Cowboys players status
The Dallas Cowboys know they'll be without safety Darren Woodson for all of training camp. They'll find out next week whether receiver Antonio Bryant will ever be back.Woodson has a herniated disc in his back. If all goes as expected at a doctor's visit Monday, he'll have the disc removed Tuesday and will be sidelined up to eight weeks. Bryant's status has been iffy since he threw his sweaty jersey in the face of coach Bill Parcells during a practice last month. Bryant was angry about his role, fearing that the arrival of Keyshawn Johnson would mean fewer balls for him to catch.Parcells and Bryant haven't spoken since but will in a face-to-face meeting early next week. That conversation will go a long way toward determining whether Bryant will be among the players reporting to training camp in Oxnard, Calif., on Friday."One way or another we'll have that sorted through," team owner Jerry Jones said.Bryant endeared himself to Parcells early in training camp last season by having hand surgery one morning in Dallas and flying back to San Antonio in time for an afternoon practice. Their relationship became strained during the season, and his statistics dropped from the previous year, when he was a rookie.Bryant has told his agent, Lamont Smith, that he regrets what he did. Smith has passed that along to team officials and believes they will give the receiver another chance -- as long as Bryant handles himself well in the upcoming meeting."I know what Antonio is going to say. I know what his position is. I think that if he says and does those things, then he's going to be a Cowboy," said Smith, who was at team headquarters Friday finalizing a contract for another client, running back Eddie George.
If Woodson is out for eight weeks, that would be through the second game of the season. The other option would be waiting for it to heal, but Jones said that would cause "a lot of guesswork."Jones said he's optimistic Woodson may return sooner, noting his excellent conditioning and good results from similar procedures done on former Cowboys such as Troy Aikman and Charles Haley. Woodson, a 12-year veteran, is the only player left in Dallas from the teams that won three Super Bowls in the 1990s."If we were going to have a player that had to miss training camp, Darren Woodson would be my pick because he understands the position," Jones said. "We know his work ethic, we know how diligent he'll be about getting back out there."Other items on the team's to-do list before camp include signing all draft picks and making sure they have the space under the salary cap to do so.Stephen Jones, the team's chief operating officer, said George's contract will require other moves to get under the cap.The two most likely are releasing quarterback Chad Hutchinson and putting running back Erik Bickerstaff on injured reserve.Hutchinson never lived up to the big signing bonus he received when returning to football from a baseball career. After failing to beat out Quincy Carter for the starting job last season, he had a mediocre performance in NFL Europe.Bickerstaff had surgery last month to repair a torn Achilles' tendon. His recovery will keep him out the entire season.
posted by Anonymous @ 3:47 PM
$25,000 fine for not attending Rookie school.
Safety Sean Taylor of the Washington Redskins has been fined $25,000 by the NFL for leaving the league's rookie symposium for a day.The fine is the largest leveled on a rookie for missing the mandatory seminars for first-year players. Ryan Leaf of San Diego and Ron Dayne of the New York Giants were fined $10,000 in 1998 and 2000 -- Leaf for leaving early and Dayne for not attending.
The NFL did not announce the fine but a source within the league, who requested anonymity, confirmed to The Associated Press that it had been levied.Taylor, who starred at Miami, was the fifth player chosen in last April's draft.He attended the first session of the symposium on Sunday, June 27. He left the next day, then returned for the final session.The mandatory rookie sessions are designed to teach rookies about the pitfall of being an NFL player, with an emphasis on off-the-field behavior.
