Footballguys Daily Email - Volume 9, Issue 47 (Monday, June 9th)
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Hi Folks,
Good Tuesday to you. Big news as Michael Strahan and Cedric Benson both are leaving their teams. Strahan on good terms. Benson, not as good. But that's life in the NFL as things move fast. Aside from the News and Notes, we've got a ton of new content today on the website as a zillion new Player Pages are ready for your viewing. Plus our first nine Player Spotlights that are the most detailed analysis you'll find anywhere. It's what we do and we hope you enjoy. Let's get to it. JSITE NEWS
A.
Player Pages Are Ready - QBs
One of the foundational things we do at Footballguys is the mountain of content we create in our Player Pages. You can click the headline link to check them out for the QBs.
B.
Player Pages Are Ready - RBs
Click on the headline link to see our Player Pages for RBs.
C.
Player Pages Are Ready - WRs
Click on the headline link to see our Player Pages for the WRs.
D.
Player Pages Are Ready - TEs
Click on the headline link to see our Player Pages for TEs.
E.
Player Spotlight - WAS TE Chris Cooley
Footballguy Marc Levin takes a detailed look at Chris Cooley with help from the Footballguys Message Board Sharks.
F.
Player Spotlight - SF TE Vernon Davis
Footballguy Jeff Tefertiller takes a detailed look at 49er TE Vernon Davis with help from the Footballguys Message Board Sharks.
G.
Player Spotlight - BUF QB Trent Edwards
Footballguy Chris Smith takes a detailed look at Bills QB Trent Edwards with help from our Footballguys Message Board Sharks.
H.
Player Spotlight - ARZ RB Edgerrin James
Footballguy Jeff Tefertiller takes a detailed look at Cardinals RB Edgerrin James with help from our Footballguys Message Board Sharks.
I.
Player Spotlight - NYG QB Eli Manning
Footballguy Jason Wood takes a detailed look at Giants QB Eli Manning with help from our Footballguys Message Board Sharks.
J.
Player Spotlight - NE RB Laurence Maroney
Footballguy David Yudkin takes a detailed look at Patriots RB Laurence Maroney with help from our Footballguys Message Board Sharks.
K.
Player Spotlight - DEN WR Brandon Marshall
Footballguy Jason Wood takes a detailed look at Broncos WR Brandon Marshall with help from our Footballguys Message Board Sharks.
L.
Player Spotlight - OAK TE Zach Miller
Footballguy Jeff Haseley takes a detailed look at Raiders TE Zach Miller with help from our Footballguys Message Board Sharks.
M.
Player Spotlight - ATL RB Michael Turner
Footballguy Jason Wood takes a detailed look at Falcons RB Michael Turner with help from our Footballguys Message Board Sharks.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1. CHI - Bears Waive RB Benson2. CHI - Bears OC Turner 'Loves' Rookie RB Forte
3. BUF - Bills RB Reveals Eye Surgery
4. FB Neal Seeking Employment
5. DAL - NFL To Test WR Owens More Strictly
6. HOU - Texans Cut QB Gray, OL Black
7. NO - WR Colston Misses Practice
8. JAC - Jaguars WR Situation Still Unsettled
9. CHI - Former Bears WR Robinson Announces Retirement
10. Former NFL QB Stabler Arrested For DUI
11. DEF - NYG - Giants DE Strahan Decides To Retire
Source: John Clayton, ESPN
The Chicago Bears placed RB Cedric Benson on Waivers Monday afternoon after Benson was arrested for a second time this offseason over the weekend. "Cedric displayed a pattern of behavior we will not tolerate," Bears GM Jerry Angelo said in a statement. "As I said this past weekend, you have to protect your job. Everyone in this organization is held accountable for their actions. When individual priorities overshadow team goals, we suffer the consequences as a team. Those who fail to understand the importance of 'team' will not play for the Chicago Bears."
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It takes more than physical skill to survive at this level. The pressure is high and the spotlight is bright. You have to perform on the field and stay out of trouble off the field. Benson was unable to do either.
