Footballguys Daily Email - Volume 9, Issue 52 (Saturday, June 14th)
|
Sign Up For Free Newsletter
85,000+ Mailing List |
Hi Folks,
Happy Fathers Day to all you Dads. Hope you're able to kick back and let the family take care of you a little today. It's your day, milk it for all it's worth. And for you guys that are Sons and are fortunate to have your Dad around - give the Old Guy a hug or at least a call. If you love him, tell him. It's a little quiet today on the news and notes front but we've got the stories you need to know. So let's get to it. JSITE NEWS
A.
Footballguys Magazine Ready To Ship - Deadline For Special Tickets 6-16
The 228 page Footballguys Strategy Guide will be shipping on Wednesday, June 18th from our California offices. We think it's the best magazine on the market and it comes with all kinds of "extras" if you buy it directly from us. Those "extra" goodies include 12 Golden and 15 Silver Tickets, but to be eligible for these tickets, you must order the magazine no later than Monday, June 16th. Quick Link to Magazine Pre-order
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1. CIN - WR Johnson 'Rusty' - May Need Ankle Surgery2. TB - RB Graham Breaks Silence
3. ARZ - WR Boldin Unsure About Training Camp
4. TB - Bucs GM Criticizes QB Simms
5. CLE - WR Edwards Says He Can Get To Another Level
6. Former Bears RB Benson Clears Waivers
7. CAR - RB Stewart Should Be Ready For Camp
8. CLE - G Hadnot In Lead For Right Guard Job
CIN - WR Johnson 'Rusty' - May Need Ankle Surgery
Source: Sports Ticker
Bengals WR Chad Johnson, who has spent much of the offseason voicing his displeasure with the organization and pushing for a trade, saw his first full action of the minicamp, catching several passes from quarterback Carson Palmer.
"He worked hard; he was rusty," offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski said of Johnson. "(The defensive backs) are playing hands-on and a very physical style of defense. If you haven't been working and preparing against that, it takes you a while to get back used to it." Bratkowski added that Johnson seemed to be hindered by an ongoing ankle problem, which the team said bothered him at the end of last season. Johnson complained about soreness in the ankle on the first day of camp Thursday. "He's got that ankle issue at the end of the season. They were trying to get it taken care of, it hadn't been taken care of, he needed to get it taken care of," Bratkowski said. "He's going against guys that have been out here 14, 16 practices. You're going to look that way when you have none. He worked hard." The team wants Johnson to have arthroscopic surgery on the ankle so he can be ready for training camp on July 27. Despite Johnson's continued lobbying for a trade, Bengals coach Marvin Lewis previous had said his star wideout will not be dealt.[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
We'll keep an eye on the ankle and if he schedules surgery. If he does, the team expects him to be able to be ready for camp. Doesn't seem like a big deal there.
Source: Charlie Campbell, PewterReport.com
Bucs RB Earnest Graham addressed many of the topics and rumors that have been associated with him this offseason.
"I won't say anything as far as my contract but I love this organization," said Graham. "I've been a part of it for five years. There is mutual respect on both sides. I feel good about them, and they feel the same about me. I think those two things will lead to [a new contract] getting done." When asked if he will be a Buccaneer a year from now after his current contract is up, Graham gave a definitive answer. "Yeah. I will be. I will be," said Graham.[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
I doubt this is what Graham's agent wants him telling everyone as it takes more than a little wind out of the sails when it comes to negotiating. But the truth is that Graham realizes given his situation, he's probably best to stick right where he is.
ARZ - WR Boldin Unsure About Training Camp
Source: Darren Urban, ArizonaCardinals.com
Wide receiver Anquan Boldin, who skipped all four weeks of the Cardinals' voluntary organized team activities as he seeks a new contract, said Friday he wasn't sure if he would be attending training camp.
