Jets sign in their final 4
The New York Jets announced Thursday they have signed their remaining four 2004 NFL Draft selections: third-round selection CB Derrick Strait (Oklahoma), fourth-round selections WR Jerricho Cotchery (N.C. State) and T Adrian Jones (Kansas), and sixth-round draft choice Marko Cavka (Sacramento State). Terms of the contracts were undisclosed. The announcement was made by Jets’ Executive Vice President and General Manager Terry Bradway.Strait, a native of Austin, Texas was a consensus All-American as a senior at Oklahoma and was the winner of the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation’s top defensive back and the Bronco Nagurski Award as the nation’s top defensive player. The Jets selected Strait with the 76th pick overall following a career that saw him become a four-year starter for a team that annually ranks among college football’s elite defensive systems. He racked up 264 tackles, 14 career interceptions for 397 yards (28.4 avg.) and three touchdowns, 15 tackles for losses, 54 passes defensed, seven forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries. In addition, Strait broke a school mark for most games started (53, including four bowl games) and matched up weekly against some of college football’s top wide receivers. Strait’s 14 career interceptions established a Big Twelve mark. His 397 interception return yards also broke the old Big Eight Conference record of 353 yards by Rod Smith of Oklahoma State (1986-’89). Strait, a consensus All-America pick in 2003, started in nearly every major college bowl game during his collegiate career, including the 2004 Sugar Bowl, 2003 Rose Bowl, 2002 Cotton Bowl, and 2001 Orange Bowl. At the start of training camp, Strait is listed third on the Club’s depth chart at right cornerback.Cotchery, the 108th overall pick (fourth-round) in the 2004 Draft is a native of Birmingham, Alabama and was the favorite target of quarterback Philip Rivers (San Diego Chargers) and earned a two-time first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors as he broke school records with 200 career receptions and 15 career 100-yard receiving games, both previously held by consensus All-American Torry Holt (1995-98), and finished second to Holt in school history with 3,119 yards and 21 touchdown catches. Cotchery tied for second in ACC history for 100-yard receiving games and ranks fourth in both career receptions and career receiving yards. He joins Florida State's Peter Warrick as the only other receiver in ACC history to record 200 career receptions and 3,000 career receiving yards. He finished his college career with 200 receptions for 3,319 yards (15.6 avg.) and 21 touchdowns. Cotchery begins his first training camp backing up 2003 team MVP Santana Moss and Wayne Chrebet at the flanker position.Jones, 6-4, 296-pounds, was the first of two offensive tackles selected by the Jets in 2004 NFL Draft, joining sixth round draft choice Marko Cavka from Sacramento State. Jones, taken by the Jets with the 132nd pick overall and their second pick in the fourth round, is a native of Dallas. He only played one season (2003) at tackle after beginning his career as a collegiate tight end for the Jayhawks. The former Jayhawk heads into training camp as the primary back-up to Jason Fabini at the demanding left tackle position.In the sixth round, with the 178th selection overall, the Jets chose Sacramento State tackle Marko Cavka, a 6-7, 294-pounder. Cavka moved into the starting lineup midway through his freshman season and went onto start the next 42 games. The Cypress, California native has experience playing both tackle positions. Cavka will begin his inaugural pro training camp as Kareem McKenzie’s primary back-up at the right tackle spot.With all of the team’s 10 draft choices under contract, the Jets embark on their seventh consecutive season with all of their draft choices signed as they begin training camp. Senior Vice President, Football Operations/Assistant General Manager Mike Tannenbaum and Director, Football Administration Dawn Aponte, handled the contract negotiations for the Jets. The ten draft choices in 2004 were the most by the Jets since they have 12 picks in the 1998 Draft. “I think Mike Tannenbaum and Dawn Aponte did a great job,” said Bradway. ‘’I think it is obvious that all the players, their agents, and Mike and Dawn, worked hard to get the contracts finalized before training camp.”“I think it is always good when you select players that understand the importance of being on time and being prompt, especially when you are a young player coming into the N.F.L.,” said Head Coach Herman Edwards. “It’s obvious each player understands the importance of being part of the team. Generally in the history of this League when guys are not on time, what happens is within a week they get hurt. Before you know it, they are hurt and now they can’t play and that couple of days of missing practice is a lot, especially with a young player because of the volume of things that happen so fast in training camp.”The Jets open their 2004 training camp at their Hempstead, NY training facility on today with 87 players on the Club’s roster. The first practice will be held Friday, July 30 at 8:45 a.m. and will be followed by an afternoon session at 3:30 p.m.
posted by Anonymous @ 3:36 PM
Williams sign with the Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars agreed in principle to terms with first round pick wide receiver Reggie Williams, with paperwork being finalized. Williams is traveling to Jacksonville and is expected to arrive to sign his contract when he reports for training camp on Saturday. Williams, 21, was the ninth overall selection in the draft and was the highest drafted wide receiver by the Jaguars in team history. The 6-4, 223-pound receiver started 32 of his 36 career games with 238 receptions for 3,536 receiving yards and 22 touchdowns in three seasons with Washington. The Lakewood, Washington native earned All-America honors as a junior and sophomore and earned All-Conference honors as a true freshman. The Jaguars also signed eighth-year guard Chris Naeole to a multi-year contract extension. Terms and length were not disclosed. Naeole has started 32 consecutive games with the Jaguars since signing as an unrestricted free agent in 2002. He has started 95 of 99 career games after being drafted in the first round of the 1997 NFL draft by New Orleans out of Colorado.
