The Rumor Mill

[ALinChainz]

by Profootballtalk editor Mike Florio



POSTED 6:55 a.m. EDT; UPDATED 9:26 a.m. EDT, May 20, 2004



BARBER NEXT BUC TO TAKE CUT?



Word around the league is that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have asked cornerback Ronde Barber to take a pay cut.



The request, we're told, isn't going over well with Barber, a long-time cog in the team's Cover 2 scheme.



But new G.M. Bruce Allen has made it known through the handling of mainstays Warren Sapp and John Lynch that there are no sacred cows in Tampa as he and coach Jon Gruden try to re-tool a roster built by former G.M. Rich McKay.



The money that Barber is asked to cough up could be used to help address the demands of receiver Keenan McCardell, who is boycotting voluntary workouts due to displeasure over his contract.



We haven't heard whether the Bucs will bounce Barber if he refuses to reduce his pay, and our guess is that there would be a high demand for the 29-year-old's services in other NFL cities. The most intriguing possibility, of course, would be the Giants, where Ronde's identical twin brother, Tiki, is the starting tailback.



MCKENZIE GENERATING INTEREST



A league source tells us that several teams are interested in Packers cornerback Mike McKenzie, who recently received permission to seek a trade.



The Browns, who at one point were thinking seriously about taking DeAngelo Hall in the first round of last month's draft, are in the mix. We're hearing that, under such a scenario, the Browns would send quarterback Tim Couch and at least one draft pick to Green Bay for McKenzie.



The X factor in such discussions, however, is the willingness of Couch to reduce his salary. To date, Couch's financial expectations have kept a deal from getting done.



Other interested teams are the Ravens, Jags, and Eagles. In Baltimore, McKenzie would replace Corey Fuller, whose off-field troubles are giving the team an increasing level of discomfort. Adding McKenzie would permit the Ravens to keep Gary Baxter at safety. Baxter moved from corner to safety when Fuller was added to the roster as a free agent from Cleveland.



STEELERS SERIOUS ABOUT MOVING PLAX?



As the impasse between the Steelers and receiver Plaxico Burress lingers, we're hearing greater indications of a willingness by the team to send him elsewhere.



We've previously identified the Chiefs and 49ers as possible destinations for the former top-ten pick. Another potential home for Burress is San Diego, where the trade of David Boston and the general failure to address the receiver position in the draft has left the Chargers with a substandard stable of pass-catchers.



Word is that, at this point, Burress might be had for as little as a second-round pick. As we see it, though, coach Bill Cowher likely would prefer to get someone who can help the team win now, since he might not be around to help pull the trigger on any picks that the team picks up for Plax.



UDEZE POOP-CANS BROTHER



Multiple league sources tell us that Vikings first-round draft pick Kenechi Udeze has fired his agents, Jamal Tooson and Thomas Barnes.



The termination of Barnes is surprising because Barnes is Udeze's brother.



Word is that Udeze was very unhappy with the first-round free fall that he experienced in last month's draft, which was fueled by eleventh-hour rumors regarding a torn labrum in his shoulder.



Barnes and/or Tooson didn't make the situation any better by not insisting upon Udeze attending the medical re-check at the scouting combine and by failing to take steps to remove any doubt regarding his health in the days leading up to the draft.



We're hearing that, in the end, Barnes might not be completely out of the picture. Word is that Barnes could be part of the team that represents Udeze, assuming that Kenechi hires a new guy who's willing to work with Udeze's brother.

[ALinChainz]

by Profootballtalk editor Mike Florio



POSTED 8:10 a.m. EDT, May 21, 2004



BEARS EYEING SEVERAL PROSPECTS



Our Chitown mole tells us that the Bears are keeping close watch on several players who might be available either by trade or by post-June 1 free agency.



Word is that the team continues to consider signing quarterback Kurt Warner, and that they still haven't ruled out swinging a trade for Dolphins defensive end Adewale Ogunleye, even though it appears that Ogunleye and the Fins have commenced the long-term contract mating dance.



We're also hearing that the Bears have an interest in Steelers receiver Plaxico Burress and Tampa defensive back Ronde Barber.



