Footballguys Daily Email - Volume 9, Issue 12 (Monday, May 5th)
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Hi Folks,
Good Tuesday to you. It's that fun time of year when teams start to dip their toe into the water with mini camps. Some of the rookies are getting a look and some of the veterans are blowing out the rust as they get back into the swing of things. We'll have little spurts of action like this followed by relative times of quiet but it's a good way to slowly ramp up the season. We've got some news and notes today you'll want to stay on top of so let's get to it. JINSIDE THIS ISSUE
1. SF - QB O'Sullivan is 'In The Thick' Of QB Battle Per HC Nolan2. CHI - Bears RB Benson Intends To Fight Charges
3. CAR - Panthers QB Delhomme Recovering Well From Tommy John Surgery
4. PIT - Steelers RB Mendenhall Robbed In Chicago
5. WAS - Redskins QB Campbell Familiar With West Coast Offense
6. PHI - Eagles QB Kolb Getting Looks At Second String
7. NYJ - Hofstra Invitee OL McMackin Lands Contract With Jets
8. CIN - Bengals HC Lewis 'Wowed' With Rookie Mini-Camp
9. DET - Lions HC Marinelli Offers Training Camp Insight
10. MIA - Dolphins Rookie QB Henne Hits Wall In Mini-Camp
11. IND - Police Report No New Developments Regarding Colts WR Harrison
12. DET - Lions WR McDonald Recovering From Knee Surgery
13. PHI - Eagles Want To Lessen Load For RB Westbrook
14. NO - RB Alexander To Visit New Orleans This Week
15. NO - Saints RB Bush Ordered To Testify In June
16. DEF - PIT - Steelers Trying CB Taylor On Right Side
SF - QB O'Sullivan is 'In The Thick' Of QB Battle Per HC Nolan
Source: John Crumpacker, San Francisco Chronicle
The most newsworthy development to emerge from the San Francisco 49ers' just-concluded minicamp is that quarterback J.T. O'Sullivan, a 28-year-old journeyman from UC Davis, is in the mix with Alex Smith and Shaun Hill for the starting job in 2008. Coach Mike Nolan indicated as much on Sunday by saying, "I think J.T. O'Sullivan is going to get in the thick. I'm excited. I've been impressed with J.T. He's probably more like Shaun than he is Alex. His familiarity with the offense is better. I like his demeanor, his ability to get things done."
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We told you about Mike Martz saying good things about O'Sullivan last week. Now Nolan is taking a turn. And if you're J.T. O'Sullivan and Mike Nolan is making comparisons, I'd rather be like Shaun than Alex here. Stay tuned.
CHI - Bears RB Benson Intends To Fight Charges
Source: Vaughn McClure, Chicago Tribune
Chicago Bears running back Cedric Benson fully intends to fight misdemeanor charges of boating while intoxicated and resisting arrest stemming from a Saturday night incident near Austin, Texas, during which police used pepper spray to detain him. "There was no resistance on my part," Benson told the Tribune on Sunday night. "Was I drunk? No." Benson said there was alcohol on his boat but that he was not intoxicated and the boat was stationary when police arrived.
"They gave me a field sobriety test, told me to say my ABCs and told me to count from 1 to 4 up and down," Benson said of Saturday's incident. "I'm thinking, I passed all the tests, did everything right. Then the officer told me we needed to go to land to take more tests. I politely asked him why we needed to go to land to take more tests when I took every test. Then he sprayed me with mace, on his boat. "I'm not handcuffed. I'm not under arrest. I'm not threatening him. I'm not pushing him. I'm not touching him. And he sprays me right in my eye." "This is tough to deal with because you're guilty until proven innocent," Benson said. "My name is blasted out there like I was fighting these police officers or something. That totally was not the deal. I'm not stupid."[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
I'm probably the last guy you know interested in defending Cedric Benson but this story is worth looking deeper into. It sounds like there is a history there between Benson and the Lower Colorado River Authority Police. I'd also be interested to hear more about this Police department. Exactly how does their jurisdiction work with the regular Travis County Police? I'm sure there will be plenty more on this to come out over the next few days. But clearly, there are different sides to the story here. And no matter what happens here, do not sleep on rookie RB Matt Forte.
CAR - Panthers QB Delhomme Recovering Well From Tommy John Surgery
Source: Steve Reed, CarolinaGrowl.com
Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme continued to look strong throwing the ball on Sunday, even increasing the length of some of his throws on the final day of minicamp. Delhomme, who’d been mostly limited to 15- and 20-yard tosses during the first two days, made a handful of 30- and 40-yard throws under the watchful eye of trainer Ryan Vermillion. “He’s looked very, very good,” head coach John Fox said. “His arm looks stronger than it has ever looked.” Delhomme said he was “extremely pleased” with how things went this weekend.
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More good news for Delhomme. The veteran QB says he feels great and he's backing up that talk on the field. There's still a long ways to go but this is looking about as good for Delhomme as one could expect in May.