The Jaguars claimed veteran defensive tackle Willie Blade and placed second-year defensive tackle Matt Leonard on waived/injured reserve. Blade, a second-year veteran, started 14 of 15 games with the Dallas Cowboys in 2003 finishing with 18 tackles (13 solo), one sack and eight quarterback pressures. He was waived by the Cowboys on July 26. He was claimed by the New York Giants on July 27 and waived on July 29.When Williams signs, the Jaguars will have all 90 players under contract for the start of practice beginning Saturday.
posted by Anonymous @ 3:34 PM
Welcome Back Chiefs
The No. 1 thought among Chiefs players and staff after spending their first nights here in the land of beer and cheese was the movie “Groundhog’s Day.” That’s the one where Bill Murray keeps living the same day over and over again. “The River Falls staff put up a sign in my room, ‘Welcome Back Coach’,” said offensive coordinator Al Saunders. “When I opened the door and walked in, it was like welcome back? It felt like I had never left.”
posted by Anonymous @ 3:25 PM
Browns Quote of the Day!
"For every coach of every team in the league there is pressure to play well. You want to play well. You want to win. I am confident in my abilities as a coach. I am confident in this team and this coaching staff that we're going to have a very good year." – Butch Davis
posted by Anonymous @ 3:23 PM
Broncos "D" doesn't rest!
D.J. Williams didn't have to search very long for a player to whom he could turn for advice and counsel. All he had to do was look at the 2003 depth chart to see who manned his position.
From mini-camp to the offseason workouts to Williams' arrival at Dove Valley on Wednesday afternoon, the rookie linebacker turns to Donnie Spragan, the Broncos' incumbent weakside linebacker. And in spite of the fact that Spragan hopes to hold fast to his starting slot, he refuses to act in a territorial manner, thinking of the team and how Williams could help."I try to help him out in all ways," Spragan said. "The guy is an exceptional athlete and a great football player. It's hard for a rookie to come in and get everything so I let him know how things work out from a player's point of view -- different checks and defenses."The reason Spragan is at ease with assisting Williams is his understanding of the nature of the NFL. Whether the rookie at his position is a first-rounder with a nationally renowned pedigree going back to high school or an undrafted free agent with an NAIA background, there is always going to be someone nipping at the heels of a first-teamer, eager to prove that he can play full-time.It wasn't all that long ago that Spragan was on the backup side of the scenario. He entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 1999, and joined the Broncos late in 2001 after a year on injured reserve in New Orleans and a month on the Cleveland Browns' practice squad. He increased his value on special teams, biding his time until injuries to starters gave him a chance.
"In football, everybody wants your job," Spragan said. "People don't understand -- it's competition at all times. You're never secure. If you make a lot of money, you make too much money and they try to get someone cheaper in there. If you don't make enough, they've got someone higher-paid they want to bring in there. There's always something."It's unnecessary stress for me to worry about him taking my job or someone else taking my job."And even though Williams is just two days into his first training camp, there's some things that the veteran Spragan can take from the rookie."Yeah. Three-tenths off my 40 time," Spragan said, laughing. "But you learn. Anytime anybody makes a mistake or does something good, you look at the film and see how they did it, or if he does something different, I say, 'Maybe I'll try it his way this time.' It's not like I can't learn anything from him. You learn all the time."STILL NO BELL: "There's no update," Head Coach Mike Shanahan quickly replied when asked about the contract status of Tatum Bell, whose holdout entered its second day with his absence from Thursday morning's practice session."It's a big deal right now that he's not around. We haven't had this happen in 10 years, and we've always been fair. Sometimes people try and make a name for themselves," Shanahan said. "It'd be different if we did this every year and we negotiated with three or four people two or three days afterwards to save a few dollars. But we haven't been that way. We've always been fair with our players."The more time passes, the harder it will be for Bell to catch up."You've got meetings, you've got practice and the first two days of installation," Shanahan said. "That's what he's missing. It's hard to make those things up."Even Quentin Griffin -- his former college rival and one of the competitors at running back -- wants to see Bell arrive as quickly as possible."We're all out here getting it done," Griffin said. "We're looking forward getting him out here so he can get some of these reps."Williams -- who agreed to terms Tuesday night and signed his contract just after the Broncos' first training-camp practice -- had some different advice."Do what's best for him," Williams said. "That's it."-->A LITTLE SOMETHING EXTRA: The Broncos wasted little time getting into team drills, convening for 11-on-11 work at around 9 a.m., when the team is usually in group instruction. The quick start was necessitated by Wednesday afternoon's thunderstorms, which trimmed practice down by approximately a half-hour, forcing the Broncos into make-up mode Thursday morning."What we tried to do is pick up a couple of periods that we missed yesterday," Shanahan said "Normally we have individual for the first three periods."