All eyes will be on Footballguy favorite Matt Forte now. Hope you were able to make your move for him last week as he'll certainly not be undervalued now. Adrian Peterson is also there but I think we've seen enough of him over the years to know he's nothing special. You can also bet the Bears will take a long hard look at the free agent running backs out there. Although the early word from NFL Network's Adam Schefter was that the team didn't expect to do anything "dramatic" with a free agent. Although that could be posturing we do think they feel like they can go with the running backs they have. We'll see soon how this shakes out.CHI - Bears OC Turner 'Loves' Rookie RB Forte
Source: Vaughn McClure, Chicago Tribune
"I love Matt Forte," Bears offensive coordinator Ron Turner said Sunday during a break at the Bears Expo. "He will definitely be an every-down back. He's got the size, he's got the hands. He's smooth as an athlete, very smooth." Turner said Forte is picking up the Bears' offense quickly. "After nine practices, I'm not afraid to call anything in the offense with him. He's made a couple of mental mistakes, but not very many. He's handling it very well." "How many touches do I see him getting? A lot," he said. "I can't answer that as far as a number, but a lot. I'm excited about him.
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Turner is preaching the FBG choir here but that's awfully strong praise for a rookie in June. We'll see what he's saying in August, but we love this guy too.
BUF - Bills RB Reveals Eye Surgery
Source: Associated Press, USA Today
While Buffalo Bills RB Marshawn Lynch wouldn't comment on his potential legal issues stemming from a recent hit-and-run accident, he did reveal why he missed his second straight practice today. Lynch had Lasik eye surgery recently after he was held out of a series of drills when he appeared to be poked in the eye during practice. Lynch expects to be cleared to return to practice Wednesday when the Bills open a mandatory three day minicamp.
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Hit and Run. Lasik eye surgery. Marshawn Lynch has a lot on his plate these days. He'll be fine. At least on the eye surgery part...
Source: Michael Silver, Yahoo Sports
Fullback Lorenzo Neal, 37, isn't ready to call it a career. Made expendable in San Diego, Neal is hoping to hook on with a team that values a traditional power running attack. He lists the Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos and Pittsburgh Steelers among his desired destinations.
"I don't know how that guy can still be on the street," says a high-ranking front-office executive for an NFC team. "If you want someone who can light up a defender on an 'iso' block, that's your guy."[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Neal remains lighthearted about his situation.
"I feel like Rudolph," Neal says. "I'm getting left out of the reindeer games. And my red nose is my age. Because of that, they won't let me play." He'll latch on somewhere. And he'll help whatever RB he winds up blocking for.DAL - NFL To Test WR Owens More Strictly
Source: Chris Mortensen, ESPN
Dallas Cowboys WR Terrell Owens was in New York recently, meeting with NFL officials after being placed in the league's "reasonable cause" testing program for performance-enhancing drugs. Owens was placed in the program because he missed a day of telephone calls to set up random tests. A player that misses a test can be subject to disciplinary action, but because Owens had a "plausible" explanation, league administrators decided he would not be suspended or fined. Instead, Owens can now be randomly tested for performance enhancers up to a maximum of 24 annual screenings, and these additional screenings can be required, if the NFL chooses to do so, for the remainder of his NFL career.
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Not a huge deal but it puts him a little closer to possible trouble.
HOU - Texans Cut QB Gray, OL Black
Source: HoustonTexans.com
The Houston Texans have released QB Quinn Gray and OL Jordan Black today "It is going to be increasingly more difficult (to make these cuts) as teams try to figure out how many guys at their positions that they are going to take to training camp," GM Rick Smith said. "We decided on the number we want to take, and it just felt like at this point he (Gray) did not have a good chance of making it. So we wanted to give him the opportunity to make it with another team." Gray signed a one-year deal earlier this offseason, the Texans, however, did not think that Gray fit their system and opted to take younger talent into training camp.
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I've always sort of liked the Mighty Quinn. And it was cool of the Texans to go ahead and make the move now in time for him to land with another team. He won't start anywhere, but he's a decent guy to have as a backup.
