The Rumor Mill

[Carmine]

I just heard this from a guy in my office. Any truth to this: Roger Clemens back to the Yankees? just curious

[ALinChainz]

Nothing would surprise me, but I wouldn't think so. They are keeping Beltran, so they must think they are still in the playoff hunt. My bet is they keep Clemens.

[ALinChainz]

by Profootballtalk editor Mike Florio



POSTED 7:18 a.m. EDT, July 15, 2004



MIXED FEELINGS ON MANNING



Our Sunday blurb regarding statements made by Colts quarterback Peyton Manning about Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme sparked a surprising amount of reaction both from fans and from folks who make a living via the NFL.



Most of the fans who contacted us took issue with our characterization of Peyton as a phony and a jerk for his statement regarding Delhomme, who didn't attend the Manning Passing Academy this year. Said Peyton:



"We're kind of disappointed Jake couldn't come back. He tried to charge us an appearance fee now that he's gotten so big-time."



We were accused of taking the statement out of context, since Manning also was quoted later in the New Orleans Times-Picayune article as saying the following:



"We're real proud of Jake. Everybody that has been a part of this camp we keep up with those guys. It's no surprise that the team kind of rallied around him. We take a lot of pride in those guys."



How much did the issue snowball? On Tuesday, we were asked to appear on "The Gerry V Show," a drive-time radio program on AM 1280 in New Orleans. The 10-minute segment, which was devoted to the Manning-Delhomme flap, included a sound byte from Peyton explaining away the statements regarding Delhomme as a joke, and a report from host Gerry Vailancourt that Times-Picayune writer Jeff Duncan thought Manning had been joking when he made the comment -- but that Duncan acknowledged that the article didn't make clear the supposedly tongue-in-cheek nature of Peyton's remark.



On the flip side, a football reporter contacted us with info supporting a conclusion that the after-the-fact effort to dub the diss of Delhomme as a joke might have been contrived by Peyton for the purposes of covering his butt.



The reporter told us that he'd once been contacted by Peyton with an allegation that he'd misquoted Manning on a statement that Peyton's father, Archie, apparently believed made Peyton appear to be immodest. It was nothing controversial, the reporter told us, but Peyton still took the time to try to explain that his words had not been properly transcribed. The reporter tells us that the quote had been accurate.



Would it be out of the question, then, for Peyton to say something he shouldn't, be called out for it, and then try to make it look like he didn't mean it and/or didn't say it?



And that was the gist of our commentary -- that the NFL's golden boy had put his foot in his mouth and gotten a pass for it. because he's the NFL's golden boy.



Of course, not everyone within the NFL is prepared to prop up Peyton. One high-level insider agrees wholeheartedly with our assessment of Peyton as a phony, based in large part on Manning's decision to "rape, pillage, and plunder" the Colts for a $98 million contract, which included a $34.5 million signing bonus.



As the source explained (and as we believe), a guy who tries to get every last penny from his team and then act like it's not about the money are, indeed, phonies. In the wake of signing the blockbuster deal, Manning said in classic "Aw, shucks" style:



"I don't even like to use the word 'money.' I've never felt comfortable talking about it. I'm gonna continue that policy."



If Peyton truly doesn't like to use the word "money," he wouldn't have insisted on a package from the Colts that will make it difficult if not impossible for the franchise to surround him with a quality roster made up of guys receiving fair pay for their abilities and services.



And lest we be accused (again) of not using all of the quotes from an article containing an unflattering remark from Peyton's mouth, he also says in the article with the "m" word:



"I'm excited about the cap relief that the contract provides."



Cap relief? The deal only provided cap relief because his franchise player cap number would have been $18.4 million for 2004, which would have forced the Colts to dump several starters if the Colts hadn't handed that $98 million package to Manning.



Perhaps, in the end, Peyton doesn't like to use the word "money" because he doesn't want to think about how little of it will be available over the balance of the decade to pay guys charged with the duty of keeping opposing defenders from snapping his spine.



Hopefully, he also doesn't like to use the word "championships," either.



LEN THROWS BONE TO HADLEY



We got a mild chuckle out of Len Pasquarelli's efforts to prop up safety Jason Perry, who was officially dumped by the Pats on Wednesday.



Pasquarelli explained that Perry "was victimized by the overall depth in the New England secondary," and that the "release came despite the fact that Perry, playing for the Amsterdam Admirals, led all NFLE defenders this spring with 76 tackles." Pasquarelli also calls him a "solid special teams player."
As one league insider told us on Wednesday, "nobody cares about Jason Perry," who has bounced from one team to another during his NFL career and was out of football in 2003.

So why did Len go out of his way to prop him up?

Harris is represented by Hadley Engelhard -- the same agent who gave Len his NFLPA web site password, enabling Len to track down (with the click of a mouse) information regarding player financial packages before it otherwise would have been publicly available. Englehard is facing NFLPA scrutiny for giving Len access to the supposedly secret database, so Len perhaps feels compelled to trumpet some of his fringe guys.



THURSDAY ONE-LINERS



LB Jeremiah Trotter is headed back to Philly, with a one-year deal for the veteran minimum.



Cowboys OL Gennaro DiNapoli has a stress fracture in his ankle.



Titans RB Eddie George is less positive about the possibility of working out a resolution to his contract impasse with the team.



With the Seahawks giving DE Grant Wistrom a $14 million signing bonus, LT Walter Jones might aim a bit higher than his past demands of $18 million.



The NFL fined Chris Cooper, Barret Robbins, and Dana Stubblefield for positive THG tests.



So much for getting a steal -- the Colts voided the Jamal Reynolds trade after the first-round bust failed a physical; the Packers promptly released him to avoid a $217,000 bonus that was due on Thursday.



Former Bears and Saints coach Mike Ditka's plans for running for the U.S. Senate have gone limp; "I don't know how I'd react under the scrutiny. I don't know how I'd react on the Senate floor if I got into a confrontation with somebody I didn't really appreciate or maybe didn't appreciate me." (Hey, if dough boy Dick Cheney can tell a guy to perform an act on himself that is physically impossible for 99.9 percent of the population, just think of what the former coach would do if someone asked him about his troubles with his Ditka.)



Packers RB Ahman Green hopes to follow his 1,883-yard rushing performance in 2003 with 2,000 yards in 2004.



Rams LT Orlando Pace and all other franchise players may resume talks with their teams on long-term contracts without jeopardizing future use of the tag.

[Carmine]

Originally posted by ALinChainz
Nothing would surprise me, but I wouldn't think so. They are keeping Beltran, so they must think they are still in the playoff hunt. My bet is they keep Clemens.

it supposedly is Georges plan if the randy johnson to boston, nomar to the cubs, half the cubs roster to arizona takes place. Me being a yankee fan, I would rather see R.J. come our way. still can happen, the yanks are just getting poised to make their KILLER deals for the stretch!

[ALinChainz]

They always do too. They are certainly always active around the trade deadline and never boring to say the least.

[ALinChainz]

by Profootballtalk editor Mike Florio



POSTED 8:18 a.m. EDT, July 16, 2004



TROTTER RETURN STUNS MANY



The decision of linebacker Jeremiah Trotter to return to the Philadelphia Eagles has left NFL insiders shocked and stunned, as one league source told us on Thursday.



"It's the most unusual reconciliation in years," the source told us, explaining that Trotter's failure to find a better offer elsewhere and Philly's quiet dissatisfaction with its current linebacking corps forced the two sides to mend fences -- notwithstanding coach Andy Reid's "monster ego" (as the source said) and Trotter's outrage regarding the manner in which the Eagles handled his situation when he became a free agent after the 2001 season.



Although news coverage of the unlikely reunion focuses on current statements from Trotter as to the manner in which the burned-out bridge was rebuilt, articles published in 2002 demonstrate the extent to which the relationship had deteriorated.



In an item that ran in the Philadelphia Daily News on April 10, 2002, Trotter said he "felt unappreciated" when coach Reid refused to meet with him during Trotter's brief tenure at the team's franchise player.



