Footballguys Daily Email - Volume 9, Issue 22 (Thursday, May 15th)
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Hi Folks,
Welcome to Friday. It's a big day here for Footballguys as we put the final touches on our Footballguys Magazine last night. David Dodds and Clayton Gray along with the FBG staff did another bang up job and we've created a magazine that we think does a good job of representing the site. At least as good as you can do taking 50,000 pages of website content and trying to condense that down to 228 pages. It's not easy. But it's what we do. Be watching for more magazine info here soon. And with the magazine put to bed, that means we'll shift our attention back to the website so be looking for more things there. And of course we have the News and Notes for you. Let's get to it. JINSIDE THIS ISSUE
1. HOU - Texans With Coach Alex Gibbs Going To Zone Block Scheme2. ATL - Falcons Begin Contract Talks With QB Ryan
3. NE - NFL Continues Investigation Of Patriots Videotaping
4. NYJ - Friendly Competition for QB
5. OAK - Raiders WR Curry Has Foot Surgery
6. WAS - Redskins Release WR/KR Mathis
7. CAR - Rookie RB Stewart To Return Kicks - Challenge For RB Job
8. BAL - QB Flacco Forced To Miss Rest Of Month
9. DAL - Owner Jones Not Concerned About RB Barber III
10. TB - GM Allen Comments On QB Garcia, RB Graham
11. TEN - Titans WR R. Williams Recovering From Surgery On Ankle
12. TB - Bucs RB Williams Still Targeting Training Camp Return
13. NO - Saints TE Johnson Has Setback After Having Ankle Scoped
14. CIN - Bengals RB Irons May Start Season On PUP List
15. DEF - OAK - Raiders Move SS Huff to Free Safety
16. DEF - JAC - Jaguars Give DT Meier New Contract
HOU - Texans With Coach Alex Gibbs Going To Zone Block Scheme
Source: Brooke Bentley, HoustonTexans.com
The Texans running game ranked 22nd last season and HC Gary Kubiak has put assistant head coach Alex Gibbs in charge of installing the zone blocking scheme he orchestrated in Denver. The Broncos led the NFL in rushing with 20,150 yards in the nine seasons Gibbs coached there. From 2004-2006, Gibbs guided the Atlanta Falcons to an NFL-best 8,157 rushing yards. "I was already familiar with zone blocking," said C Chris Myers, who was brought in as a free agent from Denver, "But he's changing the Houston Texans' run game. Having the guy who signifies the whole zone blocking scheme helps a lot here."
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This story is a great example of how the guys like you that pay attention in May have a real advantage. While the middle of the pack guys in your league are doing NBA or baseball stuff, you're thinking about how Alex Gibbs is going to change this running game. And I think he'll change it for the better. The guy improves the run wherever he goes and Houston shouldn't be any different. Mark it down.
ATL - Falcons Begin Contract Talks With QB Ryan
Source: Adam Schefter, NFL Network, NFL.com
The Atlanta Falcons have initiated preliminary contract talks with No. 3 overall pick, QB Matt Ryan, and his agent.
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As we've been talking about, Matt Ryan has a chance to be the starting QB this year. But how quickly he gets signed and into camp will play a huge role in that. Will he be Brady Quinn and miss some camp? Will he be JaMarcus Russell and miss a huge part? We'll see. But you can start the clock ticking with every minicamp practice he misses while not signed as counting against his chances to start.
NE - NFL Continues Investigation Of Patriots Videotaping
Source: NFL.com
Following up Tuesday's meetings with former Patriots video assistant Matt Walsh, NFL Officials continue to investigate the Patriots videotaping practices prior to their Super Bowl XXXVI matchup with the Rams. Both former Patriots defensive assistant Brian Daboll and then-Rams head coach Mike Martz were interviewed Thursday.
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The story that won't die...
NYJ - Friendly Competition for QB
Source: Associated Press, NFL.com
QB Chad Pennington led the first-team offense during the Jets' first day of Organized Team Activities (OTAs) Monday, after winning a coin toss between he and challenger QB Kellen Clemens. "It's a competition. It really is," Clemens said. "Some people will try to make it a controversy between Chad and I. It's a friendly competition."
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Coach Mangini is setting the pace in May. This will be a battle for the starting job.
OAK - Raiders WR Curry Has Foot Surgery
Source: David White, San Francisco Chronicle
It was brought to light today that Oakland Raiders WR Ronald Curry had foot surgery two weeks ago and will miss at least two weeks of practice.
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We don't have any reason right now to think this is anything too serious but file this one away in the "keep an eye on it" file. If Curry isn't ready to go here soon, we may start to get anxious.
WAS - Redskins Release WR/KR Mathis
Source: Jon DeNunzio, Washington Post
The Washington Redskins have released WR/KR Jerome Mathis. Mathis was the only outside free agent the Redskins signed this offseason. Mathis' status was in limbo after the Redskins selected offensive weapons with their first three picks of the draft last month.
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Not a huge surprise given the way Washington drafted. Cool of them to go ahead and let him go now if they knew they were going to do it so that Mathis will have plenty of time to land with another team.
CAR - Rookie RB Stewart To Return Kicks - Challenge For RB Job
Source: Charles Chandler, Charlotte Observer
As of now, the Panthers primary kick returner will be rookie RB Jonathan Stewart. Stewart, who is also vying for the starting spot at running back, is hoping to lift the Panthers return game which ranked last and next-to-last over the last two seasons. "He's the guy who'll start off with those duties when we get to (training) camp," Fox said. "Based on past history, he can do it." Stewart returned 58 kickoffs at Oregon for a 28.7-yard average, with two touchdowns. He ranked third in the Pac-10 as a junior.
