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by Profootballtalk editor Mike Florio
POSTED 8:47 p.m. EDT; LAST UPDATED 9:32 p.m. EDT, April 29, 2004
STRAHAN HAS LOWER EXPECTATIONS
The Associated Press reports that Giants defensive end Michael Strahan has expressed concerns about the direction of the team after the acquisition of quarterback Eli Manning and the release of veteran Kerry Collins.
"I am not saying we don't have an opportunity with Eli Manning as the quarterback, but there is a difference when you have a rookie as opposed to a veteran player, and that's at any position," Strahan said.
"As an older player in this league and on this team, you just hope that it's not a situation where we sit back and wait for somebody, three, four or five years down the road to develop. Because by the time it happens, I doubt I'll be here to enjoy it.
"There is a reality we all know," Strahan said. "Oh, they are not in love with any of us. They don't feel like they owe any of us anything, and I think as players, you can't feel like you owe anybody anything."
MORE DETAILS ON CHARGERS-GIANTS TRADE
Meanwhile, a league source shared with us on Thursday more details regarding the trade that brought Manning to the Big Apple.
We're hearing that the Chargers' original price tag for the No. 1 pick was three first-round picks -- 2004, 2005, and 2006. We previously had heard that the Chargers wanted only a first-rounder and a second-rounder.
Of course, it's possible that these rumors are originating in Giants camp, in order to make the ultimate deal that the team swung look like something other than an impromptu date in a prison shower room.
We also have been told that G.M. Ernie Accorsi was a calming influence in the war room as the seconds ticked away on the team's 15 minutes to exercise the fourth overall pick. Coach Tom Coughlin was getting antsy, we hear, pressing Accorsi to call the Chargers about a trade. Accorsi told Coughlin to be patient -- and with roughly ten minutes left on the clock the phone rang.
If the G-men had used the pick with an eye toward keeping it, we're hearing that they would have selected either Ben Roethlisberger or Roy Williams -- and that they likely would have traded down to No. 7 with the Browns, who wanted to jump up to No. 4 for a crack at Miami safety Sean Taylor.
STEELERS, BILLS TRIED TO MOVE UP
One of the reasons that the Giants were hesitant to slide down to No. 7 in the hopes of pulling the Rivers-for-Manning swap was that both the Steelers and the Bills were trying desperately to trade up in an effort to nab Philip Rivers.
And if the Browns had snared Sean Taylor, the Redskins likely would have listened to offers to slide back to No. 11 or No. 13, given their reluctance to draft tight end Kellen Winslow (due in large part to his selection of the Postons as agents) and their dearth of draft picks.
So even though the Steelers ended up with Ben Roethlisberger, the word is that he was a fall back option for coach Bill Cowher, whose first wish was to tap into his alma mater of N.C. State for the team's long-term answer at quarterback.
RAIDERS REEL IN ZEREOUE
The Oakland Raiders have added veteran running back Amos Zereoue to a backfield that saw the departure of Charlie Garner last month.
Zereoue, who commenced the 2003 season as the starter in Pittsburgh due to a "gut feeling" on the part of coach Bill Cowher, was kicked in the cahones by the Steelers after a mediocre campaign.
Despite playing in all 16 games, Zereoue had the lowest rushing totals since cracking into the lineup on offense in 2001. Though some observers attribute Zereoue's performer to an unsettled line, many league insiders criticized the undersized-but-elusive back's inability to keep his feet or to break tackles.
The former West Virginia tailback who was selected in the third round of the 1999 draft emerged in 2001 as a solid complement to Jerome Bettis. After they shared touches in 2002, many thought that Amos was ready to take the next step.
He wasn't.
But we also think that Amos deserved more sniffs on the open market, and the Raiders deserve credit for recognizing that he's far from being washed up.
BUFFALO'S "NEW ERA" IS SHORT-LIVED
Lost in the Buffalo Bills' decision to trade back into round one to draft quarterback J.P. Losman is the fact that the Bills supposedly acquired their starting quarterback for the balance of the decade when they picked up Drew Bledsoe on day two of the 2002 draft, for a first-round pick in 2003.