Burress undoubtedly is available in trade, given his recent string of bizarre behavior in the 'Burgh. Barber is getting squeezed by the Bucs to take a pay cut, and could be the next high-profile member of the 2002 self-styled best defense ever to be playing defense elsewhere.



Also, we continue to hear that the Bears will dump receiver David Terrell after June 1. Terrell, a first-round pick in the 2001 draft, has been a major disappointment for the Bears.



WARNER ASKING FOR TROUBLE IN NY?



The talk in some league circles is that Rams quarterback Kurt Warner should have his head examined if he thinks that the best place to resurrect his NFL career is in New York, with the Giants.



With his eggs scrambled a few times too many (most recently by the Giants in the 2003 season opener), Warner needs to be operating behind a solid offensive line that will protect him from any further knocks to the noggin.



And in New York, the Giants' line deteriorated in 2003, and the team has done little if anything to shore it up in 2004.



So why should anyone expect to see anything other than what we all saw last September, when the Giants defense turned Warner's brain into beef stew?



We know that Warner still think he's got it (even if he doesn't), but he needs to consider very, very carefully whether he'll have any reasonable chance to set up and throw behind one of the more porous offensive lines in the league.



It also remains to be seen whether the Giants will pursue Warner in the face of lukewarm comments by Eli Manning regarding Warner's potential arrival.



"I'm not in control of that; it's not my decision. If they bring in Kurt Warner obviously that's what they think is best for the team," Manning said. Since part of the idea is to help Warner tutor Manning, we think that, in the end, the Giants' decision should be influenced by whether Manning wants him there.



RAVENS REVERSE COURSE ON COLLINS?



With backup quarterback Anthony Wright possibly missing the entire 2004 season with surgery to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder, the chances of the Ravens pursuing Kerry Collins suddenly have increased.



Despite reports that Collins is close to a deal with the Raiders, look for the Ravens to jump into the fray quickly -- albeit quietly.



We recently reported that the Ravens were debating internally the question of whether to add Collins notwithstanding the presence of Wright and presumptive starter Kyle Boller. As we heard it, coach Brian Billick and assistant Jim Fassel want Collins, while G.M. Ozzie Newsome wants to stand pat.



Newsome's thinking is that Boller is the guy into whom the team invested a first-round pick a year ago, and Wright proved to be a more than capable backup when Boller was injured during his rookie year. So with Wright suddenly gone, there's clearly a need for a strong No. 2 in Baltimore.



And don't rule out the possibility that Collins could come to Baltimore and start, at least for 2004. Collins, working with Fassel, gives the team a better chance to win this year, which would go a long way toward making owner Steve Bisciotti's first year in charge a good one. Then, Collins could hit the open market in 2005 in the early stages of free agency, when a much greater number of teams will be trolling for a starting quarterback. The Ravens, in turn, could give the ball back to Boller next season.



Given talk that the Ravens might instead look to Kordell Stewart or Kurt Warner, it seems clear to us that Kerry is the far better choice.



FRIDAY ONE-LINERS



The Giants brought in DT Dana Stubblefield for a visit, but apparently will not sign him.



Jags WR Jimmy Smith has sage advice for Fins RB Ricky Williams -- admit that you smoked weed, suffer the consequences, and move on.



QB A.J. Feeley's biggest problem to date in Miami is his struggles with the team's terminology.



Chargers G.M. A.J. Smith says he is exploring trade possibilities with other teams; he wouldn't comment on the positions he's targeting for improvement (here's our advice -- try all of them).



Who said the Bengals aren't cheap anymore? Coach Marvin Lewis explains the basis for the decision to drop the players' last names from practice jerseys: "It's a save-money thing. We know who they are."



There continues to be speculation that the Giants will dump the Bachelor, especially after they've added QB Kurt Kittner to the roster.



Steelers WR Plaxico Burress apparently won't return to the team until training camp.



Previously undersized Dolphins LT Wade Smith has packed on 15 pounds, pushing his weight to 310.



The Redskins have added long-time Panthers personnel exec Jack Bushofsky in a consulting role.



Redskins OL Kenyatta Jones was placed on one year probation for pouring boiling water on house guest/administrative assistant Mark Paul.



