Footballguys Daily Email - Volume 9, Issue 28 (Wednesday, May 21st)
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Hi Folks,
Good Thursday to you. Hope you're having a good start to the day and thanks for hanging out with us for a bit as we catch up on all the News and Notes from around the league. I won't have these every day but found a good one for a Quote of The Day: "I kind of close my eyes and don't pay attention." Lions offensive coordinator Jim Colletto on the erratic play of QB Drew Stanton. Let's get to it. JINSIDE THIS ISSUE
1. DEF - MIA - DE Taylor Won't Be At Training Camp Per Dolphins2. CHI - Bears RB Benson Down Ten Pounds
3. ARZ - Cardinals WR/KR Breaston Making Waves
4. DET - Lions QB Stanton Looking Inconsistent
5. DAL - Cowboys WR Glenn Absent From OTAs
6. NO - Saints HC Payton Q & A
7. CHI - Bears WR Bradley Has Knee Surgery
8. MIN - Vikings Continue Work Without OL McKinnie
9. DET - Lions WRs Furrey, McDonald To See Diminished Roles
10. NFL - Owners to Discuss Gameday Roster Expansion
11. MIA - Dolphins RB Brown Tests Knee At OTAs
12. NFL - Possibility Of Adding 17th Game 'On The Table'
13. PIT - Several Steelers On The Mend
14. DAL - Cowboys QB Romo Agrees To Restructure Contract
15. DET - Lions RB Calhoun Impressing In Mini-Camp
16. DEF - CLE - Browns CB Holly Suffers Serious Knee Injury
17. DEF - TEN - Contract Negotiations Between Titans, DT Haynesworth Still Sluggish
18. ATL - Falcons Sign Tony Gonzalez and Jamal Lewis
DEF - MIA - DE Taylor Won't Be At Training Camp Per Dolphins
Source: Armando Salguero, Miami Herald
Dolphins coach Tony Sparano had this to say Wednesday regarding DE Jason Taylor:
"What I know and I'm glad we know this," Sparano said. "We've gotten the information and that's important. I know that Jason is not going to be at any OTAs [Organized Team Activities]. I know that Jason is not going to be at any minicamps. And I know right now Jason is not going to be at training camp. "Jason is a player under contract with the Miami Dolphins. He knows that. Both parties are well aware of the information. That's all I'm going to say about it. I'm going to talk about our players now."[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Expect to hear more about this soon but it's a little odd. Why would the Dolphins cut their negotiating leverage out from underneath them acting as if they've told Taylor not to come in? Or is Taylor the one driving this? He's said repeatedly he wants a trade and he'll miss camp if he doesn't get one. Is this the Dolphins' way of saying they're not trading him? Or is it saying Taylor is out of there? I tend to think it's more of the latter. The timing was definitely interesting as Taylor was hitting the talk shows this morning following his Dancing With The Stars show ending.
CHI - Bears RB Benson Down Ten Pounds
Source: Brad Biggs, Chicago Sun-Times
By many accounts, Chicago Bears RB Cedric Benson is looking good in his recovery from a broken leg and ankle. Benson credits a more disciplined approach. “I’ve lost about 10 pounds," he said. "Alternating my diet a little bit, and I feel great. That stuff really works.” There were complaints last season that Benson was out of shape, but in Biggs' view, he looks to be a new man. “I feel faster, stronger, clearer, healthier," he said. “I feel great.” When asked if is a make or break season for him, Benson replied, “I don’t know, I haven’t really thought about that. But if it is, come on, make or break, I’m sure I’m going to make it happen."
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It's going to take more than Benson losing ten pounds to change my mind about him...
ARZ - Cardinals WR/KR Breaston Making Waves
Source: Kent Somers, Arizona Republic
If one is looking for the most improved player for the Arizona Cardinals, all accounts say WR/KR Steve Breaston, a fifth-round pick in 2007, is the one player to focus on according to beat writer Kent Somers. Breaston made a great impression last year as a returner, but has added some muscle, and coaches say his route running is considerably better. He made plays all over the field in minicamp two weeks ago, and he has continued doing it in OTAs. Somers speculates that his improved play may give him the "inside track" on being the slot WR for the Cardinals.
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File Breaston away as a value pick here. The Cardinals have plenty of excellent WRs so he'll have to fight for footballs but he's clearly a player on the rise.
DET - Lions QB Stanton Looking Inconsistent
Source: Tom Kowalski, MLive.com
Detroit Lions QB Drew Stanton is still going through some growing pains as he comes back from his knee injury. During OTAs and the three minicamp practices this year, Stanton's passing has been inconsistent. "Sometimes he reverts back to some old habits. Today, he didn't throw an interception so that was a huge plus," OC Jim Colletto said today.
