The Rumor Mill

[ALinChainz]

by Profootballtalk editor Mike Florio

http://www.profootballtalk.com

POSTED 11:20 p.m. EDT, August 10, 2004; LAST UPDATED 12:11 a.m. EDT, August 11, 2004



BOLDIN'S KNEE INJURY NOT SERIOUS



A league source tells us that the knee injury suffered by Cardinals receiver Anquan Boldin on Tuesday is not serious, and that the AP 2003 offensive rookie of the year will be sidelined only for a couple of weeks.



Already missing is receiver Bryant Johnson, a first-round pick in 2003 for Arizona. Johnson is still on the PUP list and hasn't practiced during training camp.



The absence of Johnson and Boldin means that No. 3 overall pick Larry Fitzgerald is the go-to guy for the foreseeable future, and the extra attention likely will serve to make him even better prepared to have a monster rookie year.



If Fitzgerald has a big enough year to capture the offensive ROY honors, it'll be the first time that players at the same position won the award from the same team since 1969 and 1970, when running backs Calvin Hill and Duane Thomas, respectively, won the honors with the Cowboys.



BROWNS DEALING DIRECTLY WITH WINSLOW?



As a deal reportedly is in the works between the Cleveland Browns and first-round draft pick Kellen Winslow, there are rumblings in league circles that Winslow essentially caved in the face of a relentless effort by the Browns to persuade him to report.



In addition to efforts by former great Jim Brown and new quarterback Jeff Garcia to coax Winslow into the fold, we're hearing that one or more members of the Browns coaching staff have been in direct contact with Winslow, bypassing his agents Carl and Kevin Poston.



It's the kind of no-no that never will come to light, since all parties involved will assume full denial mode if the poop hits the fan. But it'd be interesting to eyeball phone records to see if calls have been made from guys like Rob Chudzinski, Winslow's new position coach in Cleveland and his position coach/offensive coordinator at Miami.



Our guess is that the Postons won't complain even if they suspect that the Browns have been dealing directly with Winslow. With Winslow's former teammate Sean Taylor pulling an abrupt agent switcheroo after signing his contract, we wouldn't put it past Winslow to do the same if the Postons ask too many questions about why he suddenly decided that it was time to play football.



GRIESE LOOKING SHARP



Word out of Tampa is that backup quarterback Brian Griese is looking surprisingly sharp in his first camp with the Buccaneers.



Griese was a failure in his only season with the Dolphins a year ago, where he signed after losing his job in Denver.



We're hearing that the glut of quarterbacks in Tampa is prompting the Bucs to consider the possibility of shipping one of them to a team who might be in need of help if/when injuries begin to eat away at the depth in some cities.



The 49ers are the most obvious team that could use some help, but they stayed away from available free agents even after Tim Rattay's groin went kaflooie. Other teams that could use some depth include the Jets and Eagles -- especially if Koy Detmer's knee keeps him on the sidelines for a while.



EARLY WEDNESDAY ONE-LINERS



ABC and ESPN will wait until after the 2004 season to start negotiations on a new TV deal.



The Bucs have signed WR Tim Brown.



Vikings coach Mike Tice said that RB Michael Bennett had his best practice ever on Tuesday morning.



A nagging hamstring injury to WR Marcus Robinson is causing Vikings coach Mike Tice to openly question whether Nate Burleson has leapfrogged him on the depth chart.



The Ravens are talking to OT Jon Ogden regarding a contract extension that would create cap relief and permit him to retire in Baltimore.



Redskins RT Jon Jansen will be replaced for now by Kenyatta "Hot Water Burn Baby" Jones.



The NFLPA plans to contest the Cowboys' release of QB Quincy Carter, but the union hasn't decided how it will proceed (we suggest pistols at 15 paces).



49ers C Jeremy Newberry had arthroscopic surgery on his knee on Tuesday and might miss the entire preseason.



Here's Excuse No. 256 for the failure of former first-round WR Travis Taylor to ever break out in Baltimore -- he's had too many different quarterbacks in his first four NFL seasons (maybe he should talk to Cris Carter, who caught balls from no fewer than nine different quarterbacks in his tenure with the Vikings).



Steelers RB Jerome Bettis is holding off newcomer Duce Staley for the starting spot in Pittsburgh.



POSTED 3:31 p.m. EDT, August 10, 2004



WINSLOW, BROWNS DEAL NEAR?



Fox Sports reports that a contract agreement between the Browns and tight end Kellen Winslow could be reached as soon as Tuesday evening.



A meeting between the two sides has been scheduled for Tuesday night, according to Pat McManamon of ClevelandBrowns.com.



The previously talkative Browns had no comment on the subject for their in-house beat writer. Recently, the Browns increased the guaranteed money and base framework of their prior offer, which was equal to the deal given to No. 5 overall pick Sean Taylor, drafted one spot before Winslow by the Redskins.



Reading between the lines, our guess is that either Winslow or his father, Hall of Famer Kellen, has given Winslow's agents, the Postons, a directive to get a deal done.



Could that new job the elder Winslow received from one of the NFL's primary TV partners (scroll down) have been a factor? We're certain no one will ever admit it, but our guess is that Winslow's new makework gig with Disney didn't hurt.

[ALinChainz]

by Profootballtalk editor Mike Florio

Missed a story? Check out our Rumormill archives!

http://www.profootballtalk.com

POSTED 8:20 a.m. EDT; UPDATED 8:45 a.m. EDT, August 11, 2004



OWENS BACKS OFF OF GARCIA REMARKS


On Wednesday, Eagles receiver Terrell Owens tried to defuse remarks that he made to Playboy magazine regarding his former quarterback in San Fran, Jeff Garcia.



Asked whether Garcia is gay, Owens had said: "If it looks like a rat and smells like a rat, by golly, it's a rat."



Now, Owens tries to remove his foot from his pie hole.



"My thing was that I did not say he was gay," Owens said. "I'm not sure if Jeff is gay or not. He had a girlfriend when we were in San Fran, and there's been reports he has a girlfriend now, so that was the extent of it. Everyone is going to make a big deal about it, but like I said, it's not like I came out and said Jeff is gay. People asked me the same question about Steve Young. Everybody is going to have their rumors."



Owens said that his "rat" remarks were part of a "loose" conversation with with writer Dewey Hammond.



Sure, Owens never said he was gay. And we've never said that Owens is a loud-mouthed, simple-minded, self-absorbed, coach-killing, pass-catching, more-trouble-than-he's-worth, pain in the ass.



But if it looks like a rat and smells like a rat, by golly, it's a rat.



As to the question of whether Garcia is gay, radio icon Don Imus offered minutes ago a useful litmus test: "How many times is he called for delay of game for not taking the snap?"



WEDNESDAY MORNING ONE-LINERS



Jaguars DE Tony Brackens is sidelined with a torn muscle in the back of his right knee.



Bengals first-round RB Chris Perry will get a two-tiered signing bonus of $3.9 million as part of his five-year deal.



Eyebrows were raised on Tuesday when QB Eli Manning showed up at practice with a big brace on his left knee; he said he wears a brace in games as a precaution.



Colts second-round S Bob Sanders still hasn't worked out a deal.



Matt Hasselbeck and Seneca Wallace are the only healthy quarterbacks in Seahawks camp; Hasselbeck says that the extra reps don't bother Wallace -- "Seneca is the human JUGS machine."



Bears rookie DT "Tank" Joseph has dropped his dreadlocks in favor of a short 'do.



Steelers coach Bill Cowher ripped the team on Tuesday for a lackluster practice.



From "The Haves and the Have Mores" file: The new capacity at Dan Snyder's FedEx Field is 91,655, with 11 new ultra-luxury suites.



