Footballguys Daily Email - Volume 9, Issue 44 (Friday, June 6th)
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Hi Folks,
Welcome to the weekend. Hope you've got some good stuff planned. Or maybe it's no plans and just kicking back. Either way, have fun and enjoy the NFL News and Notes. Let's get to it. JSITE NEWS
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1. BUF - Witnesses Place RB Lynch Behind Wheel In Hit-And-Run2. OAK - Raiders Agree To Terms With First Round Pick RB McFadden
3. MIA - Dolphins Cut PK Rayner
4. JAC - Jags TE Lewis Sees Field For First Time In Awhile
5. DEN - C Nalen Gets Knee Scoped; Should Be Ready For Training Camp
6. STL - Rams OTA Update: RB Jackson Dealing With Two Injuries
7. CIN - Bengals Plan On Johnson To Lead RB Committee
8. KC - Chiefs Kicking Competition Heating Up
9. KC - Chiefs OTA Update; WR Price Running With First Team
10. ATL - New Role For Falcons WR White
11. SD - Rehab Ahead Of Schedule For Chargers QB Rivers
12. DEN - Broncos TE Scheffler's Foot Recovering Well
13. DEF - Former Bengals LB Thurman Suspended Indefinitely
BUF - Witnesses Place RB Lynch Behind Wheel In Hit-And-Run
Source: Addie Bradshaw, WGRZ News
Two sources involved in the investigation tell WGRZ News that a witness has placed Buffalo Bills running back Marshawn Lynch behind the wheel of his S.U.V. at the time of a hit-and-run accident early Saturday morning. A source, who asked not to be identified, tells WGRZ that investigators have four witnesses that say Lynch was driving. Erie County District Attorney Frank Clark would not confirm that information, but did say that investigators continue to follow a number of leads as they build their case. He also says those involved in the probe are looking into the possibility other Bills players were inside the vehicle involved in the hit and run.
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This continues to look worse and worse for Lynch. The District Attorney has said that he'd be open to a plea deal so I'd expect this to move along pretty quickly as they seem to be building a strong case that Lynch was the driver. I would expect he's got excellent legal representation and they will do all they can to minimize what punishment that Lynch receives. This isn't a Leonard Little situation obviously as the injured woman walked away from the accident. But hit and run of a pedestrian is a serious charge.
OAK - Raiders Agree To Terms With First Round Pick RB McFadden
Source: Raiders.com
The Oakland Raiders have agreed to terms with first-round draft pick, RB Darren McFadden. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed, though a press conference has been scheduled for Friday, June 6 at 2:00pm Eastern Time. Update: Running back Darren McFadden reached a six-year, $60 million agreement Thursday night with the Oakland Raiders that includes $26 million guaranteed.
"I'd like to start by saying that this is a very exciting day for us as an organization. A number of things go into that. As you go back to the day we drafted Darren, we knew that it was extremely important for us immediately to get this done as soon as we could," Raiders Head Coach Lane Kiffin said at today's press conference. "I would like to thank all the people on his behalf and all the people in our organization that got this done in a timely fashion, something both sides feel great about. Now we can go to work which is what I am here for and what Darren is here for; to win some games next year and get him on the field."[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
As we've been saying, this was a different situation than last year with JaMarcus Russell who probably wasn't going to play immediately. McFadden is a guy they'd like to have out there on Day 1. It looks like the Raiders have accomplished their part. Now it's purely up to McFadden.
Source: Adam Schefter, NFL Network
The Miami Dolphins have cut fourth-year PK Dave Rayner, who was signed earlier this offseason to provide competition for starter Jay Feely in training camp. Without Rayner, Feely's only competition this summer will be rookie Dan Carpenter out of Montana.
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Cross Rayner off your sleeper list. At least for Miami. This pushes Feely up the list obviously although he'll still need to contend with Carpenter.
JAC - Jags TE Lewis Sees Field For First Time In Awhile
Source: Vic Ketchman, Jaguars.com
Jacksonville Jaguars TE Marcedes Lewis (knee) participated in practice this morning. It was his first practice this spring.
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Good news for Lewis and the Jaguars. Lewis has plenty of skill and potential but needs to show he can stay healthy.
DEN - C Nalen Gets Knee Scoped; Should Be Ready For Training Camp
Source: Mike Klis, Denver Post
Denver Broncos C Tom Nalen, 37, will undergo arthroscopic surgery today to repair torn cartilage in his left knee. Nalen is expected to be out until at least until the team's final minicamp on July 7-8, but is not expected to miss any training camp that starts July 25. "He should be full speed by the time we go to camp," said HC Mike Shanahan. C Casey Wiegmann ran with the first-team offense Thursday.
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Nalen is a big part of this offense but at 37, he knows his body. He obviously felt it was better to have the surgery now rather than wait until later. He should be good to go for camp which isn't a big deal considering how well he knows the system.
STL - Rams OTA Update: RB Jackson Dealing With Two Injuries
Source: Bill Coats, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Several members of the St. Louis Rams were sidelined with injuries yesterday and sat out practice. Those players were WR/KR Dante Hall (groin) and TE Joe Klopfenstein (back). RB Steven Jackson, who twisted an ankle two weeks ago, also is nursing a slight groin pull. Also, DB O.J. Atogwe has been slowed with a sore hamstring.
