Footballguys Daily Email - Volume 9, Issue 42 (Wednesday, June 4th)
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Hi Folks,
Good Thursday to you. Hope your week's rolling along well. We've got lots of News and Notes for you today so let's get to it. JINSIDE THIS ISSUE
1. CLE - Browns Not In Hurry To Sign TE Winslow Long Term2. CLE - Browns Get Back Several Injured Players
3. SF - 49ers WR Battle Plans To Attend OTAs Next Week
4. DET - Lions WR Williams Reports To OTAs
5. WAS - Redskins QB Brennan Still Four Weeks Away
6. IND - Colts WRs Harrison, Wayne Skipping OTAs
7. CIN - Bengals Make Andrews Starter At Right Tackle
8. DAL - WR Owens Will Repay Eagles
9. BUF - RB Lynch Back At Practice
10. NYJ - TE Baker Will Report For Practice
11. SEA - RB Jones Still Sore From Dallas Treatment - Could He Be Everydown Back?
12. JAC - Jaguars WR Walker Medically Cleared, Returns To Practice
13. DEF - ATL - CB Grimes Working As Hall's Replacement
14. DEF - MIA - HC Sparano Wants Taylor To Remain With Team
CLE - Browns Not In Hurry To Sign TE Winslow Long Term
Source: Mary Kay Cabot, Cleveland Plain Dealer
According to GM Phil Savage, the Cleveland Browns are in no hurry to sign TE Kellen Winslow Jr. to the big new contract that he's seeking. "We don't have a lot of wiggle room right now at this particular time," Savage said Tuesday. "Only time will tell if it goes one direction or the other, but I think we've let it be known kind of where we are." Savage also said he expects Winslow to show up for minicamp next Tuesday through Thursday. "Of course, it's a mandatory camp, so the expectation is he'll be here," said Savage. Winslow said last week via agent Drew Rosenhaus that he will attend minicamp.
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No one has ever accused Drew Rosenhaus of being shy but trying to renegotiate a deal with three years left on it while your client is recovering from knee surgery and likely won't be able to participate fully in minicamp is pretty bold. I wouldn't be surprised at all to see the Browns sit tight here and wait to see what Winslow is able to do. And if he is able to perform, they want to see how well he's able to stay healthy during the season. He's a tough guy and an effective player but I think the Browns would like to see a year of consistency before opening up the checkbook.
CLE - Browns Get Back Several Injured Players
Source: Mary Kay Cabot, Cleveland Plain Dealer
Several members of the Cleveland Browns were absent from OTAs last week for personal reasons, but all were back this week. They include RB Jamal Lewis, WR Braylon Edwards and DL Corey Williams. GM Phil Savage said Edwards practiced full-go Tuesday and showed no lingering effects from a hip pointer suffered two weeks ago in practice.
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This is good news for Lewis and Edwards. We weren't too worried about Edwards as hip pointers are painful but not usually something that's a long term issue. With TE Kellen Winslow possibly less than full strength at camp, it'll be good to have Edwards there to get as many reps as possible and build chemistry in the passing game.
SF - 49ers WR Battle Plans To Attend OTAs Next Week
Source: Matt Maiocco, Santa Rosa Press-Democrat
San Francisco 49ers WR Arnaz Battle said today he missed OTAs this week "for personal reasons." He plans to attend the voluntary workouts next week. He also said that the coaches have been informed. Battle's absence raised some eyebrows this week. HC Mike Nolan said he expected Battle to attend the workouts and did not know his whereabouts. Battle remained in Dallas, where he makes his offseason home.
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Battle is an interesting situation as he's been the team's most reliable WR over the last couple of years. But now faces some playing time issues after the team brought in Isaac Bruce. The upside is the team also brought in Mike Martz to run the offense and the 3rd WR in a Martz system has value. As Mr. Maiocco points out, last season the Lions had three WRs catch more than 60 passes. Battle led the 49ers with 50 catches.
DET - Lions WR Williams Reports To OTAs
Source: Nicholas J. Cotsonika, Detroit Free Press
Detroit Lions WR Roy Williams was back in camp today with his teammates after sitting out the first several days of OTAs. Williams said his absences had nothing to do with his contract situation. "I'm going to make a lot of money this year," Williams. "You all can look it up. They owe me 5.8 million this year. So why would I be mad? I'm not mad. I'm not missing OTAs because I'm mad at the Detroit Lions. I'm missing because my flights got canceled."
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Sounds like Williams is putting to bed any talk about a contract renegotiation. And he's right, with the Lions paying him 5.8 million, he's probably pretty happy. What we're wondering is how happy fantasy owners will be with a Detroit offense missing Mike Martz. We expect a clear shift towards the running game and away from the passing game compared to what they featured last year with Martz. Just how much of a shift remains to be seen.
WAS - Redskins QB Brennan Still Four Weeks Away
Source: Jason La Confora, Washington Post
Washington Redskins rookie QB Colt Brennan is doing more drills now, but is still not cleared to face any live contact. Brennan is recovering from hip surgery and said, "I'm four weeks from being 100 percent." For his part, HC Jim Zorn, said he is pleased with what he has seen from Brennan thus far. "He has been in on a seven-on-seven situation and he's starting to come around," Zorn said. "Really, I'm encouraged with Colt. He's doing a great job." Brennan is one of five QBs on the roster and is fighting to be the third QB this season.
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Colt Brennan has the cool name but with Jason Campbell and Todd Collins ahead of him, he's looking like the #3 guy here. At least for a while. He's definitely a guy they feel can do something in the future, but barring injury to the other guys, it doesn't look like it'll be this year.
