Hi Folks,
Here's a total Non Football News related thing you can pass along to
your friends. You may have seen it already but I've switched it up to
apply to Football Fanatics like you.
It's a Math Test that can predict your age based on how much you watch football.
Grab a calculator and work this out as you go.

First thing, pick the number of complete NFL games you normally
watch in one week of the regular season. (Please pick more than one
but less than ten).
Multiply this number by 2
Add 5
Multiply it by 50
If you have already had your birthday this year add, 1755. If you
haven't had your birthday yet, add 1754.
 Now subtract the four digit year that you were born. You should
have a three digit number now.

The first digit of this was your original number (how many NFL games
per week you watch).
The next two numbers are...
Your age.
Bada Bing.
Now THAT'S quality information right there. Ok seriously, here's the
News and Notes for today. Thanks to our Maurile Tremblay for rounding
these up. And hey, one more thing - I need your help in picking out
our Footballguys Magazine cover. Check out the site news below. Have a
great Friday and let's get to it.
J
******************************
Site News:
We need your help picking our cover for the Footballguys Magazine.
I've been working hard trying to come up with our cover for the
magazine and I need your opinion. I've long said that you folks that
subscribe to this mailing list are the smartest group of Fantasy
Football Junkies in the world. I believe that to be 100% true. I don't
bug you guys a lot with this kind of stuff but I need your thoughts on
this.
The link below displays four rough drafts of the magazine cover. The
headlines and cover blurbs will change. Don't worry about those. What
I need your help on is what back ground color you think is the most
appealing and will be the best on the newsstand for getting folks to
pick up the magazine. You can look and cast a vote from that web page.
Thanks a ton for the help.
Here's the link 
to see the different covers and to vote
Thanks a ton.
/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1. MIN - RB O. Smith Might Avoid Trouble
2. PHI - Eagles' Big Gamble With WR Owens and RB Westbrook
3. PHI - Eagles To Forfeit Workout Sessions For Violating Rules
4. GB - Zero Tolerance For Walker
5. CIN - WR Warrick On Track To Play
6. CLE - TE Winslow Takes First Step Back With Brown
7. BAL - TE Heap Recovering From Shoulder Surgery
8. CHI - K Brien Signed To Compete With K Edinger
9. WAS - HC Gibbs Underwent Heart Procedure In Mid-April
10. IDP: WAS - Redskins Signed Veteran LB Holdman
11. IDP: CLE - Have Interest In LB Boulware
12. IDP: MIA - CB Law To Visit
/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/
1. MIN - RB O. Smith Might Avoid Trouble
Clipped from: St. Paul Pioneer Press article by Sean Jensen 5/12/05
There appears to be nothing the NFL can - or the Vikings will - do to
punish running back Onterrio Smith, who was stopped at Minneapolis-St.
Paul International Airport last month with a contraption designed to
deceive drug tests.
A tube of toothpaste initially alarmed the CTX baggage X-ray machine
on April 21, according to an incident report, and Transportation
Security Administration officials became concerned when they
discovered six or seven vials of a white substance with the
consistency of cocaine upon searching Smith's bag.
Testing showed the white substance was dried, untainted urine, Smith
explained to the officer, adding that he was taking the vials to his
cousin.
Already in the NFL's substance-abuse program, with two strikes against
him, Smith faces a one-year suspension for his next offense. This,
apparently, will not be it.
For there to be a violation, a player would need to make a 'deliberate
attempt' to substitute or alter a specimen during a drug test,
according to a statement Wednesday by NFL spokesman Greg Aiello. The
policy doesn't specifically address possession of paraphernalia
outside of a testing situation, Aiello said, but the NFL will
investigate to determine whether anything can or should be done.
The Vikings cannot fine Smith, per the NFL collective bargaining
agreement, and don't seem inclined to cut him or even hold him out of
the workout program. Vikings coach Mike Tice commended Smith, who will
be entering his third season, for his physical conditioning, largely
because of his attendance in the team's offseason conditioning
program.
As of Wednesday afternoon, Tice had not spoken to Smith about the incident.
