Footballguys Daily Email - Volume 10, Issue 48 (Saturday, June 6th)
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Hi Folks,
Welcome to Sunday. We're getting close to Father's Day. If Father's Day in your house is like it is in my house, the kids never really know what to get you. How about this year you "help" them out and let them know they can get you a 2009 Footballguys Subscription? Just a thought. It's been a quiet news day but we've still got the stories you need to know right here. Let's get to it. JSITE NEWS
A.
New way to view the FREE 2009 Footballguys Strategy Guide Magazine
Check out the link in the headline and click on the Maurice Jones-Drew cover. Instead of the normal pdf file we had yesterday, you'll now go to a super cool version of the magazine that is much easier to view and navigate around. Move your mouse and the screen moves naturally to read what you're pointing toward. There is a preview section across the bottom and turning the pages is much more intuitive. Bottom line is not only is the 2009 Footballguys Strategy Guide Magazine 100% FREE for everyone with no strings attached, it's now easier to read too.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1. STL - RB Steven Jackson expects to be better prepared this season2. CIN - WR Chad Ochocinco admits to performance issues
3. NYJ - QB Kellen Clemens helping QB Mark Sanchez adjust
4. NO - TE Jeremy Shockey plans to attend remaining voluntary workouts
5. KC - RB Larry Johnson not bringing any attention to himself this offseason
6. IND - DE Freeney would like to catch a Manning pass
7. WAS - WR James Thrash has no timetable for retirement decision
8. NO - RB Mike Bell puts on weight
9. SF - More on OT Joe Staley's contract
10. DEF - NYG - DE Osi Umenyiora remains confident following injury
11. DEF - MIN - Vikings open to negotiating with CB Antoine Winfield
STL - RB Steven Jackson expects to be better prepared this season
Source: Bill Coats, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Bill Coats, of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, reports St. Louis Rams RB Steven Jackson said his goal this season is to be a more complete running back, and believes he can attain that goal in part to better coaching.
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'I'm working on being a complete running back,' Jackson said. 'I've said that in the past, but this year I'm really getting detailed coaching.' Jackson added that he is stronger and is learning how to run routes better.
CIN - WR Chad Ochocinco admits to performance issues
Source: Joe Reedy, Cincinnati Enquirer
During an interview with the NFL Network, Cincinnati Bengals WR Chad Ochocinco said he did not run any routes or lift a single weight in the offseason last year.
"I'm not even going to lie to you, I'm going to say it. Last year, the offseason, I didn't lift one weight, I didn't run one route, I didn't exercise. I didn't do nothing because my focus was on getting out of a situation I didn't want to be in. I'm not going to lie," Ochocinco said. "And the result of my season, whether we as a team did bad or not, that's what I get. I get hurt in the preseason. I didn't lift no weights. If I had been on my right regiment, I guarantee you my collarbone, my shoulder wouldn't pop out of place. The ankle surgery, you know."[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Ochocinco said that was why he hurt his shoulder and ankle. He has been working out with a boxing trainer to improve his hand/eye coordination, hand speed, and footwork.
NYJ - QB Kellen Clemens helping QB Mark Sanchez adjust
Source: Bob Glauber, of Newsday
Bob Glauber, of Newsday, reports New York Jets QB Kellen Clemens said he is trying to help QB Mark Sanchez adjust to the NFL even though the two are competing for the starting quarterback job.
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It's Clemens way of paying it forward the same way that Chad Pennington did with him years ago. "I came into this league and learned from one of the greatest men - and I don't use that term lightly - that I have ever met," Clemens said of Pennington, who was released last year after the Jets traded for Brett Favre. "I have so much respect for Chad Pennington as a person, as a husband and a father. He taught me a lot about the game, because he taught me about being a professional."
NO - TE Jeremy Shockey plans to attend remaining voluntary workouts
Source: The Associated Press
The Associated Press reports New Orleans Saints TE Jeremy Shockey said he plans to take part in the team's final eight voluntary workouts in hopes of getting better acquainted with QB Drew Brees and head coach Sean Payton's offense.
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'I still haven't been here a year so I can mature a long way and tune up my game,' Shockey said. 'The most important thing is to know Drew (Brees) and know what we're trying to get accomplished and knowing each other's game. It's still a new offense for me. I'm going to treat it as a rookie like anyone else in this locker room that just got here.'