Giants QB Jared Lorenzen still hasn't reported to camp because he still believes he was cut; the team says he wasn't.



Lions LB Boss Bailey will miss 2-4 weeks after having arthroscopic surgery on his right knee.



With agent Jeff Moorad in line for the CEO gig with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Colts RB Edgerrin James needs a new agent.



POSTED 12:38 a.m. EDT, August 11, 2004



BROWNS AGREE TO TERMS WITH WINSLOW



A league source has confirmed reports posted minutes ago by CBS Sportsline regarding the achievement of a deal between the Browns and tight end Kellen Winslow.



Per the source, the deal contains $16.5 million in signing and option bonuses, and it is worth $29 million over six years. With incentives and escalators, Winslow can earn up to $40 million over the life of the deal.



We realize that the numbers tend to get puffed up by the agents. Still, if the $16.5 million number is accurate, Winslow will end up with more bonus money than No. 5 pick Sean Taylor, No. 3 pick Larry Fitzgerald, and No. 1 pick Eli Manning.



We disagreed with the team's tactics over the past week or so, but they got the deal done -- even though we still believe their decision to increase their "best offer" of July 30 will hurt them in future negotiations.

[ALinChainz]

by Profootballtalk editor Mike Florio

Missed a story? Check out our Rumormill archives!

http://www.profootballtalk.com

POSTED 12:30 p.m. EDT; UPDATED 12:50 p.m. EDT, August 11, 2004



MOORAD MOVE PROVIDES AMMO FOR TAYLOR?



A league source tells us that Redskins safety Sean Taylor and his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, are evaluating carefully the recent acceptance by former Taylor agent Jeff Moorad of a position as CEO with baseball's Arizona Diamondbacks.



Per the source, the fact that the Moorad move was in the works could supply ammunition for an eventual challenge by Taylor to the fees to be paid to Moorad and Mato, based on an argument that Moorad and Mato rushed the deal in order to get it done before the announcement of Moorad's decision to pull a Matt Millen. If, in theory, Moorad and Mato had waited for one or more the players drafted on either side of Taylor to reach deals before agreeing to terms, Taylor likely would have scored a better contract. And if, as a practical matter, the deal gone done quickly to accommodate Moorad's career plans, Taylor's arguments might have a shot.



The ultimate form of the challenge remains unclear. The Moorad hire could be an additional factor that Taylor uses in defending against any grievance that Mato and Moorad might file if Taylor refuses to pay them. Taylor also could ask the NFLPA to explore the timeline of the Moorad hire to determine whether Moorad broke any applicable agent rules in negotiating the Taylor deal at the same time he was in the process of winding up his agent practice for a management-side gig.



There's also a remote chance that Taylor will try to use the Moorad move in support of an argument that the entire contract is void. Based, however, on indications that the Redskins are serious about entertaining talks aimed at a new deal in 2005, it's unlikely that Taylor will try to start from scratch.



WINSLOW SWAYED BY TAYLOR'S PLAY



The Washington Post reports that the sudden sense of urgency by Kellen Winslow to get into camp was the direct result of former "U" teammate Sean Taylor's two-pick performance in Monday night's Hall of Fame game.



According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the Browns refused to budge from their high-end value of $40 million over six years. However, the final version of the deal contains much more realistic triggers for unlocking additional payments that push the contract up to $11 million above a total value $29 million.



Meanwhile, we see that ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli has found another ass in Cleveland to which to attach his face, calling team president John Collins' decision to go public on July 30 with the a best-offer-that-really-wasn't-a-best-offer a "creative public relations offensive."



Um, Len, it was a train wreck -- as evidenced by the fact that the Browns eventually paid out a lot more money above their "best offer" in order to get the deal done.



In fact, the better explanation of the situation is that the Browns found a way to get a deal done despite Collins' clusterfudge approach to negotiations. As we reported last night, there are indications that Winslow's position coach at Miami (who also happens to be his position coach in Cleveland) contacted Kellen directly in order to set the mood for getting something done. In the end, those calls (if they happened) probably got the thing done.



"Wow, Kellen, did you see that play Taylor just made in the end zone?" Chudzinski might have said on Monday night. "Sean's a good athlete, but just think of what 'The Chosen One' could do out there. . . ."



In the end, however, all is right in the Dawg Pound. Winslow got paid. The Browns got their man. And Len P. has signed on to help stop the P.R. bleeding in Cleveland. In exchange he'll get first dibs on all the breaking news from team headquarters (or at least the stuff that doesn't make the team look bad).



WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON ONE-LINERS



Mark Maske of the Washington Post reports that Mo Clarett won't be playing football anywhere in 2004, barring a last-minute court ruling allowing him into the NFL this year.



As further illustration of the fact that many sportswriters don't understand how NFL contracts work, at least one headline calls Kellen Winslow's deal a $56.5 million package (they apparently added the $16.5 million bonus to the high-end value of $40 million).



A reader who seeks to defend the honor of single, thin, and neat Browns QB Jeff Garcia asked us to point out that Garcia is dating the 2003 Playboy Playmate of the Year (we'd also like to point out that single, thin, and neat magician David Copperfield once dated Claudia Schiffer).



Former 49ers coach Steve Mariucci told Jim Rome on Wednesday afternoon that he was "shocked" by T.O.'s comments regarding Jeff Garcia's, ahem, preferences.



Former Bills LB Ray Bentley is joining the NBC Olympic broadcast team, where he'll provide commentary at weightlifting events ("So, Ray, exactly how small do their nuts get when they're on the juice?").



The Cowboys are close to a deal for a $650 million stadium in Arlington (which, for Dallas fans, is a helluvalot better than Anaheim).

[ALinChainz]

by Profootballtalk editor Mike Florio

http://www.profootballtalk.com

POSTED 8:58 a.m. EDT; LAST UPDATED 10:21 a.m. EDT, August 12, 2004



FITZGERALD HAS JAW-DROPPING ESCALATORS



One thing that we've learned over the past several weeks is that the sports media at large spends little time breaking down the real terms of contracts paid out to rookies, specifically those drafted in the first round.



Part of the problem is that, in their zeal to "break" the story, many sports journalists rely upon information straight from the kid's agent -- and that information in the end may prove to be less than accurate. Of course, writers who find themselves in this specific predicament rarely do anything to fix the problem. The real numbers typically become available several news cycles later, so the safe thing for the writer who got it wrong is to keep his head low and move on to the next story.



In theory, other writers could be pointing out such mistakes. However, there seems to be a professional courtesy among these paid writer types, which prevents them from calling each other out.



Unfortunately for some, we're not courteous. And we're not professional.



But our goal for now isn't to rip certain rotund members of the media for obsessing over bonus money while ignoring the other key terms of the deal -- or spinning the terms in a way that makes the agents who feed them scoop look good. Instead, we're trying to help fill in a fairly significant information gap that exists regarding the amount and the attainability of the incentive payments and escalators contained in these contracts.



Our round one contract analyzer specifically doesn't focus on these aspects of rookie contracts because the terms vary greatly from deal to deal, and because we've yet to devise a remotely objective formula for assessing the real value of future payments tied to specific events. Sure, a player might have a $15 million escalator for 2008, but if it's due to be paid only if the team wins the next four Super Bowls and/or the kid leads an expedition to Jupiter, the chances of the money being paid aren't very high.



And that brings us (after six yawn-inducing paragraphs) to the point of this piece. Based on our review of the contracts paid out to date to the guys at the top end of the draft (and given that we haven't yet eye-balled the terms given to Kellen Winslow), the guy with the greatest likelihood of cashing in on his incentives and escalators is receiver Larry Fitzgerald of the Cardinals.