[[[[[[[[[[ OUR VIEW ]]]]]]]]]]
This is like something out of ESPN's cancelled series, Playmakers.
Smith has already tested positive for marijuana twice in his NFL
career. The second time led to a four-game suspension last season. He
will be tested twice a week in 2005, and one more positive result will
result in a year-long suspension.
The fact that he's carrying around The "Original Whizzinator"(tm)
while in the league's substance abuse program is not a good sign. He
will escape punishment for this incident, but the threat of a
season-long suspension for one more positive test should cause Smith
to fall at least ten spots on your draft board. Especially since NFL
officials will be on the lookout for any "whizzinating" during future
drug tests.
/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/
2. PHI - Eagles' Big Gamble With WR Owens and RB Westbrook
Clipped from: ABC 4 Website article, 5/12/05
The issue is a polarizing one, especially in the City of Brotherly
Love, and most reasonable people can find merit in both cases. A close
study of the current state of relations between the two parties, the
way the situation is impacted by other high-profile members of the
offense, and the short- and long-term ramifications of the rift are
necessary in understanding the league's most intriguing soap opera:
WHAT T.O. IS THINKING: Owens' desire is to be among the top-paid
players in the National Football League, and from his standpoint, he
clearly deserves it.
Owens did everything that was asked of him during his first season in
Philadelphia, catching 77 passes for 1,200 yards and 14 touchdowns in
just 14 games before suffering leg injuries in Week 15 against Dallas.
Even in a season shortened by the bad break, T.O. was a Pro Bowler,
and you would have been hard-pressed to find an offensive playmaker
that meant more to his team than did Owens.
The Eagles' history with receivers during the Andy Reid era was a
checkered one before Owens' arrival, and you better believe both he
and newly-hired super agent Drew Rosenhaus are well aware of that
fact. T.O. undoubtedly feels a large sense of responsibility for the
team's ability to break through for its first NFC title in 24 years,
and undoubtedly feels a sense of entitlement after his seemingly
inhuman rehabilitation from the injury and subsequent courageous Super
Bowl performance.
Perhaps most vital to Owens' argument is the knowledge he has of
Philadelphia's salary cap situation. The team absolutely has the
ability to restructure his deal to a level commensurate with his
standing as one of the top five most dynamic players in the league.
With money to burn, why wouldn't the Eagles reward the player that is
arguably their most valuable commodity?
WHAT THE EAGLES ARE THINKING: The Philadelphia brain trust of owner
Jeffrey Lurie, team president Joe Banner and de facto general manager
Reid has not built the winningest NFL franchise of the past four
seasons by throwing money around haphazardly. The Eagles have rarely
overspent for players, have avoided bidding wars at all costs, and in
turn have lost more players via free agency than any other team in the
league during this millennium. With very few exceptions, those
decisions have proven to be the right ones, and the financial
restraint has paid dividends in the form of four consecutive NFC
Championship appearances.
The team expects players to honor contracts, and is wary of
restructuring Owens because of the bad precedent that the act could
set in future negotiations with others. Placing Owens at the top of
the team's priority list, whether deserved or not, would infuriate
other players and could cause major problems in a previously friendly
locker room.
In addition to a willingness to stick to their successful formula and
avoid future problems, Reid and company are also not fond of being
bullied by a player or his agent via the media or otherwise. Owens'
comments, both of recent and pre-Super Bowl vintage, have dismayed the
club, and ridding itself of the distraction that the receiver's
musings have posed would be something of a welcomed change.
What's more, the Eagles believe they can remain among the NFL elite
without T.O. They survived the 2004 postseason without him, after all,
and most feel they would have defeated Carolina in the 2003 NFC
Championship had Brian Westbrook been healthy. Losing Owens would not
turn the Birds into the 49ers, and the organization has confidence
that like Gloria Gaynor, it will survive.