CB Dale Carter picked the Ravens over the Browns, signing a one-year, minimum-salary deal with Baltimore; he's expected to take 25 snaps per game as the dime back.



POSTED 9:37 a.m. EDT, May 20, 2004



COLLINS WANTED COMMITMENT FROM PACK



A league source tells us that free agent quarterback Kerry Collins canceled his recent visit to Green Bay because the Pack wouldn't tell Collins that he was their No. 1 choice on the current QB market.



Per the source, the Packers told Collins that he couldn't be No. 1 on their list because . . . they'd . . . never . . . met . . . him. The idea, explained the Pack, was for Collins to come and get acquainted so that the team could then decide whether to make Collins an offer.



But Collins feared that he was being used as leverage for the Packers' ongoing discussions with Browns quarterback Tim Couch, who is taken a hard line in his negotiations with the Packers given that he has roughly, um, zero other options.



PLAX'S STOCK PLUMMETS



We're hearing surprising rumblings that teams have little interest in Steelers' receiver Plaxico Burress. The four-year pro's stock has taken a tumble of late, due to a string of questionable behavior beginning with his decision to skip out on the team's first mandatory minicamp of the offseason and his failure to show for voluntary workouts that began on Tuesday of this week.



One league source opined that Burress simply isn't in position to force both a trade and a new contract. Despite flashes of brilliance, Burress generally is regarded as an underachiever. His apparent discontent with his current contract and his erratic behavior is prompting folks to shy away from putting together a package to present to the Steelers.



The key event, as we see it, is whether Burress shows for the next mandatory minicamp in June. If he doesn't, we think the Steelers will move quickly to get whatever they can in return for the former top ten pick.



It could be, in the end, a far cry from what the Steelers could've finagled if they'd tried to shop Burress prior to the draft. The Chiefs were interested in sending the 30th overall pick to the 'Burgh for Burress, but we'd consistently heard that coach Bill Cowher didn't want to part with one of his best players.



And none of this, frankly, will do much to persuade the Steelers to extend the contract of Cowher, who's presently in danger of getting the axe after the 2004 season.



Speaking of Cowher, one of our readers in Pittsburgh tells us that ESPN Radio 1250 personality Mark Madden reported on Thursday that Cowher lost much of his personnel juice after the 2003 season, apparently after complaints from the scouting department that their input routinely was ignored. Those of you who are acquainted with this here site might recall our November 19, 2003 report regarding this very issue.



RAIDERS WAIT, SEE ON GANNON



We know, we know. We've been on both sides of the question of whether the Raiders will keep 2002 MVP Rich Gannon for another season. And, unlike John Kerry, we've now carved out a third position.



It depends.



Word is that the Raiders are taking a wait-and-see approach over the next few weeks with Gannon, so that they can assess the condition of his shoulder -- and so that they can get a feel for whether he'll agree to reduce his salary.



Meanwhile, the Raiders are keeping Kerry Collins on hold. If they decide to dump Gannon, Collins will be the guy that they try to sign as his replacement.



IDZIK LANDS IN 'ZONA



The Arizona Cardinals have hired former Tampa exec John Idzik as Senior Director of Football Operations.



Idzik, according to the Cardinals' web site, will be involved in negotiating contracts, managing the team’s salary cap and football operations budget, assisting in player evaluation and personnel matters, and directing the team’s travel and computer operations.



Cut loose by Tampa earlier this year, Idzik's arrival signifies another step out of the dark ages by the Cardinals organization, which in our view quickly is pulling way ahead of the Chargers in the worst-NFL-franchise category.



Meanwhile, the guy whom Idzik will replace -- Jay Nienkark -- is filling the cap guru slot in Seattle that was unexpectedly created when Mike Reinfeldt quit due to a dispute over his pay. Nienkark worked closely with 'Hawks G.M. Bob Ferguson when both were in Arizona.

[Troy]

So much information but, I love reading this stuff.

[ALinChainz]

by Profootballtalk editor Mike Florio



POSTED 11:32 a.m. EDT, May 22, 2004



BURRESS FOR THOMAS A POSSIBILITY?



Unsubstantiated rumors have been circulating around the league for the past several days regarding a potential trade of receivers between the Chicago Bears and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Under this fairly simple swap, the Bears would send disappointing 2001 first-rounder David Terrell to the Steelers for suddenly diss-appointing 2000 first-rounder Plaxico Burress.