"That bothered me more than the franchise tag, that I couldn't get a meeting with my own coach. I was so upset, I took it upon myself to drive over there," Trotter said. "Andy had left for the day, so I talked to [team president] Joe [Banner]. Then, when Andy heard I'd come down there and was upset, he called me and agreed to meet with me."



When he finally got a meeting, "I wanted [Reid] to tell me whether he thought I was one of the best linebackers in the league, and he wouldn't give me an answer."

"I asked Andy, I said, 'Listen: Do you not think I'm worth the money? Do you not think I'm one of the best linebackers in the NFL?' And he couldn't answer me. . . He jumped all the way around the question. He wouldn't give me an answer. He said, 'I really don't want to get into that'. . . I asked him, man-to-man.

"I feel that, like I said, I'm supposed to be your defensive leader, but you can't talk to me like a man. I was always raised, you got something to say, say it. But you can also be respectful. I never went in and disrespected him. That let me know right there that I am good enough, I am worth the money, but he just didn't want to pay me."

In removing the franchise tag from Trotter on April 5, 2002, Reid acknowledged Trotter's state of mind at the time: "After reviewing Jeremiah's situation, I felt that it was in the best interest of Jeremiah and the team that we withdraw the franchise tag, letting him become a free agent to explore other options where he'll be happier."



The biggest problem with the move was that the Eagles tied up Trotter through March 2002 -- the annual period of free agency in which teams spend money like liquored-up Japanese businessmen at a Las Vegas casino. By dumping him in April, the big money was gone.



Sure, Trotter landed on his feet in D.C. But with a $7 million bonus and low-end salaries in his two seasons with the 'Skins, the question becomes whether he would have done better in Philly is he'd signed the franchise tender, which would have paid him $5.515 million for 2002 -- or whether he'd done better by getting his free-agent contract at the outset of the signing period.



So how did Trotter let bygones be bygones? He says that Eagles coach Any Reid called him after his knee was blown out in the Thanksgiving Day game against the Cowboys.

"That meant a lot to me," Trotter said Thursday, according to the Philadelphia Daily News. "It was an unexpected phone call at a time when I was mentally down. It boosted my spirits a lot.''

Trotter returned the favor after he was cut by the 'Skins last month, calling Reid to apologize for the manner in which his departure had been handled.

"I called him for two reasons,'' Trotter said. "One was to thank him for his call after I got hurt. But I also called him to apologize for how I handled myself in the whole ordeal of my departure.

"I've grown up a lot. I'm not ashamed to say I made some bad decisions. I didn't handle things the way I should have. I told him if I never see him or we never speak again, I just felt I needed to call him and tell him that."

Trotter also surely had heard the rumors that the Eagles might be interested in bringing him back -- and Trotter surely knew that he wouldn't have many other options.

In the end, the fact is that the Eagles were the only one of 32 NFL franchises willing to sign Trotter, and all he's getting from them is a one-year deal for the veteran minimum.

Did we call this a reunion? Hell, it's a one-night stand, at best. Still, the fact that Reid and Trotter found themselves together again is something that even the thickest set of beer goggles couldn't have triggered.

MARCH 1 ROSTER BONUSES ARE CRITICAL

The Trotter situation illustrates the importance of agents insisting on roster bonuses that are payable on or before March 1 of a given year. The presence of such clauses generally forces a team to poop or get off the pot as to a player who could end up being an offseason casualty.

Without roster bonuses payable on or before March 1, most teams will hold a guy until after June 1, when the cap hit in the current year is reduced. A big roster bonus creates an incentive to make the move sooner -- allowing the guy who was going to be cut anyway to hit the market during the month-long feeding frenzy when guys like Grant Wistrom strike gold.

In Trotter's case, there was no reason for the Redskins to dump him before June 1 because he wasn't due to receive $1 million or more on March 1. So Trotter got peanuts in comparison to what he would have received if he'd hit the market at the outset of free agency.

Of course, there are exceptions. Guys like Kurt Warner and Eddie George will sometimes get paid their roster bonuses, and then get cut later. For Warner, the Rams decided that paying him an extra million in March was better than taking the full cap hit resulting from a pre-June 1 release.

For George, the Titans likely opted to take a chance on squeezing George into a lower salary later. If the Titans had pushed the issue to a head in February, George could have held firm, confident that he'd land a pretty good deal in the first wave of free agency. Now, George has less leverage.

Still, both Warner and George picked up an extra million bucks for their trouble -- and that's a million more than Trotter got for staying on the Redskins' roster until the team pulled the plug in June.

FRIDAY ONE-LINERS

ESPN's Sean Salisbury had better not show his puffy face in Cleveland after calling the new Browns the old Bengals (he's right, of course, but he'll have trouble finding a Browns fan who agrees with his assessment).

Former Lions WR Herman Moore points the downside to having a stable of talent on offense, which the Lions now have since the first time Moore played with Brett Perriman and Barry Sanders: "We had one ball."

The Steelers are close to a deal with second-round DB Ricardo Colclough.

The Steelers are still talking to LB Kendrell Bell regarding a long-term deal.

The Giants signed TE Joe Dean Davenport.

The Rams have signed fourth-round LB Brandon Chillar to a three-year deal.

POSTED 8:09 p.m. EDT; UPDATED 9:44 p.m. EDT, July 15, 2004



ALCOHOL VIOLATION FORCES RUSSELL RELEASE



Though we're routinely accused of speculating (and/or flat-out making sh-t up), followers of this here site who are plugged in to goings-on in the NFL know that our original stories are what we say they are -- a slice of the current topics making the rounds among NFL insiders.



Of course, the scuttlebutt we share often includes the speculation of those NFL insiders. And one of the most recent examples of speculation from one of our most trusted sources was right on the mark.



On Wednesday, we reported that league insiders were speculating on the real reasons for the Buccaneers abrupt release of defensive tackle Darrell Russell, who learned of his fate from a friend who heard the news on ESPN.



And, as reported on Thursday by ESPN.com's Chris Mortensen, our source nailed it.



Per Mortensen, Russell had a positive test for alcohol last month. As a result, he faces an indefinite suspension.



The Bucs are mum on the issue, as mandated by league rules. But G.M. Bruce Allen provided a hint on Tuesday, when he said that "Darrell didn't break any laws."



Technically, Russell didn't break any law (unless, of course, he got blotto and took a dump in the moon roof of someone's Porsche). But in the eyes of the NFL and given Russell's history of positive tests, what he did was enough to burn up his last, best chance to return to football prominence.



Congrats to our source for coming up with the theory and sharing it with us.



THURSDAY EVENING ONE-LINERS



After deciding not to make a run for the U.S. Senate, former Bears coach Mike Ditka has agreed to do a weekly segment on WBBM-TV in Chicago with Mark Malone.



USC QB Matt Leinart, a junior, will stay in school through the full duration of his eligibility.



Former NFL coach Dan Reeves will host a two-hour show on SIRIUS radio from Monday through Friday.



The "River City Relay" won the ESPY for the NFL play of the year (we assume the missed extra point that actually would have made the play worth a crap was a very distant second).



The Pats have added QB Kurt Kittner.

[ALinChainz]

by Profootballtalk editor Mike Florio



POSTED 10:08 p.m. EDT, July 18, 2004



EDDIE HEADING TO OAKLAND?



There's a growing sense in some league circles that running back Eddie George will tell the Titans to take their $1.5 million and shove it (sideways), opting instead for a new start with the team that has epitomized life after 30 (or, as the case may be, 40) in the new NFL -- the Oakland Raiders.



It was more than a decade ago that the Raiders first lured a pair of big-name late-career guys via free agency: Roger Craig and Ronnie Lott. Since then, guys like Jerry Rice, Rich Gannon, Warren Sapp, Ted Washington, Rod Woodson, Trace Armstrong, and Kerry Collins have made the jump to Oakland for one last shot at glory after their 30th birthdays.



