Footballguys Offseason Email - Volume 9, Issue 3 (Thursday, April 10th)
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Hi Folks,
Congrats to Kansas as the Final Four is a wrap. It's time to move on to baseball or barbecue or whatever it is you're into in April. You can do that knowing we'll have your back when it comes to keeping you in the loop on all the Football information you need to know. Sit back and let us catch you up here. Have a great weekend. JINSIDE THIS ISSUE
1. MIN - Vikings Sign QB Frerotte2. JAC - Jaguars Sign QB Garrard To New Contract
3. NFL Calendar
4. DEN - Former QB Elway Surprised By Cutler's Criticism Of Marshall
5. GB - QB Favre Says He'd Consider Returning If Team Asked
6. BAL - PK Stover Clarifies Email Regarding Replacing Union Head Upshaw
7. TB - RB Williams Begins Working Out
8. CIN - Bengals Sign WR Gabriel
9. NFL - Mike Vick Playing Football In Prison?
10. NFL - HC Billick Says He's Close To Landing Job As Analyst
11. DEF - NYJ - Jets Lock Up S Rhodes
12. DEF - MIN - Former Great Carl Eller Charged With Felonies
13. DEF - NO - Saints Sign CB Glenn
MIN - Vikings Sign QB Frerotte
Source: Judd Zulgad, Minneapolis Star Tribune
Gus Frerotte might not be familiar with the Vikings' version of the West Coast offense, but the 14-year veteran knows plenty about helping young quarterbacks and the opportunity to do just that is a big reason he decided to return to Minnesota. Frerotte, 36, signed a two-year, $3.75 million contract Tuesday to serve as Tarvaris Jackson's backup.
"The basic idea is I'm coming in as the No. 2 quarterback, will be able to be a quality backup and work with Tarvaris," said Frerotte, who will enter training camp ahead of Brooks Bollinger on the depth chart. "I'll be able to help him during games and in certain situations. I kind of like that role. It's nice when young kids take to heart what you're telling them and the experiences you've had."[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Followup confirmation of the story we told you about last week. Of course the Vikings are going to be talking about backup. But if you don't think Gus Frerotte will see the field some this year, you've got more faith in Tarvaris Jackson than I do.
Thinking on a positive note, Frerotte is a guy that's seen a lot in this league and should be a good influence for Jackson.JAC - Jaguars Sign QB Garrard To New Contract
Source: Herald News Services
David Garrard wanted the big contract. He just didn't want it at the expense of an agitated fan base or a bitter owner.
So while Garrard's agent sought Tony Romo money, Jacksonville's quarterback settled for less -- but more than enough for him. Garrard on Monday signed a seven-year contract worth $60 million. With about $20 million in guaranteed money, including $9 million up front, it's more than enough for Garrard to afford the dream house he and his young family recently built.[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
We told you last week in the Jack Del Rio story that it looked like a deal might be coming for Garrard. Things moved along as expected and Garrard saw a nice pay day. Good move by the Jaguars as they lock up their QB for the future.
Source: AP
April 26-27—NFL draft, New York.
May 19-21—NFL spring meeting, Atlanta. Aug. 3—Pro Football Hall of Fame Game, Canton, Ohio (Indianapolis vs. Washington). Aug. 26—Roster cutdown to maximum of 75 players. Aug. 30—Roster cutdown to maximum of 53 players. Sept. 4-8—2008 regular season starts.[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Another reminder about upcoming NFL events.
DEN - Former QB Elway Surprised By Cutler's Criticism Of Marshall
Source: AP
John Elway understands why Jay Cutler recently called out a troubled teammate, he just wouldn't have taken the same approach. "I was surprised to hear it actually," the former Broncos quarterback said Wednesday.
Cutler, fed up with all the drama surrounding Brandon Marshall, lashed out at his No. 1 receiver and fellow third-year star, who suffered a gash on his right forearm while messing around last month. "He's not my favorite person right now," the current Broncos quarterback said of Marshall. Elway didn't think this particular incident necessitated Cutler's ire. "Him cutting his arm is not that big of deal to me," Elway said. "Obviously, he was wrestling with his brother. He's still a kid."[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Interesting words from Elway. There aren't many jobs in the NFL today tougher than trying to follow John Elway in Denver. You'd think he'd take some of his own advice about keeping things out of the press when he's talking about Cutler.