[[[[[[[[[[ OUR VIEW ]]]]]]]]]]
The article goes on to make a few more interesting points: 1. McNabb
is the one player who could have successfully lobbied on TO's behalf,
but Owens made a big mistake by calling McNabb out for being winded
during the Super Bowl. 2. Owens has company in Brian Westbrook in
being dissatisfied with his current contract. By refusing to reward
two-thirds of their three best offensive players, the Eagles may be
sending a message to the entire offense that McNabb is the only player
they really value -- which won't do much for overall team chemistry.
3. If Owens holds out and the Eagles' offense falters, well . . .
Philadelphia fans aren't known to be the most understanding or
forgiving type. Andy Reid and Jeff Lurie are popular right now, but
could have a public relations disaster on their hands if they can't
get things worked out with Owens. 4. That said, Reid and Lurie won't
buckle to pressure from fans or agents or anyone else: they say won't
budge on this issue, and they won't. 5. Therefore, it's conceivably
possible (although unlikely we think) that Owens will end up sitting
out the 2005 season and being traded for a first-round pick before the
2006 draft.
(Note that Donovan McNabb is predicting 
that Owens will return to the
Eagles rather than forego a year's salary.)
/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/
3. PHI - Eagles To Forfeit Workout Sessions For Violating Rules
Clipped from: Philadelphia Daily News article by Les Bowen 5/12/05
Eagles players participating in the offseason conditioning program
will get an unexpected vacation the week of May 16 to 23. The NFL and
the NFL Players Association announced yesterday that the team will
forfeit a week of offseason workouts for violating rules governing
such sessions.
A league release said, "NFL executive vice president Harold Henderson
and players association executive director Gene Upshaw have determined
that the Eagles violated rules pertaining to the scheduling of
on-field activities."
The Eagles said the sanctions won't affect rookie workouts scheduled
for next week, or the rehab work of injured players. Players are paid
for participating in the offseason program, and they still will get
their money for the forfeited week. The team's next minicamp, for
rookies on May 25-27, also will be unaffected.
A source with knowledge of the situation said teams must submit
specific offseason workout dates to the union, and can't start the
workouts before a certain date. The source said Eagles players came in
to work on dates other than the ones reported, something the team
didn't monitor closely, because the total number of dates was below
the 14 weeks allowed by the rules.
[[[[[[[[[[ OUR VIEW ]]]]]]]]]]
Did one or more players from the Eagles report the infraction to the
league? That's generally how the league finds out about such things --
as happened last year with Denny Green's Cardinals and Tom Coughlin's
Giants. This isn't a huge deal, and we don't recommend moving any
Eagles down on your draft boards because of this; but it does mean
we'll have a week's fewer practices to report on who's looking good
for the Eagles and who isn't.
/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/
4. GB - Zero Tolerance For Walker
Clipped from: Green Bay News-Chronicle article by Todd McMahon, 5/12/05
There have been no indications that Pro Bowl wide receiver Javon
Walker will end his contract holdout and be on the field for the
Packers' voluntary minicamp in early June.
However, the line of critics taking Walker to task continues to form.
Walker, apparently on the advice of new agent Drew Rosenhaus, is
demanding a contract extension before next season, despite having two
years left on the deal he signed as a first-round draft pick in 2002.
Walker, who will be hosting a celebrity softball game in Milwaukee on
Saturday, skipped the post draft minicamp two weeks ago. The last
three days had mandatory attendance, resulting in an undisclosed fine
for Walker.
Pro Bowl halfback Ahman Green, who's entering the final year of his
contract, had this to say about Walker's stance in an interview with
The News-Chronicle last weekend:
"It's just sad to see (the holdout) because he's a great player, and
half of the decision probably wasn't even his. Probably his agent
telling him (to do) that. That's the sad part, that some players get
caught up in the business part of it. I understand it's about the
(financial) gain and about putting money away and saving it. But, you
also have to know it is a team sport. That's what it boils down to."
Pro Football Hall of Fame fullback Jim Taylor, the Packers' all-time
rushing leader, echoed those latter sentiments with some stinging
criticism Wednesday. He spoke by telephone from his home in Baton
Rouge, La.