Rumors linking George to the Raiders first began to swirl when it looked like the Titans might push the issue regarding Eddie's contract to a head soon after the June 1 trigger for spreading a cap hit over two seasons. The talk died down quickly when folks around the league realized that the Titans didn't have to make a move in early June. Waiting until late July potentially gives them greater leverage, since George's options could be even more limited now.



And with the Titans giving George an ultimatum (or, as they say on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh, "old tomato") regarding his 2004 salary (i.e., take $1.5 million or take a hike), we're hearing once again rumblings that George could call the Titans' bluff and head to Oakland.



The move will happen, of course, only if George can get more than $1.5 million from the Raiders for 2004. Though no one involved ever will admit that any actual discussions have occurred on a potential contract between the Raiders and the 1995 Heisman Trophy winner (and we have no proof that they have)l, communications that technically constitute "tampering" occur all the time in the modern NFL. George's agents (Lamont Smith and Peter Schaffer) would be stoopid not to try to gauge the market before giving a final answer to Bud Adams and the dead rat perched atop his head.



There's also a school of thought in league circles that the Titans really can't afford to let George go, and that they're taking a huge risk if they give the ball on a regular basis to untested second-year man Chris Brown. (Of course, the Titans' first order of business if George leaves might be to pounce on Antowain Smith or James Stewart, two other over-the-hill tailbacks who have been waiting for a new gig for months.) But now that all of their tickets for the 2004 regular season have been sold, the Titans have nothing to lose (financially) if they dump a guy who is the last link to the Houston Oilers, who left Texas after his rookie year.



It's no secret that the Raiders are anxious to upgrade their offensive backfield, given the offseason departure of Charlie Garner. They'd added Amos Zereoue and Troy Hambrick to a stable that includes Justin Fargas and Tyrone Wheatley. On paper, the unit still lacks a certain pizzazz. George -- despite the thinning tread on his tires -- would bring a fire and intensity that could help this proud franchise forget all about a dismal 2003 season, especially with a defense that has been bolstered via the additions of Sapp and Washington.



And if George is released, it'll be time to keep a close eye on Rich Gannon. We predicted in early June that the Raiders would spring an "old tomato" of their own on Gannon after all other starting spots (especially the one in Tampa) were solidified, forcing him either to dramatically reduce his 2004 salary or hit the road. Either way, the money saved by reducing Gannon's salary could be used to ink Eddie.



We'd also keep the other eye on the Broncos. If the folks in Denver sense that Eddie might be headed to Oakland, they'll slap together a package package quicker than you can say "Al Davis still owes Mike Shanahan a bunch of money."



Of course, this also raises the possibility that, while the Raiders and the Broncos wrestle over George, another team could slip in out of nowhere and steal him -- just like the Pats did as they two bitter rivals were trying to lure safety Rodney Harrison a year ago.



Stay tuned. This one could get very interesting.



POSTED 11:55 a.m. EDT; UPDATED 1:25 p.m. EDT, July 18, 2004



RAVENS LEERY OF LONG-TERM DEAL FOR CB



With franchised cornerback Chris McAlister pissing and/or moaning about the team's failure to sign him to a long-term deal, a league source tells us that the team fears the potential consequences of giving McAlister financial security.



The guy is "a major pain in the ass," the source told us. The team is concerned that, if they give McAlister a long-term contract -- with the kind of eight-figure bonus that makes it difficult if not impossible to sever ties with him if he misbehaves or underachieves -- he'll become an even bigger pain in the ass.



And that's the primary benefit that any team will derive by using the franchise tag on a repeated basis with a given player. Every season is his "contract year," so he continuously has to try to stay on his best behavior and play to the best of his ability. Otherwise, he'll have no interest on the open market -- and the team won't need to use the franchise tag on him.



But that's the only benefit. As we explained on Saturday, a guy who manages to wear the tag for three or more seasons likely ends up pocketing more than he would have earned in the first three years of a long-term deal.



DUNCAN SLAMS US FOR MANNING FLAP



In a scathing article that in at least one sentence pitches a tent in that burgeoning metropolis known as "Slanderville," Jeff Duncan of the New Orleans Times-Picayune tries to rip us a new one for our decision to copy in this here space one week ago words that Duncan had gotten directly from the mouth of Colts quarterback Peyton Manning.



In his most recent submission, Duncan initially provides the explanation that should have appeared in his story from last week regarding Manning's facially derogatory comments as to Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme. Writes Duncan:



It was a joke. A boys-will-be-boys, bust of the chops from one local star quarterback to another.



It was intended to show readers a glimpse of Manning's sense of humor, to elicit a positive reaction, something like, "Hah! Did you see how Peyton cracked on Jake the other day?"



The problem is that it sure as hell didn't read that way. But don't take our word for it. Here's the entire text of the relevant segment from Duncan's July 11 column:

NOT JAKE: The Mannings weren't able to lure any current NFL quarterbacks to the Manning Passing Academy this year. Former Steelers and Broncos signal-caller Bubby Brister and University of Georgia standout David Greene, a projected 2005 first-round draft pick, was about as close as they could get.

In previous years, Cleveland's Kelly Holcomb, Washington's Patrick Ramsey and Jake Delhomme, then of the Saints, participated.

"We're kind of disappointed Jake couldn't come back," Peyton Manning said Friday. "He tried to charge us an appearance fee now that he's gotten so big-time."

Manning said he called Delhomme recently to congratulate him on the five-year, $38 million contract he signed in Carolina last month.

"We're real proud of Jake," Manning said. "Everybody that has been a part of this camp we keep up with those guys. It's no surprise that the team kind of rallied around him. We take a lot of pride in those guys."

Wow, that Peyton Manning sure is funny. Yes sir, he really knows how to rip off a good one when it comes to the fact that, for some reason, NFL quarterbacks aren't coming to his family's passing camp.



Gee, we wonder why they're not coming. Scheduling conflicts? Leaves in the gutters? Raging case of genital warts? Well, since the only reason offered in the scintillating piece of journalism quoted above is that Delhomme "tried to charge . . . an appearance fee now that he's gotten so big-time," maybe that had something to do with Delhomme's failure to participate.



Even now, as he tries to cast blame on others for his own sloppiness, Duncan still doesn't answer these key questions: (1) why wasn't Delhomme at the Manning Passing Academy?; and (2) did he try to charge an appearance fee?



Is it so unheard of that a high-profile NFL player would try to get paid for devoting time to something that he isn't required by his NFL contract to do that it should have been obvious for a reader to conclude that Peyton was kidding? Hardly.



And please don't give us the "read the second quote" routine. In context, Peyton's "gosh, we're proud of Jake" remark can be interpreted either as evidence that Peyton really wasn't miffed at Delhomme for stiffing the family's football venture, or that Peyton was trying to cover his tracks after Peyton realized that he'd said something he knew he might later regret -- especially if Daddy saw the article and reacted unfavorably.



As to Duncan, our guess is that he initially took some heat from his superiors and/or the Mannings for writing a blurb that created the appearance that he was dissing Peyton. So when the poop hit the fan, Duncan backtracked, explaining that it all was a joke.



In our view, however, Duncan knew what he was doing when he wrote the article, and he played the "he was kidding" card once the switchboard at the T-P began lighting up with calls from the Mannings and their legion of devotees.



Regarding the barbs Duncan threw our way, we're as perplexed as we are pissed off. By describing us as a web site that "poaches NFL news stories," Duncan has lied about what we do. We don't "poach" anything -- we give full attribution either in name or by a direct link to the sources of the news stories that we didn't originate.



We also got a charge out of Duncan's efforts to get his nose back into Peyton Manning's anal cleft, explaining that Peyton "was forced to call [a local talk radio] to defend his good name."



Are we talking about the same Peyton Manning who dropped his naked butt and rectum onto trainer Jamie Ann Naughright's face when he was at the University of Tennessee? The same Peyton Manning who was sued for defamation (and later paid money to settle the case -- without admitting liability of course) after he took shots at Naurhright in his autobiography?



