Footballguys Daily Email - Volume 10, Issue 28 (Sunday, May 17th)
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Hi Folks, Good Monday to you. This is sort of that "lull time" in between the draft and the start of real training camp but don't sleep here as there are plenty of news nuggets and moves taking place that you'll need to know about. The guys that pay attention in May are the guys that run circles around the other owners at their draft in August. And we're here to help.
We've got the stuff you need to know. Thanks to our Footballguys Cecil Lammey and Sigmund Bloom for the help on these. Now let's get to it. JINSIDE THIS ISSUE
1. NFL - Rookie pay scales to be discussed at owners meetings2. NFL - NFL Network close to deal with Comcast Cable
3. MIN - RB Adrian Peterson says added weight won't slow him down
4. NE - RB Laurence Maroney had broken bone in shoulder last year
5. NO - RB Reggie Bush says he's about 75 percent
6. CHI - Pat Kirwan thinks WR Juaquin Iglesias could have a Royal impact
7. MIA - WR Greg Camarillo still not running
8. CAR - WR / KR Larry Beavers trying to latch onto roster spot
9. NFL - QB Favre's agent says 'no substance to speculation'
10. NYG - Team coming up with ways to use TE Beckum
11. DET - WR Will Franklin cut
12. SEA - NYJ - WR Deion Branch for RB Thomas Jones trade not likely
13. DEF - NE - S Patrick Chung not expected to be a starter - yet
14. DEF - DAL - LB DeMarcus Ware 'getting close' on contract
15. DEF - MIA - DE Jason Taylor will participate in offseason camps
NFL - Rookie pay scales to be discussed at owners meetings
Source: Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times
A rookie salary cap, expected to be part of a new collective bargaining agreement, will be among topics of discussion when owners meet for two days beginning Tuesday in Fort Lauderdale.
Even some of the rookies see the problem. "If you look at it, it's kind of a shame for the guys who have been in the league for eight, nine years and have really established themselves," said running back Donald Brown, drafted 27th by the Indianapolis Colts. "The rookies come in and they haven't done anything. . . . But it's part of the game."[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Not a surprise here as the rookie pay scales are starting to not make sense. Agents will always be for higher salaries but these agents also must deal with veterans who are unhappy with the current system. I'd expect for this to come in line somewhat.
NFL - NFL Network close to deal with Comcast Cable
Source: Daniel Kaplan and John Ourand
The NFL is negotiating to extend its television contracts with CBS and Fox by two years, sources said, taking the deals through the 2013 season. The developments emerged as the league late last week was said to be on the verge of settling its long-running dispute with Comcast over the cable distribution of NFL Network.
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This is not a simple deal. To see the story, click here. Bottom line is that it looks like it's good news for folks that have Comcast Cable and want to see the NFL Network.
MIN - RB Adrian Peterson says added weight won't slow him down
Source: Star-Tribune
In an effort to be more durable Adrian Peterson is bulking up but promises the added weight won't affect his speed. "A lot of guys say, "You [gain] 5, 10 pounds it's going to slow you down a notch or this or that.' My mindset, I feel like I can put on 20 pounds and keep my same speed, my same flexibility. That's the mindset I have. So, I feel like I can accomplish that."
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Peterson states that right now he weighs a "solid" 218 lbs. Every player in the NFL takes a beating, but Peterson loves to dish out punishment more than most backs.
NE - RB Laurence Maroney had broken bone in shoulder last year
Source: Christopher L. Gasper, The Boston Globe
Christopher L. Gasper, of The Boston Globe, reports New England Patriots RB Laurence Maroney said that the shoulder injury that limited him to three games last season was because of a broken bone. Maroney said, "I had a broken bone and I was trying to play with it. It's kind of hard to sit here and play and not tell people what is going on. Everybody is going to think one way because they don't really know what's going on." Maroney added, "Doing it the second game and still trying to play, I feel like it still shows my toughness and my dedication to the team and how much I really want to contribute. The shoulder is great. Not good, great."