IND - Colts WRs Harrison, Wayne Skipping OTAs
Source: John Oehser, Colts.com
Indianapolis Colts HC Tony Dungy said attendance for OTAs has been high this season, as typically has been the case in recent seasons. Dungy said several players are not attending. Those players are: WRs Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne. Harrison is working out in Philadelphia and Wayne is working out in Miami, according to Dungy.
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I wonder how sympathetic an ear Eli Manning will lend to his brother Peyton if the Colt QB calls up Eli and wants to complain about guys not attending OTAs? Eli has to deal with Jeremy Shockey and Plaxico Burress not being there in the past and now Peyton has to be without Harrison and Wayne. It's not like these receivers need a lot more reps or chemistry building with Manning but it would be good to see them there. But this is always the kind of stuff we make a big deal about in June and in most cases, it's forgotten completely by the time real training camp opens.
CIN - Bengals Make Andrews Starter At Right Tackle
Source: Mark Curnutte, Cincinnati Enquirer
Cincinnati Bengals HC Marvin Lewis said today that veteran OT Willie Anderson is working behind Stacy Andrews at RT. "Stacy is the right tackle," Lewis said. "We're unsure of where Willie is. We'll see as we go." Anderson battled foot and knee injuries last season for the first time in his career. Anderson has been present at offseason workouts. "It felt good to come back in and show that I still can walk," Anderson said. "Some people were wondering if I could still walk. I came back to show them that I can walk and run a little bit."
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Seems like the torch is passing on the Bengals OL. Willie Anderson has been a solid player but his health was a real issue last season. Now he seems happy just to be able to walk and to run "a little bit".
DAL - WR Owens Will Repay Eagles
Source: Calvin Watkins, Dallas Morning News
Dallas Cowboys WR Terrell Owens plans to pay back a portion of his signing bonus to his former team, the Philadelphia Eagles. An arbitrator ruled in January that Owens was responsible for repaying the money, totaling over $769,000.
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It's been rough on Eagles fans watching Owens excel in Dallas but this has to be kind of sweet.
BUF - RB Lynch Back At Practice
Source: Chris Brown, BuffaloBills.com
RB Marshawn Lynch was back at Bills practice on Tuesday. Little has been said about his possible involvement with a hit and run accident last week.
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Lynch's accident isn't being talked about much. Probably nothing to get too worried over.
NYJ - TE Baker Will Report For Practice
Source: Mark Cannizzaro, New York Post
New York Jets TE Chris Baker, who has voiced his unhappiness with his contract this offseason, plans to attend the team's mandatory training camp this weekend.
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This looks like it's heading toward a "Pete Kendell Part 2" situation as most expect Baker to be pretty open with the media in speaking his mind. His story is that he was promised by the team that they'd rework his deal.
"I'm angry about the fact that they said, 'We're going to do something for you,' and nothing's being done," Baker told The New York Post in April.SEA - RB Jones Still Sore From Dallas Treatment - Could He Be Everydown Back?
Source: Mike Sando, ESPN.com
Seahawks RB Julius Jones spoke about the bad feelings he had leaving Dallas.
"I definitely have a chip on my shoulder," he said. "I'm going to carry it every single year, every single practice, every single game. It's not going anywhere until I can prove what kind of back that I am and kind of redeem myself from the embarrassment that they have kind of put me through." Jones carried just three times for 8 yards during the Cowboys' 21-17 loss to the New York Giants in their NFC divisional game at Texas Stadium. "I took that hard," Jones said. "I'll never forget that, ever."[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
I know all players want the ball but what Jones is failing to mention here is that while he was on the sidelines, his team mate, Marion Barber rushed for 129 on 27 carries. For the season, Barber averaged about 3 more carries per game than Jones did and Barber averaged 4.8 yards per carry compared to Jones' 3.6. All while running immensely harder than Jones.
On the positive side, there is some indication that Mike Holmgren is pleased with what he's seeing in Jones and that it's possible Jones could get the carries he desires and be an everydown back. But he'll have to distance himself from Maurice Morris and T.J. Duckett first. Something he hasn't done yet.JAC - Jaguars WR Walker Medically Cleared, Returns To Practice
Source: Vic Ketchman, Jaguars.com
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Mike Walker returned to practice with the team on Tuesday, and has been medically cleared to participate in all on-field activities with the team.
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Mike Walker is a guy I got excited about last year and he just couldn't get healthy with a knee issue. He was placed on IR in September of last year. Back in March, the team didn't expect him to be ready until Training Camp so this is a nice surprise. Don't sleep on this guy.
DEF - ATL - CB Grimes Working As Hall's Replacement
Source: Steve Wyche, Atlanta Journal Constitution
CB Brent Grimes has been working as the starting CB for the Atlanta Falcons, the position formally manned by DeAngelo Hall. Hall was traded to the Oakland Raiders earlier in the offseason. Von Hutchins and rookie Chevis Jackson also will be given a shot at earning the starting spot.
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Just a headsup for you IDP guys as to who it's looking like will fill the void left by Hall in Atlanta.
DEF - MIA - HC Sparano Wants Taylor To Remain With Team
Source: Tim Graham, Palm Beach Post
Miami Dolphins HC Tony Sparano said Tuesday that he wants DE Jason Taylor to be a member of the Dolphins. Sparano and Taylor recently met to discuss the differences that have come up between Taylor and the team.
"Jason has come out and he has also said that the meeting between he and I would stay confidential and I believe that," Sparano said. "The things that Jason I spoke about will stay behind closed doors for the most part. "But one of the issues that we really did want to get out there and I wanted to make a point to Jason about is we as an organization and, certainly me as a head coach, want to see Jason Taylor back here with the Miami Dolphins in uniform, out on the field, doing what he does best for the Miami Dolphins, and that's running after quarterbacks and sacking quarterbacks."[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Stay tuned...
That'll do it for today, Folks. Have a great Thursday and we'll see you tomorrow.
J