KC - RB Larry Johnson not bringing any attention to himself this offseason
Source: Kent Babb, The Kansas City Star
Kent Babb, of The Kansas City Star, reports Kansas City Chiefs RB Larry Johnson has been quiet and well-behaved this offseason.
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Good for him. In fact, Johnson has been almost invisible. He is going about his business on a daily basis, he isn't making waves and he isn't bringing any attention to himself. Even more importantly, Johnson is not complaining.
IND - DE Freeney would like to catch a Manning pass
Source: Mike Chappell, The Indianapolis Star
Mike Chappell, of The Indianapolis Star, reports Indianapolis Colts DE Dwight Freeney said he wants to contribute on offense... even if just for one play.
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'I'm going to talk to Peyton (Manning),' Freeney said. 'One red-zone play, that's all I need. Just one. I want to catch the ball.' When told of Freeney's wishes, team president Bill Polian didn't sound too eager to grant those wishes. 'I've got two words for that: Lis Franc,' Polian said. Technically speaking, it's just one word, but the point is clear. Freeney suffered a Lisfranc injury during 2007 and missed the last part of the season and playoffs.
WAS - WR James Thrash has no timetable for retirement decision
Source: David Elfin, The Washington Times
David Elfin, of The Washington Times, reports Washington Redskins WR James Thrash (neck) said he may need surgery on his neck but does not have an idea of when he will decide on if he will retire.
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'If they tell me that I have to have surgery [to be able to play a 13th season], then I'll have to decide what I'm going to do. Right now, I'm not looking that far ahead. I've trained so hard my whole life. This is a different challenge. I haven't set [a deadline]. I try to keep open communication with [head coach Jim Zorn] so we're on the same page,' Thrash said. Zorn said the team will decide on whether to keep Thrash on the roster by the start of training camp. Thrash could be placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list.
NO - RB Mike Bell puts on weight
Source: Pat Yasinskas, ESPN.com
Pat Yasinskas, of ESPN.com, reports New Orleans Saints RB Mike Bell has added about 10 pounds to become more of a factor in short-yardage situations.
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The Saints are looking for a power back now that Duece McAllister is no longer on the roster. Pierre Thomas has bulked up, but so has Mike Bell. Bell will compete with Lynell Hamilton, Herb Donaldson, and P.J. Hill for a roster spot behind Reggie Bush and Thomas.
SF - More on OT Joe Staley's contract
Source: Matt Maiocco, The Santa Rosa Press Democrat
Matt Maiocco, of The Santa Rosa Press Democrat, reports San Francisco 49ers OT Joe Staley's contract extension does not include a signing bonus, according to a source.
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Signing bonuses are prorated for the life of a contract for salary cap purposes. Instead, Staley will receive two roster bonuses, which count immediately against that year's cap. The reason the 49ers would structure the deal in that way is because they have an abundance of salary cap space. The team was approximately $25 million under the cap before the Staley extension. Staley's 2009 cap figure, with this new deal, rises from $1.42 million to $11.6 million.
DEF - NYG - DE Osi Umenyiora remains confident following injury
Source: Associated Press
The Associated Press reports New York Giants DE Osi Umenyiora (knee) said he is feeling great after rehabilitating from his knee injury and is quick to point out that the injury hasn't taken anything away from his game.
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'I still feel like I'm one of the best, if not the best defensive end in football right now,' Umenyiora said. 'I feel quick. I feel explosive. I don't feel like I should be stopped one-on-one.'
DEF - MIN - Vikings open to negotiating with CB Antoine Winfield
Source: Judd Zulgad, The Star Tribune
Judd Zulgad, of the Star Tribune, reports Minnesota Vikings head coach Brad Childress said that the door is not closed on contract negotiations with CB Antoine Winfield.
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'I just think that (the word) negotiations (are) just what that means,' Childress said. 'It's ups and downs and flat and people walking away, people getting back together. Nothing says that it's 24 hours a day like it is in Congress when the government shuts down or the state shuts down. It's negotiations.' Childress added that he would like Winfield to remain in Minnesota. 'He's a good player,' Childress said. 'I want him here right now. That's the mother hen part of me.'
That'll do it for today, Folks. Have a great rest of your weekend and we'll see you tomorrow with the update.
J