posted by Anonymous @ 3:37 PM
NCAA FOOTBALL DIVISION I-A TEAMS
MAC
Akron Zips
Ball St. Cardinals
Bowling Green Falcons
Buffalo Bulls
Central Michigan Chippewas
Eastern Michigan Eagles
Kent St. Golden Flashes
Marshall Thundering Herd
Miami (OH) Redhawks
Northern Illinois Huskies
Ohio Bobcats
Toledo Rockets
UCF Golden Knights
Western Michigan BroncosMountain West
Air Force Falcons
Brigham Young Cougars
Colorado St. Rams
New Mexico Lobos
San Diego St. Aztecs
UNLV Rebels
Utah Utes
Wyoming CowboysPac-10
Arizona Wildcats
Arizona St. Sun Devils
California Golden Bears
Oregon Ducks
Oregon St. Beavers
Stanford Cardinal
UCLA Bruins
USC Trojans
Washington Huskies
Washington St. CougarsSEC
Alabama Crimson Tide
Arkansas Razorbacks
Auburn Tigers
Florida Gators
Georgia Bulldogs
Kentucky Wildcats
LSU Tigers
Mississippi St. Bulldogs
Ole Miss Rebels
South Carolina Gamecocks
Tennessee Volunteers
Vanderbilt CommodoresSun Belt
Arkansas St. Indians
Idaho Vandals
Louisiana Lafayette Ragin Cajuns
Louisiana Monroe Indians
Middle Tennessee St. Blue Raiders
New Mexico St. Aggies
North Texas Mean GreenTroy St. Trojans
Utah St. AggiesWAC
Boise St. Broncos
Fresno St. Bulldogs
Hawaii Warriors
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
Nevada Wolf PackRice Owls
San Jose St. Spartans
SMU Mustangs
Tulsa Golden Hurricane
UTEP Miners
posted by Anonymous @ 3:29 PM
NCAA FOOTBALL DIVISION I-A TEAMS
ACC
Clemson Tigers
Duke Blue Devils
Florida St. Seminoles
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Maryland Terrapins
Miami (Fla.) Hurricanes
North Carolina Tar Heels
North Carolina St. Wolfpack
Virginia Cavaliers
Virginia Tech Hokies
Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Big East
Boston College Eagles
Connecticut Huskies
Pittsburgh Panthers
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Syracuse Orangemen
Temple Owls
West Virginia Mountaineers
Big Ten
Illinois Fighting Illini
Indiana Hoosiers
Iowa Hawkeyes
Michigan Wolverines
Michigan St. Spartans
Minnesota Golden Gophers
Northwestern Wildcats
Ohio St. Buckeyes
Penn St. Nittany Lions
Purdue Boilermakers
Wisconsin Badgers
Big 12
Baylor Bears
Colorado Buffaloes
Iowa St. Cyclones
Kansas Jayhawks
Kansas St. Wildcats
Missouri Tigers
Nebraska Cornhuskers
Oklahoma Sooners
Oklahoma St. Cowboys
Texas Longhorns
Texas A&M Aggies
Texas Tech Red Raiders
Conference USA
Army Black Knights
Cincinnati Bearcats
East Carolina Pirates
Houston Cougars
Louisville Cardinals
Memphis Tigers
Southern Miss Golden Eagles
South Florida Bulls
TCU Horned Frogs
Tulane Green Wave
UAB Blazers
Independents
Navy Midshipmen
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
posted by Anonymous @ 3:08 PM
Team violation kicks Johnson off the the Duke's football team.
Duke wide receiver Lance Johnson has been dismissed from the team for a violation of team policy.
Blue Devils coach Ted Roof announced the move Thursday, calling it "an unfortunate situation." Johnson, a senior from Hickory, started 13 of his 33 games with the Blue Devils. He had 49 catches for 528 yards and three touchdowns. Last season, he had 23 catches for 247 yards and a score.
posted by Anonymous @ 3:05 PM
Freshman Ahmad Bradshaw won't play with Virginia
Freshman Ahmad Bradshaw of Bluefield will not be with the Virginia football team this year, Cavaliers head coach Al Groh announced Friday.The announcement, made in a one-sentence press release, did not offer any additional information, and school officials said they had no further explanation in the matter. The announcement comes less than a week after Bradshaw, a two-sport star at Graham High School who is taking classes at Virginia this summer, was arrested and charged with underage possession of alcohol and obstruction of justice, both misdemeanors.The Daily Progress of Charlottesville reported that Bradshaw was asked by a police officer at 1:50 a.m. on Saturday, July 17 what was in the plastic cup in his hand. He replied that it was an alcoholic beverage and gave the name and date of birth of a deceased person when the officer asked for identification, the newspaper reported.Bradshaw then ran away, but officers chased him down and he resisted their attempts to take him into custody and was taken to the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail.Bradshaw was The Associated Press Group AA player of the year in football in 2002 and was selected to the AP's first team in football and basketball last season. He ran for 2,557 yards and 34 touchdowns as a senior and averaged 29 points in basketball.He was expected to compete for time at cornerback with the Cavaliers.The loss of Bradshaw comes less than two weeks after Groh said that wide receiver Ottowa Anderson would not return this season. Anderson, the leading returning wideout with 33 catches last season, had already been ruled academically ineligible when he was charged with misdemeanor assault and battery in an incident with his girlfriend.
posted by Anonymous @ 3:02 PM
The official for the University of Colorado was called to appear in front of a grand jury.