Beyond more than $15 million in bonus money, Fitzgerald can earn a string of escalators beginning in 2006 based on the so-called "minimum playing time" trigger, which generally refers to participation in 35 percent of the snaps for his side of the ball.



Specifically, achievement of minimum playing time by Fitzgerald puts him in line for a $2.75 million escalator in 2006, $2.75 million in 2007, $3.5 million in 2008, and a whopping $11 million in 2009. That's a total potential haul of $20 million based solely being on the field for slightly more than one out of every three offensive snaps.



He can get another $5 million in 2007 if he has 270 catches in his first three years (that's an average of 90 per year). He also can get $10 million more for making one Pro Bowl ($5 million in 2008 and $5 million in 2009) along with another $5 million in 2008 if he makes it two two Pro Bowls in his first four years, or if he's in the top five in receptions for two of his first four years.



Other deals might have more total potential dollars, but earning the dollars doesn't get any easier than in Fitz's deal. As a result, a league source explained to us on Wednesday afternoon that the Cardinals will be begging Fitzgerald to restructure after four years, since the big escalators kick in for 2008 and 2009 (unless, of course, the Cardinals are otherwise far under the salary cap).



So whether he gets it in the form of escalators or in the form of an extension prior to the 2008 season, Fitzgerald will be paid handsomely over the next 48 months. Our guess is that, by this time in 2008, Larry will have deposited more than $50 million in checks with Bill Bidwill's name on them.



And that, my friends, is what we call a financially advantageous position.



L.T. BENEFITS FROM RIVERS LOG JAM



With first-round pick Philip Rivers not likely to sign with the team any time soon, the Chargers are putting some of their money to use by working out a deal with running back LaDainian Tomlinson, who's poised to become the highest paid running back in the league.



According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, the team and Tomlinson "all but agreed in principle" to a new package to replace a deal that would have paid Tomlinson $5.5 million in 2004 and $6.5 million in 2005 (probably as a result of escalators that Tomlinson achieved under his rookie deal).



The new deal would be a six-year extension, locking LaDainian up through 2011.



Tomlinson was the fifth overall draft pick in 2001, taken by the Chargers after they swung a deal with the Falcons for the top pick in the draft (which Atlanta used to draft Michael Vick).



Although Tomlinson, like Rivers, held out as a rookie, the fact that the trade went down before the picks were exercised made it easier for the Chargers to pay L.T. like the No. 5 guy in the draft. In contrast, the inexplicable post-selection draft-day swap of Manning for Rivers has made it harder to strike a deal, since the fact that the Chargers have the No. 1 slot in the 2004 rookie pool has enabled the Rivers camp to convince itself that he deserves to be paid like the No. 1 overall pick.



Sure, doing the trade after the picks were made ensured that the Chargers would get Rivers. But with the Raiders locked onto Robert Gallery at No. 2 and Denny Green set to take protege Larry Fitzgerald at No. 3, it would've been worth the risk that Rivers was gone.



In fact, the willingness of the Browns to trade up to No. 4 with the Giants in order to snag Sean Taylor could have enabled the Chargers to drop to No. 7, pick up an extra pick or two, and still have a shot at Rivers.



BROWN'S WORDS JUSTIFY RAIDERS' MOVE



Veteran receiver Tim Brown had a few choice words on Wednesday for the team with which he spent 16 seasons.



And based on the content of Brown's candid comments, we think that the Raiders made the right move in getting Brown out of town.



In part, Brown explained that he was released because Raiders exec Mike Lombardi "pretty much sold [coach] Norv [Turner] on the concept of, it can never be your team as long as Tim Brown is here. And that was the truth. If I was there, it was going to be my team, because the guys were going to listen to me, because I had years in the league and I'd been there for so long. And the decisions I made in the locker room had always worked out for us."



Read that last sentence again, and think about what it means.



When a player begins to think that his tenure with the team makes him anything more than a player, then it's high time for the player to move on. Notions of structure and hierarchy are more important than ever in the post-salary cap NFL, when the annual infusion of new players necessitates a clear understanding that the coach is the coach and the players are the players. Period.



In fact, the idea that Brown was able for some period of time to exert such influence in the locker room tells us that the move was long overdue -- and it makes us wonder whether former coach Bill Callahan merits the brunt of the blame for last year's horrendous performance. Hell, no coach could thrive in an environment where a player is making locker room "decisions" for the team, and no reputable coach would tolerate it for a second.



So we'll officially retract our position that the Raiders should have cut Brown loose earlier so that he could have spent time in another team's offseason program. Brown got what he deserved (including a $240,000 roster bonus paid on June 3, two days after the date on which he could have been dumped in cap-friendly fashion).



We also wonder how Brown's new coach reacted to this admission. Does Chucky know that Tim was making locker room decisions for the team when Jon was the head coach in Oakland? And does Brown plan to reprise this role in Tampa?



In the old days, it was an aging athlete's on-field performance that made us embarrassed for them. Nowadays, it's often the things that come out of their mouths that make them look far worse than their declining physical skills.



WARNER'S STATUS SEEMS SHAKY



It wasn't supposed to be newsworthy. When Kurt Warner signed with the Giants in June, the idea was that he'd be the starting quarterback until Eli Manning is ready to take over, presumably in 2005.



But with Warner looking more like the cloudy-eyed, busted-handed has-been of 2002 and 2003 than the two-time MVP of 1999-2001, the fact that coach Tom Coughlin even had to announce that Warner will start the preseason opener tells us that Warner's tenure in New York isn't unfolding the way that either he or the team envisioned.



As a result, Coughlin won't discuss whether Warner will start the team's second preseason game, and he has described the competition between Kurt and Eli as "tight."



That statement, standing alone, is likely more of an indignity than Warner (or his wife Yoko) could bear. Kurt the Chosen is in the same stratosphere as a wet-eared Loozianan who has never taken an NFL snap? How can it be?



It be.



And it's not because Manning is already can play like the Peyton of today, but it's because (in our view) Warner no longer can play like Kurt of yesterday.



We'll also reiterate our prediction that, if Warner isn't the opening day starter, he'll be released. Sure, Kurt is capable of putting on a happy face as the backup, but everyone knows that he still thinks he's got MVP talent (and our guess is that he'll feel the same way when he's 52). Also, with Yoko a shot of espresso away from calling up a talk radio station and teeing off about Kurt not getting a fair chance to win the job and about Kurt passing up chances to be the starter elsewhere and about the Giants giving the job to Manning to justify all the money he was paid, Coughlin will sleep a bit more easily with Warner not on the roster at all.



THURSDAY MORNING ONE-LINERS



Lions LB Boss Bailey is now out indefinitely after a 'scope showed worse damage to his right knee than expected.



Bengals first-round RB Chris Perry is trying to catch up mentally after holding out.



A lingering groin pull is keeping Bears OT John Tait out of action.



Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger could start the season firmly entrenched as the No. 2 guy on the depth chart -- and rising.

[ALinChainz]

by Profootballtalk editor Mike Florio

http://www.profootballtalk.com

POSTED 9:42 a.m. EDT; 10:44 a.m. EDT, August 13, 2004



BROWNS RIPPED FOR WINSLOW DEAL



The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that the Browns are getting bad feedback from league insiders regarding the magnitude of the contract they handed to rookie Kellen Winslow.



How bad is the deal? It's so bad that even team president John Collins acknowledges that he got bent over and blasted.



"I'm not happy about these numbers," Collins said. "But at the end of the day, we've got the player on the field."



"They got crushed," one NFL team executive told the Plain Dealer.



But the initial information we're getting from our own sources is that the deal might not be as favorable for Winslow as initially reported. The original number of $16.5 million might only be $11.132 million, based on information provided to us by a league source.