posted by Anonymous @ 3:18 PM
Quarterback position is faught by Brown, Losman.
Drew Bledsoe will be the Bills starting quarterback when the 2004 season kicks off in September. That much is certain. But the question still remains who the signal caller behind the former first overall draft pick will be. Travis Brown is currently listed as number two on the depth chart but that could all change by the time training camps concludes in late August."I'm just trying to play the best I can and do whatever I need to help this team win," Brown said. "I plan to work hard and compete for the backup role."The four-year veteran has himself penciled in for the time being, but rookie J.P. Losman will look to jump ahead of him when camp begins in July. Losman has great arm strength and is also good on his feet but before he can be thrown into the mix, he needs to be groomed to play in the NFL. "He's obviously got a very strong arm, and he's learning," Bledsoe said of Losman. "When you come in as a quarterback, as a rookie, there's a whole ton to learn and he's making progress. He's working hard and he's made a lot of strides in the last few weeks."Neither quarterback has that much playing experience. Losman is a rookie and Travis Brown hasn't started an NFL regular-season game. He has appeared in only four regular season games, completing 29-of-52 passes for 361 yards.However, the lack of experience does not frighten the Bills coaching staff. They are content to go into the season with Brown and Losman on the roster. Both have looked impressive in mini-camps and both are learning the offense quickly. "I've been learning the offense fairly well," Brown said. "It allows me to make quick decisions and accurate throws. I feel extremely comfortable dropping back into the pocket."Losman also believes that he is picking up the offense right on pace to be prepared for the start of training camp."I feel great in this offense," Losman said. "I think I'm very prepared heading into camp and I look forward to the competition. Some people may think that's arrogant, but actually I'm just very confident in my abilities."The new scheme relies more on execution than anything else. The player that performs the best and makes the fewest mistakes should get the nod behind Bledsoe. Having a great coaching staff help to develop the young QBs, can only be good news for Bills fans.
posted by Anonymous @ 2:59 PM
Vikings sign to more onto the team!
The Minnesota Vikings have signed 3rd-round pick DE Darrion Scott and 4th-round pick T Nat Dorsey. The Vikings have now signed 6 of their 8 draft choices, leaving only 1st-round DE Kenechi Udeze and 2nd-round LB Dontarrious Thomas to sign.
SIGNEDDarrion Scott DE Ohio State 3rd Round (88th overall)Nat Dorsey T Georgia Tech 4th Round (115th overall)
posted by Anonymous @ 2:56 PM
Seahawks arrive to training camp!
Seahawks players and personnel begin arriving Thursday to their home away from home, getting re-acclimated to the hot weather as the first day of camp draws near. The practice fields are lined and well manicured, the tents have been pitched, and Seahawks fans can look forward to some competitive practice sessions in the weeks ahead.Seahawks.com will have full coverage from each day of practice, including interviews, video features, fan Q&A sessions with the players, photos and more.Notes: Among the team personnel arriving Thursday was Robert Ullman, the Seahawks database administrator. Ullman began his trek to Cheney last Saturday at 5 am...on his bicycle. Sticking to the bike trails, Ullman wheeled into town at 10:30 Thursday morning.
posted by Anonymous @ 2:55 PM
So who will be the pleasant surprises for the Redskins this season?
Every year there's an undrafted rookie or first-year player who surprises in the preseason and makes the Redskins roster.