The top football official at the University of Colorado was called Friday to appear before a statewide grand jury investigating the program's recruiting practices.It was not immediately clear whether director of football operations David Hansburg actually testified before the panel, which has been meeting since May. Other witnesses at the courthouse included David Grimm, a former spokesman for the university during the 1990s, and Theresa Bradbury, a Boulder police investigator from 1996 until last month.Also in attendance was attorney Nancy Holton, who represented one of two football players cleared of sexual assault allegations earlier this year involving an incident in August 2002. Holton has accused police of racial profiling for targeting her client because he is black.None of the witnesses would comment to reporters."Until the grand jury gives me permission to speak, I just feel as though I can't," Grimm said after his 21/2-hour appearance before the panel.The grand jury investigation is the first indication criminal charges may be filed in a scandal that has led to sweeping changes in the football recruiting program and a scathing review of university leadership.At the governor's request, Attorney General Ken Salazar's office is investigating the scandal, including claims by nine women since 1997 that they were sexually assaulted by football players or recruits.Salazar decided against filing assault charges, citing evidentiary concerns and the reluctance of the women to go forward with the cases.The grand jury investigation, however, has heard from a parade of players and others over the past two months. Legal experts have said they think investigators are trying to figure out whether university funds were misused, among other things. Salazar's office has declined to comment.Among the witnesses who have already testified is Pasha Cowan, who has said former recruiting aide Nathan Maxcey paid her former escort service $2,000 in cash over a 45-day period between June 2002 and July 2003.Maxcey, who has also testified, says any liaisons were for him. Cowan and her attorney, however, said Maxcey hired escorts for football players.Earlier this year, Hansburg said Cowan told him about Maxcey's sexual liaisons during a call in which she asked for a job. According to Hansburg, Cowan said, "I'm not trying to blackmail you."Cowan has disputed any suggestion of extortion.A Board of Regents investigative commission concluded earlier this year that university officials did not condone any misconduct but repeatedly failed to properly oversee the athletics department. The commission, which lacked subpoena power, urged the attorney general to look into the circumstances surrounding Maxcey.Still pending in the scandal are federal lawsuits filed by three women who say they were raped by recruits or players at or just after an off-campus party in December 2001. Boulder County prosecutor Mary Keenan's allegation that the school uses sex and alcohol to entice recruits -- made in a deposition last fall for one of the suits -- helped spark the scandal.The lawsuits accuse Colorado of failing to protect the women under federal Title IX law, which guarantees equal access to an education. They seek unspecified damages.
posted by Anonymous @ 2:56 PM
Players used steroids
Air Force coach Fisher DeBerry said two players who will be court-martialed on charges of using steroids have admitted they made a mistake.Junior running back Matthew Ward, charged with wrongful use and possession of the anabolic steroid methandrostenolone, will be court-martialed Sept. 8. A date hasn't been set for junior linebacker Overton Spence Jr. on charges of wrongful use, distribution and possession of methandrostenolone. Speaking at the Mountain West Conference meetings in Nevada this week, DeBerry said both players came into his office this spring and told him they made a mistake.The cadets said they didn't know what they were taking when they used pills that turned out to be methandrostenolone, DeBerry said. He said he believes them."Based on what they said, they didn't know what they were taking," DeBerry said. "They were told they were supplements and they have never given me any reason to otherwise not believe them. They have always been very true players and good gentlemen and done everything we asked them to do in the program."
Both players have been suspended from the football team. If convicted, Ward faces 10 years of confinement while Spence could receive 25 years. Both face dismissal from the Air Force and forfeiture of pay and allowances.The school has begun random testing of cadets and some employees for steroids in what experts say is an unusual step for any college.Two other cadets also face steroids charges. An evidence hearing for senior Eric M. Swartz is scheduled for Aug. 2. Commanders are deciding whether a court-martial is in order for Jonathan S. Belkowitz.A fifth investigation is ongoing.DeBerry said he doesn't think the steroid issue has tarnished his program."It's like a lot of other coaches, you don't have a lot of control over the situation and your athletes," he said. "They made the decision to use. They could have said no when a guy told them, 'I have some supplements that can help you."'DeBerry also said he favored the random steroid testing policy that began in June."Obviously, there must be a problem so we should very much do that," he said. "Our responsibility is to the American taxpayer, I believe that. They are paying for their education."
posted by Anonymous @ 2:34 PM
For the love of a brothers football dream.
The Baltimore Ravens chose Devard in the third round of the draft, putting him one step closer to his dream of playing in the NFL. But it wasn't just his dream; it was also Devaughn's, a dream they'd discussed endlessly as they tossed footballs in their backyard. "There are so many situations that are bittersweet for me," Darling said. "My twin brother is not here, he's not physically with me. He's here spiritually, and I know that, and I feel him every day."
Devaughn Darling collapsed and died of an apparent cardiac arrhythmia during an off-season workout at Florida State in February 2001. He was 18, a soon-to-be sophomore linebacker for the Seminoles. Devard was pushing himself through the same workout, a series of sprints and agility drills, when his brother died.
There was never any question whether Devard Darling would continue to play football. He had to; it was what he and his brother loved best. "Twin loss is such a profound, enduring loss," said Nancy Segal, a psychology professor at Cal State-Fullerton and the author of "Entwined Lives," a comprehensive book about twins. "Many identical twins try to keep their twin alive by pursuing the things they did together. Playing football is (Darling's) way of keeping his brother alive." Devard and Devaughn participated in all kinds of sports — track, basketball, swimming — as children in the Bahamas. Track and field seemed to be the logical sport for the twins to pursue: Their cousin, Frank Rutherford, won a bronze medal in the triple jump at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, and their older brother, Dennis, ran on the Bahamas' 4x400 relay team in the 1996 Olympics.