"I honestly can't say at this point," Boldin said in a text message.[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
We'll see how this plays out but we think Boldin will be there. If he misses, he's subject to fines of $15,000 per day. Boldin did skip the voluntary minicamp work but did show up for the mandatory minicamp work in May. The team has said they may work out a new deal with Boldin so that's a possibility as well. Bottom line is we think he'll be there.
TB - Bucs GM Criticizes QB Simms
Source: Stephen F. Holder, St. Petersburg Times
General manager Bruce Allen was critical Friday of quarterback Chris Simms' decision to go public with his deteriorating relationship with the Bucs.
"I think his advisers pulled a PR stunt," Allen said. "I don't think it portrays Chris well. That's not the Chris I've talked to on the phone. But I can't worry about that. We have too many players who are trying to help this team win and those are the players we're going to focus on."[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Allen may brush it off as a PR stunt but it looks pretty clear from this side that Simms is just letting it be known how he feels given what he's hearing from the team. Maybe Allen should do something about that instead of blaming the player. Simms likely won't see the field for Tampa this year, we'll see if / where he lands somewhere else.
CLE - WR Edwards Says He Can Get To Another Level
Source: Steve Doerschuk, Canton Repository
Browns WR Braylon Edwards had this to say about his maturity in the game and about his offensive coordinator:
"I'm beginning to get this NFL game. I'm still young. There's a lot I can achieve, another level I can get to." "As you get older, you get more confidence. It's just like in college. You start out one way. You develop. You get older. Then you take over. That's what I'm doing." You may wonder how Edwards, 25, feels about a season under coordinator Rob Chudzinski after two that began under Mo Carthon. "Chud's a heck of an offensive coordinator," Edwards said. "I mean, he just understands matchups, how to get the playmakers involved."[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
This is exactly what opposing defensive coordinators do not want to hear. Edwards was imposing enough last year. When he starts matching his physical skills with a mental understanding that's equal, he's going to be scary.
Former Bears RB Benson Clears Waivers
Source: Mike Mulligan, Chicago Sun Times
Former Bears RB Cedric Benson cleared waivers, three days after the Bears released him because of two alcohol-related arrests in five weeks. The No. 4 overall selection in 2005 is now a free agent and can sign with any team.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
It seemed a little interesting that no team would even bring Benson in for a tryout. He'll now have the opportunity to sign with any team. He has a June 30 court date in Austin where some resolution may come in the case of his boating incident. That may spur some action with teams if he has a positive outcome there. But he still has the DUI issue to deal with. He's fallen pretty far pretty fast.
CAR - RB Stewart Should Be Ready For Camp
Source: CarolinaGrowl.com
Coach John Fox is anxious to have rookie running back Jonathan Stewart back at practice. Stewart isn't allowed around the facility until the University of Oregon finishes its final exams. Oregon is one of the few schools around the country that works on the quarter grading system.
"He's a sharp guy and I like this demeanor and his football character," Fox said of the team's first-round draft pick. "I like what I saw from his college tape. He just has to get healthy." Fox said he expects Stewart will be ready to go in training camp. "He's out of his boot and he's one schedule. He's been doing rehab with our medical people and they are telling me he will be ready for July 25 (the start of training camp)."[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
The team is anxious to see what they have in Stewart. File this one away and see if he hits the training camp date. He'll need as much work as he can get as they want to make sure his pass protection is up to speed.
CLE - G Hadnot In Lead For Right Guard Job
Source: Steve Doerschuk, Canton Repository
Cleveland's Rex Hadnot is getting a foothold on the No. 1 right guard job, with Ryan Tucker down with a broken hip and LeCharles Bentley out of the picture. The braintrust likes Hadnot over Seth McKinney, who started eight games last year. The reason: McKinney isn't that physical. Hadnot is built like a beer truck.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
The Bentley release threw a little curve ball into the mix here but the team seems to like Hadnot and what he can do for this line.
That'll do it for today, Folks. Happy Fathers Day.
J