"Today's players think they're all-world and are big blowhards. They
think they can talk the game. Everybody likes to think they're real
tough. All these No. 1 picks ... say how horrible it is," said Taylor,
who played for the Packers from 1958 to '66. "You've got the money and
the bonuses and all that, but let's see you play football. That's a
different story.
"You don't tear (your contract) up or want this and that. You honor
it. Your word is your bond. That doesn't hold true today."
Meanwhile, [team president Bob] Harlan had no problem with the pointed
comments leveled by Brett Favre last week. The star quarterback told
the Green Bay Press-Gazette that Walker is in the wrong for holding
out and declared, "We can win without him."
"I'm fine with what Brett said. I really am," Harlan said. "I 
think it
shows the kind of team person he is. That's what you want your leader
to be. Team is the most important thing about this, and there's nobody
better at (advocating) it than Brett."
[[[[[[[[[[ OUR VIEW ]]]]]]]]]]
Just as Donovan McNabb has said publicly that the Eagles can win
without Owens, Brett Favre has said that the Packers can win without
Walker. Now you can add Ahman Green and Jim Taylor to the list of
Green Bay icons publicly criticizing Walker's threat to hold out.
/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/
5. CIN - WR Warrick On Track To Play
Clipped from: Cincinnati Post article by Kevin Goheen, 5/12/05
There was no limp in Peter Warrick's walk as he meandered through the
locker room at Paul Brown Stadium Wednesday. His goal now is to run
without trouble when it counts.
Warrick has been away from the Bengals' voluntary offseason
conditioning program the past few weeks, rehabbing in Florida from leg
injuries that cost him 12 games in 2004. After a breakout season in
2003 in which the wide receiver set career highs in receptions,
yardage and touchdowns, last season was a bitter disappointment that
dampened Warrick's usually jovial attitude.
The Bengals will have the first four of 14 voluntary on-field coaching
sessions beginning Tuesday and Warrick will be there, although not
fully. He wants to be 100 percent healthy come the first practice of
training camp on July 29 and overdoing workouts now won't help achieve
that goal.
"I'm going to take my time and be smart about the situation," said 
Warrick.
Warrick has one season remaining on the contract he signed after the
Bengals selected him with the fourth overall choice in the 2000 NFL
draft. He's due a base salary of $2.6 million this season. Those
economical facts combined with the Bengals drafting receivers Chris
Henry and Tab Perry in the third and sixth rounds, respectively, of
this year's draft have led to the speculation that Warrick's days in
Cincinnati could be numbered.
Should Warrick be released at any time before the start of the season,
the Bengals would gain $2.6 million - the amount of his base salary -
in salary cap space. The team won't release him simply to gain that
accounting relief, however. A healthy Peter Warrick teamed with
quarterback Carson Palmer, running back Rudi Johnson and receivers
Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh would give the Bengals one of the
NFL's most potent offenses.
[[[[[[[[[[ OUR VIEW ]]]]]]]]]]
Warrick has had a generally disappointing career, having never lived
up to his draft position (selected #4 overall in 2000). Before he was
injured in the second game last season, however, he showed fine
quickness, hands, and run-after-the-catch ability during the 2003
season. Warrick will probably never be the featured WR on an NFL team,
but he has the skills to be very effective in a complimentary role
operating out of the slot. If he can recover from last year's injury,
the trio of Chad Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, and Peter Warrick would
present a terrific set of targets for QB Carson Palmer. If Warrick is
not completely recovered by the start of the season, the Bengals are
hoping that rookie third-round pick Chris Henry can fill the void.
/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/
6. CLE - TE Winslow Takes First Step Back With Brown
Clipped from: Associated Press article, 5/12/05
Ten days after injuring his knee in a motorcycle crash, Kellen Winslow
Jr. took the first ginger step toward repairing an NFL career that
barely got started.
While Winslow's return to the field for the Cleveland Browns is still
in question, the tight end visited the team's headquarters to start
rehab on his injured right knee Wednesday, less than 24 hours after
his release from the hospital.
"He was happy to be here," Browns coach Romeo Crennel said. "He 
was in
pretty good spirits."