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Two things on this one. #1, It helps explain somewhat Maroney's performance last season. #2, As if you needed another one, just another reason to believe absolutely nothing that comes from the Patriots. And to understand they will disclose absolutely nothing about injuries.
Laurence Maroney could be playing his final season for the New England Patriots in 2009, so he's looking to make a big impression when he gets in the game. Unfortunately for him that may prove to be a rather large task as he's currently listed as 4th on the depth chart behind Fred Taylor, Kevin Faulk, and Sammy Morris. If Taylor and Morris fail to stay healthy then the team would look to Maroney for production. Only then would he get a chance to show (to the Patriots and to other teams) that he can be durable enough to be a feature back.NO - RB Reggie Bush says he's about 75 percent
Source: Brian Allee-Walsh, The New Orleans Times-Picayune
Brian Allee-Walsh, of the New Orleans Times-Picayune, reports New Orleans Saints RB Reggie Bush (knee) said his recovery from microfracture surgery is going good so far. Bush said, "I'm feeling really good; I'm about 75 percent. The coaches are pleased with my rehab and the way it's going. I'm pleased. I feel like I'm ahead of schedule. I'm pretty much doing everything right now (in offseason workouts)."
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The Saints did not address their RB situation in the 2009 NFL Draft, and nobody was happier about that than Reggie Bush. "The fact that we didn't draft (one) speaks volumes to what they are looking from me this year," Bush said Saturday. The Saints have several backs behind Bush and Pierre Thomas that will battle for a roster spot. Bush is expected to be limited when organized team activities start Tuesday, May 19.
CHI - Pat Kirwan thinks WR Juaquin Iglesias could have a Royal impact
Source: Chicago Sun Times
NFL.com's Pat Kirwan, in a segment on CBSSports.com, suggests that third-round pick WR Juaquin Iglesias could make the kind of impact as a rookie that Eddie Royal did in his first season last year with the Denver Broncos.
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Iglesias has some experience working out of the slot from his days at Oklahoma. However, don't put him in the starting slot role just yet because he will have to prove himself against some tough competition in camp. Rashied Davis and fellow rookie Johnny Knox will both put up a fight with Iglesias for playing time.
MIA - WR Greg Camarillo still not running
Source: Brian Biggane, The Palm Beach Post
Brian Biggane, of the Palm Beach Post, reports Miami Dolphins WR Greg Camarillo (knee) is still not running, but he said he remains on schedule to be full speed by the start of training camp.
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Camarillo has some job security after signing a three-year, $6 million extension just before he was injured while trying to make a tackle after an interception against New England last November. The Dolphins drafted Patrick Turner and Brian Hartline and the competition behind Ted Ginn appears to be wide open. Camarillo has a fantastic work ethic, and could end up as the #2 receiver for the Dolphins again in 2009.
CAR - WR / KR Larry Beavers trying to latch onto roster spot
The undrafted rookie from Division III Wesley College is hoping to stick as a return man. That he averaged 39.5 yards per kickoff return and 29.2 per punt return as a senior would seem to indicate he's got a chance. He left as the NCAA's all-division record-holder with 10 kickoff return touchdowns and 13 total runbacks for scores. Throw in the 19.9 yards per catch and 28 receiving touchdowns, and his stat sheet takes on a cartoonish, video game-style impossibility.
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Anytime a player is coming from a DIII school they must have at least one oustanding aspect to their game. For Beavers, it's his world-class speed. There's a video of him on Youtube running a 4.28 40-yard dash, and his coach clocked him once at 4.25. Larry Beavers is not just super fast, he has good field vision and ankle breaking moves in the open field. While he may never contribute much as a receiver, he is going to battle Ryne Robinson for the job of returner in training camp and could have an immediate impact in 2009.
NFL - QB Favre's agent says 'no substance to speculation'
Source: Hattiesburg American
Coming on the heels of a report that Brett Favre recently sought the advice of a noted surgeon about his battered throwing arm, Favre's agent, Bus Cook couldn't confirm nor deny the report on Saturday, but said "there's absolutely no substance to all the speculation" surrounding the veteran quarterback's un-retirement.
