Footballguys Daily Email - Volume 9, Issue 31 (Saturday, May 24th)
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Hi Folks,
Hope you're having a great Sunday. It's a long weekend so take it easy while we get all the Football News and Notes you need together for you. Enjoy. JINSIDE THIS ISSUE
1. TEN - QB Young Considered Retiring2. TEN - WR Williams Impressing Titans
3. TEN - Rookie WR Hawkins Impressive
4. CLE - TE Shea Retires
5. JAC - QB Lemon Struggling In OTAs
6. CHI - RB Benson Pays Speeding Fine
7. TEN - TE Crumpler Sheds 15 Pounds
8. CIN - RB Irons Has 'No Idea' When He'll Be Ready To Play
9. DEF - DAL - DB Jones Repays Debt; Arrest Warrant Recalled
10. DEF - CLE - Browns Sign CB Cousin
TEN - QB Young Considered Retiring
Source: Thomas George, NFL.com
QB Vince Young admitted that he considered retiring during a troubled training camp before this past season. Young mentioned issues with his family and the feeling that being a QB was no longer fun.
"I really thought long and hard about it," Young said on Thursday after practice. "There was so much going on with my family. It was crazy being an NFL quarterback. It wasn't fun anymore. All of the fun was out of it. All of the excitement was gone. All I was doing was worrying about things. "My teammates helped lift me out of it. I prayed really hard. And I began to focus on God's calling for me. Play football. Be a role model." Things have changed now though. "I have a stronger circle. Now I can handle this kind of stuff without it making me want to give up football," Young said.[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
I appreciate Young's honesty. But I think I could have done without hearing this.
TEN - WR Williams Impressing Titans
Source: Paul Kuharsky, The Tennessean
After somewhat of a lost rookie season, WR Paul Williams is ready to be a part of the Titans plans on offense. He has worked hard and coaches are taking notice. "His last four days have been tremendous. He's really doing well," OC Mike Heimerdinger said. Williams is battling WRs Chris Davis and Mike Williams for a roster spot.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Paul Williams is a 2nd year player out of Fresno State and he'll be battling guys like Mike Williams and Chris Davis for a roster spot. Williams was a little humbled last year.
"This year it's kind of do-or-die," he said. "Last year I kind of got humbled a little bit. I thought I was better than I really was and I didn't get on the field. This year I've got to swallow my pride and work hard like everybody else and hopefully shine."
New offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger likes what he's seeing.
"His last four days have been tremendous. He's really doing well," Heimerdinger said. "The light's kind of come on. He's studied his butt off. He's made some catches, he's dropped a couple, but he's been much more consistent getting in the right place, running routes and doing some things. So his talent is starting to show."
TEN - Rookie WR Hawkins Impressive
Source: Jim Wyatt and Paul Kuharsky, The Tennessean
Rookie WR Lavelle Hawkins was among the last of the Tennessee Titans to arrive for OTAs after finishing course work at the University of California. It did not take Hawkins long to grab the attention of HC Jeff Fisher, burning S Michael Griffin for a touchdown catch and earning some praise from his HC. "He's a good route-runner; he is explosive and had good hands,'' Fisher said.
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It takes a lot more than a hip fake in May to make an impact at this level. But it's a good start.
Source: ESPN.com
Browns TE Aaron Shea announced that he is retiring fro the NFL. Shea, who has missed the past two season with back injuries, cited those same back injuries as the cause for him leaving the game.
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Erron Kinney yesterday. Now Aaron Shea today. Best of luck to Mr. Shea in whatever he finds himself doing next.
JAC - QB Lemon Struggling In OTAs
Source: Gene Frennette, Florida Times Union
QB Cleo Lemon, who was signed as a free agent by the Jacksonville Jaguars this offseason, has not looked good so far in early team practices. He has not been able to pick up the offense and has been out of sync with his receivers. Jags OC Dirk Koetter is still confident that Lemon will be a quality backup to starter David Garrard.
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I always caution people not to get too excited when they see a player excelling in May. But with that said, it's always better to see them doing well than it is to see them struggle like Lemon is here. He'll be ok. But this is clearly Garrard's team so it's not going to matter too much unless something happens to Garrard.
CHI - RB Benson Pays Speeding Fine
Source: Chicago Sun-Times
Cedric Benson is back on the police blotter today, but it has nothing to do with boating in Texas. The Bears running back appeared in court to pay a $510 fine for speeding through a construction site on the Edens Expressway, according to WBBM.com. Benson also was sentenced to four months supervision for the incident, which apparently happened last month.
Benson reportedly was going 77 in a 45 mph zone after 3 a.m., according to the Web site.[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
77 in a 45 will usually do it. Especially at 3 in the morning. And yes, it's unfair that a speeding ticket this gets this kind of attention. Other players could get the same ticket and it wouldn't make a ripple. But Benson is under a microscope now and that won't likely change anytime soon.
TEN - TE Crumpler Sheds 15 Pounds
Source: Terry McCormick, Nashville City Paper
Free agent signee Alge Crumpler is finally healthy and envisions a career revival with the Tennessee Titans this year. Crumpler says he is in better shape than at any other time in the past three years.
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There's no doubt that Crumpler has shown some great flashes. It's putting consecutive games together that's been his problem. Is this his year in Tennessee? We'll see.
CIN - RB Irons Has 'No Idea' When He'll Be Ready To Play
Source: Chick Ludwig, Dayton Daily News
Bengals RB Kenny Irons was asked when he'll be ready to play:
"I have no idea," he said. "My job is just to continue to work hard. I've got my weight back up to 190. I want to be at 205. "I'll be at training camp just like I'm here, outside doing my drills. I'll let the trainers know how I feel. They'll tell me when it's time. I'm just busting my tail."[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Not exactly a ringing endorsement there. Look for Irons to make a slow trip back to the field this year.
DEF - DAL - DB Jones Repays Debt; Arrest Warrant Recalled
Source: ESPN.com
Troubled CB Pacman Jones, newly acquired by the Dallas Cowboys, has eluded another arrest. A warrant was issued for his arrest in Las Vegas after he failed to repay a gambling debt of $20,000. Jones repayed the debt soon after the arrest warrant was issued by the Las Vegas district attorney and the warrant has been recalled.
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Nothing like paying a debt to make things all better.
DEF - CLE - Browns Sign CB Cousin
Source: AP
The Cleveland Browns signed veteran cornerback Terry Cousin to a two-year contract Friday to help their thin secondary.
Cousin played in 156 games and made 68 starts with six teams during an 11-year NFL career. He played in 16 games last season for Jacksonville. The Browns are thin in their defensive backfield. Since March, they’ve traded cornerback Leigh Bodden to Detroit, released Kenny Wright following an arrest and lost Daven Holly—a potential starter—to a season-ending knee injury. Second-year players Eric Wright and Brandon McDonald are at the top of Cleveland’s depth chart.[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Ty Law was out of their price range so they'll see how Cousin can help shore up the CB ranks. He's got experience and was part of a good defense in Jacksonville last year. We'll see how he fits with the Browns.
That'll do it for today, Folks. Have a great Sunday and we'll see you tomorrow with our annual Memorial Day Email.
J