So who will be the pleasant surprises of 2004? They're all long-shots to make the roster, of course, but it's up to them to make the best of their opportunity. Among the young players hoping to make an impression at training camp include: Ryan Boschetti, DTAt 6-4 and 300-pounds, Boschetti has good size. He could provide depth at a position that has some degree of uncertainty as the team waits to see how Brandon Noble's surgically repaired knee responds during training camp. Boschetti played in all 13 games for UCLA last year and logged 43 tackles, 2.5 sacks and eight tackles for a loss. He also was solid on special teams, recording a blocked kick. John Standeford, WRThe Redskins have plenty of wide receivers on the roster, but Standeford's statistics at Purdue warrant a closer look. The 6-4, 206-pounder finished his collegiate career as the Big Ten's most productive wide receiver in history with 266 receptions, 3,788 receiving yards and 27 touchdowns in four seasons. He holds the Purdue record with 14 100-yard receiving games. Standeford also fits the bill when it comes to intelligence, having won the 2004 Woody Hayes National Scholar Athlete Award for excellence in academics, athletics and community service. Billy Strother, LBStrother is a 6-0, 230-pound linebacker who started 13 games for New Mexico last season. He tied for the team lead in tackles with 100 (50 solo) while registering six pass breakups, four QB hurries and two fumble recoveries. Strother also made a solid contribution on special teams, returning a pair of blocked punts for touchdowns. As a junior in 2002, his teammates named his Defensive MVP after he recorded 89 tackles, five sacks, two forced fumbles and a blocked punt. Jonathan Brewer, WRAnother wide receiver, Brewer played his collegiate ball at Howard and impressed the Redskins coaching staff with his route-running ability during a pre-draft workout in early April. He's slender at 6-0 and 175 pounds, but that didn't hinder his productivity. In his senior year, he caught 38 passes for 469 yards and three TD. He was also feared as a kickoff return specialist, recording a 23-yard average on 17 returns. Garnell Wilds, CBAt Virginia Tech last season, Wilds backed up eventual first-round draft pick DeAngelo Hall (Atlanta Falcons) but managed to get plenty of playing time in his four-year Hokies career. The 5-11, 196-pounder started 10 games in his junior and senior seasons and led the Big Ten in 2002 with five interceptions. He also served on special teams and once caught a 33-yard touchdown pass on a fake punt. Norman Heuer, DTHeuer started 13 games for Michigan last year and recorded 16 tackles, three tackles for a loss and one sack in helping the Wolverines to a Rose Bowl berth against USC. He stands at 6-5 and 288 pounds and may need to bulk up to withstand the rigors of the NFL at the defensive tackle position. Last year, he showed promise in winning the Dick Katcher Award as Michigan's top defensive lineman.
posted by Anonymous @ 2:37 PM
Thoughts & Proposals from the Rams players as they enter training camp!
Most NFL players dread the start of training camp. After all, there is little to look forward to besides hot weather and rigorous practices.The attitude at Rams’ training camp is no different. On the first day, the veterans were the stragglers as usual, with Isaac Bruce claiming top honors for latest arrival. Adam Archuleta didn’t disclose whom he would be voting for in the upcoming presidential election, but perhaps the first candidate to propose mandatory naps in the United States would garner the safety’s vote. Archuleta expressed his joy over a new practice schedule that will give the Rams more time to rest between practices.
“I like to siesta,” Archuleta said. “That’s a great concept and I think we should really start to institute that in America.”The rest of the campers were focused on preparing for practice and various entertainment activities. Offensive tackle Kyle Turley arrived with a trailer attached to his truck. The contents of the trailer are unknown, but some suggested it held the bruised egos of the many defenders who have come across Turley’s path. Stay tuned for developments on the situation.
posted by Anonymous @ 2:24 PM
Panthers prepare for the season
It's official. The 2003 Super Bowl season is history. Time to make some more. Defensive end Al Wallace checks into his dorm and receives his playbook Friday. The Carolina Panthers arrived at Wofford College for training camp on Friday to begin preparation for the 2004 season. To a man, they said they couldn't believe how soon this day got here. "It's been a short summer and short offseason," said kicker John Kasay, who is attending his 10th training camp as a Panther. "It almost feels like we had a Christmas vacation, and now we're right back at it again. "On the other hand, you have a body clock that works on a daily basis, but you also have a seasonal body clock. When it starts getting real hot and sweltering outside, you know you are supposed to be in Spartanburg for training camp." The vacations at the beach and the family outings are over. It's time to hit restart in more ways than one. Like many players, wide receiver Steve Smith came to camp with the bare essentials, meaning toiletries and X-Box. He says this day is a transitional period more than anything.
It's work," said Smith. "It's always nice to get some time off and some relaxation before you come back to work. You leave your family to be with your second family, which is the guys on the team. "Last night was the hardest because it's the last time you put your kids to bed for awhile. I had to spend a little extra time with my daughter. I kissed her and all her baby dolls. My son was like 'Hey, I'll see you Wednesday, Dad. Leave me some money.'" Just like last season, a lot of people are putting their money on teams other than the Panthers this season. That's fine with Smith. "There are a lot of things out there that can serve as motivation. Unfinished business is just one of many. There are a lot of positives and negatives to be taken from last year. The best part is no one expected us to do anything. I love reading the media's predictions on who is going to be the next Panthers. There won't be any next Panthers. We're the only ones."