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Bus Cook doing what he does best here - denying everything. He qualified this statement by saying "I can't talk about that stuff without (Favre's) written permission." Cook has an ultimate motivation throughout all this, and that is to get Favre as much money as he possibly can. Even though most feel that it will be the Vikings or bust for Brett in 2009, Cook is trying to get the team to pay a premium price for the veteran QB.
NYG - Team coming up with ways to use TE Beckum
Source: Ralph Vacchiano, The New York Daily News
Ralph Vacchiano, of the New York Daily News, reports the New York Giants are coming up with ways to use TE Travis Beckum. Beckum said, "I think they kind of want to use me off the line, in the slot, just someone that moves a lot. I think that they drafted me because they can see my abilities to spread the field and that's what I look to do."
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The Giants added a potentially dangerous weapon when they drafted Beckum in the 3rd round of the 2009 NFL Draft. The only thing holding him back from being a regular target for Eli Manning is his durability. During his time at Wisconsin Beckum missed a number of games due to injuries of varying degrees. Beckum can make an immediate Dustin-Keller-like impact for the Giants in 2009 if he stays healthy.
Source: Scout.com
Franklin, a third-round pick of Kansas City last year, was in a heated competition at WR, and became even more expendable after the team drafted Penn State's Derrick Williams in the third-round of last month's draft.
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The 23-year-old speedster caught seven passes in 13 games as a rookie with the Chiefs. He was claimed off waivers only a month ago when the new regime in KC felt he was expendable. He may draw some interest on the waiver wire because last month the Raiders, Rams, Colts, and Eagles all put in claims for him. His future in the pros looks bleak and perhaps he will be best remembered for being Darnay Scott's cousin when all is said and done.
SEA - NYJ - WR Deion Branch for RB Thomas Jones trade not likely
Source: Eric Williams, thenewstribune.com
Seahawks beat writer Eric Williams doesn't believe Hawks general manager Tim Ruskell is willing to give up on Branch yet, particularly after the way Branch played at the end of last season. He also thinks Ruskell understands that things can go south quickly with a few injuries at receiver, and will keep Branch around because of his play-making ability and added depth because he doesn't want to go through what happened in 2008 again.
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Michael Lombardi from National Football Post had suggested a Branch-for-Thomas Jones trade so the disgruntled Jets RB could be reunited with his brother Julius and together they could bolster the Seahawks ground game. Never say never in the NFL, but at this time it seems unlikely that a deal like that will be done.
DEF - NE - S Patrick Chung not expected to be a starter - yet
Source: Boston Globe
The Boston Globe is reporting that 2009 2nd round pick Patrick Chung is not expected to be a starter in his rookie season.
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Chung will open the season behind Brandon Meriweather at strong safety, but will be groomed to take over once he's ready. Arguably the best Safety in his draft class, Chung is an intelligent and aggressive run-support player and open field tackler. He has the agility of a Cornerback and moves well in space, but lacks a closing burst when a receiver gets by him.
DEF - DAL - LB DeMarcus Ware 'getting close' on contract
Source: DeMarcus Ware's twitter feed
DeMarcus Ware twittered that he's "getting close" to signing a contract extension with Dallas.
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Ware is going to sign for big money in a deal that will set the standard at his position. There is a good chance that it could top Jared Allen's deal from last year.
DEF - MIA - DE Jason Taylor will participate in offseason camps
Source: Armando Salguero, The Miami Herald
Armando Salguero, of the Miami Herald, reports Miami Dolphins DE Jason Taylor will participate in the team's offseason camps and practices.
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Last year Jason Taylor skipped the offseason training program, but has had a change of heart this season. He is not in line to start in 2009, but instead will be a situational player in obvious passing situations.
That'll do it for today, Folks. Thanks for reading and hanging with us.
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