But football fascinated them, even though the Bahamas had no teams. Their father, Dennis Darling, spent his Sunday afternoons watching the Miami Dolphins on television, the twins at his side. Their mother would buy them football pajamas and underwear on shopping trips to Florida. The twins were 12 when they moved to the Houston area with their mother and two sisters and finally got their chance to play organized football. They became so good that they had their choice of top colleges. Devaughn, a linebacker who doted on his slightly older brother, let Devard decide which school the twins would attend. Devard chose Florida State. After Devaughn's death, Florida State officials said the school would honor Devard's scholarship, but it would not clear him to play football because he had the same sickle-cell trait as his brother. So he searched for another school that would allow him to play, undergoing countless medical exams along the way. He wound up at Washington State, where he started 26 games and caught 104 passes for 1,630 yards and 18 touchdowns in two years. Darling declared for the NFL draft after his junior season. "The one thing that took his brother's life, you'd think he'd fear it," said Monique Smith, the twins' older sister. "But he doesn't. He attacks it with a different perspective." Darling's brother is conspicuous by his presence, small reminders and tributes that Devard keeps close. He wears the silver chain that his brother had around his neck when he died. He puts a picture of Devaughn, in a Florida State uniform, inside his pads when he plays. ("I got smart and I got it laminated," said Darling.) He taps his chest twice and points to the sky after every touchdown he scores. "I don't mind thinking about my brother all of the time," Darling said. "He gives me strength, he gives me inspiration. It's not always sad times when I think about him. He actually picks me up and makes me feel better. When I'm out there on the field, I'm doing something I love." Darling, 22, will resume working toward his dream of playing in the NFL on July 29, when the Ravens report for training camp. It will be hot, for sure, at McDaniel College in Westminster, Md., when the Ravens begin practicing the following day.
"I would have to say that Devard Darling is in the top three or four guys I've ever interviewed as a college draft choice," Newsome said. "He was very impressive when he sat in that seat: his demeanor, the way he carried himself, the way he spoke, his convictions about doing things for his brother."
posted by Anonymous @ 8:59 AM
George has learned that RB's have been devalued and that it's not a Titan thing.
Eddie George's release serves as a reminder how much running backs have been devalued in the new millennium. This isn't just a Tennessee Titans thing. It's a league thing. A featured back is still among the six most important positions on a team. That hasn't changed. Try winning without an adequate running back. Nine of the 14 teams that didn't have a 1,000-yard runner didn't make the playoffs.What's become clear, though, is where running backs fit in the grand scheme of NFL finances. Quarterback prices are skyrocketing now. Peyton Manning secured a $34.5 million signing bonus and a $14 million a year contract. The recipients of the great free agent cornerback class got deals between $5 million and $7 million a year. Great left tackles get $6 million to $7 million a year as do top wide receivers and pass-rushing defensive ends.However, running backs are at the back end of this hierarchy. Because the window of greatness is so short for a featured back, even the marquee guys who sign those huge deals rarely get a chance to play out the contract. And the problem is that fewer and fewer backs are getting more than $4 million a year.Mike Shanahan of the Broncos consistently has proven he can make 1,000-yard running backs with a great scheme, superior blocking and talented, non first-round runners. Look at the list: Terrell Davis, Mike Anderson, Olandis Gary, Clinton Portis. If all goes according to plan, watch for Quentin Griffin to be his new star.The Patriots won two Super Bowls with Antowain Smith as the starting back. Unlike the Titans with George, the Patriots never pounded the 232-pound Smith into a defense more than 300 times a seasons. Smith averaged 18 carries a game during the Patriots first Super Bowl season and parlayed that into a $4 million a year contract. Last year, Smith had only 182 carries and a 3.5 yard average. Though Smith and the Patriots won another Super Bowl, the Patriots watched Smith void his deal and sit until now to find a new job. They then took the roster vacancy and traded a second-round choice to Cincinnati for Corey Dillon, who didn't get a chance to finish his five-year, $26 million contract with the Bengals.More and more, teams are becoming reluctant to invest heavily at halfback and two factors play significant roles in the decision making: age and cost. That's how cold the business decision came in Tennessee. Titans general manager Floyd Reese felt $2.5 million was all the Titans were willing to commit to George in base salary and a roster bonus. George was willing to reduce his base salary from $4.25 million to $2.5 million. The breaking point for Reese was $3.5 million in combine money plus incentives was too much. Reese hoped George would remember the team gave him $14 million in signing bonus money. George stared at the cold numbers of today, and the Titans determined George was good enough for 300-plus carries this season, but he might not rush for more than 1,100 yards.So, they said goodbye to a leader who never missed a game and wore down defenses. They will have to try the Patriots model with the signing of Antowain Smith and using Chris Brown and Robert Holcombe. To replace George, the Titans need three parts. But the $1 million difference in value of the position forced them to make a decision that could cost them a Super Bowl. Where this hits hard for the Titans is they have weakened two of the six most important positions on the team -- defensive end and