Footballguys Daily Email - Volume 9, Issue 24 (Saturday, May 17th)
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Hi Folks,
Good Sunday to you. Hope you're into a great weekend. It's a pretty light news day today but we've still a few stories for you. Enjoy and have a great day. JINSIDE THIS ISSUE
1. NFL Owners May Opt Out Of Labor Deal2. CHI - Bears May Carry Four RBs
3. DEN - Broncos Sign One OL, Release Another
4. OAK - WR Walker Has Work To Do
5. CLE - OL Tucker Out 2 Months With Broken Hip
6. IND - WR Wayne Ready To Improve On Great Season
7. CHI - Coach Smith Says Benson Is Starter
8. IND - Colts Taking Wait And See Attitude On WR Harrison's Troubles
9. TB - RB Williams Says He'll Be Ready For Camp
NFL Owners May Opt Out Of Labor Deal
Source: Dave Goldberg, usatoday.com
NFL owners are expected to opt out of the labor deal with the players union as early as next week. This would create a possibility of a season without a salary cap in the 2010 season. Gene Upshaw of the Players Association predicts that players could be locked out prior to the 2011 season.
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This is obviously something to watch here. The NFL is the golden goose of professional sports. You'd like to think the people in charge are too smart to screw things up. But never underestimate the ability of greed and ego to make very smart people do stupid things. Hopefully that won't happen here.
CHI - Bears May Carry Four RBs
Source: Larry Mayer, ChicagoBears.com
According the HC Lovie Smith, the Chicago Bears may carry four RBs into next season. The Bears drafted Matt Forte from Tulane and still have incumbent starter Cedric Benson, as well as Adrian Peterson and Garrett Wolfe.
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This probably makes sense. You're going to get tired of me saying it, but definitely keep your eye on Matt Forte. Even if Cedric Benson comes through his boating DWI charge thing fine, I'm just not a Benson fan and Forte is a guy I like.
DEN - Broncos Sign One OL, Release Another
Source: ESPN.com
The Denver Broncos signed G Dylan Gandy, formerly of the Colts. To make room for Gandy, they released G Isaac Snell.
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Just a little bit of player shuffling here.
OAK - WR Walker Has Work To Do
Source: Jerry McDonald, Oakland Tribune
WR Javon Walker was reportedly outplayed by fellow free agent signee Drew Carter at the Raiders most recent OTA. HC Lane Kiffin says Walker needs to improve his conditioning.
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I have no idea how a guy can sign a deal this big and come into camp needing conditioning. You're a professional athlete. Pretty much your only job is not get out of shape. If you can do that, you'll make a zillion dollars. How hard is it?
CLE - OL Tucker Out 2 Months With Broken Hip
Source: AP
Cleveland Browns offensive lineman Ryan Tucker broke his hip during practice this week and will miss at least two months.
The Browns said Saturday that Tucker had successful surgery at the Cleveland Clinic on Friday to repair the non-displaced fracture. He hurt himself Wednesday during the Browns' organized team activities and limped off the field at end of practice. The 6-6, 320-pound Tucker will likely miss all of training camp but is expected to be ready for the start of the regular season. Cleveland's opener is Sept. 7 at home against the Dallas Cowboys.[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
The Browns are unfortunately not unfamiliar with injuries early in the year. But this one looks like it'll be a situation where Tucker can be ready by the start of the regular season.
IND - WR Wayne Ready To Improve On Great Season
Source: Michael Marot, AP
His receptions total has increased in each of seven NFL seasons, and Wayne is ready for the hardest part—improving those numbers again in 2008 after a career-best year in which he caught 104 passes and produced a league-high 1,510 yards receiving.
It's a challenge that Wayne, as usual, relishes. "It's definitely going to be tough," he said Saturday as the Colts held their second day of mandatory mini-camp. "I feel like I should be able to do that, that I should be able to take advantage of it."[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
It's been a slow transition, but the torch seems to be definitely be passing from Harrison to Wayne. And Wayne appears more than ready for the challenge and responsibility.
CHI - Coach Smith Says Benson Is Starter
Source: Lovie Smith, Chicagobears.com
Question and Answer for Bears Coach Lovie Smith.
Question: Will the starting running back position be Cedric Benson's to lose or will there be an open competition between Benson and Matt Forte, similar to what will transpire at quarterback? Coach Smith: It's totally different. Matt Forte has never played a down for us here. He's like all other rookies, starting from the bottom and working his way up. Cedric was our starter last year, and he's our starter right now. For someone else to be the starter, they're going to have to beat him out. I'm going to put Adrian Peterson and Garrett Wolfe in there also. We like what Matt Forte brings. When you draft a player that high, you're expecting him to eventually play and have a role with your team. But Cedric Benson has looked good in workouts out here. I'm hoping that Cedric will get back to form and we see that guy that we know he is.[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
This is pretty much typical spring coach speak. Smith will downplay the rookie and stand by the vet. No surprise there. But don't sleep on Forte.
IND - Colts Taking Wait And See Attitude On WR Harrison's Troubles
Source: Mike Chappell, The Indianapolis Star
Regarding Marvin Harrison's incident in Philadelphia, QB Peyton Manning is taking a wait and see approach. "I've been around long enough (that) until I hear from somebody who truly knows what's going on, I don't give it a whole lot of merit,'' Manning said.
A team statement said the Colts would have nothing to add to what president Bill Polian said shortly after the incident became public, which was that no comment would be made until "credible'' evidence came to light. "We don't anticipate addressing any such questions unless and until there is an official report of the facts from the Philadelphia Police Department,'' Friday's statement said.[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
If the team is waiting on an official report from the police, Harrison shouldn't have to worry until about week 8 or so...
TB - RB Williams Says He'll Be Ready For Camp
Source: Rick Brown, Theledger.com
On Tuesday, Tampa RB Cadillac Williams said he is pain free and intends to be ready for Tampa Bay's training camp in July. "I'm in the process of getting everything firing back right and getting my quad strong," Williams said after an individual workout Tuesday. "Once all that goes down, I'll be ready to go. "It's not a matter of if I'll be back, but when," he said. "I know I'm going to be playing on this field again, and I know I'm going to be productive."
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You guys know I like to keep up with timelines. Let's see if Williams is ready like he says here when training camp rolls around.
That'll do it for today, Folks. Have a great Sunday and we'll see you tomorrow with the update.
J