For center Jeff Mitchell, the onset of this particular camp was almost like a quick count at the line of scrimmage. "It's total denial up until the last minute," he said. "The last two days I was scrambling to get everything done because I was in denial. This is my fourth year coming here, and I thought I had it down pat, but I forgot my alarm clock. I even had all my stuff from last year saved in the corner of the garage. "I did bring something a little different this year, my motor home. Just to hang out in the afternoons. It's got the satellite TV in there." If that sounds luxurious, don't worry. The Panthers will have plenty of two-a-days and meetings every day to keep them from forgetting why they're here. "At first, it's survival, and then you start to focus on things," said Mitchell. "They become pretty evident. In camp, everything gets amplified, so it's not hard to see what you should work on. It's going to be tough, especially for the offensive line because of the changes. It's going to take all of camp to know that we're all on the same page. "It's just shifting gears. Getting mentally ready to come out here and do this is a challenge. The toughest part is the first few days and getting into the groove. It's getting hit in the mouth the first four or five times and then getting things going." The boys are back in town.
posted by Anonymous @ 2:15 PM
Thomas joins the Green Bay Packers!
The Green Bay Packers Friday morning signed cornerback Joey Thomas and waived punter/kicker Travis Dorsch, GM/Head Coach Mike Sherman announced. Thomas, the team's first of three third-round draft choices, was the seventh pick in the third round, No. 70 overall. Green Bay acquired the choice in a draft-day trade with Jacksonville. The first Montana State product ever drafted by the Packers, the 6-1, 195-pound Thomas was regarded by many as the best shutdown cornerback in the Division 1-AA ranks. A four-year starter, he led the Bobcats with four interceptions and a conference-leading 15 passes defensed in 2003. An integral component of a unit that led the Big Sky Conference in total defense and passing defense three straight years (2001-03), the first such run in school and league history; Thomas helped the 2002-03 squads capture conference championships and earn trips to NCAA Division I-AA playoffs.
posted by Anonymous @ 2:13 PM
Sanders becomes 13th Lion in Hall of Fame
Maybe it was one of the all-time greatest running backs that best summarized Barry Sander's ability on the football field. "He's one great back," the late great Walter Payton said. "He's better that I was. I was never that good." Barry Sanders joins an elite company as the 13th member of the Detroit Lions franchise to be elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The legendary Lion redefined the running back position and captured the enthusiasm of fans throughout the world. Sanders rushed for 15,269 yards during his illustrious 10-year career and set numerous rushing benchmarks. He is among a select group of players to enter Canton on the first ballot
posted by Anonymous @ 1:57 PM
Phase 2 of training camp just around the cornor.
For three days the Eagles practices with a skeleton crew. The tempo was slower. The coaches worked on techniques and fine touches with rookies and selected veterans with the intention of bringing those players up to speed with the blur of action they're about to see. "It's good to get the rust off," said defensive tackle Paul Grasmanis, one of the veterans who reported. Other veterans in included the three quarterbacks (Donovan McNabb, Koy Detmer, Jeff Blake), Jerome McDougle, Jamaal Green, Kori Dickerson and Josh Parry. The good news from the first five practices was that nobody suffered an injury. The players learned about the X's and O's. Now, with a 7 p.m. team meeting looming, with conditioning drills on Saturday morning and a closed-to-the-public practice on Saturday afternoon, the anticipation of Sunday's full-team, the-place-will-be-jammed-with-fans practice increases. "I know how it's going to be," said Grasmanis. "The fans will be wall to wall."
posted by Anonymous @ 11:58 AM
Cardinals make roster moves
The Arizona Cardinals have signed veteran offensive lineman Everett Lindsay and announced that guard Nick Leckey, the team’s sixth-round (167th overall) selection of the 2004 NFL Draft, has agreed to terms.A ten-year veteran, Lindsay has logged 136 appearances and 63 starts with the Vikings, Browns, and Ravens during his NFL career. He played in 12 games last season at both guard and tackle for the Minnesota Vikings.Originally selected by Minnesota in the fifth round of the 1993 draft, Lindsay appeared in 104 games (31 starts) for the Vikings from 1993-98 and 2001-03. He was a 16-game starter for Baltimore in 1999 and for Cleveland in 2000. The 6-4, 305 pound Lindsay, who has started at every line position during his NFL career, also has started two of four post season appearances with the Vikings. A guard until his senior season, Leckey switched to center and was named First-team all-America by ESPN and Sports Illustrated. He was a consensus all-Big Twelve Conference first-team pick and a finalist for the Rimington Award, given to the nation’s premier center.The 6-3, 286-pounder finished his collegiate career by making 41 consecutive starts dating back midway through his freshman season. He also holds the distinction of never allowing a quarterback sack in any game that he started.In addition, the Cardinals have released defensive tackle Brian Montesanto. The former Arizona State Sun Devil was signed as a rookie free agent on June 15.
posted by Anonymous @ 11:56 AM
Briggs is ready to give it all for the Bears.