And let's not forget the pomp and circumstance that accompanied G.M. Tom Donahoe's supposed coup that brought the 1993 No. 1 overall pick to Buffalo for less than, as Donahoe claimed, he ultimately would have given up. There was a rally complete with a marching band, and glowing praise from the team's 80-something owner, Ralph Wilson.
"This is a big day for Buffalo and particularly the Buffalo Bills," Wilson said the day that Bledsoe was introduced to a four-figure throng of fans. "When I saw all the people outside, I thought this was the first day of the season. You've given the area a spark and I know you have certainly given me a spark because I am looking forward to the start of the season."
Added former Bills guard Ruben Brown, who was cut earlier this year and later signed by the Bears, "Thank God that a guy like [Bledsoe] is coming so we can put all of the past behind us, because we're truly starting over right now. You can honestly say that this is a new era."
And when Bledsoe got off to a fast start in 2002, Donahoe gushed at the team's good fortune. "Drew is perfect for our personnel. But he also is so good he covers up lots of our warts. We couldn't have gotten luckier."
And that luck resulted in a middle-of-the-road 8-8 finish in 2002, and an even luckier 6-10 record last year.
Through it all, the guy who hired coach Gregg Williams and who swung the trade for Bledsoe faces only periodic blame for the fortunes of the team. League insiders continue to be baffled by the manner in which the Bills G.M. avoids scrutiny for the team's struggles.
So what will the Teflon Donahoe say to keep his job if/when the Bills struggle in 2004? We suspect he'll tell Mr. Wilson that the team is breaking in a new coach, and that the decision to draft Losman diminished the ability of the current class of rookies to contribute right away. Donahoe also might point to No. 13 overall pick Lee Evans' torn ACL of a couple of seasons ago, since players often need a couple of years to get back to their full potential.
Of course, in 2005 Donahoe will be able to point to the fact that they're breaking in Losman.
And then by 2006 Donahoe can tell Wilson that perhaps it's time to hire a coach who's better suited to maximize Losman's skills.
Through it all, Donahoe likely will continue to escape criticism, largely since the national media is reluctant to call out a guy who deftly spreads the scoop as a quid pro quo for positive press.
So as long as Donahoe maintains his mastery of the media, our guess is that he'll be around for as many "new eras" as Wilson is able to live to see.
POSTED 8:47 p.m. EDT; LAST UPDATED 9:32 p.m. EDT, April 29, 2004
STRAHAN HAS LOWER EXPECTATIONS
The Associated Press reports that Giants defensive end Michael Strahan has expressed concerns about the direction of the team after the acquisition of quarterback Eli Manning and the release of veteran Kerry Collins.
"I am not saying we don't have an opportunity with Eli Manning as the quarterback, but there is a difference when you have a rookie as opposed to a veteran player, and that's at any position," Strahan said.
"As an older player in this league and on this team, you just hope that it's not a situation where we sit back and wait for somebody, three, four or five years down the road to develop. Because by the time it happens, I doubt I'll be here to enjoy it.
"There is a reality we all know," Strahan said. "Oh, they are not in love with any of us. They don't feel like they owe any of us anything, and I think as players, you can't feel like you owe anybody anything."
MORE DETAILS ON CHARGERS-GIANTS TRADE
Meanwhile, a league source shared with us on Thursday more details regarding the trade that brought Manning to the Big Apple.
We're hearing that the Chargers' original price tag for the No. 1 pick was three first-round picks -- 2004, 2005, and 2006. We previously had heard that the Chargers wanted only a first-rounder and a second-rounder.
Of course, it's possible that these rumors are originating in Giants camp, in order to make the ultimate deal that the team swung look like something other than an impromptu date in a prison shower room.
We also have been told that G.M. Ernie Accorsi was a calming influence in the war room as the seconds ticked away on the team's 15 minutes to exercise the fourth overall pick. Coach Tom Coughlin was getting antsy, we hear, pressing Accorsi to call the Chargers about a trade. Accorsi told Coughlin to be patient -- and with roughly ten minutes left on the clock the phone rang.
If the G-men had used the pick with an eye toward keeping it, we're hearing that they would have selected either Ben Roethlisberger or Roy Williams -- and that they likely would have traded down to No. 7 with the Browns, who wanted to jump up to No. 4 for a crack at Miami safety Sean Taylor.