That Peyton Manning's "name" is hardly "good" in our book, and others agree with us on this point.



The presence of the "Peyton had to defend his good name" gratuity in Duncan's article speaks volumes. Our conclusion is that Peyton figuratively (or perhaps literally) dropped his naked butt and rectum onto Duncan's face after Peyton and/or Archie read the article, and Duncan abruptly caved. So now Duncan is in the process of making nice with the Mannings, lest he end up looking for a job covering women's high school basketball in Duluth, Minnesota.



Given Duncan's cowardly, bush-league handling of this issue, he deserves to be.



(Editor's Note: Any of our loyal readers who agree with our assessment of this issue should feel free to drop Mr. Duncan a line (or two) at jduncan@timespicayune.com.)



JOHNSON RETIREMENT TALK IS TIRED



It's hard to give much credence to the suggestion that Falcons defensive tackle Ellis Johnson will retire from football if he doesn't get a new contract, since he's made that Chicken Little routine an annual ritual.



Johnson says he wants an increase over his $1.5 million salary to help defray the costs of hauling his family to Atlanta for every home game. If we were calling the shots in Atlanta, we'd want to know exactly how and when the lifestyle choices of Johnson or any other player became our problem.



When Johnson signed with the Falcons, we presume he knew that the team wouldn't be moving to Indianapolis in the immediate future. Thus, he was faced with a choice: (1) move the family to Atlanta; (2) get enough money in the contract so that the costs of bringing the family to Atlanta eight times a year would be covered; or (3) do without bringing the family to Atlanta eight times a year.



We know that sounds harsh, but plenty of men and women sacrifice time with their families in the interests of earning a living, and most of those folks don't make 5 percent of $1.5 million. Johnson already is flying his own plane from Atlanta to Indy on off days during the season. Coupled with an offseason in which he hasn't shown his face in Atlanta for voluntary or mandatory workouts, our guess is that Ellis has had, in total, more quality time with his wife and kids than 99 percent of the working population.



Frankly, we're getting sick of these guys who want the money and the fame that go with being a pro athlete, but who don't want to make the sacrifices. Though it pains us to say anything remotely positive about the sport of baseball, hardballers have it harder than anyone in sport -- living out of a suitcase for 81 games over a season that stretches from April to October, not including a month or so at training camp, which for most teams is a long way from home.



NFL franchises have ten business trips per year, not counting the playoffs. One average, that's less than once per month when they leave their home city behind for a 36-hour (or so) trip to a different town. If NFL players choose to exacerbate that problem by not moving their families to the city in which their teams are located -- that's the players' issue, not the teams'.



Then again, it's possible that Johnson is using the travel expenses as cover for the simple fact that he did a bad deal in Atlanta. Indeed, our guess is that if Arthur Blank offered to provide curb-to-curb transportation for Johnson's family to all 16 games, Ellis still would be griping about getting only $1.5 million this year.



As we've previously reported, don't look for the Falcons to do either. In the end, Johnson either will earn $1.5 million to play, or nothing at all.



SUNDAY ONE-LINERS



The Steelers have agreed to terms with second-round CB Ricardo Colclough on a four-year, $3.27 million contract with a a signing bonus of $1,892,800.



The Washington Post has an in-depth look at whether the Redskins' recent spending sprees give them a narrow window of opportunity to win with the guys they now have.



The Bengals already have sold more than 1,000 of their new jerseys, which makes Mike Brown very, very happy.



The Titans have signed seventh-round DT Jared Clauss to a three-year deal with a $30,000 signing bonus and minimum salaries.



Giants RB Ron Dayne is looking forward to a fresh start in training camp after being deactivated for all 16 games last season.



Dolphins LT Wade Smith should be ready for camp as he continues to recover from a strained MCL.



Steve Serby of the New York Post has ten questions for the Jets (we have one -- will you suck again this year?)



Dolphins WR David Boston is using his down time before training camp to work on increasing his speed.



QUOTE OF THE DAY



From Redskins linebacker LaVar Arrington, regarding his agents, Carl and Kevin Poston: "If you don't like the Postons, maybe you should ask yourself why. Look at the athletes they represent, the character we have and what we're doing on the field." (Does that include blinding a teammate with a shaving cream pie? Accusing team management of fraud? Not being able to read this sentence?)



POSTED 9:33 a.m. EDT; UPDATED 10:11 a.m. EDT, July 17, 2004



A TITANIC ULTIMATUM TO EDDIE



After months of hand-wringing, the Tennessee Titans finally have given a pay-cut-or-get-cut ultimatum to running back Eddie George, according to the Nashville Tennessean.



The Titans want to trim Eddie's salary from $4.5 million to something in the neighborhood of $1.5 million. George needs to decide whether to take a $3 million haircut, or to test the market for a better deal elsewhere.



A major factor in George's decision-making process surely will be whether he could jump to a new team in late July and emerge as the starter. A quick scan of the list of NFL logos suggests that most teams have an incumbent starting running back firmly in place, with the exception of Cleveland, Denver, Dallas, Philly, Oakland, Chicago, Detroit, and Tampa.



And these eight teams already have spent months getting the guys who are on the roster ready to play. George would be a late arrival to a new system, and he'd be hard pressed to get the same reps that he'd get in Tennessee.



The other question is money. Is anyone going to pay an aging runner with plenty of wear and tear more than $1.5 million for a season of football? In this regard, you can take one thing to the bank -- George's agents, Lamont Smith and Peter Schaffer, will be (and/or have been) floating all sorts of "hypothetical" scenarios to potentially interested teams in an effort to gauge whether one or more of them will pay bigger money to George.



Perhaps they need look no farther than another of their clients, linebacker Jason Gildon, who mustered only a $1.25 million contract with $500,000 in incentives from Buffalo. Though 31, Gildon is still a top defensive performer. The problem is that he hit the market after the big money had flowed, and even a three-team contest for his services couldn't crack the $2 million mark for a single season.



The decision point for George will be whether he's willing to swallow hard and lose $3 million by stating with the Titans -- or whether he wants to make even less for the privilege of sticking it to Bud Adams and company, forcing them to rely on newbie Chris Brown.



Given that Smith and Schaffer have invited Steelers running back Jerome Bettis to fill out their Saturday morning golf foursome, our guess is that Smith and Schaffer hope Bettis (who took a deep cut last year to stay in the 'Burgh) will persuade George to take what he can get in Tennessee, because the agents surely know in their hearts they won't be able to get George as much or more elsewhere.



MCALISTER SKIPPING CAMP?



Players generally don't like wearing the franchise tag. Sure, it guarantees them a very healthy one-year salary, but it prevents them from scoring an even healthier signing bonus via the forces of the open market.



Some franchise players take it in stride, accepting this wrinkle in the NFL's system and participating in offseason drills and training camp. Others stay away from any activities until the eve of the regular season, since until they sign the tender they are not under contract, and thus not obligated to attend mandatory minicamps or training camp.



Ravens cornerback Chris McAlister reluctantly participated in training camp last year, despite wearing the tag. This time around, however, McAllister appears to be planning a much later arrival.



According to the Baltimore Sun, McAlister has suggested that he won't be back for training camp. "I don't know when I'm coming back to the East Coast," he said. "I'm going out west and staying out there. I'll come back when I have to be here."



The Ravens don't want to discuss a multiyear deal until McAlister signs the tender. McAlister doesn't want to sign the tender because it will force him to report to camp, thereby losing any leverage that he has.



And unless the Ravens work out a long-term deal, McAlister will leave Baltimore -- if/when he ever becomes a free agent. In 2005, McAlister's franchise number will jump from $7.1 million to $8.5 million.



"If I don't get signed to a long-term deal, I don't want to be here," McAlister said. "I'm tired of living year to year. That's the bottom line."