Winslow sustained unspecified injuries in a May 1 accident when he
crashed his high-powered motorcycle into a raised parking lot curb at
35 mph. The Browns are most concerned about Winslow's knee, which will
be re-examined in 7-10 days when swelling subsides, team president
John Collins said.
The club said Winslow did not have any surgery during his hospital stay.
Respecting the wishes of Winslow's family and abiding by privacy laws,
the Browns have not disclosed any specifics of what happened to their
21-year-old star, who missed 14 games last season as a rookie with a
broken leg.
However, it's clear from what the Browns are permitted to discuss that
Winslow is lucky to be alive.
"He easily could have been killed," general manager Phil Savage said.
Collins said it's too early to determine if Winslow, the club's
first-round pick in the 2004 draft, will play this season. But despite
a public outcry from outraged Cleveland fans who would like to see the
team cut Winslow for breaking his contract, the Browns have no plans
to release him.
"Absolutely not," Savage said. "We need him and we want him."
[[[[[[[[[[ OUR VIEW ]]]]]]]]]]
As serious as Winslow's injuries appear to be, they could have been a
lot worse. From everything we've heard, Winslow will not play in 2005.
But you may not want to drop him from your dynasty leagues. The fact
that he is already back in the Browns' training room and beginning the
rehabilitation process - along with the Browns' statement that they
will not release him - is definitely a positive sign and should end
the talk about his career being over.
/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/
7. BAL - TE Heap Recovering From Shoulder Surgery
Clipped from: Baltimore Sun article by Jamison Hensley, 5/12/05
Remnants of an injury-marred 2004 season will affect this upcoming one
for Todd Heap.
Recent shoulder surgery is expected to sideline the two-time Pro Bowl
tight end for a majority of training camp, Ravens coach Brian Billick
confirmed Thursday. The tentative plan is to keep Heap away from any
contact for at least the first two weeks of camp, which begins Aug. 1.
"I would not anticipate seeing him full-go until probably the second
or third preseason game," Billick said.
Heap, the Ravens' leading receiver in 2002 and 2003, missed 10 games
last season because of a severely sprained ankle.
The dilemma this offseason was not being able to repair the ankle and
the shoulder at the same time. Because he couldn't support himself on
crutches with a healing shoulder, Heap had to wait until his ankle was
out of the protective boot before undergoing his second surgery.
Team officials estimated he had surgery on the shoulder about a month ago.
"It's kind of a double whammy," Billick said. "In a perfect 
world, he
would have been able to get both done at the same time and he would be
ready for the first day of training camp."
This season will be an important one for Heap.
He is in the final year of his contract and is scheduled to become an
unrestricted free agent in March. Ravens officials said he is one of
their priorities in getting a contract extension.
[[[[[[[[[[ OUR VIEW ]]]]]]]]]]
Heap's enjoyed enough success in this league that missing part or all
of training camp would not be disastrous. When he is healthy, Heap is
one of the top pass-catching tight ends in the league due to his
speed, hands, and overall athleticism. Still, it would be nice to see
him participate in a preseason game, just to verify that he is
completely healed, before we all have to hold our fantasy drafts. The
Ravens' second preseason game is on August 20 against the Eagles;
their third is on August 26 against the Saints.
/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/
8. CHI - K Brien Signed To Compete With K Edinger
Clipped from: Associated Press article, 5/12/05
The Chicago Bears agreed Thursday to a one-year contract with kicker
Doug Brien, who was released last month by the New York Jets.
Financial terms were not disclosed.
Brien, an 11-year NFL veteran, is joining his sixth team. He was
drafted in the third round by the 49ers in 1994 and has scored 905
points in his career with 206 field goals in 254 attempts.
Last season with the Jets, he hit 24 of 29 field goals and scored 105
points. But he missed two potential game-winning field goals late in
New York's 20-17 playoff loss at Pittsburgh.
Bears kicker Paul Edinger is coming off a poor season. He scored 67
points for the league's worst offense and made 15 of 24 field goal
attempts.
