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Volume 8, Issue 60 (Saturday, June 23rd)
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Hi Folks,
Hope you're having a great weekend. You know it's been a slow news day when a Miami tasering is a big story. But I've got what you need to know here. Let's get to it. JINSIDE THIS ISSUE
1. KC - RB Johnson Compared To Other RBs With 400 Carry Seasons2. SF - 49ers RB Gore Wants To Lose Weight
3. NO - WR Meachem Signing May Have Hurdles
4. NE - WR Jackson May Be Ready To Start Season
5. DAL - Team Chemistry Brought QB Brad Johnson To Dallas
6. GB - Packers Waive QB Babb
7. DEF - MIA - DT Fred Evans Tasered In Miami
8. DEF - LB Arrington In 'Great Spirits' After Crash
KC - RB Johnson Compared To Other RBs With 400 Carry Seasons
Source: Jason Cole, Yahoo! Sports
Take a quick look at the four backs to carry 400-plus times before Larry Johnson.
In 1984, James Wilder of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers carried 407 times to set the NFL mark at the time. He had a respectable 1,300 yards the next season, but his stats declined in every other significant category, such as yards per carry. In 1986, Eric Dickerson had 404 carries. Dickerson, who was a physical marvel over his first six seasons, held up surprisingly well. He was traded the middle of the following season to the Indianapolis Colts and took advantage of a strike-shortened season to get some extra rest. Between 1987 and 1988, Dickerson averaged more than 100 yards per game. That makes him the exception among these four. In 1998, Jamal Anderson had a record 410 carries as he helped the Atlanta Falcons reach the Super Bowl. In 1999, he tore up his knee. He had only more season with 1,000 yards and was done by 2001. In 2000, Eddie George of the Tennessee Titans had 403 carries in the fifth of his first five outstanding seasons. During that run, George averaged 1,375 yards per season. However, in his final four years, his best season total was 1,165 yards in 2002.[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
The wear and tear on Johnson is absolutely something the team has to keep an eye on. Especially with his physical running style. What the Chiefs do with Johnson will obviously be one of the most watched situations in the league. At this point, the talk about a possible holdout is not really heated, but it could get that way soon. Stay tuned.
SF - 49ers RB Gore Wants To Lose Weight
Source: Matthew Barrows, Sacramento Bee
During the month-long break between OTAs and training camp, San Francisco 49ers RB Frank Gore plans to work out in South Florida in an attempt to shed 5 lbs to get to about 210. His training will consist of laboring up and down one of the highest hills in South Florida while tethered to a truck tire. It's a grueling regimen Gore has performed since high school. "You've got to sweat if you're going to be successful in this sport," Gore said. He also believes losing the weight will allow him to finish more of his runs in the end zone.
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215 is about where Gore played most of last year so he's looking to be a little lighter. We worry a little anytime we see a guy like Gore with some durability issues talk about lightening up. But five pounds isn't much to worry about.
NO - WR Meachem Signing May Have Hurdles
Source: Larry Holder, Sun Herald
WR Robert Meachem is the last of the Saints seven draft picks to be signed by the team. Meachem's contract will be determined by what the Chiefs' first-round pick Dwayne Bowe is able to negotiate. But Meachem may have another hurdle to jump in contract talks. Meachem showed up overweight and out of shape. Then he aggravated an old knee injury during the last day of minicamp. His rehab will have him ready by training camp, but the Saints may not be willing to pay him as much as they were ready to do before the injury.
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This will be interesting. Meachem did show up for rookie minicamp overweight and not in the shape he needed to be. But he went to work hard and soon was down to a reported 218 pounds.
With regard to the injury, the team is going to have a hard time knocking him too much for it because they claimed to be fully aware of his knee issue before the draft. "We were completely on page from what we saw from his combine medical records and charts and if we felt like it was going to be something that was going to be real serious, obviously we would have taken that into account," coach Sean Payton said. "But the type of procedure he had done, it's not going to hamper him in the future. If it was something more serious, you wouldn't be looking at that type of rehabilitation time" of six weeks or less. Payton has said that he expects Meachem to be fully 100%. "I didn't want it to be a nagging problem," Payton added. "The doctors felt real good about what they saw prior to doing the scope and I think we all felt like it was best to do it now. When his rehabilitation's over, it won't be a lingering issue. It will be something that can be 100 percent and cleaned up."NE - WR Jackson May Be Ready To Start Season
Source: Christopher L. Gasper, Boston Globe
Patriots WR Chad Jackson's rehabilitation from a torn ACL is going well enough that he could be ready for the start of the season. Jackson, who had surgery in January, is already sprinting but judging by their offseason activity, Jackson is not a big part of the Patriots' 2007 plans. New England added WRs Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Donte' Stallworth, and Kelley Washington in the offseason through trades and free agency.