NO - WR Colston Misses Practice
Source: Jimmy Smith, New Orleans Times-Picayune
New Orleans Saints WR Marques Colston skipped Monday's voluntary OTA practice. Colston has been a regular participant in offseason conditioning programs, which began in mid-March, and was at the mandatory minicamp and at the rest of the organized team activity practices. "Colston was a miss, again these are voluntary," HC Sean Payton, said. DT Sedrick Ellis and OL Matt Lehr were excused from Monday's work. "A lot of times guys will be traveling, in his case, probably traveling West. I'll find out today. I'll give him a call and find out what the deal is. He's done pretty well so far." RB Pierre Thomas (groin) and CB Randall Gay (hamstring) sat out Monday's work with injuries.
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We'd been getting good reports on Colston this spring so this isn't really anything to worry about we think. We'll watch it for you.
JAC - Jaguars WR Situation Still Unsettled
Source: Vic Ketchman, Jaguars.com
In a Q&A column, Ketchman gives his opinion on how he sees the depth chart at WR as it currently stands. Jerry Porter, Reggie Williams, Dennis Northcutt and Troy Williamson are the top four wide receivers heading into the final week of OTAs according to Ketchman. The fifth spot, assuming they'll keep five, he says is up for grabs.
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The guy on the outside looking in is former 1st round pick Matt Jones. You'll remember that Jones was a QB in college and wowed the scouts with great combine numbers. We knew it would be a learning curve making the switch from QB to WR but it's taken longer than expected. Mike Walker is a guy that I like a lot too and he could make a push.
CHI - Former Bears WR Robinson Announces Retirement
Source: kfoxtv.com
Wide receiver Marcus Robinson announced his intention to retire as a Chicago Bear on Monday. The 11-year veteran spent six seasons in a Bears uniform after being selected by Chicago in the fourth round of the 1997 NFL Draft out of South Carolina. In 1999, Robinson amassed 84 receptions, a single-season team-record of 1,400 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. He also became the only player in the 88-year history of the Bears with three 150-plus receiving yard games during the 1999 season. Overall, Robinson finished his NFL career with 325 receptions for 4,699 yards and 43 TDs in 107 games.
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Robinson's retirement will be totally overshadowed by Michael Strahan's announcement and that's kind of a shame as Robinson had a nice run. He was on fire for a few games in 1999 and 43 Touchdowns at this level is quite a feat. Hats off to Robinson and best wishes in what he does next.
Former NFL QB Stabler Arrested For DUI
Source: WZTV.com
Police in Robertsdale say former NFL football star and Crimson Tide broadcaster Kenny Stabler was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. Police said the Foley native was pulled over for a traffic violation on Alabama 59 and charged with DUI. Stabler, according to authorities, was taken into custody early Sunday at about 1 a.m. Robertsdale assistant police chief Brian Middleton said Stabler posted $1,000 bond and was released from jail. Stabler has two previous DUI charges, stemming from arrests in 2001 and 1995.
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I'm sure there's an Auburn Cop joke in there somewhere but it's not really worth it.
DEF - NYG - Giants DE Strahan Decides To Retire
Source: Jay Glazer, FOX Sports
New York Giants defensive end Michael Strahan has told FOXSports.com exclusively that he has decided to retire. After a lengthy and - for Strahan - up-and-down decision-making process, Strahan said he's hanging up the cleats and wanted to finalize a decision before his teammates gathered for their mini-camp. Strahan finally made up his mind a week ago but wanted to take the extra days to make sure his feeling on the matter was 100 percent. Strahan said "It's time. I'm done."
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While it would have been good to know before the draft, before minicamps open is the next best time. Jay Glazer spoke today on NFL Sirius Radio about how Strahan had made this decision for a while but was hesitant to make it official. Best wishes to Strahan in all he's doing and congrats on a great career.
That'll do it for today, Folks. Have a great Tuesday and we'll see you tomorrow with the update.
J