Per the source, Winslow's actual up-front signing bonus was $6 million, with a $4.4125 million option bonus due in 2005 and a $720,000 roster bonus paid out in 2004.



If, in reality, Winslow's bonus is $5 million or so less than reported, he'd be roughly equal to Eli Manning and Larry Fitzgerald in the signing bonus puffery category, since both of them were supposedly getting bonuses in excess of $20 million, but the real numbers for both (as we pointed out and as the rest of the football media ignored lest they admit they previously had disseminated bad info) were in the neighborhood of $15 million.



The Winslow deal also contains $4.13 million in base salary over the next six years.



The real money must be in the incentives and escalators, which reportedly can be obtained with minimal achievement by Winslow.



Stay tuned for more.



LEWIS TRIAL TO START NOVEMBER 1



Though it's gotten far less attention by the mainstream media than the pending legal matters involving Kobe Bryant, the criminal trial of Ravens running back Jamal Lewis will begin on November 1, smack dab in the middle of the 2004 regular season.



Lewis is accused of participating in a conspiracy to sell drugs, which allegedly occurred in the summer of 2000, before his rookie season with the Ravens.



Once the trial starts, Lewis won't be permitted to play in any games, since he'll be absent from practice.



The trial is expected to last less than two weeks. If so, he'll only miss one game -- a November 7 Sunday night affair against the Browns.



Lewis faces a mandatory sentence of 10 years, if convicted of a conspiracy involving more than 5 kilograms of cocaine.



Although everyone on Lewis's side is talking tough, there's no guarantee he'll walk. If the charges were as weak as the Lewis camp maintains, the judge wouldn't have permitted the case to proceed to trial.



FRIDAY MORNING ONE-LINERS



New Falcons offensive line coach Alex Gibbs summarized the performance of his troops in Thursday night's 24-0 loss to the Ravens succinctly: "Horrible."



For those of you who accept at face value the notion that having a girlfriend, fiance, and/or wife doesn't mean that a dude isn't gay, we've got two words: James and McGreevey.



Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson confirmed that he's reached an agreement in principle on a six-year, $60 million extension including $21 million in guarantees.



Vikings coach Mike Tice shared with the media the other day a term as common among league insiders as "turd" when Tice explained in reference to QB Gus Frerotte, "I told you he wasn't some 'slappy'." ("Slappy" is short for "slapdick," a big favorite of NFL types. Another acceptable variation is "slapola.")



Greg Stroda of the Palm Beach Post makes an excellent point regarding the recent disintegration of the Dolphins' offense -- coach Dave Wannstedt no longer has to worry about getting fired if the team doesn't excel this year, since there are no longer any expectations that the team will.



Chris Simms will be the No. 2 quarterback for the Bucs in the preseason opener; Brian Griese will get that role in the second preseason contest.



The Ron Dayne era could be beginning (finally) in New York.



Vikings DE Kenny Mixon says he's no longer mixin' drinks.



Coach Mike Sherman said that lingering soreness in the foot of RB Ahman Green isn't serious.



Bucs CB Ronde Barber said that the arrival of WR Tim Brown delayed plans to install some offensive plays for the veteran defensive back.



Browns S Sean Jones might not be placed on injured reserve, despite a torn ACL suffered in June.



Bears coach Lovie Smith won't allow his assistant coaches to speak with the media after games.



Bucs LB Derrick Brooks will miss the preseason opener with a sprained knee.

[ALinChainz]

by Profootballtalk editor Mike Florio

http://www.profootballtalk.com

POSTED 9:54 p.m. EDT, August 13, 2004



$20 MILLION BONUS FOR L.T.



After a couple of weeks of first-round deals being erroneously reported as carrying $20 million signing bonus, Chargers running back LaDainain Tomlinson is the first player other that Colts quarterback Peyton Manning to actually crack the $20 million bonus barrier.



A league source tells us that L.T. will pocket a signing bonus of $12.4 million, plus a roster bonus due August 21 of $3.1 million and a roster bonus due on March 1, 2005 in the amount of $4.46 million.



For cap purposes, the bonus will be spread over each of the eight years of the contract at a rate of $1.55 million per season. The full amount of the roster bonuses applies to the cap in the season in which the money is paid.



Tomlinson is scheduled to earn, in all, $60 million over his next eight seasons with the Chargers.



And since the premature retirement of running backs seems to be a growing phenomenon in the NFL, here's the repayment schedule if L.T. quits at any time after the second year of the deal:



After 2005: $8.9 million.



After 2006: $7.35 million.



After 2007: $5.8 million.



After 2008: $4.25 million.



DAYNE LOOKING GREAT



Giants running back Ron Dayne is making the most of his second chance in New York -- and he's making coach Tom Coughlin look pretty smart for realizing Dayne's potential.



Dayne also is making former Jim Fassel look like a doofis for hardly using the 1999 Heisman winner over the past three seasons.



Showing the leg drive and open-field burst that made him a star in college, Dayne is looking more like Jerome Bettis and less like the tentative, one-hit-and-down running back he'd become in his first four NFL seasons.



And although it's probably accurate to blame the kid for his troubles, it takes a good coach to bring the best out in every player, and Coughlin already has shown that he's got the magic touch, at least as far as Dayne is concerned.



As of this posting, Dayne has rushed for 116 yards on eight carries, with two touchdowns.



POSTED 12:16 p.m. EDT, August 13, 2004



WATSON FIRES CONDON



Mike Reiss of the MetroWest Daily News reports that Patriots first-round draft pick Ben Watson has poop-canned agent Tom Condon of IMG.



It's a move that might be an indication that Watson is ready to break his impasse with the team and get a deal finished.



Watson, the last selection of the first round, and Chargers first-round quarterback Philip Rivers are to only two remaining round one holdouts.



The dispute apparently centered on the length of the deal; Condon wanted a six-year deal that could be voided to five and the Pats want a firm six-year commitment.



The Patriots other first-round choice, defensive tackle Vince Wilfork, agreed to a six-year contract with no voidable year.



Reiss reports that Pat Dye is thought to be Watson's first choice for a replacement. Under NFLPA rules, he must wait five days to hire a new representative.



Condon essentially inherited Watson from former IMG agent Darrell Wills, who tried to bolt from the mega-firm and set up his own shop before being summarily decertified by the NFLPA. Watson and others wanted to go with Wills, and we wouldn't be surprised to learn that Wills has been giving Watson some informal, off-the-record advice as to his negotiations with the Pats.



For Condon, it's not the only player he's recently lost. A league source recently told us that Vikings running back Onterrio Smith has dumped Condon and IMG in favor of Octagon. Smith, a budding star who is caught in a tailback logjam in Minnesota and who has been the subject of trade rumors, might have wanted Condon to be more aggressive about forcing a trade to another team.

[ALinChainz]

by Profootballtalk editor Mike Florio

http://www.profootballtalk.com

POSTED 10:18 p.m. EDT; LAST UPDATED 11:26 a.m. EDT, August 13, 2004



IMG DOES DAMAGE CONTROL



In the wake of reports that Patriots first-round tight end Ben Watson has fired agent Tom Condon and IMG due to an inability to get a deal done, Condon and IMG are spreading the word that the agent decided to fire Watson.



Per Liz Mullen of the Sports Business Journal, Condon severed ties with Watson because the Patriots refuse to do anything other than a firm six-year deal with no voidable years.



Um, perhaps we're missing something here, but isn't the agent's job to fight for the client when the team is imposing terms that agent thinks are unreasonable?



Instead, Condon fled.



If, indeed, the NFLPA is concerned about the growing trend of teams digging in their heels and insisting on longer-term contracts, why isn't Condon using his significant influence over the union to bring this issue to a head via the Watson negotiations?



Continue the holdout, Tom. File a grievance, Tom. Do anything, Tom, other than walk away from your client when your client needs you the most.