PIT - Steelers RB Mendenhall Robbed In Chicago
Source: Annie Sweeney, Chicago Sun-Times
Pittsburgh Steelers rookie RB Rashard Mendenhall was robbed at gunpoint early Monday in Chicago near the South Side Lakefront. Mendenhall was walking along the lake at 2 a.m. with another person when two people robbed him of his phone, cash and wallet, sources familiar with the investigation said. Mendenhall was not physically hurt. "It was obviously a scary moment," said his agent, Mike McCartney. "But he is fine. He is doing great. He said he doesn't have anything that is worth his life."
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After the rush of the draft, it's been a tough few days for Mendenhall. Missing practice with an injured hamstring is one thing but that pales to being robbed at gunpoint. Good news that he'll recover from both without a problem.
WAS - Redskins QB Campbell Familiar With West Coast Offense
Source: Jarrett Bell, USA Today
Jason Campbell fits the profile to be the Washington Redskins quarterback, but this match is not apparent because of his prototype size or live arm. Campbell, 26, is quarterbacking in his seventh offensive system in nine years. This time, it's a West Coast offense installed by new coach Jim Zorn. "I ran the West Coast my senior year at Auburn," Campbell said after the first minicamp practice on Friday. "A lot of the things we're doing, I've seen it before."
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You have to feel sort of bad for Campbell as he's learning a new offense again. On the upside, I guess when you're on offense number seven, you're bound to have already seen some things in it before. It also helps that the head coach implementing the offense is a former QB coach that understands the things Campbell will be facing.
PHI - Eagles QB Kolb Getting Looks At Second String
Source: Paul Domowitch, Philadelphia Daily News
Logic suggests that Kevin Kolb will be the Philadelphia Eagles' No. 2 quarterback come September. So does the fact that he was taking the snaps with the No. 2 offense this weekend at the team's postdraft minicamp. "We'll see," offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said yesterday when asked whether the team's '07 second-round pick is ready to leapfrog over A.J. Feeley and serve as Donovan McNabb's understudy next season.
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No big news here. Kolb was drafted to be the guy behind McNabb and that looks like where he is heading.
NYJ - Hofstra Invitee OL McMackin Lands Contract With Jets
Source: Erik Boland, Newsday
As Shawn McMackin sat in the New York Jets' locker room Saturday between practices at the team's rookie minicamp, the offensive lineman surveyed his surroundings. "Playing for Hofstra and having the Jets in your backyard, it really is a dream come true," McMackin said. And that was him speaking merely as a tryout invitee. Yesterday, McMackin's lot improved considerably. He left the three-day camp with a contract in hand. No details of the contract were given.
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If McMackin is half as successful as former Hofstra guy Wayne Chrebet, the Jets will be happy. With the shooting charges and the DUI stories, it's just good sometimes to read about a guy this living out a dream. Best of luck to him.
CIN - Bengals HC Lewis 'Wowed' With Rookie Mini-Camp
Source: Mark Curnutte, Cincinnati Enquirer
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis closed their three-day, five-practice rookie minicamp Sunday in positive terms. Coaches had time on the field to work with players after four-months of scouting and office work. Most of the rookies, both draft picks and free agents, will be back to participate May 20 in organized team activities (OTA) that will start May 13 for the whole team. Those activities are voluntary. Asked what he took personally from the three days of work, Lewis said he often was left saying "wow." "But," he added, "that's why we drafted them."
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Given the offseason the Bengals have had so far, I'm sure Lewis was thrilled to see some positive things in the rookie mini camp. Some of these players had better be ready sooner than later...
DET - Lions HC Marinelli Offers Training Camp Insight
Source: Mike O'Hara, Detroit News
Detroit Lions head coach Rod Marinelli can foresee the possibility of having new starters at five or six positions on opening day. Holdover starters are likely to be tackles Jared DeVries and Dewayne White , tackle Cory Redding , linebacker Ernie Sims and cornerback Travis Fisher. Paris Lenon still is the starting middle linebacker but could move to the strong side if rookie Jordon Dizon wins the job. Cornerback Leigh Bodden , safety Dwight Smith and tackle Chuck Darby are projected new starters. "There could be some real interesting battles going on out there," Marinelli said. "Every year, I've tried to up the competition going into camp. It just makes it a better camp."
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I doubt many Lions fans will object to shaking things up a little with the starting lineup. It's not like what they've been doing was setting the world on fire. I still believe Marinelli can get this team moving in the right direction. And instilling competition in camp is a good start.
MIA - Dolphins Rookie QB Henne Hits Wall In Mini-Camp
Source: Harvey Fialkov, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Miami Dolphins rookie quarterback Chad Henne seemed to be working on mental overload as he wrapped up the final practice of the three-day rookie minicamp Sunday. At one point, he was told to run a lap after blowing an assignment. After three solid practices, the former Michigan quarterback was overthrowing most of his receivers. It was partly due to having to learn 150 pages of the playbook in four days and then trying to assimilate it on the field with rookie receivers he has never thrown to before.