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We're expecting big things out of Jackson this year so we'll be watching this one. Right now, we don't think it's much to worry about. But let's see how he's able to work later this month.
CIN - Bengals Plan On Johnson To Lead RB Committee
Source: Geoff Hobson, Bengals.com
Cincinnati Bengals OC Bob Bratkowski has made a plan to utilize his stable of RBs, yet still giving Rudi Johnson the lions share of the carries. He plans on using RBs Chris Perry, DeDe Dorsey, Kenny Watson in a back-by-committee approach, but still chaired by Johnson. How that correlates to Johnson's numbers is not clear.
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This is more speculation than anything right now but it's worth noting as I'd love to see Rudi Johnson garner a lion's share of the carries. Although if they're healthy, we're projecting significant work for Kenny Watson and even some rushes for Chris Perry.
KC - Chiefs Kicking Competition Heating Up
Source: Bob Gretz, KCChiefs.com
The Kansas City Chiefs have three PKs in camp as they try to find one who can be the guy. Nick Novak, Connor Barth and Billy Cundiff are all competing. According to Gretz, the best this week was Novak, who hit all six of his field goals. On Thursday, all three kickers made all three kicks. That was impressive considering they were battling a cross wind in the practice.
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This is one of those battles to watch as the guy that emerges will likely be under the radar for many fantasy owners. Dave Rayner was their guy last year so it looks like they'll have a new PK.
KC - Chiefs OTA Update; WR Price Running With First Team
Source: Bob Gretz, KCChiefs.com
One of the biggest questions this offseason centers around who will start at WR opposite Dwayne Bowe. Maurice Price was signed last year as a college free agent out of Charleston Southern, and spent last season on IR. He's recovered and has made several big catches in the two-minute drill. In fact, when the No. 1 offense ran the two-minute drill on Thursday, Price was one of three receivers on the field with Bowe and Devard Darling. Rookie TE Brad Cottam is running with the first team as Tony Gonzalez is not at this camp. Cottam's strength is his blocking, but he is showing he could be a factor in the passing game.
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Don't make too much out of a practice in early June but keep an eye on Price. There was doubt as to whether he could make the team but at least for now, he's doing well.
ATL - New Role For Falcons WR White
Source: J. Michael Moore, Atlantafalcons.com
New Atlanta Falcons OC Mike Mularkey has brought with him some staples from his time in Pittsburgh. It is a run-oriented scheme, but the passing game is not ignored. Hines Ward had a season with 112 catches in the same offense. WR Roddy White is now playing a position similar to Ward in the Falcons' new offense. "I'm playing the Z position and that's the same position he played," White said when asked about Ward's success. "I was watching film on Hines the other day and watching what he did in that offense. Watching someone that succeed in the offense is good for you."
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Could Mike Mularkey be what Roddy White needs to finally be the player he was drafted to be? We'll see. But the fact White is working in the spot Hines Ward occupied in Malarkey's offense is an interesting thing to keep an eye on. You know we will for you.
SD - Rehab Ahead Of Schedule For Chargers QB Rivers
Source: Mike Sullivan, North County Times
San Diego Chargers QB Phillip Rivers has been able to run at full speed for a month now and was taking regular doses of snaps against the first-team defense during the light practice sessions this week. "It's amazing how much better it gets each week," Rivers said earlier this week. Earlier this offseason, Rivers promised that there would be no sign he had undergone major knee surgery when training camp arrived in late July. He has beat that deadline. "I've certainly come a long way," Rivers said.
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Bottom line is that Rivers looks like he'll be fully good to go. That's great news for everyone.
DEN - Broncos TE Scheffler's Foot Recovering Well
Source: Mike Klis, Denver Post
Denver Broncos tight end Tony Scheffler made his first appearance at minicamp Thursday since re-injuring a bone in his left foot while running a route May 19. "I don't know if it was scar tissue or what, but I heard a pop," Scheffler said. "We've just been a little cautious with it, and it feels good now." Scheffler spent the rest of May wearing a protective boot and was fitted for new shoes and orthotic inserts earlier this week. He said he expects to participate in the second half of this minicamp next week and said he has "no doubt" he'll be fully recovered by the time training camp starts next month.
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We told you back at the end of May that Scheffler had re-injured his foot and was going to wear the protective boot. At that time, the team thought he might miss four weeks. He's returning more quickly than expected which is good to see. Stay tuned.
DEF - Former Bengals LB Thurman Suspended Indefinitely
Source: John Clayton, ESPN
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has handed down an indefinite suspension to LB Odell Thurman, released by the Bengals on May 19. Under terms of the suspension, Thurman will be out of football for his third consecutive season for violations of the NFL's Substance Abuse Policy. The league sent official notification to NFL teams Friday afternoon that Thurman will be suspended for the entire 2008 season. "He will not be considered for reinstatement until after the 2008 season," a league spokesman said.
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It looks like the Bengals knew something was coming when they released Thurman not long ago. What a waste of talent.
That'll do it for today, Folks. Have a great Saturday and we'll see you tomorrow with the update.
J