Fear is a foreign concept to Lance Briggs, which explains his reaction when told by coaches that he would be moving to middle linebacker to replace Brian Urlacher. Not only is Briggs unfazed by the prospect of filling in for the team's marquee player, who is out indefinitely with a right hamstring injury suffered Wednesday in the first training camp practice of the Lovie Smith era, but he's genuinely excited about the opportunity. "We told him (Wednesday) night and a big smile came on his face," Smith said. "He probably stayed up a little bit later than he normally would. He does need to cram." Urlacher was slated to undergo an MRI Thursday afternoon to determine the severity of the injury, but the Bears aren't optimistic that the four-time Pro Bowler will return anytime soon. Results of the exam are expected to be announced on Friday. "We know that he's going to be out for a while and we know it's going to take a little bit," Smith said. "He'll be back, but right now we're getting a chance to look at some different options for us in case certain things happen during the year." Though Hunter Hillenmeyer stepped in after Urlacher went down Wednesday, the Vanderbilt product is not viewed as a long-term solution. Briggs moved from weakside linebacker into the middle Thursday with first-year pro Marcus Reese assuming Briggs' "Will" position with the starting unit. A physical player who enjoyed a breakout season as a rookie in 2003, Briggs seems well-suited to play the "Mike" linebacker position. The biggest adjustment he faces is learning to call plays and align his teammates. "The difference is that you're the captain of the defense," Briggs said. "You need to know what everybody's doing. Since I haven't been doing that up until this point, now I need to get in the books every night and know what everybody's doing on the team." There are also subtle differences once the ball is snapped. The positions are more interchangeable in Smith's system than in most, but Will linebackers typically line up in space whereas Mike linebackers are positioned right in the eye of the hurricane. "You've got to be a little more physical at the Mike position than at the Will," Briggs said. "You've got to know that there are going to be times you'll have to shed the linemen. You have to use your hands a lot more at Mike. At weakside, you play more in space, like a back-side hit man playing in the field. At Mike, you're in the mix regardless of whether it's pass or run." Bears coaches are confident that Briggs, who at 6-1 and 238 pounds is three inches shorter and 20 pounds lighter than Urlacher, will adapt quickly to the new position. "The first thing is just being in front of the huddle, taking control," Smith said. "He's making all those calls now, and that's as much as anything. The football part is very similar. The Mike and Will are close together; they're one gap over, so that won't be a big adjustment for him. "It's about just being in charge and being a leader. And really it's kind good. We would like for Lance to grow a little bit on that, so now we're just forcing his hand a little bit quicker." Briggs should benefit from an unusually large and well-qualified support system. Smith coached linebackers for five seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, defensive coordinator Ron Rivera played the position for nine years with the Bears, linebackers coach Bob Babich served in the same capacity with the Rams and former Pro Bowl middle linebacker Hardy Nickerson is working as an assistant in training camp with the Bears. "When you look at what Lance does, he's a stout football player with good quickness, good burst and he's got a good feel for where the ball's going," Rivera said. "That's why we're making the switch right now, to give him a chance to refine the techniques. But he brings a headiness there." Briggs made his presence known during his first practice at middle linebacker Thursday morning. He hammered running back Dwone Hicks on one play, then blew up an attempted block by fullback Jason McKie with a bone-rattling hit on the next. After an impressive training camp last summer as a rookie, Briggs proved to be a big hitter with a penchant for being around the ball. Starting the final 13 games at strongside linebacker, he recorded 81 tackles and registered the Bears' only defensive touchdown on a 45-yard interception return against Brett Favre and the Packers. Briggs played middle linebacker at Arizona, but concedes that the system was entirely different than Smith's. Nevertheless, he insists that he feels very comfortable at his new position. "To step on the field, you've got to have a lot of confidence and I have plenty of confidence. If the coach tells me that's what I've got to do, I've got to do it. Linebacker is linebacker. You've got to have a feel for the game. I'm ready regardless-Mike, Will, Sam; it doesn't matter. "I want to embrace (the opportunity). I'm not out here worrying whether I'm going to fail or not; never have worried about that. Mistakes are going to happen. Just do them at full speed and play hard, and that's all you can do."
posted by Anonymous @ 11:55 AM
Ferrara of Syracuse signs with San Fancisco
The second San Francisco draft pick to sign his contract was the team’s last selection in the draft: defensive tackle Christian Ferrara of Syracuse. He follows safety Keith Lewis (Oregon) who signed July 6.Terms of the three-year contract were not released.The 6-4, 294-pounder was a three-year starter for the Orangemen. For his career he recorded 137 tackles (74 solo) with 7.5 sacks, 31 tackles for loss, 10 quarterback pressures and three forced fumbles.Ferrara participated in the 49ers spring mini-camps where he competed for time along with fellow rookie draft pick Isaac Sopoaga.