But living year to year ain't so bad. McAlister made $5.9 million under the franchise tender in 2003. He'll make $7.1 million this year. If he makes $8.5 million in 2005, that's $21.5 million over three years -- which likely is better than the three-year haul he would have gotten under a long-term deal signed in 2003.



We'll call this the "Walter Jones Effect," since agent Roosevelt Barnes has managed to finagle for the Seahawks left tackle a three-year franchise haul worth $17.9 million (assuming Jones signs his current tender). Jones will get another $8.5 million in 2005 if he's the franchise player, or he'll finally get a chance to hit the open market. Though he surely won't get a $20 million bonus as a 31-year-old free agent, his take under the first three years of a long-term deal most likely will be better than the money he would have made on the back end of a long-term deal signed in 2002.



Also, this scenario ensures that the player won't be getting cut from a long-term deal in June or later, enabling him to participate (eventually) in the March money rush that sees guys like Grant Wistrom pocket $14 million signing bonuses.



The only downside to this approach is that an injury or a sudden drop in performance would screw everything up. But with every year being a contract year, guys like McAlister and Jones understand the importance of staying healthy, and playing well.

[ALinChainz]

by Profootballtalk editor Mike Florio


POSTED 1:15 p.m. EDT, July 19, 2004



PATS REACH DEAL WITH WILFORK



The New England Patriots have signed first-round draft pick Vince Wilfork to a six-year deal. Wilfork, a defensive tackle, was the 21st overall pick in the draft.



He is the second first-round pick to sign a contract.



The deal includes $5.825 million in bonus money, with $3 million coming up front and the rest payable in the form of a $2.5 million option bonus in 2005 and a 2004 roster bonus of $325,000.



In a somewhat rare twist, the 2005 and 2006 base salaries are guaranteed, pushing the total amount of guaranteed money to $6.575 million.



The total value of the contract is $18.05 million.



Wilfork's stock fell as the draft approached over concerns regarding his girth. If he gets in shape, he'll be yet another steal for the Patriots.



Kudos to Mike Reiss of the MetroWest Daily News for getting this scoop before the big boys sniffed it out.



POSTED 11:52 a.m. EDT, July 19, 2004



HAMPTON EATING HIS WAY OUT OF BIG DEAL?



A league source tells us that there's mounting concern in the 'Burgh that nose tackle Casey Hampton could be eating his way out of a big-money, long-term contract.



Hampton was the team's first-round draft pick in 2001. After somewhat contentious negotiations that led to a short holdout, Hampton signed a five-year deal. With two seasons left on his rookie contract, 2004 likely will be Hampton's best opportunity to prove to the team that he should get an extension before he enters the final year of his contract in 2005.



But Hampton, we're told, currently is overweight -- and the team isn't happy about it.



Hampton, who is 6'1" and has a listed weight of 320, has appeared in all 48 career games with the Steelers. His stats aren't overwhelming, but he's the kind of wide body who can clog the middle of the line (along with plenty of toilets), allowing linebackers to roam freely in the team's 3-4 alignment.



The problem is that his body's getting a bit too wide for the team's liking. And his ability to earn the kind of money that will allow him to eat like a king for the rest of his life is tied directly to whether he can push himself away from the table with a bit more regularity.



MCALISTER A GOOD "PAIN IN THE ASS"?



In response to our report that the Ravens are leery of giving cornerback Chris McAlister a long-term deal out of concern that he''l become an even bigger pain in the ass, one league source confirms that he's a pain in the ass -- for every team the Ravens face.



"He's one of the best in the league," the source said, "and that's the kind of pain in the ass a team can put up with."



Regardless, we imagine that any team will be skittish about transforming a problem child into a really, really rich problem child with the kind of signing bonus that makes him invincible. So it's a bit of a conundrum for the Ravens, and perhaps the best way to deal with the situation is to keep slapping him with the franchise tag.



MONDAY ONE-LINERS



Cardinals DT Wendell Bryant has been arrested for DUI; the former first-rounder has been a disappointment and we suspect coach Denny Green won't be afraid to show him the door if need be.



Some of RB Eddie George's present and/or former teammates have told him to walk away from the Titans.



The Tampa Tribune reports that former Bucs WR Marquise Walker was arrested for DUI; the story says that he identified his occupation as a player with the New England Patriots -- and according to Patriots.com, he is.

[ALinChainz]

by Profootballtalk editor Mike Florio



POSTED 8:50 p.m. EDT; LAST UPDATED 9:38 p.m. EDT, July 20, 2004



RAY LEWIS FIRES AGENTS



Multiple league sources have informed us that All-Universe linebacker Ray Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens has fired his agents, Roosevelt Barnes and Eugene Parker.



The reasons for the move are unclear. Two years ago, Barnes and Parker negotiated on Lewis's behalf a seven-year deal worth $50 million, with a $19 million signing bonus.



Barnes and Parker also were instrumental (we assume) in hooking up the curiously marketable former murder suspect with a deal to serve as the cover boy for EA Sports' Madden NFL 2005 video game, along with other endorsement deals.



Earlier this year, Lewis reportedly plunked down a sum in excess of one million to settle one of the wrongful death lawsuits resulting from the January 2000 incident that left two guys dead following a brief encounter with Lewis and his crew or posse or whatever the right word is for marauding group of thugs. With no immediate need for someone to negotiate a contract on his behalf, given that five years remain on the existing deal, perhaps Ray is hoping to redo his existing contract -- perhaps by converting future payments into a bonus.



Even if Lewis isn't looking for a new deal, his new agent (whoever it might be) has an incentive to work something out, since he won't earn any money under the deal negotiated by Barnes and Parker.



More coming as we obtain it.



TAYLOR HIRES MATO AND MOORAD



We've confirmed that Redskins rookie Sean Taylor has hired Eugene Mato as his agent, after several weeks of flying solo. The story initially was reported Tuesday afternoon by the Washington Post.



Per a league source, Jeff Moorad also will be involved in the representation. The source also tells us that Mato and Moorad landed Taylor by agreeing to reduce their fee beneath 2 percent of his gross salary. The NFLPA permits a maximum fee of three percent.



We're told that Taylor tried to get multiple other agents to give him a reduced fee agreement, but that his efforts were unsuccessful. Moreover, word is that Taylor was looking for a steep marketing guarantee, which is not permitted pursuant to NFLPA rules (but which happens all the time).



TITANS SHOULD STAY AT TABLE



We're getting a real kick out of the wringing of hands and gnashing of teeth currently taking place in Nashville as the Titans try to decide whether to cut running back Eddie George, who has refused the team's supposed ultimatum to reduce his 2004 salary to $1.5 million or be cut.



George, as we reported earlier on Tuesday, has not asked to be released. He only wants to be released quickly if the team is going to make good on the "or else" portion of its most recent offer.



But we're wondering why the Titans aren't taking a look at a potentially viable "Plan B" -- up the offer to George in the hopes he'll take it.



As it now stands, George is set to earn $4.25 million in salary this year. He offered to restructure his contract in March, and the team responded with its take-it-or-leave-it package of a $1.5 million base, plus incentives that will kick in if George cures cancer and/or squeezes flying monkeys out of his fudge can.



So why not offer George more money?



Apparently, that light bulb has yet to flicker above owner Bud Adams' toupee-covered grill. Instead, G.M. Floyd Reese is talking like the team is trying to decide whether to dump George or to give in to his demands.



"We want to take our time and make sure everyone involved understands the ramifications of this action," Reese said Tuesday in a statement. "I don't think taking a day or two of reflection for something of this magnitude is a bad thing."



Of course, Reese's comments tend to undermine the characterization of the Titans' prior offer as an ultimatum. If it were, there would be no need for reflection.



The problem here could be that neither Reese nor coach Jeff Fisher want to dump Eddie George, since they realize that their performance ultimately is judged not by cap room but by wins and losses. If, indeed, Adams ultimately decides to go without George, Fisher and Reese hardly can blame any struggles the team might have this season (or next) on their stupid-ass boss who cut loose a guy who still has a lot to offer on the field.