[[[[[[[[[[ OUR VIEW ]]]]]]]]]]
Brien had two chances to win the playoff game against the Steelers
last year, but was short on a 47-yard attempt toward the end of
regulation, and wide left on a 43-yard attempt in overtime. Aside from
those two kicks, Brien has had a solid career with the Jets but became
expendable when they drafted PK Mike Nugent in the second round of
this year's draft. Paul Edinger, meanwhile, has been in somewhat of a
slump for the past season and a half. So if we had to pick a winner in
this contest right now, we'd go with Brien.
/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/
9. WAS - HC Gibbs Underwent Heart Procedure In Mid-April
Clipped from: Washington Post article by Nunyo Demasio, 5/12/05
Washington Redskins Coach Joe Gibbs said yesterday he underwent a
common procedure to open a clogged artery to his heart last month.
Gibbs said he is feeling no side effects from the procedure and that
it would not affect his ability to continue to coach the team.
Gibbs said doctors placed a small, spring-like wire tube known as a
stent in the artery at a Washington hospital in mid-April. He said he
remained in the hospital overnight and returned to work at Redskins
Park the next day.
Gibbs, 64, and the Redskins did not disclose the operation after it
took place. But NFL sources in recent days said they understood Gibbs
had undergone the procedure. Gibbs confirmed the information when
asked by a reporter yesterday afternoon at Redskins Park.
"Several weeks ago on the advice of my doctor, I had a common,
precautionary procedure to clear up a blockage in one artery," said
Gibbs, his burgundy shorts drenched in sweat following a workout. "A
stent was placed in the artery during the procedure at a Washington
hospital. I suffered no ill effects prior to the procedure, and have
had none since.
"I ran for 45 minutes the day before the procedure, and was back to my
regular workout program several days after, including my 45-minute
run."
Gibbs said he preferred to keep the matter private, and told only a
handful of family members and close associates, including Redskins
owner Daniel Snyder. After confirming the procedure in the brief
interview yesterday, Gibbs informed his staff so that they would not
find out about it through media reports.
[[[[[[[[[[ OUR VIEW ]]]]]]]]]]
Gibbs is under contract to coach the Redskins through the 2008 season.
He was diagnosed with diabetes at about the time of his original
retirement from the Redskins in 1993, so his health is somewhat of a
concern. But Gibbs appears to be in good shape and has vowed to coach
the team through at least the term of his contract. Mike Ditka, Dan
Reeves, and Bill Parcells have all undergone heart operations and then
returned to their coaching duties afterwards.
/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/
10. IDP: WAS - Redskins Signed Veteran LB Holdman
Clipped from: Washington Times article by Jody Foldesy, 5/12/05
More than a year after opening their pursuit, the Washington Redskins
finally landed former Chicago Bears standout linebacker Warrick
Holdman.
Holdman, 29, agreed to terms with the Redskins yesterday, bolstering a
linebacking corps that remains somewhat uncertain in the wake of
Antonio Pierce's departure.
Washington initially sought Holdman last spring after he was cut by
the Bears in a salary-cap related move. He signed instead with the
Cleveland Browns and started 14 games. The Browns, now coached by
Romeo Crennel, didn't re-sign him this offseason.
Holdman's arrival seemingly boosts the likelihood that Mike Barrow
will be a post-June 1 cut. Washington needs salary cap space to sign
its draft picks. (About $1.2 million in room remained before Holdman's
signing; terms of his deal weren't clear.) The club conspicuously
hasn't reworked Barrow's deal, which calls for a $1.74 million base
salary this season.
Holdman joins a motley crew from which Pierce's replacement will be
drawn. A weakside linebacker by trade, Holdman apparently has the
versatility to battle Lemar Marshall, Brandon Barnes, Brian Allen and
draft picks Robert McCune and Jared Newberry to start at middle
linebacker.
Most middle linebackers are bigger than 6-foot-1, 235 pounds, but
Pierce thrived in Gregg Williams' scheme last year at 6-1, 240. And
Marshall, the current odds-on starter, weighs just 225.