Either way, this is spring time football gossip. Assuming Marshall is ready to go this summer, most of this will be forgotten.GB - QB Favre Says He'd Consider Returning If Team Asked
Source: Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times
In his latest public comments, Brett Favre said he's retired for now but also that he "very well could be enticed" to return to Green Bay.
"I guess my best response would be, right now, no," Favre told the Sun-Herald in Biloxi, Miss., when asked if he's coming back. He spoke to sportswriter Al Jones, who is working with him on a book foreword. But Favre conceded he might have a tough decision to make if, say, Green Bay called and asked him to come back because of team injuries. "It would be hard to pass up, I guess," he said. " . . . It's only speculating. I think the world of that team. I had a lot of fun, not only this year, but over my career. Those guys I played with this past year, a lot of young guys, a lot of fun."[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
This is following up the story from last week where the Los Angeles Times speculated about a Favre return. This time we're hearing from Favre himself. He's a hard guy to read sometimes but the interesting thing to me is that this isn't really the time of year where players are easily enticed.
With Training Camp looming, the desire to return usually runs pretty low. But once camp is over, things often start to look more attractive. If Favre is saying he could be "enticed" in April, I wonder how he'll feel in September when the season is kicking off and emotions are sky high. Stay tuned.BAL - PK Stover Clarifies Email Regarding Replacing Union Head Upshaw
Source: Bill Ordine, Baltimore Sun
Earlier this week an e-mail from Ravens kicker Matt Stover, the team's union representative to his fellow reps and the executive committee in the NFL Players Association, outlined a suggested process for selecting a new NFLPA directive by March 2009.
Of course, that's a job currently held by Gene Upshaw who hasn't given any indications that he's eager for immediate retirement. The Stover e-mail followed a union rep conference call last week and union meetings in March in Maui and was characterized in news reports as evidence that a movement to "oust" Upshaw was afoot. That also put the Ravens kicker in the forefront of such a movement. Upshaw said: "Matt Stover has no clue. Whoever is pulling his chain is doing a disservice to the union. I could understand the idea that they need to get rid of me if I wasn't doing a good job but, shoot, the owners are mad because they think I've done too good of a job."[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
At least Upshaw didn't say he was going to break Stover's neck. That's progress. For Stover, the backpedaling would make Deion Sanders proud.
TB - RB Williams Begins Working Out
Source: Roy Cummings, TBO.com
Tampa RB Cadillac Williams spent some of his time doing a plow-horse drill in which he ties himself to a harness and pulls a Bucs trainer behind him as he walks forward.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Expect plenty of Williams updates over the spring and summer. He'll be one of the most watched players in camp this year. It's obviously a long ways until Week 1, but so far so good.
Source: Examiner.com
Receiver Doug Gabriel has signed a one-year contract with the Cincinnati Bengals.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Gabriel was out of football last year. I hope this isn't their answer for replacing Chris Henry. He might be able to stay out of jail better than Henry, but he's a talent downgrade for sure.
NFL - Mike Vick Playing Football In Prison?
Source: Mark Davis - Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Michael Vick, convicted of federal dogfighting charges in December, arrived at the minimum-security prison in January, said Tracy Billingsley, a spokesperson for the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. He was too late for the football season, which includes only a handful of games.
"They only play [football] in the fall," she said. Falcons owner Arthur Blank remembered things differently. Blank said he'd exchanged letters with his onetime star, who is serving a 23-month sentence. In an interview with the New York Daily News, Blank said Vick is " staying in shape" the best way he knows how - by playing prison football. Vick "played quarterback for both sides," Blank said. Well? Did he or didn't he? Through a spokesperson, Blank declined an AJC interview request. A spokesman at Leavenworth's U.S. Penitentiary, adjacent to the minimum-security facility where Vick is incarcerated, sounded incredulous. "I don't know what you're talking about," spokesman Kevin Johnson said. Billingsley offered a possible explanation. "It's not unheard-of for inmates to toss around a football," she said. "But there just are no games until the fall." The games aren't the smash-face affairs to which Vick is accustomed, either. "Our institutes only play flag football," she said. If Vick wants to play football, that's fine, said John Goodwin, who oversees animal-fighting issues for the Humane Society of the United States. The organization called for Vick's incarceration when it learned he had pleaded guilty to dogfighting. "We'd much rather see a convicted dog-fighter playing in a prison yard than in front of tens of thousands of fans," he said.[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Just because I know you guys want to know what Vick is up to.
