irritating the commissioner is not in his best interests. Bottom line… Jones is not dealing from a position of strength in this situation, and should stay on the down low. |
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| Warrick Dunn, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Monday 3/10, 9:34 AM CT |
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| Add the Tennessee Titans to the list of teams interested in free agent running back Warrick Dunn, according to the City Paper. “We could do a one-two punch, but you may look for a guy who is more of a third-down, or more of a situational type back,” general manager Mike Reinfeldt said of the free agents available. “That’s why you bring people in to look at and kind of evaluate how they fit and continue the process.” The Titans have discussed Warrick Dunn, but have yet to bring him in for a visit. There is a strong possibility that Tennessee will wait and address the position in the draft, given that the 2008 class is so deep at that spot. |
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| If the Seattle Seahawks release running back Shaun Alexander, one possible landing spot could be Cincinnati, according to ESPN. Per ESPN’s John Clayton, Alexander could be an interesting option for Alexander due to the fact he grew up in Florence, Kentucky, and has been popular around the Cincinnati area. Not sure how popular Alexander is these days, given the fact he normally falls down upon initial contact. |
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| Jason Taylor, DE, Washington Redskins | Monday 3/10, 9:17 AM CT |
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| Jason Taylor would like to jettison Miami, but realizes he has no choice but to play for the Dolphins if the team decides not to hang the exit sign on his locker, according to the Miami Herald. The report cites multiple unnamed sources that stated Taylor wants to play somewhere other than Miami in 2008. Taylor is tied to the Dolphins for two more seasons, as required by his contract. That means no matter how much he would welcome a change, it is up to the Dolphins to let him go, and the team has made no public or private concession that it will unlock the front door and either trade or release him. |
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| Larry Fitzgerald is not on the trading block, according to The Philadelphia Enquirer. A league source states that the Eagles have talked to the Cardinals about Fitzgerald, but the talk never went beyond an inquiry. The source also stated directly that he will not be traded, even if they once had a desire to do so. Lito Sheppard is still expected to get dealt however. |
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| Dan Morgan’s Achilles injury should be healed in time for mini-camps and training camp, but the multiple concussions remain a career-threatening problem, according to the New Orleans Times Picayune. "I'm not ready to retire. I still feel like I have a lot of football left in me," Morgan said after being released by the Panthers last month. "I'm still rehabbing my Achilles injury, but I should be able to run fine. Whoever gets me will get a great player who's committed to winning." We don’t doubt Morgan’s commitment to winning, but he has had six concussions during his career, and is an extremely risky pick in the IDP world. |
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| Free agent defensive tackle William Joseph visited with Miami last week, according to the Palm Beach Post. Williams, 28, played four seasons for the New York Giants after being drafted 25th overall out of the University of Miami in 2003, but he missed he missed the 2007 season because of a back injury. |
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| Ricky Williams is still recovering from a torn pectoral muscle that sidelined him six carries into his first game back from a suspension last November, according to the Palm Beach Post. Agent Leigh Steinberg said last week that the injury is healing nicely and Williams will be ready well before training camp. He is working out at the Dolphins' practice facility, and along with Ronnie Brown is expected to be part of a one-two punch at running back for Miami in 2008. |
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| Jason Elam, K, Atlanta Falcons | Monday 3/10, 8:43 AM CT |
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| Jason Elam’s agent, Jake Reale, disputed reports that his client is considering retirement if the doesn’t re-sign with Denver, according to the Rocky Mountain News. Negotiations between Denver and Elam aren’t dead, but are on hold until Elam returns from vacation in Israel. Reale also said that Elam has visits planned with other teams including Atlanta, Kansas City and Seattle. |
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| Domonique Foxworth, who is frustrated with is role in the defensive backfield in Denver, is interested in playing for the New York Jets, according to Newsday. The Broncos need defensive line help and the report speculates the two teams could swap Foxworth for defensive tackle Dewayne Robertson, who the Jets are attempting to trade, partly because he has a $3 million roster bonus looming. In the past three years in Denver, Foxworth has played in 46 games (18 starts) at cornerback with 173 tackles and three interceptions. |
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| Former Bengals wide receiver coach Hue Jackson, now Baltimore’s quarterbacks coach was interviewed over the weekend on Sirius NFL Radio and disputed Shaun Smith’s account that Chad Johnson had punched Marvin Lewis, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. " To shed light on it I'll say the same thing I said before. Chad Johnson never hit Marvin Lewis. Chad Johnson never hit me. Chad Johnson never put anybody in a headlock. Chad Johnson was very emotional at halftime of that game. The true story to all that was Chad had an IV in his arm and me, and him were talking about plans for the second half and he got emotional because he said, 'Hey, coach, without Carson (Palmer) I'm not going to be able to get the ball.' "And that's what it was and I told him, `Well, then you need to tell (offensive coordinator) Coach Bratkowski that.' And he ripped the IV out of his arm, and it's like anything else, you see blood coming out of a person's arm people think the worst. And he went from there to go into the locker room to let Coach Lewis know that, 'Hey, look, I want the ball.' And that was it. And when he opened the door he stumbled out of the training room so he was flailing and people think that he was swinging on people. Chad wasn't swinging on anybody. Chad would not hit Marvin Lewis, and Chad sure would not hit me. So that is not what happened and I'm very disappointed that now, even after two years, we have to discuss this again. But that is exactly what happened." Looks like a classic case of he said, he said to us.
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| The Tennessee Titans remain in talks with San Francisco defensive end Marques Douglas, according to the Tennessean. If signed, Douglas would likely be involved in a rotation with the recently signed defensive end Jevon Kearse on the opposite side of Kyle Vanden Bosch. |
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| Justin McCareins left Tennessee without a deal, according to the Tennessean. McCareins had the best year's of his career while under the direction of Jeff Fisher and Mike Heimerdinger, and he has to be unpleased that he couldn't rejoin them. His agent is hopeful he can still get a deal done, and wants his client to land there. McCareins challenged 1000 yards in Tennessee, and this would be his best destination, especially since the Titans really need receivers.
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| Eugene Wilson is nearing a decision on where he will play in 2008, according to the Tennessean. The free agent safety has a long line of possible suitors including Tampa Bay, Pittsburgh and the New York Jets, all of which he has already visited with. Reports indicate the Bengals and Jaguars are interested in his services as well. |
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| Jake Scott, C, Tennessee Titans | Monday 3/10, 7:55 AM CT |
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| Jake Scott has inked a four year deal worth $20 million, according to the Nashville Tennesean. He will replace departed guard Jacob Bell, who signed with the Rams. |
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| Vince Young, QB, Tennessee Titans | Monday 3/10, 7:46 AM CT |
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| Vince Young met with new offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger for the first time on Friday, accoring to Fan Nation. They will spend this week discussing the offense and analyzing the changes. Heimerdinger has to be seen as an upgrade over Norm Chow. Hopefully the Titans offense will show a pulse this season. |
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| Josh McCown, QB, Carolina Panthers | Monday 3/10, 12:05 AM CT |
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| Josh McCown is determined and confident he will be the Dolphins starting QB in 2008, according to the Palm Beach Post. He stated, "I plan to win the job. It's a great opportunity. It's the first time I've had all the details I've looked for in a situation."
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