STEELERS, BILLS TRIED TO MOVE UP
One of the reasons that the Giants were hesitant to slide down to No. 7 in the hopes of pulling the Rivers-for-Manning swap was that both the Steelers and the Bills were trying desperately to trade up in an effort to nab Philip Rivers.
And if the Browns had snared Sean Taylor, the Redskins likely would have listened to offers to slide back to No. 11 or No. 13, given their reluctance to draft tight end Kellen Winslow (due in large part to his selection of the Postons as agents) and their dearth of draft picks.
So even though the Steelers ended up with Ben Roethlisberger, the word is that he was a fall back option for coach Bill Cowher, whose first wish was to tap into his alma mater of N.C. State for the team's long-term answer at quarterback.
RAIDERS REEL IN ZEREOUE
The Oakland Raiders have added veteran running back Amos Zereoue to a backfield that saw the departure of Charlie Garner last month.
Zereoue, who commenced the 2003 season as the starter in Pittsburgh due to a "gut feeling" on the part of coach Bill Cowher, was kicked in the cahones by the Steelers after a mediocre campaign.
Despite playing in all 16 games, Zereoue had the lowest rushing totals since cracking into the lineup on offense in 2001. Though some observers attribute Zereoue's performer to an unsettled line, many league insiders criticized the undersized-but-elusive back's inability to keep his feet or to break tackles.
The former West Virginia tailback who was selected in the third round of the 1999 draft emerged in 2001 as a solid complement to Jerome Bettis. After they shared touches in 2002, many thought that Amos was ready to take the next step.
He wasn't.
But we also think that Amos deserved more sniffs on the open market, and the Raiders deserve credit for recognizing that he's far from being washed up.
BUFFALO'S "NEW ERA" IS SHORT-LIVED
Lost in the Buffalo Bills' decision to trade back into round one to draft quarterback J.P. Losman is the fact that the Bills supposedly acquired their starting quarterback for the balance of the decade when they picked up Drew Bledsoe on day two of the 2002 draft, for a first-round pick in 2003.
And let's not forget the pomp and circumstance that accompanied G.M. Tom Donahoe's supposed coup that brought the 1993 No. 1 overall pick to Buffalo for less than, as Donahoe claimed, he ultimately would have given up. There was a rally complete with a marching band, and glowing praise from the team's 80-something owner, Ralph Wilson.
"This is a big day for Buffalo and particularly the Buffalo Bills," Wilson said the day that Bledsoe was introduced to a four-figure throng of fans. "When I saw all the people outside, I thought this was the first day of the season. You've given the area a spark and I know you have certainly given me a spark because I am looking forward to the start of the season."
Added former Bills guard Ruben Brown, who was cut earlier this year and later signed by the Bears, "Thank God that a guy like [Bledsoe] is coming so we can put all of the past behind us, because we're truly starting over right now. You can honestly say that this is a new era."
And when Bledsoe got off to a fast start in 2002, Donahoe gushed at the team's good fortune. "Drew is perfect for our personnel. But he also is so good he covers up lots of our warts. We couldn't have gotten luckier."
And that luck resulted in a middle-of-the-road 8-8 finish in 2002, and an even luckier 6-10 record last year.
Through it all, the guy who hired coach Gregg Williams and who swung the trade for Bledsoe faces only periodic blame for the fortunes of the team. League insiders continue to be baffled by the manner in which the Bills G.M. avoids scrutiny for the team's struggles.
So what will the Teflon Donahoe say to keep his job if/when the Bills struggle in 2004? We suspect he'll tell Mr. Wilson that the team is breaking in a new coach, and that the decision to draft Losman diminished the ability of the current class of rookies to contribute right away. Donahoe also might point to No. 13 overall pick Lee Evans' torn ACL of a couple of seasons ago, since players often need a couple of years to get back to their full potential.
Of course, in 2005 Donahoe will be able to point to the fact that they're breaking in Losman.
And then by 2006 Donahoe can tell Wilson that perhaps it's time to hire a coach who's better suited to maximize Losman's skills.
Through it all, Donahoe likely will continue to escape criticism, largely since the national media is reluctant to call out a guy who deftly spreads the scoop as a quid pro quo for positive press.
So as long as Donahoe maintains his mastery of the media, our guess is that he'll be around for as many "new eras" as Wilson is able to live to see.
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