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I've been a Stanton supporter and I like the guy. But this is Jon Kitna's team. Stanton has a ways to go just to get back to full health. But he's a guy to watch for the future.
DAL - Cowboys WR Glenn Absent From OTAs
Source: Tom MacMahon, Dallas Morning News
WR Terry Glenn did not participate in today's workout for the Dallas Cowboys. Glenn was present for meetings yesterday. He plans to continue to rehabilitate his knee and play next season, but the Cowboys don't have a timetable for when Glenn will be back on the field. "He's very much in mind," said QB Tony Romo, "I think Terry Glenn is going to surprise a lot of you guys."
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It's not too awful troubling when a veteran misses OTAs like this. He knows what he needs to do and it's not the end of the world to miss time. But we are worried about Glenn's long term outlook. Romo said Glenn is going to surprise us. Count me in that group as surprised if Glenn is a major contributor in 2008.
Source: New Orleans Times-Picayune
New Orleans Saints HC Sean Payton met with the media following his team's third OTA session. Among other things, he talked about his support for DE Charles Grant's legal situation. Moreover, Payton touched on DE Will Smith's absence from these voluntary workouts, saying he expects Smith to be at the mandatory minicamp next month. MLB Jonathan Vilma, Payton said, is "doing well." "He's participating in half a practice...I have been encouraged with his progress. There have not been any setbacks. It's been real positive," Payton said. When asked whether RB Deuce McAllister would be ready for camp, Payton was non-committal. "We'll see. Our goal for him is to see how quickly he's coming along. The key is not pushing it too fast. He's kind of a wait-and-see on minicamp," Payton said.
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The thing that stood out to me was Payton's waffling on McAllister. It's not time to panic but we're definitely getting the "leery" vibe there. Be careful.
CHI - Bears WR Bradley Has Knee Surgery
Source: Vaughn McClure, Chicago Tribune
Chicago Bears WR Mark Bradley had his knee scoped and McClure speculates that it is questionable whether he'll be ready for the start of training camp in August.
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The Bears were already pretty suspect at the WR position and questions about whether Bradley will be ready for camp sure don't help anything.
MIN - Vikings Continue Work Without OL McKinnie
Source: Don Seeholzer, Pioneer Press
The Minnesota Vikings went through their second day of organized team activities Tuesday without offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie and still aren't sure if they'll have him for the start of the season. McKinnie was in Miami-Dade County Court, where he had his June 2 trial date on charges stemming from a February fight continued to a June 20 report at a pre-trial hearing. McKinnie's agent, Larry Kerr, said he hopes to persuade the state of Florida before that date to allow McKinnie to enter a pre-trial diversion program.
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If McKinnie can skate out of his legal troubles, he still could face discipline from the NFL Commissioner. He's far from out of the woods.
DET - Lions WRs Furrey, McDonald To See Diminished Roles
Source: Nicholas J. Cotsonika, Detroit Free Press
Detroit Lions wide receivers Mike Furrey and Shaun McDonald will have smaller roles but still significant ones, according to offensive coordinator Jim Colletto. Three- and four-wide receiver sets remain in the playbook. "All that part of the game is still there," Colletto said earlier this off-season. "It's just the numbers of plays are going to be diminished greatly. Those two guys are still going to figure in what we're doing. We want to be able to change constantly."
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The Lions look to be quickly changing their profile from a pass happy team with lots of WRs on the field to something a little more conservative. There was a time when the 3rd or 4th WR here might have good value in some leagues but it looks like that time may be passing if Colletto stays true to what he's saying here.
NFL - Owners to Discuss Gameday Roster Expansion
Source: NFL.com
Amongst the rules slated for a vote at league ownership meetings, there is a proposal to increase the game-day active list from 45 to 47 players, plus a third quarterback.
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It's always seemed a little restrictive to me that teams have to get down to 45 players for the games. I understand the reasoning in that it helps level the field for a team that has injuries but it seems kind of silly to be paying those guys and not have them available to play.
MIA - Dolphins RB Brown Tests Knee At OTAs
Source: Omar Kelly, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
The Miami Dolphins tailback tandem of Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown both carried the ball and participated in most team drills during Wednesday's organized team activity. Both tailbacks, which suffered season-ending injuries in 2007, worked with the first-team offensive line, but Brown had his participation limited during team drills that featured limited contact. Brown made sharp cuts on the surgically repaired knee he injured last season and he seems on schedule.
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Chalk this one up as a plus for Brown. You guys know I'm big on hitting the schedule players set for themselves and it looks like Brown is on track with his recovery here.
