Footballguys Daily Email - Volume 9, Issue 15 (Thursday, May 8th)
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Hi Folks. Welcome to Friday. We've got another week in the books. Not a lot happening today but there is some interesting news for Cedric Benson that is looking better for him. Hope things go well for you today and let's get to it.
JINSIDE THIS ISSUE
1. CHI - New Witness Emerges In Defense Of RB Benson2. SEA - Holmgren May Not Use RB Duckett In Short-Yardage Situations
3. Suspended QB Vick In Trouble Again
4. RB Alexander Leaves New Orleans Without Contract
5. CAR - Panthers WR Hackett Not Assured Of Starting
6. NE - ESPN Reports Patriots Taped Offensive Signals Too
7. TEN - WR Williams To Miss Minicamp
8. MIA - Beat Writer Says McCown Has Early QB Lead
9. WR Chris Henry Would Like Fresh Start
10. DEF - DAL - SS Williams Says He Didn't Fit In Defensive System
CHI - New Witness Emerges In Defense Of RB Benson
Source: David Haugh, Chicago Tribune
Another witness has come forth with details of how Chicago Bears RB Cedric Benson was treated by police down in Texas. Toby Patch was nearby on Saturday night when he claims he saw police "manhandling" Benson after taking Benson off the boat and heading to a squad car. Patch was not one of the 15 people on the boat. "As they were taking him up the dock, they stopped, he said, 'I am fine, I can continue walking,' and they put their legs behind his knees and knocked him over his knees and started hog-carrying him," Patch said. "They ended up--I don't know why--but laid him on his back, I heard him say, 'Please don't pepper spray me, please don't pepper spray me,'" Patch said. "It was uncalled for, it was ludicrous, no point for it." For his part, Benson continued an aggressive approach to defending himself against charges of boating while intoxicated and resisting arrest by hiring a new attorney.
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This is sounding less good for the Lower Colorado River Authority Police all the time. Both sides will have a chance to tell their story in court here soon but it looks like Benson has more than a few folks backing up his side of the story.
SEA - Holmgren May Not Use RB Duckett In Short-Yardage Situations
Source: Danny O'Neil, Seattle Times
In recent seasons, the Seattle Seahawks backfield has struggled to convert short-yardage rushing opportunities. It's a role that many have already penciled new RB T.J. Duckett into. But HC Mike Holmgren may not see it that way. "There are some teams that take a big, strong pile-driving guy and I guess they call him a short-yardage back," Holmgren said. "I have never done that. In fact, when I have done that it hasn't worked very well." Duckett is ready for whatever role gets handed to him. "Whatever it is, it doesn't really matter," he said. "Whatever I'm called to do, I'm going to do it to the best of my ability."
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People often equate big backs with "short yardage" and that's not always the case. Sort of what Holmgren is saying here. But to be fair, he's also not saying he wouldn't use Duckett in a role like this. They obviously want to see what he can do in mini camps and camps this spring and summer.
Suspended QB Vick In Trouble Again
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Suspended Atlanta Falcons QB Michael Vick has been ordered to pay more than $2.5 million to the Royal Bank of Canada in a court order filed Wednesday. Vick was found in default of $2,421,170.90. He also must pay interest of the rate of $499 per diem from Sept. 19, 2007 from May 7, 2008 a total of 231 days and a sum of $115,269. The order also states that Vick must pay the bank's attorneys' fees and costs in the amount of $11,950.97.
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Just when you thought we were done with this...
RB Alexander Leaves New Orleans Without Contract
Source: Mike Triplett, New Orleans Times-Picayune
The New Orleans Saints have completed their visit with free-agent RB Shaun Alexander yesterday, but he returned home without a contract offer. Alexander's agent, Jim Steiner, said his client has not set a timetable for choosing a team. "It all depends on how he feels about the team, the prospects of the team winning a championship, and what his role will be," Steiner said. No other visits have been scheduled, Steiner said.
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A little more followup on the Alexander story from yesterday. There has been talk that a Denver visit might be in the works but that doesn't appear to be on the schedule right now. It might be between Cincinnati and New Orleans. Steiner isn't in any rush to have Alexander sign somewhere right this minute so it looks like they may drop back a bit and evaluate their options. Clearly though, there wasn't overwhelming desire for a ton of teams to talk with Alexander. I'm a little surprised more teams haven't pushed a little there.