If another million or so can get the deal done, why not pay it? The alternative -- giving the ball to untested second-year tailback Chris Brown -- might cause a lot more than $1 million in overall harm to the team's chances this year.



The idea ain't so far fetched. Fox's John Czarnecki reported Tuesday afternoon that another million will keep George around.



TUESDAY EVENING ONE-LINERS



What's the best way to address a roster that has too many underachieving turds? Sign another one -- and the Browns did that on Tuesday by agreeing to terms with DE Jamal Reynolds on a two-year deal.



In a move that might be a sign that the Bucs are serious about moving forward without 34-year-old WR Keenan McCardell, they signed 33-year-old WR Bill Schroeder on Tuesday.



The Bucs are uncharacteristically mum regarding RB Eddie George's interest in joining the team if he's released.



With ESPN NFL Football 2K5 shipping Tuesday with a price of $19.99, it looks like Sega will apply the low price to its NBA and NHL games, too.



The Commish officially is under contract through 2007, to the tune of $8 million a year.



Vikings and former Marshall WR Randy Moss provided not only free autographs but carnival rides and food for more than 700 kids in Charleston, West Virginia on Monday -- Moss even brought Rams and former WVU QB Marc Bulger along to scratch out signatures.



POSTED 11:56 p.m. EDT; UPDATED 8:50 p.m. EDT, July 20, 2004 by Len Lasagna (and edited and proofread initially by Mike Florio's 7-year-old son)

EDDIE GETS GEORGED

Our moles in Titan Town tell us that Eddie George that, contrary to what every other media outlet is saying, The Dome Headed One hasn’t asked to be released – he has told Tennessee to release him quickly if the team already has decided to release him. But in the land of the used car salesman, owner Bud Adams and his flunkee Floyd “I Will Only Talk To The Media When It Makes Me Look Good” have made it look like George is the bad guy.

In reality, George has told our source that he'll still consider another offer from the Titans and wants to retire as a member of the team. One catch though – George doesn't want to give up $3M in salary to do it. (Isn’t that kind of a overpriced going away watch?)

MORE FALLOUT IN ‘ZONA

Some Arizona players are still a bit fuzzy about Commissioner Paul’s penalty against the team's offseason training techniques, all of which centered around the fact that the players were having too much physical contact in drills. Several players have reiterated a fact that we first report several weeks ago – none of the physical contact in the OTAs was out of the ordinary and is commonplace throughout the NFL in the offseason.

In a related story, reports still to be confirmed indicate that California Governor Arnold Schwarzeneggar has included in his definition of “girly-men” the “pussies that oversee that NFL penalty thingee.”

TUESDAY ONE-LINERS

Lavar Arrington’s arbitration case with The Little One won’t occur until November.

From the Who Gives A Sh-t Department: Plexiglass will report to the Steelers training camp.

A Clinton girl is now working with the Browns (did she bring some cigars?).

Today’s No Sh-t Award: Former Tampa WR is charged with DUI after crashing his car into another car and two trees.

The Vikes are nearing their seventh straight sellout season -- Twins are asking if some of these fans could “maybe come over and buy a Coke or something.”

[ALinChainz]

by Profootballtalk editor Mike Florio



POSTED 8:17 a.m. EDT, July 21, 2004



WILFORK DEAL BAD FOR VINCE, GOOD FOR PATS



One of the potential drawbacks to doing a first-round contract ahead of the feeding frenzy that will be unfolding over the next couple of weeks is that the terms of the deal naturally will receive extra scrutiny.



And that can be good for one side of the negotiation, and bad for the other.



In the case of the agreement reached between the Patriots and their 21st overall pick on Monday, the consensus around the league is that Vince got Wilforked at the bargaining table.



The biggest problem with the deal is that it has a six year term, with no provision voiding it to five years. This will keep Wilfork off of the free agent market until he's 28 years old, meaning that he likely will have a shot at only one really big contract in his career -- and that he'll have to be healthy and effective after six years of football in order to land a big-money deal.



Exacerbating this flaw in the deal is that Wilfork's bonus money doesn't reflect a significant raise about the bonus money received by the 21st overall pick in 2003. Jeff Faine, a center drafted by the Browns at the 21 hole a year ago, received $4.65 million in bonus money (signing, first-year roster, and second-year option) on a five-year deal, which averages out to $930,000 per year. Wilfork's bonus ($3 million to sign, $400,000 roster bonus in 2004, and $2.5 million option bonus in 2005) averages to $975,000 per year over six years.



Basically, Wilfork got an extra $1.2 million in total bonus money in exchange for delaying his first eligibility for free agency from 2009 to 2010. One league insider told us that, in light of the big money that defensive tackles can command on the open market (and assuming that the numbers will continue to rise as the salary cap pushes higher), the decision to agree to a non-voidable six-year deal for only $5.85 million in total bonus money is "stunning."



Just as various NFL teams quietly criticized the Houston Texans for overpaying 27th overall pick Jason Babin in comparison to the contract received by last year's No. 27, Larry Johnson, NFL agents are now taking aim at Michael Huyghue for the Wilfork deal.



As one agent told us, Huyghue had a reputation when he was with the Jaguars for cutting corners in getting deals done (which might have added to the team's salary cap problems of the late 1990s/early 2000s). Huyghue is still relatively new to the agent side of the business, and the rumblings among the agent community are that Huyghue is again cutting corners and, in Wilfork's case, doing bad deals.



Defenders of the contract might point to the fact that Wilfork's base salaries in 2005 and 2006 are guaranteed. As one league insider explained to us, however, the fact that Wilfork's second-year and third-year salaries are guaranteed is essentially meaningless, since it's highly unlikely that any team will dump a first-rounder prior to the completion of his third year in the NFL.



PEYTON ALMOST PULLED AN ELI?



For those of you who take issue with our willingness to publish in this here space information that might reflect negatively on the public image of Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, you might want to scroll down to the next story (or you can go back to surfing gay porn).



On Sunday, the Journal News reported that Peyton nearly asked the Colts not to draft him, just as baby brother Eli did to the Chargers earlier this year.



And lest we be accused of taking statements out of context, here's the full quote from the article:



"Then Archie [Manning] told a story that, he believes, is a secret to everybody. Peyton, he said, almost pulled the same stunt before the Colts took him first in 1998. The irony there is that it was the Colts, then in Baltimore, who were stood up by John Elway a generation ago. Peyton was going to tell the Colts to trade him, but, as has become his MO, he did all his due diligence. He spoke with the owners and the new management team in Indy, was convinced the team was going in the right direction, was told he'd be the starting quarterback no matter what, and decided to go to the Colts."



To our knowledge, the possibility of Peyton stiffing the Colts had never been reported. Ironically, if Peyton had asked the Colts not to draft him (and if the Colts had complied), he almost certainly would have been taken by the same team that Eli spurned -- the Chargers, who traded up a spot to No. 2 in order to ensure that they'd get either Peyton Manning or Ryan Leaf.



It's reasonable to conclude that the Colts would have passed on Peyton if he'd asked them to do so. Back in March and April of 1998, the Colts were going back and forth between Manning and Leaf, and there was no clear consensus that Peyton should be the first guy off of the board. With Peyton declaring his lack of desire to play for the Colts, that factor might have been enough to push the folks in Indy toward Leaf.



NOT ALL ENAMORED WITH EDDIE



Although running back Eddie George is receiving plenty of support in his ongoing stare down with the Titans, not everyone thinks George is in the right to dig in his heels and ask for more money than the team is willing to pay him for 2004.



One management-side league source -- with no connection to the Titans -- has told us that, in his opinion, George is in the wrong.



"He has a chance to play for a Super Bowl champion . . . and [he] is complaining about an end of career contract offer that the Titans are giving him," said the source. "Unless he has totally screwed up his money, he needs to accept the deal and play harder than he ever has to set a positive example for the future of his team."