Coach Joe Gibbs didn't specify where Holdman would play but noted,
"The good thing about him, he's played almost every spot at
linebacker. He's somebody we liked last year. We thought he fit in
good with us, so we jumped in on that."
[[[[[[[[[[ OUR VIEW ]]]]]]]]]]
Holdman was a major part of the Bears' defense that led the 2001 team
to a 13-3 record, as he posted 145 tackles that year. Former Bears'
assistant coaches Greg Blache and Dale Lindsey are now with the
Redskins, and apparently put in a good word for Holdman. The
acquisition of Holdman probably means that Michael Barrow will be
released.
/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/
11. IDP: CLE - Have Interest In LB Boulware
Clipped from: Cleveland Plain Dealer article by Mary Kay Cabot, 5/12/05
The Browns are interested in acquiring four-time Pro Bowl linebacker
Peter Boulware, an NFL source said Wednesday night.
But first, they must determine if Boulware is healthy and how much he
wants to be paid, the source said. The Browns made some initial
inquiries Wednesday night and will check into Boulware again today. If
healthy, Boulware could be the pass-rush specialist the Browns sorely
need.
The Ravens Wednesday released Boulware, who missed all of last season
with injuries and hasn't played since a game in Cleveland at the end
of 2003.
Browns General Manager Phil Savage was available during a news
conference regarding Kellen Winslow Jr. Wednesday afternoon, but could
not be reached after Boulware was released.
Savage was director of college scouting when the Ravens made Boulware
the fourth overall pick of the 1997 draft. Savage counts Boulware
among his many draft successes when he was with the Ravens and the two
won a Super Bowl together in 2000.
Boulware told the Baltimore Sun he would be talking to the Bengals,
who are coached by his former defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis.
Boulware said he didn't know yet which other teams would be
interested. Boulware's agent, Roosevelt Barnes, did not return a phone
message.
Boulware, the Ravens' all-time sack leader with 67½, told reporters
last week he's 100 percent healthy from his knee injury and subsequent
turf toe surgery he had in December. He passed his physical in
Baltimore Wednesday and was then cut, largely because of his high
salary.
[[[[[[[[[[ OUR VIEW ]]]]]]]]]]
Boulware would have counted nearly $8 million against the Ravens'
salary cap this year. By releasing him before June 1, he's still going
to count about $7.6 million against the cap for the pro-rated portion
of the $13.5 million signing bonus he received in 2002. But after this
season, the Ravens will have cleared the dead cap space associated
with Boulware, and they are happy with Thomas Adalius' play last year
at strongside linebacker filling in for the injured Boulware. The
Ravens also selected Dan Cody in the second round of this year's
draft, so the team still has talent and depth at linebacker (led, of
course, by Ray Lewis) even without Boulware.
/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/
12. IDP: MIA - CB Law To Visit
Clipped from: Sun-Sentinel.com article by Keven Lerner, 5/12/05
Veteran cornerback Ty Law reportedly is scheduled to meet with the
Dolphins next week.
According to the Detroit News, Law's agent, Kevin Poston, said his
client will visit the Dolphins on Wednesday.
It's not clear how much interest the Dolphins have in the former
Patriots star because of health and financial issues.
Law was released by New England in the offseason for salary-cap
reasons. He missed most of the 2004 season because of a broken left
foot that required surgery to repair ligament damage in January. He
missed the last nine regular-season games in 2004, and all of the
playoffs and Super Bowl.
If signed, Law could serve as a replacement for Will Poole, who
suffered a knee injury last week. Law met Tuesday with the Detroit
Lions and also has reportedly received interest from Pittsburgh,
Indianapolis and the New York Jets.
[[[[[[[[[[ OUR VIEW ]]]]]]]]]]
Law is still rehabilitating his broken foot, but should be healthy
before training camp begins. The Detroit Lions are also reportedly
interested in Law, a four-time Pro Bowler who had 36 interceptions
during his ten-year career with the Patriots.
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That'll do it for today, Folks. Have a great Friday and please vote
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We'll see you tomorrow with the update.
J