Footballguys Daily Email - Volume 9, Issue 20 (Tuesday, May 13th)
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Hi Folks,
Good Wednesday to you. The week is half over but we're rolling strong with the News and Notes from around the league. It was a pretty busy day so let's get to it. JINSIDE THIS ISSUE
1. BAL - Ravens, QB Flacco Begin Contract Talks2. TEN - RB White Played With Torn Meniscus
3. NE - SpyGate All But Over; No New Info
4. TB - RB Graham A No Show
5. TB - QB Garcia Threatens Holdout
6. NYJ - Jets QB Ainge Had Pinkie Surgery
7. CIN - WRs Johnson, Houshmandzadeh Absent
8. TEN - WR McCariens Runs With First Team
9. BUF - Bills Rookie WR Hardy Allegedly Pulls Gun On Father
10. NYJ - TE Baker A No Show
11. BUF - Bills Release TE Everett
12. IND - WR Harrison May Skip Minicamp, Talks With Management
13. ATL - Falcons WR White Tweaks Hamstring
14. DEF - SEA - LB Tatupu Arrested For DUI
15. DEF - BAL - Ravens Compromise; Tag Suggs As LB/DE
16. DEF - TB - DT Haye Signs Tender
17. DEF - CAR - Panthers Change Up Defensive Scheme
BAL - Ravens, QB Flacco Begin Contract Talks
Source: ESPN.com
The Baltimore Ravens and rookie QB Joe Flacco from Delaware have begun contract negotiations. The 18th overall pick is expected to compete for the starting QB job for the Ravens.
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This one will be worth watching as it's my opinion that how quickly Flacco gets signed and into camp is a key to whether he's able to really compete for a starting job. We said it all spring last year when Brady Quinn was holding out and we know how that turned out. Philip Rivers did the same thing in San Diego a few years back. I understand these guys want to have a big first contract. But at some point, blowing your chance to start has to factor in. We'll see.
TEN - RB White Played With Torn Meniscus
Source: NFL.com
Titans RB LenDale White revealed Tuesday that he played the entire 2007 season with a torn meniscus. White had knee surgery in January to repair the damage and is now close to 100%, he says. Despite the injury, White led the team with 1,110 rushing yards, a career high.
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We're always looking for reasons why a player will perform either better or worse this season as compared to last. If White was seriously hindered by the knee injury in 2007 and he's now saying he's 100%, that bodes well for 2008. To be fair though, no player is ever 100% and obviously White was healthy enough to play last season.
NE - SpyGate All But Over; No New Info
Source: ESPN.com
A meeting between former Patriots video assistant Matt Walsh and Commissioner Roger Goodell provided no new information and Goodell has indicated that the matter is all but closed. "I don't know where else I would turn," Goodell said, "but I reserve the right to review new information if it comes up." He added that the Patriots were not guilty of any further wrongdoing. "The fundamental information that Matt provided was consistent with what we disciplined the Patriots for last fall," Goodell said.
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Pretty much what we all expected here.
Source: Roy Cummings, Tampa Tribune
Also not reporting to Tuesday's voluntary workout was RB Earnest Graham, who is seeking a contract extension after leading the Bucs in rushing last season. He has yet to show for a voluntary workout this offseason, although last month he said he missed the first round of workouts because of family commitments, but planned on attending the second round of workouts.
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This isn't all that surprising. Graham was very productive last season when called upon and would like to cash in on that success.
TB - QB Garcia Threatens Holdout
Source: Roy Cummings, Tampa Tribune
Tampa Bay QB Jeff Garcia hinted at a possible holdout if he is unable to get a new contract signed before the season begins. Negotiations have been relatively nonexistent and Garcia said he may have to take a stand. "There might come a time when I might have to stand up," said Garcia, who is in the final year of a two-year deal worth $7 million. He is believed to be seeking an extension that will bring his total payout to the league average for starters, which is roughly $7 million. He also may want compensated a 2007 incentive that would have payed him at least 1 million for taking 70 percent of the snaps, but the team rested him in Week 17 after clinching the division.
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Jeff Garcia is 65 years old and one of 23 quarterbacks on the Tampa Bay roster. Ok, it's not quite that bad but it's close. Garcia doesn't look to me like he's bargaining from a position of power here. Although he does seem to have the heart of coach Jon Gruden.
NYJ - Jets QB Ainge Had Pinkie Surgery
Source: Steve Phillips, WBIR.com
Jets rookie QB Erik Ainge is sporting a large cast on his right arm due to surgery on the little finger of his throwing hand, which was broken during spring camp in 2007 at Tennessee. The Jets advised Ainge, a fifth round draft pick, it would be in his best interests for a long career to go ahead and have the surgery now. Ainge participated in the Jets minicamp after the draft, and is in New York for organized team activities.
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Ainge is a tough kid playing all of last season with the broken finger on his throwing hand and not making excuses. Probably the right move in the long run to have it taken care of surgically.
CIN - WRs Johnson, Houshmandzadeh Absent
Source: Mark Curnutte, Cincinnati Enquirer
As expected, Bengals receivers Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh were not present for the first of 12 organized team activities today. Johnson is threatening to hold out and Houshmandzadeh typically prefers to work out near his home in California.
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Not unexpected but this will still be something we watch very closely this summer. Where to rank Chad Johnson right now is a huge question. We still continue to say he'll be on the field when it matters so we're not overly worried. But it would definitely be nice to see something settled here.