running back. No longer can they count on the double-digit sacks from Jevon Kearse. Young players have to fill the void. To further complicate things, they have to find ways to replace George's 20 carries a game.Similar types of sacrifices are being made in backfields throughout the league. Look at recent drafts. Only 14 halfbacks have been selected in first rounds of the past five drafts. Only two -- LaDainian Tomlinson and Jamal Lewis -- went in the top 10. Each season, their spots in the first round fall. William Green went 16th in 2002. Willis McGahee went 23rd in 2003. Steven Jackson went 24th this spring. Except for Kevin Jones in Detroit, none of the first round backs of the past three drafts are guaranteed starters heading into this season.After the season, the Colts have to choose between Marvin Harrison and Edgerrin James for a contract extension. Unless James agrees to an undervalued contract, he will hit the open market next year. The Colts will pay top dollar to keep Harrison, and if they can't get a deal by March, they will franchise him. Top receivers tend to get the contracts more than the running backs. For the Colts, it would be impossible to pay $14 million for a quarterback, $7 million for a wide receiver and $5 million for a running back.Here's the rationale. Receivers can be productive until their mid-30s or 40s, but running backs peak at the age of 28. Though conditioning allows them to go into their early 30s, NFL teams generally aren't willing to make big investments in them. It was by no accident George was the Titan asked to take a paycut considering he turns 31 next month. Five other players in his age group on the team had contracts restructured at no loss in dollars. George wondered, "Why me and why so much?" The Titans felt there was a cutoff point to the price for a running back for 1,100 yards and less than a 3.5 yard average.It's rare now to see big money given to backs after the age of 28. The Chiefs gave Priest Holmes a seven-year, $48 million deal at the age of 29 because he was the key to their offense and his off-field contributions. Management is also banking that his limited use early in his career will give him the longevity to last three or four more years.The Steelers rewarded Jerome Bettis with a six-year, $24 million contract knowing he may not play the final three years of the deal. Bettis understood his situation and took a paycut to $1 million this year. He's 32.No one is saying 30-year-old backs can't play. They can. At least seven 30-year-old backs will be on the field as starters when the regular season begins. George may get a $1 million-plus contract somewhere to be the eighth.However, history shows backs tend to peak between the ages of 27 and 29. Curtis Martin gained 1,513 yards at the age of 28. George's best season was 1,509 in 2000 when he was 27. Barry Sanders had his 2,053-yard season when he was 29. Following peaks can be valleys. If a back starts to slide after the age of 28-30, his value drops. Because running back is a position with the shortest lifespan for top productivity, teams make value judgement.
posted by Anonymous @ 8:45 AM
Eddie George might be joining the Cowboys.
A day after being released by the Titans, Eddie George has worked out a deal to return to Texas.The Dallas Cowboys and George agreed on a one-year contract Friday, reports ESPN's Ed Werder. The base salary is $660,000 with a signing bonus of $1.54 million. With incentives, the deal is worth up to $3 million.The Cowboys have scheduled a news conference for 1 p.m. ET.George and his agent, Lamont Smith, had a meeting with Dallas owner Jerry Jones and other team officials Friday at the Cowboys' Valley Ranch headquarters.
George, who has spent his entire eight-year career with the Titans (starting in 1996, when they were the Houston Oilers), has made signing with the Cowboys his priority. He has declined offers to make visits to other interested teams until he met with Cowboys officials.And that's no coincidence, Smith said."It's an indication of his priority," Smith told The Associated Press on Thursday. "It's high on his list, very high on his list."Smith said it didn't matter who made the first call, but both sides were very interested in consummating a deal quickly. "We'll have to see if it will," Smith said.The development comes a day after Dallas sources told Werder that the team had only modest interest in George. According to sources, Jones has maintained interest in signing George since it became apparent he might be released, but coach Bill Parcells and others were reluctant, fearing George's presence would interfere with the development of rookie running back Julius Jones, the team's top draft choice.Parcells had been planning to use a rotation system in which Jones would probably play the majority of the time with fullback Richie Anderson playing halfback in third-down passing situations. The acquisition of George would reduce the pressure on the Cowboys to have Jones ready to be the primary ballcarrier when the season opens. George has never missed a game during his career and will set a positive example for Jones in terms of work ethic, preparation and practice habits.George, who turns 31 this season, rejected the Titans' attempts to reduce his contract this season to $1.5 million. George was willing to accept a reduced contract but wanted at least $2.5 million and security beyond the 2004 season."How do we replace [George]? Well, we're going to have to replace him with more than one guy," Reese said. "It's going to be impossible to find one guy to do all the things Eddie did."That process began Thursday, when Tennessee agreed to a one-year deal with free agent running back Antowain Smith.
posted by Anonymous @ 8:27 AM
# 1 NFL "GOOD GUY" award goes to Chiefs Tony Gonzalez
Chiefs Pro Bowl TE Tony Gonzalez’s passion for philanthropy has garnered him many accolades, the latest the #1 NFL “Good Guy” for 2004 by The Sporting News. The Chiefs tight end has been recognized twice in the top 99 “good guys.” Will Shields was named the NFL’s #1 “Good Guy” in 2001 by the magazine.