CAR - Panthers WR Hackett Not Assured Of Starting
Source: Stan Olson, Charlotte Observer
Both WRs D.J. Hackett and Muhsin Muhammad will play in three-receiver sets for the Carolina Panthers this season, and neither seems to care if he takes the No. 2 job opposite Steve Smith. Hackett said the Panthers never promised him a starting role, and that he's fine with that. "I don't know much about what was here before, but from the looks of it now, it looks to be pretty good to me," he said. "We've got a lot of talent and some age out there as well, but not too old, so it looks good to me."
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We told you last week that Muhsin Muhammad looked like he'd stepped out of a time machine and looked great. I wouldn't be surprised to see Muhammad opposite Steve Smith in week 1. But it seems pretty clear that even if he's not a starter, Hackett will be in the mix as well.
NE - ESPN Reports Patriots Taped Offensive Signals Too
Source: Mike Fish, ESPN.com
From Day 1 of the Spygate saga in September, the controversy over New England's illicit videotaping practices has centered on the Patriots' efforts to steal their opponents' defensive signals. But the tapes delivered via FedEx to NFL headquarters in New York on Thursday morning also include evidence of an effort by New England to steal offensive signals, which would broaden the extent of the team's surveillance operation.
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Matt Walsh delivered the long awaited tapes to the league and they will begin reviewing. If past history is any guide, the tapes will then be destroyed and we will be told there was nothing much on the tapes and this will all go away and we'll move on. Lift up the rug as this is about to be swept under it. Next.
TEN - WR Williams To Miss Minicamp
Source: Terry McCormick, Nashville City Paper
Wide receiver Roydell Williams won't take part in organized team activities Thursday and Friday when the Tennessee Titans begin their workouts.
Williams suffered a broken right ankle on the indoor practice facility surface in January during the Titans' week of preparation for the AFC Divisional Playoffs against the San Diego Chargers and underwent surgery to repair the injury, a cracked bone at the base of his tibia, a short time later. Screws and a plate were inserted during surgery to help the healing process.[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
As the article states, with Williams out, the team will get a chance to look at veterans Justin McCareins, Brandon Jones, Biren Ealy, Mike Williams, Paul Williams and Chris Davis.
I think they all get fresh starts with me, offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger said. The good thing for them is I'm new and I don't care what they've done in the past. So everybody at that position gets a fresh start. It's a matter of who produces and who makes plays.MIA - Beat Writer Says McCown Has Early QB Lead
Source: Armando Salguero, Miami Herald
It's May, but Dolphins beat writer Armando Salguero noted that Josh McCown is his early pick to be the Dolphins opening day starting QB.
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Salguero notes that he feels McCown has the physical tools to match QBs John Beck and Chad Henne but McCown's experience should push him to the front. Makes sense to us.
WR Chris Henry Would Like Fresh Start
Source: Sean McClelland, Dayton Daily News
Troubled former Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chris Henry said Wednesday, May 7, he "wouldn't mind" going back to Cincinnati but that resuming his NFL career elsewhere would be better.
The Bengals released him last month and have expressed no interest in bringing him back. "I think it would be better to move on to another city, a fresh start, new team, new environment," Henry told Sporting News Radio. "I'm really a good guy. Just got caught up in a few bad situations. ...[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Henry will wind up with an NFL team. He runs fast and jumps high and can catch the ball. That's all it takes for some teams. At least for a while. But I'd be shocked if the Bengals took him back. I think they're ready to let another team enjoy Henry for a while.
DEF - DAL - SS Williams Says He Didn't Fit In Defensive System
Source: Tim MacMahon, Dallas Morning News
During an appearance on Sirius NFL Radio today, Dallas Cowboys LB Greg Ellis said that SS Roy Williams doesn't feel like he fits in HC Wade Phillips' scheme and has been isolating himself from teammates. "He said, 'Greg, this defense does not fit me. I don't fit in well with this defense at all,'" Ellis said. "So when he told me that, I was like, 'Well, man, it's still new. Get used to it and it'll probably be fine for you.'" And obviously I think it came to be true. Just like he said, he doesn't fit what's going on here in Dallas right now." Ellis went on to say that he was bothered by the way Williams has isolated himself from teammates. He said Williams is still working out at Valley Ranch, but he's leaving the facility by 7:30 a.m., so he's not spending any time with his teammates.
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Is "I don't fit in well with this defense" code for "I can't cover a receiver any longer"? If so, then this makes sense.
That'll do it for today, Folks. Have a great Friday and we'll see you tomorrow with the update.
J