And, remember, we're talking about Tom Condon here. The great and powerful Wizard of Oz. He's the guy who finagled a $34.5 million dollar bonus for Peyton Manning and who masterminded a draft-day power play that got baby brother Eli a ticket out of San Diego and $15 million in bonus money of his own.



Of course, these observations presume that Condon is telling the truth. We think he isn't.



We believe that Condon and IMG merely are engaged in damage control on this one, and that the move originated with Watson, as Mike Reiss of the MetroWest Daily News first reported on Friday.



In a week when Condon already has lost up-and-coming running back Onterrio Smith, the last thing he needs is for another client to tell him to get bent, given the reality that Condon has plenty of other high-profile clients -- and that there are plenty of other sharks in the water who'll do anything to get their teeth into them.



But, in our view, Condon's chosen strategy makes him look even worse. The very idea that an agent will shrink away from tough negotiations is the kind of thing that could cause current and prospective clients to rush in droves to guys who have a track record of holding a guy out until the player gets what the agent wants.



For the Patriots, this development is just another example of the fact that they've figured out how to navigate the increasingly treacherous water of the post-salary cap NFL. Our guess is that Watson will agree to the request for a six-year deal because he wants to get into camp so he can create for himself an important role with the defending Super Bowl champs. Given that the team is loaded with talent for the foreseeable future, being a member of the roster for the next six years ain't such a bad thing.



And the deal could come sooner rather than later. According to Patriots.com, the NFLPA has waived the five-day waiting period for the hiring of a new agent (possibly to enhance the appearance that Condon fired Watson). Watson's new agent, Pat Dye, will be meeting with the team on Friday night.



Here's a final observation -- if Condon was the one to fire Watson, how is it that Watson landed so quickly in the lap of the guy whom Reiss reported that Watson had chosen to represent him?



Peculiar coincidence, no?



Then again, our guess is that Condon didn't shed any tears over this one. Like a lawyer whose never lost a trial because he settles all the ones he thinks he might not win, Condon gets to preserve the appearance that he always wins -- even when he loses.



EARLY SATURDAY ONE-LINERS



Glen Taylor still remains interested in buying the Vikings from Red McCombs.



Cards WR Larry Fitzgerald has fairly basic aspirations as he makes his NFL debut in his hometown of Minneapolis: "I just don't want to embarrass myself."



Falcons QB Michael Vick says the West Coast offense won't hamper his north-south running abilities.



Though coach Brian Billick has said that RB Jamal Lewis won't play if he doesn't practice during his drug trial, Lewis says he expects to play (maybe the team can practice after court hours during the trial -- in Atlanta, where the trial will occur).



With Charlie Batch out for the year following knee surgery, the Steelers have added QB Kurt Kittner as their fourth arm in camp (as the Steelers likely will end up being the fifth team to cut Kittner since April 27, joining the Falcons, Bengals, Giants, and Patriots as teams who have given Kittner the boot-- and that's gotta be a record).



Bills CB Kevin Thomas broke a bone in his hand during practice and will miss the preseason opener.



A Cowboys stadium in Arlington supposedly could result in more than $7 billion in income for the city over 30 years.



Marcus Allen's brother Damon, 41, could be finished with football after 20 years in the CFL; the Montreal running back suffered an ACL tear on Thursday night.

[ALinChainz]

by Profootballtalk editor Mike Florio

http://www.profootballtalk.com

POSTED 9:42 p.m. EDT, August 15, 2004



WATSON FIRED CONDON, PERIOD



As some media types continue to perpetuate an alternative reality, we've confirmed via multiple league sources that Patriots rookie tight end Ben Watson initiated the termination of agent Tom Condon.



Condon didn't want Watson to sign a six-year deal. Watson, we're told, decided recently that he is willing to sign a six-year deal. Condon wanted to hold firm, so Watson got someone else to represent him.



Regardless of whether it was Watson or Condon who ended the relationship, the move convinces us that Condon is far more concerned about his image than he is about helping each and every one of his clients to get the best deal possible. If, after all, the kid decides that he'll sign a six-year deal, then Condon's job should be to get him the best terms possible under a six-year framework.



Condon's concern, however, was that other agents would use his agreement to a six-year deal as a recruiting tool against him. Instead, they now have an even better tool:



Condon is afraid of the Patriots.



JAGS BAILING ON BRACKENS?



As veteran defensive end Tony Brackens struggles with a muscle tear in his leg, word out of Jacksonville is that the Jags are looking for another defensive end, with an eye toward giving Brackens a permanent heave-ho.



The Jaguars have been mentioned from time to time as a possible trade partner with the Dolphins for unsigned AFC sack leader Adewale Ogunleye, but such a move is far from coming to fruition.



The market for available free agent defensive ends is somewhat limited, and it's likely that the team will instead wait for names to pop up on the waiver wire as rosters in other cities get reduced.



MCCOWN HAS HAPPY FEET



There's talk around the league that Cardinals quarterback Josh McCown has developed a case of the happy feet, which could keep him from realizing his full potential in the short term as a starting quarterback.



League insiders believe that McCown doesn't yet have the patience to remain in the pocket and scan the field for open receivers.



In a move that would be considered daring for anyone other than Dennis Green, who has made a career out of making unconventional decisions when it comes to naming starting quarterbacks, the Cards' new coach handed the starting job to McCown in the offseason and did nothing to shore up the position -- other than signing veteran Shaun King.



On Saturday night, McCown completed four of six passes for 29 yards in limited duty against the Vikings.



SUNDAY NIGHT ONE-LINERS



Pats OT Matt Light practiced with the team for the first time since undergoing an appendectomy in June.



The Bills cut veteran DT Oliver Gibson.



Eagles rookie RB Bruce Perry will miss the season after suffering a dislocated shoulder on Friday night.



Dolphins CB Korey Banks suffered a spinal injury on Saturday night against the Jaguars.



Falcons WR Peerless Price think he's going to have a break out year (unless, of course, one of Michael Vick's bones don't break out of his skin).



Dolphins WR David Boston plans to return to the field by November.



Vikings CB Brian Williams suffered a potentially significant knee sprain on Saturday night against the Cardinals.

[ALinChainz]

by Profootballtalk editor Mike Florio

http://www.profootballtalk.com

POSTED 7:17 a.m. EDT; UPDATED 7:55 a.m. EDT, August 16, 2004



PRIME TIME RETURNING TO FOOTBALL?



After systematically losing out on his TV-based revenue streams, former shut-down cornerback Deion Sanders is contemplating a return to the NFL, according to the Baltimore Sun.



Sanders would serve as the nickel corner for the Ravens.



If it happens, it would be news to the Ravens. "To my knowledge, Deion Sanders is retired," coach Brian Billick told the Sun. "That kind of takes him off our radar. If he decides to unretire, like any number of other teams, we would be interested."



The Ravens have a glaring need at the nickel corner position, since newcomer Dale Carter will miss the year due to a blood clot. Sanders likewise has a glaring need to get himself back into the public eye, since he lost his job with CBS's pre-game show in a money dispute and was fired from ESPN's The New American Sportsman show



Sanders is 37, and he hasn't played football since the 2000 season in Wasington. He contemplated a return near the end of the 2002 season with the Raiders, but after the Redskins released Sanders he was required to pass through waivers. Several teams put in claims for him, and the Chargers were awarded his rights.



MONDAY MORNING ONE-LINERS



RB Duce Staley got the start at tailback over Jerome Bettis in the Steelers' first preseason game.



Broncos QB Jake Plummer has a 13.8 passer rating through two games; on Sunday night against the Bills, he rang up a worse-than-dismal 2.7.



