Footballguys Daily Email - Volume 10, Issue 20 (Saturday, May 9th)
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Hi Folks,
Good Sunday to you and Happy Mothers Day. If you're fortunate enough to still have your Mom around, give her a call today or take her to lunch. You never know what the future brings - don't waste a chance to be cool to your Mom. But before you do that, dig into the News and Notes we have for you. Thanks as always to our Footballguy News Guru Cecil Lammey for the help putting this together. Have a great Sunday and let's get to it. JSITE NEWS
A.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1. OAK - QB Russell looks in good shape; going deep more2. DET - RB Kevin Smith looking to improve in specific areas
3. OAK - QB Russell learning from Garcia
4. CHI - Bears interested in WR Amani Toomer?
5. BAL - WR Mason believes he will get extension soon
6. RB - McGahee expects to be healthy for camp
7. BAL - McClain may not be happy with reduced role
8. CHI - OT Pace tried to get WR Holt to sign
9. OAK - WR Walker had minor knee surgery
10. OAK - RB Gary Russell could play some fullback
11. NYG - TE Beckum suffers cramps Friday, practices Saturday
12. NYG - QB Woodson reports to camp lighter
13. ATL - QBs Redman and Shockley entering final year of contract
14. BAL - WR Kelley Washington continues to stand out but will it be enough to be signed?
15. DEF - DEN - CB Alphonso Smith working at nickelback
16. DEF - NYG - LB Clint Sintim working outside
OAK - QB Russell looks in good shape; going deep more
Source: Bill Williamson, ESPN.com
Bill Williamson, of ESPN.com, reports Oakland Raiders QB JaMarcus Russell appears to be in good shape. Last year, he battled rumors about his weight. The Raiders did not throw the ball downfield much during 2008, but they aired it out often during practice Friday, May 8.
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The rumors about JaMarcus Russell being overweight last year were seriously overblown. He has had slight issues with his weight in the past but has put those behind him. He's a big guy that is never going to be rocked up. Fantasy owners need to remember that he looked good at the end of the 2008 season, throwing 6 TD passes in the last 3 weeks. With added weapons, more experience, and more confidence in himself Russell could make for a decent option at QB during bye weeks, and best of all you can get him late in your draft.
DET - RB Kevin Smith looking to improve in specific areas
Source: Carlos Monarrez, The Detroit Free Press
Carlos Monarrez, of the Detroit Free Press, reports Detroit Lions RB Kevin Smith said he is looking to improve specifically on his pass-catching abilities as well as his power running skills.
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The Lions have a Plan B if Kevin Smith doesn't develop as a full time RB. They signed the versatile Maurice Morris to a 3-year, $7 million dollar deal in February to back up Smith. They also have Aaron Brown and Antone Smith that could be nice options in passing situations.
OAK - QB Russell learning from Garcia
Source: Bill Williamson, ESPN.com
Bill Williamson, of ESPN.com, reports Oakland Raiders QB JaMarcus Russell said he has been learning a lot from QB Jeff Garcia during minicamp.
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Garcia is a seasoned veteran and realizes that his role is strictly as the backup to JaMarcus Russell. It's good that Garcia is open to teaching him some tricks and it's nice to see that Russell is receptive to the idea.
CHI - Bears interested in WR Amani Toomer?
Source: Vaughn McClure, The Chicago Tribune
Vaughn McClure, of the Chicago Tribune, reports the Chicago Bears placed a phone call to free-agent WR Amani Toomer (Giants), according to Steve Wyche, of the NFL Network. However, according to a source, the Bears did not place the call to Toomer. The Bears might be intrigued, but they're not jumping at the opportunity.
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The Bears have several young WRs on the roster that could push for significant playing time. Juaguin Iglesias is a perfect complimentary receiver that could work underneath routes. Johnny Knox has blazing speed and could challenge for the starting slot role. Derek Kinder is coming back from the knee injury that cost him the entire 2007 season for the Pitt Panthers, and could contribute because of his run after the catch ability. Chicago may sign Toomer because he would have more experience than anyone else on their roster. However, if they like what they see in the young guys Toomer may be left to look for work elsewhere.
BAL - WR Mason believes he will get extension soon
Source: Jamison Hensley, The Baltimore Sun
Jamison Hensley, of The Baltimore Sun, reports Baltimore Ravens WR Derrick Mason said he believes the Ravens will give him a contract extension before the start of the regular season. 'I'm very confident that it will get done. I hope management has the same confidence that I have that it will get done. I'm not going to worry about it until I need to worry about it,' Mason said.
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The Ravens didn't address their need at WR in the 2009 NFL Draft, so they should be willing to take care of Mason.
RB - McGahee expects to be healthy for camp
Source: Jamison Hensley, The Baltimore Sun
Jamison Hensley, of The Baltimore Sun, reports Baltimore Ravens RB Willis McGahee (leg) said he will be fully recovered from offseason surgery by the start of training camp.
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With Le'Ron McClain set to play a more traditional FB role in 2009 it could mean more production from Willis McGahee - if he's healthy. Contrary to earlier reports the surgery was on his ankle and not on his knee. McGahee needs to have a good camp because he'll see plenty of competition from Ray Rice, Jalen Parmele, and Cedric Peerman.