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Henne said he hadn't had to run a lap for punishment since high school but was cool about it. Rookie QBs struggling in the spring is certainly nothing new. "We threw a lot at [Henne]," coach Tony Sparano said. "We wanted to see exactly how much sticks. He might've struggled just a little bit, but I thought he threw the ball pretty well at times."
IND - Police Report No New Developments Regarding Colts WR Harrison
Source: Indianapolis Star
Philadelphia police said there were no new developments in the case involving Indianapolis Colts receiver Marvin Harrison on Sunday as they focused on another case involving the fatal shooting of a police officer. Harrison was questioned by police about a shooting Tuesday near a car detail shop he owns in the North Philadelphia neighborhood where he grew up. No charges have been filed.
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Will this story die on it's own? It's starting to look a little like it will. Stay tuned.
DET - Lions WR McDonald Recovering From Knee Surgery
Source: Nicholas J. Cotsonika, Detroit Free Press
Detroit Lions wide receiver Shaun McDonald had knee surgery after the season and has been rehabbing in Arizona while the Lions have been going through their off-season conditioning program. Head coach Rod Marinelli said McDonald should be in Detroit this week. The Lions begin their off-season practices Tuesday. "When he comes in, hopefully we'll have a chance to recheck him," Marinelli said.
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It'll be good to see what the Lions doctors have to say about McDonald this week. He doesn't get the name hype that some of the Detroit WRs do but he's a solid player.
PHI - Eagles Want To Lessen Load For RB Westbrook
Source: Reuben Frank, Philly Burbs
Philadelphia Eagles OC Marty Mornhinweg thinks the team relied too much on RB Brian Westbrook last season. "We really leaned on him hard last year,” Mornhinweg said. “We were forced to because of injuries...and Brian had such an unbelievable season. Two-thousand yards rushing and receiving. He did everything.” Yet, Mornhinweg thinks the Eagles grew predictable last year. Although they ranked sixth in the NFL in offense, the Eagles were only 17th in scoring. Which is why Mornhinweg wants more balance. “Brian is an amazing player, but if we can get everybody involved, now maybe that takes a little heat off Westbrook and puts a little heat on the defense, and Brian becomes even more explosive.”
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Does this mean the Eagles want to get guys like Correll Buckhalter and Lorenzo Booker more involved? Or does this mean we might see a guy like Shaun Alexander in Eagle Green? Tough to tell right now. Although it's no stretch to think the Eagles would want to keep from overusing a guy like Westbrook.
NO - RB Alexander To Visit New Orleans This Week
Source: Adam Schefter, NFL Network
Free-agent RB Shaun Alexander is scheduled to visit the New Orleans Saints on Wednesday after concluding his stay in Cincinnati. It is unclear how the time in Cincinnati was used, or if there was any talk of a contract.
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Expect Alexander to continue the "tour" as he visits with a few teams. I'm not ready to read too much into this just yet but it wouldn't surprise me to see the interest level raise soon as teams get more serious about adding a veteran running back. The key in my mind will be how realistic Alexander will be when it comes to his market value. Everyone thinks they're worth more than the market will pay but I'm a little worried that Alexander's opinion of his worth may be more than just a little inflated over what many of these teams are willing to pay. We'll know more here soon.
NO - Saints RB Bush Ordered To Testify In June
Source: Jill Lieber Steeg, USA Today
After months of legal wrangling, New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush finally will have to testify under oath about allegations that he received $291,000 in illegal cash and benefits from San Diego businessman and fledgling sports marketer Lloyd Lake. Superior Court Judge Joan Lewis on Friday ordered Bush to give his deposition June 23. Lewis denied Bush's request to have armed security at the depositions. Furthermore, Lewis denied Bush's request for his deposition to remain confidential, which means it can be released to the NCAA and the news media. If Bush admits wrongdoing while he was a student-athlete, it could have major repercussions for USC's football program.
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This is really more a college football / USC story than a Saints issue. But passing along for those that are interested.
DEF - PIT - Steelers Trying CB Taylor On Right Side
Source: John Harris, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
The Pittsburgh Steelers are so confident in CB Ike Taylor that they could be planning on matching him up against opponent's big play wideouts. Taylor has been the Steelers' starting left cornerback since 2005. His move to right cornerback bears watching because it coincides with a league-wide trend featuring big-play receivers lining up opposite the right cornerback. HC Mike Tomlin say that he just wants what's best for his defense. "We want to have flexibility where we play those guys wherever. Whether it's right or left, whether we match receivers. We're just giving ourselves flexibility."
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This move looks like it could mean more passes coming Taylor's way if he does wind up drawing the better receivers. The Steelers are very familiar with what they have in Taylor and feel he's up to the challenge.
That'll do it for today, Folks. Have a great Tuesday and we'll see you tomorrow with the update.
J