Falcons DE Patrick Kerney left practice on Sunday night with a sprained knee.



Dolphins CB Korey Banks is recovering from a spinal injury that left him temporarily paralyzed on Saturday night.



The Bears are experimenting with Bryan Robinson at left defensive end.



Coach Joe Gibbs' initial review on the performance of his new/old team: "I don't think we're doing smart things."



An MRI on the knee of Vikings CB Brian Williams showed no serious damage; he'll miss the rest of the preseason and probably the Sept. 12 opener against Dallas.



Chiefs V.P. of football operations Lynn Stiles says that the new focus on enforcing the 5-yard chuck rule will help the Vikings: "This is going to be like the Globetrotters for [Randy] Moss."



The Redskins are close to adding OT Marcus Spriggs.



Cards WR Larry Fitzgerald has a severely sprained ankle, but an MRI was negative.



Lions CB Chris Cash will make his first appearance in nearly a year in the next preseason game; he hasn't played since suffering a knee injury in the third preseason game a year ago.



Texans RB Jason Anderson is out indefinitely with a fractured right fibula.



Lions coach Steve Mariucci wants to give No. 2 QB Mike McMahon more reps in practice.



The family home of Rams rookie DE Anthony Hargrove was destroyed by Hurricane Charley.



For now, the Rams have moved Tony Newson ahead of Tommy Polley at strongside linebacker.



The Dolphins are close to adding WR Antonio Freeman.



Jets CB Ray Mickens injured his left knee in practice on Sunday; an MRI will be performed.



Packers WR Robert Ferguson is out for Monday night's game against Seattle with a leg injury.



Dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt will take his time in naming a starting quarterback.



Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera ripped into his unit after a lackluster practice on Sunday morning.

[ALinChainz]

by Profootballtalk editor Mike Florio

http://www.profootballtalk.com

POSTED 7:15 p.m. EDT; LAST UPDATED 9:04 p.m. EDT, August 16, 2004



HASLETT, LOOMIS ON THE LINE IN LOOZIANA



A league source tells us that owner Tom Benson could be dumping head coach Jim Haslett and G.M. Mickey Loomis unless the Saints go deep into the playoffs this season.



In other words, Haslett and Loomis must guide the Saints to the best season in the entire freaking history of the franchise in order to get paychecks bearing Tom Benson's John Hancock in 2005.



Haslett did just that in his first season as head coach, taking the team to its first postseason win. Since then, however, the Saints have underachieved under Haslett and Loomis, a non-football guy who inherited the G.M. job after Randy Mueller was dumped unexpectedly in May 2003.



If true, expect Haslett to keep starting quarterback Aaron Brooks on a short leash this year. After breaking onto the scene in 2000 following a season-ending injury to then-starter Jeff Blake, Brooks won the job from Blake in 2001, held out in 2002 for a new contract . . . and sputtered ever since. Backup Todd Bouman, on the other hand, temporarily bounced Daunte Culpepper to the bench in 2002 when both quarterbacks were with Minnesota. Don't be surprised, then, to see a change early in the year -- especially if Haslett and Loomis recognize that it's gonna take a career year in order to enable their careers to continue for another.



MARTY OR ARMEY GONE AFTER 2004?



In St. Louis, the situation is slightly different. Word is that, if the Rams underachieve again this season, it'll be the end of the line for either coach Mike Martz or G.M. Charley Armey.



Rumors have persisted for years that Martz and Armey don't see eye to eye. Martz did little to quell such talk by insisting upon final say over personnel, a duty typically referred to General Manager types.



Regardless, the Rams generally have underachieved since Martz inherited the head-coaching gig from Dick Vermeil after the 1999 season. Martz has now had four chances to duplicate Dick's Super Bowl win, and it's not out of the question to conclude that Martz won't get many more before getting bounced.



G.M.'s GENERALLY ON THE HOT SEAT



With seven coaches getting booted after the 2003 season, there's talk around the league that the aftermath of the 2004 campaign could result in a number of G.M.'s looking for work.



In addition to Mickey Loomis in New Orleans and Charley Armey in St. Louis, speculation regarding potential job changes at the top of the organization centers primarily on the Bills, Seahawks, Packers, Lions, and Eagles.



Of course, in Green Bay and Philly, the G.M. also is the head coach. Like Mike Holmgren in Seattle after the 2002 season, Mike Sherman and/or Andy Reid could get squeezed out of their chief front office jobs if their respective squads underachieve this year. Unlike Holmgren, they might choose to walk entirely if faced with a request to shed one of their two hats.



In Detroit, a solid draft by the Lions could help Matt Millen finally have a breakthrough year. If the team flounders yet again, the Fords might finally nudge Millen out -- possibly turning over the personnel authority to coach Steve Mariucci.



In Buffalo, the Teflon is off of G.M. Tom Donahoe, whose mastery of the media insulated him from criticism through his first three seasons with the Bills. If the team stumbles again, Donahoe will get the brunt of the blame -- and 80-something owner Ralph Wilson is far more likely to act if the guys who get paid to write and talk about football make a persuasive case that Donahoe is the root of the team's struggles of late.



EAGLES PRESSURED ON OWENS



Although a full slate of preseason games has caused the recent comments of Eagles receiver Terrell Owens regarding the orientation of former teammate Jeff Garcia to slide off of the front burner, one group is trying to pressure the team into compelling Owens to publicly apologize for his words.



In a memo to Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie, which was copied via e-mail to a handful of media types, the Pennsylvania Lesbian and Gay Task Force asks Lurie to address Owens' not-so-implicit suggestion that Garcia is gay by explaining, "If it looks like a rat and smells like a rat, by golly, it is a rat."



Wrote Rita Adessa of the PLGTF, "We hope that you agree that public bigotry and bias is unacceptable. So too the equation of any minority group, [i]nclusive of gay and lesbian people, as vermin. We are human beings, Mr. Lurie, not vermin.

"We hope that you will issue a statement, shortly, that affirms the necessity to respect all people's human rights, inclusive of gay and lesbian people, and the importance of honoring human diversity as we struggle towards a just and peaceful society. . . . On the matter of the NFL, we have and continue to encourage [the] media to examine in depth the issue of homophobia in sports -- the forced invisibility of professional athletes who are gay or lesbian -- the cult of heterosexual masculinity -- the intimidation implicit in 'outing.'"

Ironically, another one of Lurie's employees, quarterback Donovan McNabb, was at the center of a media firestorm last September, after then-ESPN employee Rush Limbaugh attempted to attribute McNabb's arguably undeserved reputation to the media's desire that a black quarterback be successful. Limbaugh generally was castigated by the media, and he stepped aside from his ESPN gig under duress.



Though Owens' comments were far more overt and hateful than Limbaugh's, the fact is that there's no mechanism in place to permit pressure to be exerted on those who make homophobic remarks, since any of the folks within league circles who would be most sympathetic to the cause can't speak out for fear of being outed.



But a hue and cry from the NFL's closeted homosexuals shouldn't be necessary to prompt the Eagles to take a stand against Owens' statements. The Eagles should denounce Owens' words because it's the right thing to do.



Of course, it's the last thing the Eagles want to do at a time when the team is crossing its fingers and holding its breath that Owens will play hard and provide minimal distractions. Rapping him on the knuckles for an incident that was not directed at the team's current roster or coaching staff would serve only to increase the chances that Owens eventually will do so.



Perhaps the PLGTF (they need a much better acronym) would have a better chance at making something happen if they direct their campaign directly against the NFL. Two years ago, pressure (i.e., threatened litigation) from lawyers Johnnie Cochran and Cyrus Mehri prompted the league to take steps to address glaring deficiencies in the hiring of black head coaches. A similar tactic, as we see it, will be the only way to address the deeply-ingrained culture of homophobia that exists in virtually every corner of the NFL.