BAL - McClain may not be happy with reduced role
Source: Jamison Hensley, The Baltimore Sun
Jamison Hensley, of The Baltimore Sun, reports Baltimore Ravens FB Le'Ron McClain is saying all of the right things regarding his shift back to a more traditional fullback role. However, Hensley is hearing that McClain is unhappy with the potential reduced carries.
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With Lorenzo Neal gone the Ravens are wanting McClain to block more than run. We'll see if any of the regular RBs can be effective and keep the ground game going the way that McClain did in 2008. Despite a potential for reduced carries he could still be a goalline vulture for the Ravens this season.
CHI - OT Pace tried to get WR Holt to sign
Source: Vaughn McClure, The Chicago Tribune
Vaughn McClure, of the Chicago Tribune, reports Chicago Bears OT Orlando Pace said he tried until the last minute to get Jacksonville Jaguars WR Torry Holt to sign with the team while he was a free agent. 'We were working on that for a while,' Pace said of Holt. 'But I think it's a good fit for him in Jacksonville. He wanted to be in warm weather.'
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The Bears have an unknown WR situation coming into the 2009 season. Torry Holt would've provided some stability and leadership to a group that needs to elevate their play now that Jay Cutler is the QB. Rookies Juaquin Iglesias, Johnny Knox, and Derek Kinder could push for playing time over Earl Bennett and Rashied Davis.
OAK - WR Walker had minor knee surgery
Source: Jerry McDonald, InsideBayArea.com
Jerry McDonald, of InsideBayArea.com, reports Oakland Raiders WR Javon Walker (knee) is not taking part in the team's minicamp as he is rehabbing from a minor knee surgery the team only recently found out about.
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Javon Walker has been a bust during his time with the Raiders and keeping this kind of information from them won't exactly endear him with the front office. The Raiders drafted Darrius Heyward-Bey to be their #1 WR so we'll see if Walker can even work as a complimentary receiver in 2009.
OAK - RB Gary Russell could play some fullback
Source: Jerry McDonald, InsideBayArea.com
Jerry McDonald, of InsideBayArea.com, reports Oakland Raiders head coach Tom Cable believes RB Gary Russell can play both running back and fullback for the team.
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With Oren O'Neal still recovering from a knee injury the Raiders decided to bring in Lorenzo Neal who has been one of the best blocking Fullbacks during his time in the league. Gary Russell could play some Fullback and could get some goalline carries from the upback position in the I-formation.
NYG - TE Beckum suffers cramps Friday, practices Saturday
Source: Bob Glauber, Newsday
Bob Glauber, of Newsday, reports New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin said TE Travis Beckum (cramps) missed a portion of practice Friday, May 8, because of cramps but was able to practice Saturday, May 9.
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It's only cramps but Beckum needs to prove that he can stay injury free in the NFL. He had an injury history at Wisconsin that read like Infinite Jest.
NYG - QB Woodson reports to camp lighter
Source: Bob Glauber, Newsday
Bob Glauber, of Newsday, reports New York Giants QB Andre' Woodson reported to the team's minicamp 20 pounds lighter than last season.
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Hopefully he has made his "slow as a sundial" release quicker. It's nice to see him showing up ready to go because he'll have a dogfight on his hands when battling rookie Rhett Bomar for the #3 job.
ATL - QBs Redman and Shockley entering final year of contract
Source: D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
D. Orlando Ledbetter, of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, reports Atlanta Falcons backup QBs Chris Redman and D.J. Shockley are entering the final year of their contract with the Falcons.
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John Parker Wilson is listed as 4th on the depth chart as of right now. He needs a ton of time to develop just holding the clipboard and there are questions as to whether or not he could become a capable backup QB. We can't imagine Redman or Shockley getting much attention in the free agent market so the Falcons could re-sign one or both if they like what they see in 2009.
BAL - WR Kelley Washington continues to stand out but will it be enough to be signed?
Source: Jamison Hensley, The Baltimore Sun
Jamison Hensley, of The Baltimore Sun, reports free-agent WR Kelley Washington (Patriots) continued to appear the best of the wide receivers trying out for the Baltimore Ravens Saturday, May 9. However, he may not have done enough so far to warrant the team signing him.
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Kelley Washington could end up signing with the Washington Redskins if he doesn't make it with the Ravens.
DEF - DEN - CB Alphonso Smith working at nickelback
Source: Drew Rosenhaus Twitter Feed
Drew Rosenhaus, agent for Denver Broncos CB Alphonso Smith, reports on his Twitter page that Smith is working as the team's nickelback and feels comfortable with the defensive scheme.
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The Broncos have plenty of veterans in their defensive backfield led by Champ Bailey. Alphonso Smith was arguably the best Cornerback in this draft class but will have to earn his way onto the starting lineup. He can initially play nickelback for the Broncos while he gets more comfortable with the speed/tempo of the game.
DEF - NYG - LB Clint Sintim working outside
Source: Bob Glauber, Newsday
Bob Glauber, of Newsday, reports New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin said the team is working LB Clint Sintim at outside linebacker during their minicamp.
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The Giants added another threat to rush the passer when they selected Sintim in the 2nd round of the 2009 NFL Draft. While at Virginia he lined up on the strong side in a "30" front - the same role that Shawne Merriman played in college. Sintim has the versatility to line up inside or outside in the pros.
That'll do it for today, Folks. Have a great one and we'll see you tomorrow.
J