posted by Anonymous @ 11:08 AM
First Bengal player to show up to training camp was Palmer
Let it be duly recorded that Carson Palmer checked in as one of the first Bengals to report to training camp Friday morning, 37 minutes early. He signed up for his TV, wheeled in a suitcase, and went to work as the No. 1 quarterback. "Pretty much only clothes. You can never have enough clothes. I just threw in all the T-Shirts and shorts I had," Palmer said. "No books. Your playbook is all you need." The Bengals hope the bulk of their drafted rookies are going to follow Palmer into camp for Saturday's first practice at 8:45 a.m. at Georgetown College. Three are signed and the agents for second-rounder Madieu Williams, third-rounder Caleb Miller, and fourth-rounder Stacy Andrews expect their clients to sign Friday. The agent for third-rounder Landon Johnson said a deal is close enough for his client to get there on time, which gives them seven of their 11 picks virtually done.
NFL source said that one reason for the slow signings is that the Bengals are attaching clauses to off-season workouts in the early-to-mid rounds that amount to a payback of the signing bonus to the club if they don't have 100 percent participation. Other teams have similar arrangements, but the numbers vary between 80 and 90 percent. "I don't think it's as Draconian as some are making it out to be," said Kyle Rote Jr., Miller's agent. "I have faith that Marvin (Lewis) is going to administer the program fairly. If it had been a different head coach, it might be another story, but I trust him." Rich Moran, the agent for Andrews, said he signed the deal after making sure there was language that workouts could be made up because of emergencies or special circumstances. "Once we were clear on that, the 100 percent didn't bother me," Moran said. "We encourage all clients to be there all the time." Casey Bramlet, the Wyoming quarterback taken in the seventh round who has the edge on the No. 3 job, is in the fold for three years and joins fifth-rounder Maurice Mann and sixth-rounder Greg Brooks with signed deals. The Bengals also dipped into the college free-agent ranks Thursday when they signed Brigham Young cornerback James Allen to a one-year deal.The 5-10, 175-pound Allen was a BYU junior in 2003 and ranked fourth on the team in tackles with 57. He had four sacks and also returned nine kickoffs for an average of 18.1 yards. Bramlet, who set school records for completions, passing yards, and touchdown passes during three seasons, looked impressive in the spring camps with more snaps than free agent rookie Scott Rislov. One intriguing note is that former Cowboys quarterback Chad Hutchinson has apparently cleared waivers and is now a free agent. Bengals personnel consultant Bruce Coslet had been impressed by Hutchinson during the 2002 season as the Dallas offensive coordinator, but there is no word if Cincinnati is interested. Scott Boras, Hutchinson’s agent, couldn’t be reached for comment Thursday. The Coslet and Greg Seamon connection (Coslet’s tight ends coach in Dallas who is now a Bengals scout) may have had a hand in the one-year agreement tight end James Whalen agreed to Wednesday.
posted by Anonymous @ 10:51 AM
Contract or not it's not gonna stop Pennington from playing with the JETS.
Chad Pennington plans to make the first opening-day start of his career in September -- with or without a new contract.Pennington's agent, Tom Condon, and the New York Jets are negotiating a new deal for the quarterback. But Pennington has told Condon talks will be shelved until the end of the season if a deal isn't reached by Aug. 31.
"I've made sure it won't be a distraction, that's why I've allowed them to discuss it through August but after that there are no discussions," Pennington said. "As far as I'm concerned, after today I'm not talking about it."Pennington is entering the final season of a five-year deal that will pay him a base salary of $4.57 million in 2004.
posted by Anonymous @ 7:53 AM
J. Jones signs with the Cowboys.
The Dallas Cowboys agreed to a six-year deal Thursday with running back Julius Jones.The former Notre Dame star, the Cowboys' first pick, got a $1.8 million signing bonus, and the last two years of his deal are voidable. He was chosen in the second round with the 43rd overall pick.
I'm just happy we got it done in time," Jones said. "I'm glad to be here and now I'm ready to go."Dallas also signed cornerback Bruce Thornton, a fourth-round pick. The only remaining unsigned draft choice is offensive lineman Jacob Rogers, another second-rounder.Rogers is from Oxnard and is expected to be signed in time for the first practice Saturday morning. Once he joins the team, the Cowboys will have to cut someone to maintain an 85-player roster.Jones was the fourth running back drafted. He was expected to be the starter until Eddie George was signed last week. They will compete for the job in training camp."I've always had to compete for everything," Jones said. "Nothing is ever handed to you, especially in the NFL."
posted by Anonymous @ 7:50 AM
Carter won't play with the Ravens' this season.
The Ravens' recently acquired cornerback Dale Carter will miss the 2004 season because of a blood clot in his lung, Coach Brian Billick announced Thursday."It's quite serious, very serious to the degree that it was life-threatening," Billick said. "He is on blood thinners and will be for six months. That will preclude him from playing this year."