“I am very honored and feel blessed that I have been given an opportunity where I can help others" said Gonzalez. The Tony Gonzalez Foundation assists medically challenged children by offering emotional and educational support through the Shadow Buddies Foundation. Shadow Buddies are condition specific dolls designed to be a friend, “just like me.” Gonzalez is the only NFL player or athlete to have his own Shadow Buddy, which comes with a hospital gown emblazoned, “Gonzalez #88” on it. Over 7,000 Tony Gonzalez Shadow Buddies have been distributed in Missouri, Kansas, California, New York, Texas, and Hawaii, as well as internationally. His
posted by Anonymous @ 8:18 AM
DT Siavii signed in by the Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs signed second-round draft pick Junior Siavii to a six-year contract. The defensive tackle was the Chiefs' first selection this year, after the team traded its first-round pick to the Detroit Lions. No contract terms were announced. Siavii, a 6-foot-5, 336-pound native of American Samoa, played in 25 games during two years at Oregon. He had 58 tackles, 2½ sacks, a fumble recovery and three passes defended. He earned honorable mention All-Pac 10 honors as a senior. Siavii, 25, went to Oregon after spending one season each at Dixie Junior College and Butte Junior College.
posted by Anonymous @ 8:12 AM
Quarterback questions dominate NFC West
The Rams remain explosive and always will be as long as Mike Martz is the one designing their offensive philosophy and putting together their playbook. But are these the same Rams that won a Super Bowl and appeared in a second not long ago? Are they the same Rams that seemingly could score at will? Those are tough questions to answer until the season opens and we see how Marc Bulger is going to handle the starting quarterback job without Kurt Warner, who is now a New York Giant, looking over his shoulder pad. After becoming the starter in '03, Bulger showed signs of regression late in the season and into the playoffs. Just as in offseason drills, the Rams will devote a good portion of training camp to helping Bulger improve his accuracy on deep passes and stop forcing as many throws into coverage. The Rams' defensive line took a couple of significant hits with the free-agent departures of end Grant Wistrom and tackle Brian Young, and it remains to be seen how well those spots can be filled.
After beefing up their pass rush, the Seahawks' primary offseason goal was improving the NFL's 27th-ranked pass defense. They opened the vault particularly wide to acquire free-agent end Grant Wistrom. He doesn't consistently put up impressive numbers (see his 7½ sacks last year), but he is a difference-maker in so many other areas such as matching his considerable strength against the run and providing excellent spirit and leadership. First-round draft pick Marcus Tubbs should help fill the athleticism void in the middle of the Seahawks' defensive line after John Randle's retirement and pick up the run-plugging slack created by Norman Hand's departure. Second-round pick Michael Boulware was a linebacker at Florida State but has the speed and athletic ability to make an impact as a strong safety in the NFL. He started off slowly with the adjustment in early offseason workouts, but has made dramatic progress since. Seattle's secondary should receive a powerful shakeup with the addition of free-agent cornerback Bobby Taylor. Taylor can still shutdown some of the top quarterbacks in the game, or at the very least, put himself consistently in a position to make plays. Taylor has the size (6-foot-3 and 216 pounds) and long arms to hold his own against the larger and more physical receivers he will regularly see in this division. Another huge move was the decision to re-sign Darrell Jackson, the team's leading receiver last season and a hot commodity in the free-agent market, to a big contract.
This has been an offseason of sweeping change for the 49ers. Quarterback Jeff Garcia is gone. Where's Terrell Owens? Where's Garrison Hearst? Where's Derrick Deese? For the 49ers, the answers don't really matter at this point. Their focus must be on finding ways to make due with new people, beginning with Garcia's replacement, Tim Rattay. Make that a temporary replacement. Rattay can throw a better deep ball than Garcia. He plays with intelligence and shows steady leadership on the field. But after suffering a severely torn groin muscle in the offseason, Rattay is out, likely through the start of training camp. That doesn't seem to worry the 49er decision-makers much. They are confident second-year quarterback Ken Dorsey could take over and hold his own. Brandon Lloyd and Cedrick Wilson are entering camp as San Francisco's starting receivers, but that isn't necessarily a lock. First-round draft pick Rashaun Woods will have every opportunity to assume a prominent role and perhaps even push his way into the starting lineup. Woods had some struggles in the 49ers' first minicamp, but as he became more familiar with the offense, he performed better during later offseason workouts.