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Nothing like adding Randy Moss, Donte' Stallworth and Wes Welker to speed a WR's rehabilitation. The Patriots have clearly loaded up with free agent WRs but people forget that Jackson was very highly regarded when he was drafted. If he gets back to form, and the free agents pan out, Tom Brady and Patriot fans are going to be happy campers.
DAL - Team Chemistry Brought QB Brad Johnson To Dallas
Source: Rob Phillips, DallasCowboys.com
Brad Johnson won a Super Bowl with the Bucs' trio of Keyshawn Johnson, Keenan McCardell and Joe Jurevicius. He shared a locker room with Cris Carter and Randy Moss in Minnesota.
But when Brad Johnson glances at the nameplates for Terrell Owens, Terry Glenn and Jason Witten, he sees perhaps the best group of receivers he's played with in 15 years of NFL service. That combination, along with the Cowboys' growing reputation as a rising NFC power, helped Johnson narrow his list of off-season suitors from six to one. "I thought this was just a winning team," Johnson said. "Very talented team. More than anything I just wanted to be in the right fit. It's so important just being in the right system, being in the right fit with personalities." If something should happen to Romo at quarterback this season, Phillips is confident Johnson can still get the job done. "He knows how to get rid of the football," Phillips said. "I think he can lead a team and I think we'll see him do well once we get into preseason."[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
It's pretty interesting to hear a QB talk about a Terrell Owens team being a great fit with personalities. It's something I've contended for a while - T.O. isn't as much of a cancer as he's made out to be.
As far as Johnson's role on the team, he's talked about not necessarily being a mentor for Tony Romo, but it's pretty clear that his role is not that of a starter. Johnson will provide valueable depth at the QB spot and be a guy that hopefully help Romo along in his development.Source: Todd Korth, PackerReport.com
On Friday, the Green Bay Packers placed quarterback Jerry Babb, who signed as an undrafted free agent in early May, on waivers. That leaves four quarterbacks remaining on the Packers roster - Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers, Ingle Martin and Paul Thompson.
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We hear that Babb realized he'd never get past Footballguys.com favorite Ingle Martin. He knew it was just a matter of time and decided to move on...
DEF - MIA - DT Fred Evans Tasered In Miami
Source: Len Pasquarelli, ESPN.com
Second-year defensive tackle Fred Evans, who played sparingly as a rookie but is expected to assume a more meaningful role for the Miami Dolphins in 2007, was arrested early Saturday morning, and tasers were used to subdue him, after an alleged argument with a Miami Beach taxi driver.
Evans A spokesperson for the Miami Beach police department on Saturday afternoon confirmed the arrest and said that Evans was charged with battery on a police officer, resisting arrest with violence, trespassing and disorderly conduct. "We are aware that Fred Evans was arrested this morning," Dolphins' first-year coach Cam Cameron said in a statement released by the team. "We will not condone this type of behavior. I assure everyone it will be dealt with seriously."[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Mr. Evans, it's Mr. Goodell on line 2...
DEF - LB Arrington In 'Great Spirits' After Crash
Source: ESPN.com
Three-time Pro Bowl linebacker LaVar Arrington will remain in the hospital at least a few more days as he recovers from arm and leg injuries from a motorcycle accident earlier this week.
Arrington broke his right forearm and had severe lacerations in his leg after crashing on a highway ramp Monday. "He's in great spirits," said Arrington's attorney, Rosalyn Pugh, who visited Arrington on Thursday. "He's his usual charming self with the smile." Pugh said Arrington expects to be released from Prince George's Hospital Center sometime next week.[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Great news for Arrington. We wish him a full and complete recovery.
That'll do it for today, Folks. Have a great rest of your weekend and we'll see you tomorrow with the update.
J