NFL - Possibility Of Adding 17th Game 'On The Table'
Source: Mark Maske, Washington Post
Commissioner Roger Goodell and the NFL owners continue to discuss the possibility of adding a 17th regular season game and perhaps shortening the preseason by a game. Goodell said the possibility is "on the table," but the league is not yet ready to present a proposal to the players' union, which would have to approve such a change. "We are not satisfied with the quality of the preseason right now," Goodell said. "We'd like to improve on that."
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I like this idea. And I'd agree with the Commissioner in that preseason can be improved. I mean all of us will watch pretty much every minute just because we're warped and we haven't seen NFL Football for seven months but the reality is that things can get better there. We'll see though as I would imagine relations are a little bit cool with the Players Union this minute.
PIT - Several Steelers On The Mend
Source: Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh Steelers rookie halfback Rashard Mendenhall (hamstring) joined veterans who are not going through full practices because of injuries. Among them are guards Kendall Simmons (shoulder) and Chris Kemoeatu (hamstring), receiver Hines Ward (knee) and defensive ends Aaron Smith (biceps) and Ryan McBean (foot). Tackle Marvel Smith skipped the day to attend to a personal matter and safety Troy Polamalu continues to train in California. One player who did resume practicing is tackle Jason Capizzi, returning from a foot injury.
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Nothing too worrisome here - just an update on some of these players we told you we'd keep an eye on.
DAL - Cowboys QB Romo Agrees To Restructure Contract
Source: Todd Archer, Dallas Morning News
The Dallas Cowboys and quarterback Tony Romo have agreed to restructure Romo's contract in effort to clear cap room for other signings. The Cowboys turned Romo's $6.5 million base salary in 2008 into signing bonus, dropping his base salary to $605,000.
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Just a tidbit for those of you keeping up with the Cowboys.
DET - Lions RB Calhoun Impressing In Mini-Camp
Source: Tom Kowalski, Michigan Live
Detroit Lions running back Brian Calhoun is completely healthy after recovering from a knee injury. "I think what we're doing really fits him well. That's what he did well in college," head coach Rod Marinelli said. "He's got good vision -- he really does - and he can cut well. He's really healthy. He's comfortable in what we're doing, he's not just a third-down back, he's a back. I think he sees it and it's wide open."
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Don't underestimate the impact of a new offensive coordinator. With Jim Colletto in the mix now it wouldn't be surprising to see some changes. Kevin Smith has been turning some heads but Calhoun can play too. Don't get too excited just yet but watch him closely this summer to see if he gets more than the 3rd down work.
DEF - CLE - Browns CB Holly Suffers Serious Knee Injury
Source: Jeff Walcoff, ClevelandBrowns.com
According to HC Romeo Crennel and GM Phil Savage, Cleveland Browns CB Daven Holly suffered a "serious" knee injury during practice at OTAs Tuesday. Holly will have surgery on the knee most likely Friday, Savage said. Crennel expounded, saying that there is damage to both ligaments and cartilage in the knee, but did not provide any more details. The injury occurred when Holly jumped for a ball during practice Tuesday and came down awkwardly on the knee. On the same play, WR Braylon Edwards suffered a hip pointer. Edwards missed practice today and is considered day-to-day.
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Tough break for the Browns here. If there is any upside at all, it's better for this to happen now than in Week 1. But these guys just can't seem to catch a break.
DEF - TEN - Contract Negotiations Between Titans, DT Haynesworth Still Sluggish
Source: Terry McCormick, Nashville City Paper
The Albert Haynesworth contract situation continues to be a slow-moving issue for the Tennessee Titans thus far in the offseason. Tuesday’s decision by NFL owners to terminate the final two years of the collective bargaining agreement could have significant effects on the parameters of any deal reached between the defensive tackle and the Titans. According to Haynesworth’s agent Chad Speck, he has been in communication with Titans general manager Mike Reinfeldt throughout the course of the offseason, but negotiations are plodding along at a very deliberate pace.
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These things can pick up the pace in a hurry so we're not overly worried just yet. Few players mind missing out on some training camp practices anyways. In the end, Haynesworth is just too valuable to this Titan team for them to let him go anywhere.
ATL - Falcons Sign Tony Gonzalez and Jamal Lewis
Source: Associated Press, ESPN
The Atlanta Falcons announced on Monday that they have signed free agents WR Tony Gonzalez, S Eric Brock and S Jamal Lewis to contracts. Terms of the agreements were not disclosed. To clear roster space, the team also released LB Earl Everett and S Nick Turnbull.
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Sorry. Not THAT Tony Gonzalez and not THAT Jamal Lewis. This Gonzalez is a WR and Lewis is a safety. Made for a pretty interesting line in the transaction wire though...
And we'll close with that one, Folks. Thanks for reading and we'll see you tomorrow with the update.
J