Of course, since all NFL homosexuals are in the closet, it will be difficult for litigation to be pursued against the NFL for its institutional acceptance of fear and loathing of homosexuality. Indeed, until a player comes out of the closet during his career, the issue never will be addressed in a meaningful way.



And as to any player who thinks about coming out, he'd better be good enough to withstand the kind of discretionary coaching decisions that got a guy like Quincy Carter run out of Dallas when he was still, in theory, good enough to play.



NFLPA FILES CARTER GRIEVANCE



Speaking of Quincy Carter, the NFLPA has made good on its promise to challenge the Cowboys' decision to dump their starting quarterback. According to the Associated Press, the union has filed a "special master" proceeding with Stephen Burbank of the University of Pennsylvania Law School.



The NFLPA's argument flows from its contention that Carter was cut solely for failing a drug test. "You don't go from being a starting, playoff quarterback in this league to someone not good enough to make the 80-man roster the next summer," said NFLPA general counsel Richard Berthelsen.



The final outcome, in our view, will turn on whether Burbank believes that the presence of a procedure for league-imposed discipline for such violations preempts independent action by the team.



From the Cowboys' perspective, their best response might be to argue that they cannot place the team's fortunes in the hands of a starting quarterback who is one bad night away from getting suspended for four games. The focus, however, upon the argument that they cut Carter for performance-based reasons could diminish the overall credibility of the team's presentation, since no one is going to believe that they didn't cut Carter because of the failed drug test. The 'Boys would be far better off if they tell the truth about the reason for the decision -- and if they argue zealously that any team should have the right to get rid of a guy who can't make good decisions when it comes to using or abusing drugs.



An interesting twist to the Carter affair is that, to date, he remains unsigned. If he was as skilled as the NFLPA believes, wouldn't he have gotten another job by now?



Then again, perhaps other teams are avoiding him for the same reason that the Cowboys got rid of him. And if that's the case, it's hard to fault the Cowboys for doing what they did.



MONDAY NIGHT ONE-LINERS



The Cardinals have claimed WR Chris Collins off of waiver from the Vikings, and released DE Riall Johnson.



WR Antonio Freeman agreed to terms on a one-year deal with the Dolphins on Monday.



The proposed Cowboys stadium in Arlington would be a 75,000 venue with a retractable roof (so if on certain days God wants to watch the games, he'll need to buy a ticket or a dish or, you know, not let it rain or snow).



Former Heisman runner-up Joe Hamilton is trying to stick with the Colts as the No. 3 quarterback.



Comcast will bring the NFL Network to 8 million more homes.



NEW RULE OF THE DAY



Field goal attempts that travel into the end zone untouched by the receiving team will be immediately blown dead. Field goal attempts still can be caught in the end zone and advanced forward by the opposing team, as Ravens CB Chris McAlister did in 2002 for a 107-yard score against the Broncos.

[Snoo]

I bet a certain Raven was upset by Owens...

[ALinChainz]

by Profootballtalk editor Mike Florio

http://www.profootballtalk.com

POSTED 8:55 a.m. EDT, August 17, 2004



COUGHLIN BITES HIS TONGUE ON INJURIES



A league source tells us that Giants coach Tom Coughlin is walking a tightrope when it comes to dealing with his chief source of frustration.



Injuries.



At a time when NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue is trying to erase any unfair benefits for bettors by insisting on full disclosure regarding players who are nicked up, Coughlin is having trouble dealing with the fact that injured guys aren't available for work.



Linebacker Carlos Emmons and receiver Tim Carter currently are getting the most heat from Coughlin regarding chronic injuries, and running back Delvin Joyce recently was dumped at a time when he was missing reps due to injury.



Coughlin is concerned that he might incur (again) the wrath of the NFLPA is he goes too hard on guys who claim that they can't practice. Indeed, cutting players primarily because they are unable to practice on a consistent basis could prompt some players who really are injured to come back too soon, risking more serious injury.



Coughlin's attitude toward injuries also places the medical staff in a tenuous position. The folks who are signing the doctors' checks want the player on the field; the doctors at the same time have a duty to think of their "patients" overall interests.



When he was hired in January, Coughlin raised eyebrows by referring to the team's injury problems in 2003 as a "cancer."



“It is something that has to be corrected,” Coughlin said. “It is a mental thing I believe as much as anything else.”



RAVENS HAVE BEEN RECRUITING DEION



As it turns out, several members of the Baltimore Ravens actively have been recruiting cornerback Deion Sanders to come out of retirement and join the team as its nickel back.



Ray Lewis and Corey Fuller have been persistent, according to the Baltimore Sun, in their efforts to persuade Sanders to return to the NFL after being out of football for three seasons.



Also on Monday, Sanders confirmed that he's considering a return to the field. The Sun reports that Sanders still has "blazing" speed, but that he wants to test his conditioning over the next two weeks before making a final decision.



Or, as we believe, he wants the hype regarding his potential return to grow and grow before he makes his return to the field.



Despite suggestions in some circles that the Chargers still hold Sanders' rights after claiming him off of waivers in 2002 (which blocked his desire to join the Raiders for the playoffs), the Sun reports that Sanders is indeed an unrestricted free agent, and that he may sign with any team.



TUESDAY MORNING ONE-LINERS



The Titans aren't interested in QB Quincy Carter, contrary to reports from ESPN's Chris Mortensen that they are.



The New York media is beginning to pick up on what we've been saying for a couple of weeks -- if Eli Manning is on track to be the Giants' opening-day starter, they don't need Kurt Warner on the roster.



On Tuesday, Giants coach Tom Coughlin will name his starting quarterback for the second preseason game.



Raiders first-round OT Robert Gallery gave his team a scare when he suffered an elbow injury in practice on Monday; it turned out to be only a strain.



A group based in Arizona reportedly is interested in buying the Vikings.



Jets backup QB Brooks Bollinger is out for at least a week with a sprained MCL, moving Ricky Ray to No. 2 on the depth chart.



Rams coach Mike Martz wasn't happy with the fact that RT Greg Randall allowed DE Leonard Little to shove him into QB Marc Bulger during practice, who suffered what turned out to be only a mild injury.



Pats first-round TE Ben Watson is in camp after signing a six-year deal.



DE Chad Bratzke is interested in joining the Titans, but the Titans apparently believe that his asking price is too high.



Seahawks first-round DT Marcus Tubbs got a sack during his first NFL snap.



Rams RB Marshall Faulk has participated in three straight practices for the first time since camp opened.



Bears OL Ruben Brown is finally running with the ones after RT Rex Tucker dislocated an elbow on Monday.



The two remaining unsigned draft picks are Chargers first-round QB Philip Rivers and Colts second-round S Bob Sanders.



The Dolphins have moved first-rounder Vernon Carey from right tackle to right guard.



Jags DT John Henderson might be out of action for an extended stretch after injuring his ankle during practice on Monday.



Browns TE Kellen Winslow drew the ire of some teammates when he dropped a shoulder and flattened CB Roosevelt Williams during a shoulder-pads-and-shorts practice on Monday; "I just see how it is now," Williams said in response to the hit. "When he catches the ball, it's like we're in a game."



The Jets currently have $23 million in cap room for 2005, and they'll surely need a big chunk of it in order to keep QB Chad Pennington around.



Lions No. 2 QB Mike McMahon says that the team hasn't offered him a multi-year deal; he's currently playing under a one-year, $1.3 million RFA tender.



Dolphins WR Antonio Freeman wore jersey No. 4 in his first practice with the team as a tribute to Packers QB Brett Favre.



Steelers LB Clark Haggans might be back on the field this week; he suffered a broken hand while lifting weights before training camp opened.