TEN - WR McCariens Runs With First Team
Source: Terry McCormick, Nashville City Paper
Titans WR Justin McCareins practiced with Justin Gage as the staring receivers during the team's minicamp this weekend. McCareins was filling in for Roydell Williams, who remains sidelined with an ankle injury. McCareins previously put up his best numbers under OC Mike Heimerdinger, who also returned to Tennessee this offseason.
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We'll see just how talented Mike Heimerdinger is if he can turn Justin McCareins and Justin Gage into a formidable starting WR corps. On a weird note, has a team ever fielded a starting set of WRs both named Justin?
BUF - Bills Rookie WR Hardy Allegedly Pulls Gun On Father
Source: Fort Wayne Journal Gazette
Bills second round draft pick WR James Hardy, from Indiana, allegedly pulled a gun on his father during an argument, according to police reports. No charges have been filed. The younger Hardy has a permit to carry a gun, and the police say they have no plans to pursue the matter further because nobody appeared to be injured.
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He could have at least waited until after Father's Day...
Source: Rich Cimini, NY Daily News
Jets TE Chris Baker was not in attendance Monday for the team's minicamp. Baker, who has asked for a trade, had his best season in 2007 but he's making the same money as recently signed TE Bubba Franks and less than rookie TE Dustin Keller. Baker cannot be fined by the Jets unless he misses the mandatory minicamp next month.
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We told you about this one the other day. Baker is less than thrilled that Bubba Franks and Dustin Keller will be making more money than he is.
BUF - Bills Release TE Everett
Source: ESPN.com
The Buffalo Bills have let go of TE Kevin Everett, who was involved in a life-threatening spinal cord injury last season. Everett, who is walking again, was officially placed on the team's waived/failed physical list. He is now free to seek long-term disability payment of $224,000 per year over the life span of his injury. "Today we are faced with the difficult decision to place Kevin on the waived/failed physical list, making him eligible to apply for any benefits due him," the team said in a statement. "We had numerous discussions with the league in dealing with this process to assist him in the best way possible."
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This may draw a few bits of criticism but the reality is that this was the proper thing for the Bills to do so that Everett could start to seek the long term disability payment. Best wishes to Everett.
IND - WR Harrison May Skip Minicamp, Talks With Management
Source: Mike Chappell, Indianapolis Star
Colts WR Marvin Harrison may miss out on this week's minicamp as he continues to rehab his injured left knee while also recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his right knee. "He would be here participating if that's what the trainers and medical people and Tony want him to do," Owner Jim Irsay said. Harrison also spoke with Irsay and HC Tony Dungy and insisted he was not involved in an April 29 incident in Harrison's North Philadelphia neighborhood that resulted in a man suffering a gunshot wound to his hand and a 2-year-old boy sustaining a cut under his eye when a stray bullet shattered a car's windshield. "He said he was not involved in that shooting and . . . the authorities have said there is nothing imminent."
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The silence on the Harrison issue involving the shooting is interesting to say the least.
ATL - Falcons WR White Tweaks Hamstring
Source: J. Michael Moore, AtlantaFalcons.com
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Roddy White did not participate in mini-camp practice on Monday as the result of a "tweaked" hamstring. "Roddy tweaked his hamstring," head coach Mike Smith said. "It's just precautionary. We don't want to put ourselves in a position with a guy this time of year that may hurt himself more by going out there."
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This doesn't sound like anything to be worried about. More of the early season conditioning issues than anything. But keep an eye on White for the next minicamp.
DEF - SEA - LB Tatupu Arrested For DUI
Source: ESPN.com
A Seattle radio station is reporting that Pro Bowl Seattle LB Lofa Tatupu has been arrested for driving under the influence. This is the first off field incident involving Tatupu.
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Sadly, these are too commonplace.
DEF - BAL - Ravens Compromise; Tag Suggs As LB/DE
Source: ESPN.com
The controversy surrounding the Baltimore Ravens and franchised LB/DE Terrell Suggs has a happy ending. The Ravens, Suggs' representatives and the NFLPA have agreed to create a new position for the purpose of assigning players with the unique franchise tag. Suggs will earn $8.5 million, up from the previous $8.065 million.
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Good news for the Ravens and for Suggs it sounds like. Seems like a reasonable resolution.
DEF - TB - DT Haye Signs Tender
Source: Stephen Holder, St. Petersburg Times
Buccaneers DT Jovan Haye signed his one-year tender offer worth $2.09 million after he and the team failed to reach an agreement on a long-term contract. He led the defensive linemen with six sacks and 97 tackles.
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Haye was tough last year and he's working with just a one year deal for 2008. If you're one of those guys that puts stock in the "contract year" thing, look for Haye to continue to excel.
DEF - CAR - Panthers Change Up Defensive Scheme
Source: Steve Reed, Gaston Gazette
The Carolina Panthers are switching to more of a gap-oriented defensive scheme, allowing for more penetration up front and more responsibilities for the linebackers. The Panthers were near the bottom of the league in sacks and have placed an emphasis on speed. Aside from moving DE Julius Peppers from the left to right side, DT Damione Lewis, who led the team with three sacks last season, will slide over the edge of the guard, penetrate the B-gap and get up field to disrupt plays. His line mate DT Maake Kemoeatu (340 lbs) will serve more like a nose tackle and try and take on two blockers. "Basically we are playing more penetration stuff," Lewis said. "Now our linebackers have a little bit more responsibility. We're more gap-oriented than we were last year."
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I'm most interested to see what these changes do for Julius Peppers. He seemingly went from All World to Regular Player over night. Maybe this will be the shake up he needs.
That'll do it for today, Folks. Hope you have a great day and we'll see you tomorrow with the update.
J