In our view, this sentiment brings back into focus the realities of the current salary cap system that exists because the players wanted true free agency. George has a contract that pays him more over the next two years than the team thinks he is worth at this stage of his career. Just as the system does not require a team to redo the contract of a guy who has outplayed his current deal, the system permits a team to dump a guy who isn't in position to earn the money he's scheduled to be paid.



And just as the CBA was adjusted a couple of years ago to create an incentive to sign veteran players to one-year deals, we also think that the CBA should contain a "career service exemption" that gives teams the ability to pay money above the salary cap to players who have been with that team for 10 or more consecutive seasons.



Such a wrinkle in the CBA would permit teams to reward players for loyal service and hard work at a time when their objective skills and abilities might not justify such a payment, especially under the salary cap. It'd be a great way to take care of the guys who show the most longevity and durability -- and it's be an excellent tool for persuading young players to emulate the guys who have managed to stick around for 10 or more years.

[ALinChainz]

by Profootballtalk editor Mike Florio



POSTED 11:46 a.m. EDT, July 23, 2004



GEORGE SIGNS WITH 'BOYS



A league source has confirmed for us that the Dallas Cowboys have reached an agreement with former Titans running back Eddie George. The signing initially was reported on ESPN.com at 11:26 a.m.



As reported by ESPN.com, the deal is worth $660,000 in salary with a $1.54 million signing bonus and incentives that could push the deal to $3 million. Our source tells us that those numbers are "pretty damn close."



Given the sudden fashion in which the talks have occurred, some folks in league circles are wondering whether George's agents have steered him straight to Dallas in an effort to acquire some goodwill for one of their other clients, receiver Antonio Bryant. Last month, Bryant had a well-documents (and incredibly ill-advised) run-in with head coach Bill Parcells. Both sides have been mum ever since, but a suspension, fine, or some other punishment (hand-washing Tuna's dirty jock straps?) still might be imposed.



But others in league circles believe that the deal got done quickly because George's agents had gauged the market for his services before he told the Titans "no, thanks" to a $1.5 million salary for 2004.



We think the latter is more accurate. As we recently speculated, Lamont Smith and Peter Schaffer wouldn't have advised George to walk away from $1.5 million if they knew he would have been stuck with a one-year deal for the veteran minimum -- and they likely did their homework (discreetly and hypothetically) in order to figure out who was in a position to do better than $1.5 million.



If that's what happened, then it's clear that the Cowboys had indicated a willingness to pay George much more than the Titans or anyone else were willing to spend.



Of course, no one would ever admit that something like this occurred, since the discussions would have happened while George was still the property of the Titans. But anyone who follows the NFL knows that conversations that never officially took place take place all the time.



POSTED 8:33 a.m. EDT; UPDATED 9:34 a.m. EDT, July 23, 2004



MAKE OR BREAK YEAR FOR URLACHER?



Our Chicago mole has resurfaced after a prolonged hiatus, and the mole tells us that the Bears have high expectations for middle linebacker Brian Urlacher -- or else.



Per the mole, G.M. Jerry Angelo will strongly consider asking Urlacher to restructure that nine-year, $55-plus million deal from June 2003 by giving back some of the money he's set to receive if he has a second straight lackluster season.



The concern in the front office is that the money might have made Urlacher soft a year ago. His early-season fling with long-nosed skank Paris Hilton didn't do anything to undermine the perception that Urlacher wasn't as focused on football as he should have been.



At coach Lovie Smith's urging, Urlacher recently spent two weeks training in Colorado, in the hopes that Urlacher will be able to play 60 minutes of high-motor football. The coaching staff, we're told, is ecstatic with the results, and there's a high degree of confidence that Urlacher will return to the form that prompted the team to reward him with that huge contract.



In our view, however, it's important not to forget that Urlacher's play dipped after Ted Washington wasn't around clog up blockers in front of him and Rosevelt Colvin wasn't wreaking havoc to the outside. Sure, Urlacher has the potential to be dominant -- but he can't do it alone.



STEELERS OVERPAID FOR FARRIOR?



Immediate reaction in some league circles was that the Steelers overpaid linebacker James Farrior, who agreed to a five-year extension worth $16.4 million on Thursday.



Per one league source, the perception is that Farrior's high tackle numbers (he had 127 last year, leading the team) is the result of the failure of the team's defensive linemen to knock down the ball carrier.



Last year, nose tackle Casey Hamption had 27 tackles, defensive end Aaron Smith had 36 tackles, and defensive end Kimo von Oelhoffen had 27 tackles -- for a total of 90 tackles from the starting defensive line.



If we didn't have day jobs, we'd crunch the numbers for all of the other teams in order to determine whether those numbers are in line with the league average. Regardless, the perception is that Farrior's numbers are artificially inflated by the lack of tackling support from the defensive line -- and perception in many cases is all that matter.



We also recognize the discrepancy between our observations that the lack of a solid defensive line hurt Bears' middle linebacker Brian Urlacher, but at the same time helped Farrior. (We don't have an explanation for it, but at least we recognized it.)



According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Farrior will receive a $4.5 million bonus and salaries of $660,000, $2.1 million, $2.9 million, $3 million and $3.24 million. Those high salaries in years two through five could be more of a curse than a blessing for Farrior. In year three, cutting him before June 1 results in a net gain of $200,000 under the salary cap. It year four, the pre-June 1 net gain is $1.2 million. In year five, it's $2.34 million.



Farrior will turn 30 in early January. Jason Gildon was released as he approached his 32nd birthday. As we see it, then, the chances of Farrior making all of that money are slim, and the deal is more properly described as a three-year, $10.16 million package or a two-year, $7.26 million contract. Those numbers probably won't quiet the critics of the deal -- but at least those numbers better reflect what Farrior is likely to earn in his last big NFL contract.

[Va Beach VH Fan]

Bullshit....

Farrior's much more athletic than Gildon....

And of course he's going to be the leading tackler, they play a 3-4 for Christ sakes....

[ALinChainz]

by Profootballtalk editor Mike Florio



POSTED 6:10 p.m. EDT; UPDATED 7:07 p.m. EDT, July 23, 2004



'SKINS STILL ANGLING FOR O-GUN



A league source tells us that Redskins owner Dan Snyder is passing word through intermediaries to Miami defensive end Adewale Ogunleye that Snyder eventually will swing a trade for the unsigned free agent -- and then reward him with a healthy contract.



Snyder, we hear, is encouraging Ogunleye to be patient as Snyder prepares to make his move.



Ogunleye and the Dolphins have been at odds throughout the offseason. The Fins slapped him with the highest possible RFA tender, requiring any team interested in signing him to an offer sheet to be ready to pony up a first-round and a third-round draft pick.



Ogunleye, meanwhile, has openly lobbied for a long-term deal or a trade, threatening not to sign his tender until after the seventh week of the regular season. The team responded by cutting his tender dramatically on June 15.



Rumors of a trade to the Redskins (possibly involving offensive tackle Chris Samuels in return) have been swirling for weeks. The thinking in some circles is that, as the Dolphins get closer to the start of the regular season, they'll be more willing to take a player or some draft picks in return for a disgruntled pass rusher who probably won't be in a position to make a difference for the Dolphins until November.



Stay tuned.



FRIDAY AFTERNOON ONE-LINERS



The Packers have signed free-agent DE Tyrone Rogers.



The Cowboys are poised to release QB Chad Hutchinson.



Dallas coach Bill Parcells will meet face-to-face next week with WR Antonio Bryant in an effort to get Bryant back in the team's good graces.



The NFL Monday night package could move to ESPN, and the Sunday night contests could land on NBC as a result of current contract negotiations.



The Bengals have released LB Adrian Ross.



The Raiders have cut C Barret Robbins after the veteran failed a physical.



Bears first-round DT Tommie Harris probably won't be in camp on time.



The Broncos are working on a deal with first-round LB D.J. Williams.