Jets CB Ray Mickens might be back by August 27 following a knee injury.



Falcons starting TE Alge Crumpler and MLB Chris Draft returned to practice Monday after missing a combined 23 days.



Vikings LB Dontarrious Thomas currently is in line to serve as the starting weakside linebacker in both the base package and the nickel defense.



Chargers WR Reche Caldwell, who was drafted in 2002 with one of the Michael Vick picks, might be in the early phases of becoming a bona fide contributor.



The Lions could use versatile second-year DB Terrence Holt at corner or at either safety position.

[ALinChainz]

by Profootballtalk editor Mike Florio

http://www.profootballtalk.com

POSTED 8:50 p.m. EDT; UPDATED 9:43 p.m. EDT, August 17, 2004



WINSLOW BONUS SMALLER THAN NO. 5, NO. 8



Although it remains possible that the triggers for the incentives and escalators in tight end Kellen Winslow's contract makes it more likely than not that he'll receive the full $40 million value of his six-year contract with the Browns, we've confirmed that Winslow's signing bonus and first year salary will actually be less than the money paid in year one to Redskins safety Sean Taylor, who was drafted one spot in front of Winslow.



It widely has been reported that Winslow received a signing bonus in the amount of $16.5 million. As we reported on Friday, however, Winslow's bonus is only $11.132 million.



Coupled with a base salary of $230,000, Winslow will get $11.362 million in year one. Conversely, Taylor will earn $13.275 million over the next 12 months -- more than $2 million more than Winslow.



Even DeAngelo Hall -- taken two spots after Winslow -- will earn more in bonus money. Hall gets $11.8 million; more than $600,000 greater than Winslow's haul.



These discrepancies confirm the ability of some agents to manipulate the media by feeding phony information. In the end, everyone wins -- the agents puff up the value of the contracts and the journalists get their scoop. And the teams are typically reluctant to correct the bad numbers, since doing so could set a bad tone for their relationship with the player.



PARCELLS SEES ONE OF WORST PERFORMANCES



A league source tells us that Cowboys coach Bill Parcells privately is calling the team's initial preseason game -- and 18-0 shutout -- against the Texans one of the worst performances he's ever seen one of his teams put together.



In an improved NFC East, the development doesn't bode well for a team that unexpectedly qualified for the playoffs a year ago.



Sure, it's only the preseason and no team is opening up its playbook when the games don't count. Still, every coach wants to win every time his team hits the field. And getting pasted tends to stay with a team for at least a week or so, making it even harder -- and more imperative -- to turn the thing around.



ROUNDTREE INJURY CAUSES RETCHING



A league source tells us the ankle injury suffered by Dolphins defensive back Alphonso Roundtree during Saturday night's game against the Jaguars was so graphic that it caused several players who saw the mangled joint to lose their pre-game meals on the field.



For his trouble, Roundtree was waived by the Dolphins. If he clears waivers, he'll be added to the team's injured reserve list.



TUESDAY NIGHT ONE-LINERS



From the "That Sound You Hear Is Your NFL Career Swirling Around The Drain" file, rookie QB Eli Manning will start the Giants second preseason game over QB Kurt Warner.



Eagles DE N.D. Kalu is out for the season after suffering an ACL during a non-contract drill; he'll be replaced in the starting lineup by Derrick Burgess.



Fantasy alert -- the Vikings are hoping to keep RB Michael Bennett on the field even in goal-line situations.



Giants K Bill Gramatica is out with back spasms (he really shouldn't do the worm after making an extra point in practice).



Titans CB Samari Rolle underwent an MRI on Tuesday to rule out any serious problems with an ankle that has kept him out of practice for a week.



Prosecutors have added a new charge to the November 1 drug trial of Ravens RB Jamal Lewis.



Now that the Postons have gotten TE Kellen Winslow, they're trying to finagle a shoe deal with Nike, and they're pitching a tie-in between Winslow and fellow Cleveland phenom LeBron James.



The Chiefs have fired former NFL official Woodie Dixon to serve as salary cap manager and legal counsel.



General Motors secured a defense verdict against the family of deceased NFL LB Derrick Thomas resulting from the accident that left him paralyzed.



WR Jerricho Cotchery is moving up the Jets' depth chart.

[ALinChainz]

by Profootballtalk editor Mike Florio

http://www.profootballtalk.com

POSTED 8:02 a.m. EDT, August 18, 2004



WILL DEION WAIT?



The Baltimore Sun reports that cornerback Deion Sanders is leaning toward joining the Ravens as their nickel back. The timing of the move, however, remains unclear.



The Sun cites an ESPN report that Sanders might wait until October or November, in order to confirm that the Ravens are indeed in contention. Another valid concern will be whether running back Jamal Lewis is available after his November 1 drug trial is resolved.



If Lewis is convicted, the team will have a greater need for Barry Sanders, not Deion.



And with no proven back to step in if Lewis is convicted on either of the two pending charges, Deion might be thinking that a one-season tour with the Ravens isn't the best way to get himself another Super Bowl ring -- and all of the attention that goes with a Super Bowl run.



Our guess, then, is that the Ravens aren't the only team Sanders might consider joining, especially if he waits to see how things shake out in the first two or three months of the season. There are plenty of potential contenders who could use his services as a third cornerback, including the Eagles, the Packers, and the Vikings. Likewise, there surely will be a few surprise teams this season (Houston? Detroit?) who will generate solid records by Halloween -- and who might become very attractive to Deion.



Remember, Sanders tried to pull this stunt two years ago with the Raiders -- after it was clear that they were the class of the AFC that season. If Deion's ultimate goal is to apply a coat or two of polish to his suddenly fading star, his best bet is to climb on the right bandwagon, at the right time.



Is such an approach selfish and opportunistic? Sure.



But is Deion selfish and opportunistic? Hell, yes.



WEDNESDAY MORNING ONE-LINERS



The Packers still believe in QB Tim Couch, despite a dismal 2-for-011 performance on Monday night against the Seahawks.



Redskins defensive coordinator Gregg Williams plans to get S Sean Taylor onto the field against Miami's starting offense.



The Lions hope that WR Az Hakim's play will improve as the No. 3 or No. 4 man on the depth chart, behind Charles Rogers, Tai Streets, and Roy Williams.



Reggie Fowler's people met with Red McCombs' people on Tuesday regarding a possible sale of the Vikings.



Pats LB Dan Klecko is leaning heavily on LB Tedy Bruschi, who also made an early-career switch from D-line to linebacker.



Jason Whitlock of the K.C. Star has a scathing critique of Chiefs DT Ryan Sims' performance in the preseason opener.



Falcons coach Jim Mora, Jr., bristled at questions regarding his preseason handling of QB Michael Vick.



The Lions have put in a waiver claim for Redskins S Ifeanyi Ohalete.



Broncos CB Champ Bailey ran with the offense in four-receiver sets on Tuesday.



With his first three receivers out due to injury, Cards coach Dennis Green is concerned with the performance of their replacements.



With rookie DB Ricardo Colclough showing big potential as a return man, don't be surprised to see WR/KR Antwaan Randle El eventually become trade bait in the 'Burgh, if the team decides to re-sign WR Plaxico Burress after the season.



Texans RB Domanick Davis most likely will sit out of Saturday's preseason game against the Steelers.



Lions RB Kevin Jones is back at practice after recovering from a pulled hamstring.



Franchised-and-unsigned Ravens CB Chris McAlister says that he'll sell his jersey No. 21 to Deion Sanders, if the price is right.



Injuries have given WR Marc Boerigter a spot in the starting lineup with the Chiefs.

[Snoo]

HAH. Burress has about a 0.9% chance of being re-signed, and Randle El isn't going anywhere.