The veteran player was expected to be Baltimore's nickel back this season. He joined the Ravens as a free agent, following an 11-year NFL career with stints in Kansas City (1992-98), Denver (1999-2000), Minnesota (2001) and New Orleans (2002-03).Carter, 34, said his illness was discovered during an at-home workout in Houston last month. Pain in his side became so bad he couldn't breathe, so he went to the emergency room where the blood clots were discovered."The doctors told me I was the luckiest person in the world right now," Carter said. "I didn't think it was that serious. I thank God I'm here today."Carter has had an up-and-down career. A four-time Pro Bowl player, he has been suspended twice for violating the league's substance abuse policy.Without Carter, the Ravens become thinner at the cornerback position behind starters Gary Baxter and Chris McAlister, who did not report to training camp Friday near Westminster.He is hoping for a long-term contract that could pay as much as an $18 million signing bonus, $2 million more than the team reportedly has offered.Despite the absences and the looming drug conspiracy trial of running back Jamal Lewis, the team entered training camp with high hopes for the season."Super Bowl or bust," outside linebacker Adalius Thomas said. "That's what we're going for with all of us on the same page. Everybody knows what the goal is."The Ravens won the AFC North Division for the first time in 2003 before being eliminated in the wild-card round by Tennessee. They return with all but one starter (free-agent Marcus Robinson), the league's third-ranked defense, and Super Bowl-level optimism among players and coaches."This is a team that's capable of it," offensive consultant Jim Fassel said. "In a league where teams change (personnel) all the time, this team has stayed together."Sixth-year head coach Brian Billick -- who signed a new contract this week -- is not known for rigorous training camps. This year is no different. Even though there are 29 practices being held over 26 days, the slate includes eight off days and only seven days of full-squad two-a-day workouts.
posted by Anonymous @ 7:32 AM
Faulk still has this season to think about retirement.
Marshall Faulk doesn't know where the retirement rumors started.But the St. Louis Rams' running back, entering his 12th season and coming off another operation on his balky right knee, isn't arguing the logic behind the idea.
"You know what?" he said Thursday. "I heard about it and it was news to me. It doesn't surprise me. It's news."The 2000 NFL MVP knows his clock is ticking. Teammate Aeneas Williams said he evaluates his career options after every season, and now 31-year-old Faulk is in the same situation."This is probably the first year I've thought about it like 'Man, if the body isn't acting right, what do I do? Do I fight through it or do I not play?" Faulk said. "That's something I'm going to have to evaluate after the season."So far, after two days of the Rams' workouts, the body is doing just fine. Faulk has watched himself on film and said he looked "pretty good to myself."Then again, it's early."I'm just day to day with everything: how I feel, how my body feels and just letting it tell me 'Hey, you need to take the next day off' or whatever," Faulk said. "I have to listen to it. It doesn't listen to me -- anymore, I should say."The Rams are taking steps to conserve Faulk, limiting his practice reps and shutting him down for the morning practice during two-a-day workouts. Likely, he won't play much in the preseason, either.Last year, the same knee and a broken hand kept Faulk out of five games and limited him to 818 yards rushing and 45 receptions for 290 yards."If he says his knee is a little bit sore and we need to take some time, then that's what we do," coach Mike Martz said. "He knows exactly what he needs to do to get ready."Last year's experiment with a bulkier Faulk, which Martz had hoped would help the running back deal with the pounding, also has ended. This year, Faulk is back to his svelte self, although the supersizing had nothing to do with the knee injury that required offseason surgery."That was coach Martz's idea, get some of that bulk on so you can withstand it," Martz said. "That wasn't a good idea, and we're kind of going with what Marshall wants now."They've also prepared for the end, drafting running back Steven Jackson in the first round. Jackson, the first running back taken in April, is the heir apparent to Faulk's job."Having guys behind me that are youthful and that I can pass some information along to and hopefully one day, whether it's here or on another team, they can step in and be the guy, they can look back on some of the things I told them about the game," Faulk said.But he won't go willingly. Faulk is no Ricky Williams."I love football. It's in me. I was given a gift to play this game, not just the physical gift but a mental gift to understand it," he said. "It's not all that I have but it's something I have that I love doing and I have a passion for."He even indicated that down the road, it's possible that he could accept a lesser role to extend his career."There's a lot of things that factor in, and that's just being honest," Faulk said.Suffice it to say the retirement talk has served as motivation."It's things people should ask," he said. "Those are the questions that are going to be answered this year."I feel up to the challenge. We'll find out as the season goes."Teammates know Faulk at his best is a difference-maker. From 1998-2001 he became the first player in NFL history to gain 2,000 yards rushing and receiving for four consecutive seasons."I heard the speculation about him retiring and I heard about the knee," wide receiver Torry Holt said. "All I know is he's here, and that puts a smile on our face."
posted by Anonymous @ 7:29 AM