Dennis Green did not leave the relatively cushy life of an NFL television analyst merely to see how he would look stalking the sidelines in a headset again. Green is in Arizona to make the Cardinals a winner, and he intends to use every bit of the savvy and skills he has to convince his players they are not the sad sacks of the NFL. He not only has spent the offseason trying to reinforce that message, but also wants the members of one of the league's most maligned franchises to understand that they could easily be in the playoff hunt this year. Green added first-round draft pick Larry Fitzgerald to a receiving corps that already had one of the NFL's best up and coming receivers in Anquan Boldin. To get the fullest extent of their production, Green must be on target with his call to stick with unaccomplished Josh McCown as his starting quarterback. McCown had an impressive finish to the 2003 season, but still has plenty of prove. Free-agent defensive end Bert Berry should mean a significant boost to the Cardinals' pass rush. Berry doesn't have much size, but plays with remarkable passion and gives every ounce of energy on each snap. In general, Arizona's defense will emphasize speed and quickness. New coordinator Clancy Pendergast intends to have a unit that will swarm to the ball and force turnovers in bunches.
posted by Anonymous @ 8:03 AM
Farrior reaches 5 year deal with the Steelers!
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Farrior reached a five-year deal with the team. "Farrior found a home with the Steelers and felt extremely comfortable with them, as they did with him. It's a good situation for both parties," said his agent, Ralph Cindrich. Farrior was the Steelers' leading tackler in 2003 with 127 tackles. He signed with the Steelers as a free agent in 2002 after being the New York Jets' first-round draft choice in 1997.
posted by Anonymous @ 7:57 AM
No. 1 pick Clayton, Bucs agrees to terms
First-round draft pick Michael Clayton agreed to terms on a contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
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-->The team did not make an announcement, but planned for the former LSU receiver to be available to discuss the deal soon.
Clayton was the 15th player selected in the draft and is being counted on to make an immediate impact on offense and special teams.
The 6-foot-3, 197-pound rookie had 182 receptions for 2,582 yards and a school-record 21 touchdowns in three years at LSU. He had 10 catches for 1,079 yards and 10 TDs last season, helping the Tigers win the Bowl Championship Series title, LSU's first national championship in 45 years.
The Bucs could have a drastically different look at receiver this year following the trade that sent Keyshawn Johnson to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for Joey Galloway.
Last season's receptions leader, Keenan McCardell, has said he won't report to training camp next week unless he gets an extension on his contract.
McCardell made the Pro Bowl after catching 84 passes for 1,174 yards and eight TDs last season, however Bucs general manager Bruce Allen has given no indication that the team is willing to give him a pay raise.
Coach Jon Gruden added depth at the position this week when he signed former Green Bay and Detroit wideout Bill Schroeder.
posted by Anonymous @ 7:43 AM
What the Titans think of George's departure.
“Personally, he was a great friend of mine. He was a great asset to my success through the eight years that we were together because of his dedication and his toughness throughout the term we played together. He’s one of my guys that I looked up to and one of the guys that I think is one of the greatest running backs in the National Football League. It’s a very sad day for me. It’ll be a very sad year for me because when I came in and when Eddie came in, we made a goal that once we got into a situation where we were going to be in a starting role together, we were going to hold up that Lombardi Trophy together. To see him depart, hopefully we can still achieve our dream, just not the way we thought we would in the beginning. Winning that trophy was my goal when I came into the league, and it’s still my goal.” QB STEVE MCNAIR
“It’s sad to see him go, but everyone had to do what they had to do. I learned great things from Eddie. I wish he could have stayed here and I could have learned more from him. It was a great opportunity to learn behind a future Hall of Famer. But I welcome the opportunity if they now expect things out of me. I’m going to go out there and get the job done.” RB CHRIS BROWN
posted by Anonymous @ 7:40 AM
Titans come to terms with Clauss and McHugh.
The Tennessee Titans have agreed to terms with seventh-round draft picks Jared Clauss and Sean McHugh.
The Titans, who announced the signings July 19, report to camp July 30, with their first practice on July 31.
Clauss, a defensive tackle, was the 230th overall selection in the draft. The 6-foot-4, 294-pound lineman had 10 sacks, 19½ tackles for loss, 16 quarterback pressures, two fumble recoveries and two blocked kicks during his career at Iowa.
The 6-5, 264-pound McHugh was the 241st pick out of Penn State, where he started 19 of his 41 games. Drafted as a reserve tight end, he had 44 catches for 297 yards and one touchdown during his career.
posted by Anonymous @ 7:33 AM
Titans RB George asks to be released from the team.