Cards V.P. of football operations Rod Graves doesn't anticipate any problems in getting No. 3 overall pick Larry Fitzgerald into camp on time (psst, Rod, maybe you should).



Cowboys S Darren Woodson might need surgery to repair a ruptured disk in his back, which would knock him out for 6-8 weeks.



From the "There's a Freaking Shocker" file: The Panthers and the Postons aren't close on a deal for first-round CB Chris Gamble.



The Jags have signed fourth-round DT Anthony Maddox to a four-year deal.



The Vikings have signed a trio of late-round draft picks -- fifth-round LB Rod Davis, sixth-round DB Deandre' Eiland and seventh-round TE Jeff Dugan -- to standard rookie contracts.



Broncos LB John Mobley will be sentenced for DUI next Friday.



The Charges have signed fourth-round LB Shaun Phillips to a three-year deal.



In an effort to boost the chances of an actual sellout, the Jags are considering the possibility of covering up some seats (given the way the team has played over the past few years, the move actually might make those seats more attractive).



The Lions don't foresee any problems in connection with the signing of their rookies (as long as none of them act like devout cowards . . . or faggots).



The Texans have signed fifth-round LB Robert Reynolds and fifth-round OL Jacob Bell.



The Redskins are engaged in face-to-face meetings with the agents for S Sean Taylor, who needs another $25,000 to take care of the fine imposed upon him for skipping out of the rookie symposium.



The DUI case against Titans QB Steve McNair has been gutted by a judge's decision that the initial traffic stop was illegal.

[ALinChainz]

by Profootballtalk editor Mike Florio



POSTED 10:05 a.m. EDT; UPDATED 11:08 a.m. EDT, July 24, 2004



FIRST FOUR PICKS TO BE A CLUSTERFUDGE



As negotiations continue in earnest among most NFL teams and their first-round picks, folks are keeping a close eye on the negotiations between the Chargers, Raiders, Cardinals, and Giants and their top selections.



The problem arises from the trade of No. 1 pick Eli Manning from San Diego to New York for No. 4 pick Philip Rivers. If the two teams had swapped spots before the picks were made, the Giants' rookie pool would reflect that they have the No. 1 slot in the first round, and that the Chargers have the fourth.



But since the trade came after the picks were made, the Giants have to sign the No. 1 overall pick with No. 4 money, and the Chargers hold No. 1 money to sign the No. 4 pick.



We're hearing that, despite rumors of progress being made between Rivers and the Chargers, agent Jimmy Sexton won't be agreeing to any deal in San Diego until he sees how much Eli Manning gets from the Giants.



As to Manning, the thinking is that agent Tom Condon will dig in for money reflecting that Manning was the overall pick -- since he was.



This process also could delay negotiations between Larry Fitzgerald and the Cardinals and/or Robert Gallery and the Raiders. Regardless of whether Manning gets more than the No. 4 slot otherwise would justify given that he was the first overall pick (and get more he surely will), the fact is that the package given to the No. 4 pick sets the floor for No. 3, which sets the floor for No. 2, which sets the floor for No. 1.



Which brings us to Rivers. He's got the chance to parlay being the fourth overall pick into getting paid four slots above the money given to the real first pick.



Moving forward, teams surely will try to paint this as a one-year aberration. The agents, however, will be ready to use the money paid to picks one through four this year as the base line for the top four picks next year.



This glitch also could influence the money paid to picks 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 under the slotting system. That's why it's important for teams like the Redskins to get Sean Taylor, the fifth overall pick, under contract before the Manning-Rivers effect unfolds.



But with two Postons client in spots 6 (Kellen Winslow) and 9 (Reggie Williams), we can envision many of the top ten picks missing a big chunk of camp as this process continues to unfold.



In hindsight, then, it was smart for the Texans to get Dunta Robinson under contract on Thursday. He'll be present for all of training camp and the preseason -- which is important since he'll be starting on opening day. Likewise, the Texans did his deal without any of the contracts above him being negotiated. There's good chance that, if the Texans had waited, they might have had to pay a lot more money -- and Dunta might have missed a lot of camp.



Finally, we know that there have been reports of a potential deal between the Raiders and Gallery, which could short circuit the possibility that picks one through four will be inflated artificially. The concern in some circles, however, is that Gallery's contract will reflect the Manning-Rivers effect -- especially since doing so will make it harder for the Raiders' AFC West rivals to sign their quarterback of the future du jour.



STEELERS TALKING EXTENSION WITH COWHER



The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that the Steelers are engaged in serious discussions with coach Bill Cowher regarding an extension of his contract, which expires after the 2005 season.



Historically, Cowher has received an extension with more than two seasons left on his current deal. In March, the thinking was that the Steelers were going to wait until after the 2004 season to decide whether to re-commit to Cowher -- or whether to cut him loose and pay his salary for 2005.



"We may change that up and not do it that way," chairman Dan Rooney said in March, referring to the team's habit of rolling out a new deal with two seasons left on the old one.



Surely, the Steelers don't feel as strongly about Cowher as they did in past years. We've previously reported that his influence in personnel matters has diminished this year as the team shifted to a committee approach on evaluating players and budgeting money to getting and/or keeping them.



In our view, the front office probably wanted to take a wait-and-see approach with Cowher, who has delivered only one Super Bowl appearance and several home playoff losses, including three AFC title games ('94, '97, '01). But they painted themselves into a corner by drafting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger with the eleventh overall pick in the April draft.



With Cowher understandably worried about winning this year in order to secure his future, he might be inclined to focus less on the development of Roethlisberger and more on enhancing the 2004 performance of Tommy Maddox. In the modern NFL, the pairing of a first-round rookie signal-caller and a coach with a "win now or else" mandate simply doesn't work.



The Steelers also might be thinking about Cowher's potential interest in succeeding Dick Vermeil in Kansas City. On the surface, locking up Cowher prevents him from leaving. At a deeper level, however, having Cowher under a long-term deal and allowing him to go to the Chiefs if/when G.M. Carl Peterson provides the Steelers with a win-win exit strategy.



With Vermeil coaching either one or two more years, the Steelers can shed themselves of Cowher by letting him take the job, thereby avoiding any further financial responsibility to him. The team also will avoid the inherently messy job of firing their head coach -- something they've only done once in the last 35 years.



Either way, no one can argue that the Rooneys don't know what they're getting. Cowher has been in the 'Burgh since 1992, making him the longest-serving coach in the NFL, by a full three seasons.



SATURDAY ONE-LINERS



The NFL considered slapping Sean Taylor with the maximum fine of $50,000 for skipping out on the rookie symposium.



The Dolphins plan to resume trying to get their rookies signed starting Monday; one of the problems is that they are insisting on four-year deals for low-round picks.



The Fins reportedly are negotiating long-term deals with WR Chris Chambers and DE Adewale Ogunleye simultaneously, "with the hopes that signing one will put more pressure on the other" (more accurately, we think that the Fins are telling each of them they've only got so much money to get a deal done this year, and only one of them will get paid).



Jets secondary coach Doug Graber, who took a leave of absence in May after being hired in January, won't be back; he'll be replaced by Corwin Brown.



The Bucs have signed seventh-round DB Lenny Williams, and they waived OL Mike Moroz.



Wrestler Brock Lesnar will get a second workout with the Vikings, but it's still unlikely that he'll be signed (maybe they're still waiting for the decade or so of 'roids to work their way out of his system).



Months after signing P Darren Bennett, the Vikings have cut 2003 sixth-rounder Eddie Johnson, who had a decent leg but had trouble getting the ball to it.



The Vikes have signed local product Ryan Hoag, a receiver who was the last player taken in the 2003 draft.



Carl Poston says there's a "negative ten percent" chance of unsigned franchise player Charles Woodson reporting to camp on time (does "negative ten percent" mean Woodson's gonna sneak in and steal stuff?).



Bears DT Tommie Harris likes to pull pranks on reporters.

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[POJO_Risin]

VA? Did I miss something about them comparing Farrior's to Gildon's athleticism?