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Coach John Fox didn't seem to worried about exposing Stewart to added risk with return duties. He noted they did the same with WR Steve Smith in the past and that they'd just monitor it. Of course, most of us are more interested in what kind of threat he'll be to RB DeAngelo Williams. We'll know more once camp gets underway but it sounds like he'll get a shot. Stewart had toe surgery not long ago but he's expected to be ready to go for camp in July.
BAL - QB Flacco Forced To Miss Rest Of Month
Source: Jamison Hensley, Baltimore Sun
Ravens rookie QB Joe Flacco will not be able to participate in any practices between now and the end of May due to an NFL/NCAA rule that limits a rookie to one minicamp with a pro team while his school is still in session. Flacco's final exams conclude May 30 at the University of Delaware. He can't participate in team activities this month, even though he has already withdrawn from school. He would have missed next week's rookie minicamp, but the Ravens have rescheduled those workouts for next month. "It doesn't help, but I don't know how much it will hurt. He's a very cerebral kid," said Flacco's agent Joe Litna.
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I know there are good reasons for this one but it has never made all that much sense to me. But until they let me start making the rules, Flacco is out for this month.
DAL - Owner Jones Not Concerned About RB Barber III
Source: Mac Engel, Fort Worth Star Telegram
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones believes RB Marion Barber III will be ready to go when he resumes practicing with the team. Barber III has yet to sign his one year tender offer of $2.562 million and remains in Miami under orders from his agent Drew Rosenhaus. "I don't see that it will have a negative impact in his playing this year," Jones said. Jones did not say whether or not he thought Barber III would join the team during next week's OTAs.
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If Jerry isn't worried, we're not worried. The trouble is of course that Jerry wouldn't let you know if he was worried. We don't think this will be anything though. Our biggest worry with Barber is that he runs so hard, we worry about him lasting a whole season taking (and delivering) as many shots as he does.
TB - GM Allen Comments On QB Garcia, RB Graham
Source: Rick Stroud, St. Petersburg Times
Tampa Bay's GM Bruce Allen seemed at ease when discussing the absences of QB Jeff Garcia and RB Earnest Graham, both of whom are sitting out of this week's minicamp due to contract negotiations, or lack thereof. "Each player has to handle his business how he sees fit," Allen said. "Jeff, for the last five years … has been with five teams. I know he enjoyed great success with Coach (Jon) Gruden and wants that to continue." - "Earnest performed well for us last year, and he wasn't at most of the offseason program last year. He's a young man that takes care of himself, and I'm sure he'll be prepared." - "We've got seven months to free agency, and we've got plenty of time. But our focus is we have 70 days to training camp, and we want to get our best 80 players ready."
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Allen sounds pretty calm there. It's plenty early in the game and Tampa Bay has depth at those positions. We think both those guys will get in soon enough though.
TEN - Titans WR R. Williams Recovering From Surgery On Ankle
Source: Terry McCormick, Nashville City Paper
Tennessee Titans wide receiver Roydell Williams did ultimately need surgery to repair damage caused by a broken ankle this off-season. No additional information related to the timing of that procedure or how long it will be until Williams returns to the practice field is currently available.
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It's a little bit scary that the Titans are counting on Roydell Williams. But that's the reality. We'll keep you posted on his progress.
TB - Bucs RB Williams Still Targeting Training Camp Return
Source: Stephen Holder, St. Petersburg Times
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Cadillac Williams said in an interview on Tuesday that he is still targeting Training Camp as his time to return to the practice field, after recovering from a serious patellar tendon tear. "Me, personally, once training camp starts, I (think) I will be on the field and be able to do some things. I do. I feel like by July, I should be ready to play ball," Williams said.
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File this one away. I'm big believer in seeing if players stay on track. If camp rolls around and the team is saying Williams is still several weeks away, I'll start to worry. Keeping up with what players have said prior to the date can help you get a better picture of what's happening at the current time.
NO - Saints TE Johnson Has Setback After Having Ankle Scoped
Source: Larry Holder, Biloxi Sun Herald
New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton revealed on Wednesday that tight end Eric Johnson had a minor setback this off-season after having his ankle scoped. No additional information is currently available.
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Could this be why the Saints were making noise about Jeremy Shockey? Probably not but Johnson will be a guy we'll watch to see how soon he's ready. "Minor setback" could mean quite a few different things.
CIN - Bengals RB Irons May Start Season On PUP List
Source: Chick Ludwig, Dayton Daily News
Cincinnati Bengals running back Kenny Irons is reportedly a strong candidate to open the season on the team's Physically Unable to Perform list as he continues to recover from a torn ACL, according to Chick Ludwig at the Dayton Daily News.
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Chris Perry will be glad to give Irons his normal roster spot...
DEF - OAK - Raiders Move SS Huff to Free Safety
Source: David White, San Francisco Chronicle
The Oakland Raiders are moving Michael Huff from strong safety to free safety, making room for free-agent signee Gibril Wilson. HC Lane Kiffin said they may still alternate the two at each position.
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Huff should be able to make the move without too much trouble and Wilson will slide into the SS spot. But as Kiffin says, they both may see time at both spots.
DEF - JAC - Jaguars Give DT Meier New Contract
Source: Vito Stellino, Florida Times-Union
Jacksonville Jaguars DT Rob Meier, set to replace the departed Marcus Stroud, was rewarded with a new contract on Tuesday. The deal is for five years through the 2012 season. Meier, was due to make $2.095 million in base salary before he signed the new deal, the financial terms of which weren't disclosed.
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With Stroud gone, the Jaguars will turn to Meier. They're putting their money where their mouth is with a five year deal.
That'll do it for today, Folks. Have a great rest of your Friday and a fantastic weekend and we'll see you tomorrow with the update.
J