After eight years and more than 10,000 yards rushing, Eddie George is without a job after being released by the Tennessee Titans as a salary-cap casualty. The team granted George's request, releasing him in time to catch on with another squad for training camp. "The best thing for Eddie George would be for him to finish his career here," general manager Floyd Reese said at a news conference. "For a number of reasons, we were unable to get that done." George, who will turn 31 in September, rejected the Titans' latest offer and asked for his release July 19.
The Titans wanted George back, but at a reduced salary. The team's final offer was considerably less than what he expected to make this season. George, who has never missed a start in his career, was popular with Titans fans, but his production slipped in recent years. In 2000, he ran for 1,509 yards (3.7 yards per carry). Last season, his average fell to 3.3 as he rushed for 1,031 yards. Tennessee's offense has also changed, and now emphasizes the passing of Steve McNair, the NFL's co-MVP in 2003.
posted by Anonymous @ 7:25 AM
Fisher, Titans head coach goes through a hard time in his professional career!
"We go through some tough times in this industry and this business. This is one of the tougher days I've endured since I've joined this organization and probably one of the toughest days in my professional career. Just watching the highlights there a moment ago, it's just a very difficult thing to imagine that he's not going to be with us in the future. The only thing we can do now is go back and reflect and appreciate the heart and the soul and the passion that he gave us those eight years."
But as a head coach you'd obviously want Eddie George on your team and it seems it just came to a million bucks. Does that just want to make you want to pull your hair out as a coach?
"It's frustrating. Philosophically speaking it's hard for me to go to a player and ask him to take a pay cut and then ask him to play hard for you, so I stayed out of that. What I tried to do was encourage him and let him know what his future was going to be like here. I very much wanted him to finish up his career as a Titan. We didn't expect his carries or his participation to diminish in our offense this year. We've got a bright young prospect in Chris Brown, who eventually is going to be our future running back. So Eddie was very much part of our plans and he knew that. He was just not satisfied with the compensation package that we can offer him because of the salary-cap limitations. "
I know it's probably tough to talk about Eddie in the past tense, but can you give me one moment that leaps out after eight seasons of being on the sideline with him?
"After our Super Bowl in '99, after the loss, we came back and on Tuesday, Eddie was supposed to hurry out to go to the Pro Bowl and he came by my office and told me that he didn't want to go the Pro Bowl. And I said, "You don't want to go out and be with the best players in the league and enjoy everything associated with the Pro Bowl?" And he said, "No, I don't." And I said, "Why?" And he said, "Because I want to start right here, right now on next year because I want to get back to the Super Bowl." And that's the way he's been. That's the way he approaches every day. That's the way he approaches life and we're surely going to miss him and he's going to miss us also, but he's going to be okay. And I'll say this -- I've never second-guessed a decision that Eddie George has made and I'm not going to second-guess this one. If he feels this is the best decision for Eddie George, then I'm in his corner. I don't agree with it but I'm going to be there behind him. "
posted by Anonymous @ 7:11 AM
Gildon on the road to success with the Buffalo Bills.
The Buffalo Bills signed free-agent linebacker Jason Gildon to a one-year deal days after they had reached a verbal agreement.
Pittsburgh cut Gildon in June for salary-cap reasons. He was considered one of the top veterans still available on the market.
Financial terms of the contract were not released.
Gildon, who will turn 32 on July 31, started for the Steelers since 1996. He was drafted by Pittsburgh in 1994 by Tom Donahoe, Buffalo's current general manager. Gildon is familiar with Bills coach Mike Mularkey, who worked for the Steelers for the past eight years.
"It always helps to see a familiar face," Gildon said. "Someone you know just to ease the transition."
Jeff Posey, London Fletcher and Takeo Spikes already make up the Bills' linebacker corps. Because of that, Gildon more than likely will be a situational pass rusher, his forte.
Buffalo had the second-best defense in the NFL last year, but ranked ninth in sacks. Gildon has 77 career sacks in his 10-year career and was selected for the Pro Bowl the past three years. His best season was 2000, when he recorded a career-high 13½ sacks and 87 tackles.
Gildon had narrowed his choices to Buffalo, Green Bay and Cincinnati. He chose Buffalo not only because of his familiarity with Mularkey and Donahoe, but also because he thinks the Bills can make the playoffs this year despite their disappointing 6-10 mark last season.
"I think (we) have the potential to definitely challenge for a championship," Gildon said.
posted by Anonymous @ 6:43 AM
Schroeder joins the Tampa Bay Buccanees.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed wide receiver Bill Schroeder. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound Schroeder played for Detroit in 2002 and 2003. He began his career with Green Bay in 1997 and has logged 297 catches for 4,427 yards in his career. He had 72 receptions and seven touchdowns in 30 games over the past two seasons with the Lions. posted by Anonymous @ 6:26 AM