NFL - HC Billick Says He's Close To Landing Job As Analyst
Source: Don Markus, Baltimore Sun
Speaking to a communications today at Towson University, former Ravens coach Brian Billick told the students scattered around the half-filled lecture hall that he was in a similar position to some of them -- at a crossroads of his life.
Unlike those who are a month or so away from graduating, Billick, 54, is trying to decide whether to return to the coaching ranks -- if and when an opportunity presents itself -- or move on to another phase of his professional career. Billick was fired after the Ravens finished the 2007 season with a 5-11 record, having coached the team for nine years and leading it to a Super Bowl victory during the 2000 season. "I believe my passion for coaching is as strong as it's ever been," Billick said after the class. "I have one of two choices to make. I can sit for the next year and obsess and drive myself nuts, 'Geez, am I going to get a job in January?' or I can go about at 54 looking around to see if there is something that is a new challenge for me that might fill that same competitive and intellectual drive that I have. Billick is in the process of writing a book and is "getting close" to being hired by either Fox or CBS to serve as an NFL game analyst.[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Interesting for Billick and we wish him the best in whatever interests he pursues.
DEF - NYJ - Jets Lock Up S Rhodes
Source: AP
The Jets and safety Kerry Rhodes agreed to a contract extension Wednesday that will keep one of the playmakers in their secondary for five more years. The extension could be for $33.5 million, including $20 million guaranteed — making Rhodes one of the NFL's highest-paid safeties — according to some reports. The Jets confirmed the signing on Thursday.
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The Jets continue to extend some players that they feel are key to their long term plans. Rhodes is a solid player player that should continue to be an important part of the defense. He would have been a free agent after this season so it made sense for the Jets to sign him to an extension now rather than later.
DEF - MIN - Former Great Carl Eller Charged With Felonies
Source: AP
Former Minnesota Vikings great Carl Eller was charged Thursday with two felonies after a scuffle with police officers trying to arrest him for possible drunken driving.
Hennepin County prosecutors charged the 66-year-old Eller with fourth-degree assault and making terroristic threats. He also was charged with driving while impaired and refusing to take a chemical test for alcohol, both gross misdemeanors. "Nobody likes to see a public figure go through this, and we think it's unfortunate that we have to do this today, but we have our duty," said Paul Scoggin, chief of the violent crimes division for the Hennepin County attorney's office. According to a criminal complaint, two Minneapolis police officers watched a Mercedes SUV run a stop sign and swerve toward their squad car. The officers chased the SUV to Eller's home, where they watched it pull into the driveway in the back of the house. The officers approached the SUV and ordered Eller to get out, the complaint said. Then Eller allegedly pulled his car into the garage. When he got out, he ignored the officers' commands and tried to enter his home, according to the complaint. The officers tried to handcuff him, but Eller "became combative" and threatened the officers, the complaint said. The struggle was difficult for the officers, Scoggin said, because "Mr. Eller is a very healthy 66-year-old man who hasn't lost his physical abilities."[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Not exactly sure what constitutes "terroristic threats" here. But it's a sad thing to see for Eller here. He's battled substance abuse over the years and later became a treatment counselor. He has spoken publicly to groups about the problems of chemical dependency.
DEF - NO - Saints Sign CB Glenn
Source: AP
The New Orleans Saints signed cornerback Aaron Glenn on Monday, hoping the 14-year veteran free agent can help shore up a shoddy pass defense.
Glenn, a former first-round pick who started four games for Jacksonville in 2007, has 41 career interceptions, six of them for touchdowns. He ranks fifth among active NFL players in interceptions.[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Glenn obviously isn't the player he once was but the Saints are hoping he can bring some leadership and guidance to a CB corps that could use some improvement. Mike McKenzie and Jason David, both will be back next season but McKenzie is recovering from injury and David was routinely picked on.
That'll do it for today, Folks. Have a great week and we'll see you again next Friday. Thanks for reading.
J