But with Terrell's release after June 1 virtually a foregone conclusion, and given (as we see it) a huge talent gap between Burress, a former Michigan State star, and his counterpart from the U. of Michigan, it's not a realistic proposal.



We're now hearing, however, that the deal could work if the Bears were interested in shipping 2001 second-rounder (and fellow Michigan product) Anthony Thomas to the 'Burgh for Burress.



On the surface, Thomas hardly represents an area of need on the Steelers' offense, given the presence of Duce Staley and Jerome Bettis. But their desire to continue to add capable running backs to the roster confirms that Bettis has only one more year, at most, in black and gold.



Regardless, the A-Train likely would welcome the move, since the arrival of Thomas Jones in Chitown likely means that Thomas won't have much of a chance to see the field in 2004.



CAMP COUGHLIN SHORTENED BY TWO DAYS



The New York Times reports that the Giants will lose two days of organized workouts next week as a penalty for violating offseason practice rules.



The players will still receive compensation for the two days off, but none of them will be permitted to report to the team facility.



The penalty resulted from the length of workouts and from the amount of classroom time. The NFLPA also has warned coach Tom Coughlin against describing voluntary sessions as mandatory. Any further violations could result in the loss of draft picks.



Meanwhile, if anyone is interested in playing some pick-up football next Tuesday and/or Wednesday, be at the big grass field next to the 7-11 in East Rutherford at 9:00 a.m. (And don't forget your helmet.)



P.S. If Tom Coughlin happens to stop by for a Slurpee, don't be afraid to invite him over to watch.



HALL'S COMBINE RUN WAS COERCED



Like many fluff pieces put together by "real" journalists, the most interesting stuff often gets buried into the bowels of the story.



Such is the case with Matt Winklejohn's butt-smoocher regarding Falcons rookie cornerback DeAngelo Hall. After suffering through multiple 'graphs regarding Hall's search for a house and his reputation for so-called "athletic arrogance," the patient (albeit bored) reader is rewarded with a revealing "behind-the-scenes" look at Hall's blazing 40-yard dash time at the scouting combine.



The previously untold story regarding Hall's jaunt on a sssslow Indy surface is that, like many blue-chippers, Hall planned to wait until his Pro Day workout to run the 40. The fact that so many prospects skip the 40 at the combine tends to stick in the collective craw of NFL types.



In Hall's case, he paid heed to comments from Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil and others regarding his decision not to run.

"It wasn't just [Vermeil]; it was a lot of coaches," said Hall. "They were like, 'Fast guys run fast. Why don't you want to run?' I was saying, 'I just want to train for it and do it on my pro day and probably run faster than I would now.'

"It was like they were saying, 'I think you're scared.' That's the sense I was getting. So, after hearing it from enough coaches, I was like . . . 'You don't think I can do it? That's what I'm going to do.'"

And he did. In 4.34 seconds.



We doubt that this phenomenon will prompt other guys to run at the combine. Many of them don't realize that the teams take into account the slow nature of the surface at the combine -- and that the teams add time to the numbers generated on supposedly faster surfaces elsewhere.



Still, we've got to hand it to Hall. He accepted the challenge, and he ran a time on the surface at Indy that very well might have been a 4.2 elsewhere, especially if he'd had time to specifically prepare to run.



OLD STEELERS COMMENT ON CHANGED TIMES



In a revealing look at the stark differences between pro football from the 1970s and the modern game, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review talks with former Steelers Lynn Swann and Andy Russell about the way things used to be in the offseason.



Swann, who played in the 'Burgh from 1974 through 1982, explained that football in those days was a part-time gig. "You had six months where you played football and went to camp," he said. "You worked out in the offseason, but you had six months to do anything else you wanted to do and you got paid a lot more money than the average guy."



Russell explained that, in the days before multimillion-dollar signing bonuses, most guys had other jobs during the offseason. "You just couldn't afford to not work," he said. "That meant you had limited time to work out -- unlike today's players who are paid to go to the stadium and who work out four-five hours a day with tremendous programs and all of these weight machines."



Lifting weights in those days was though to make players "clumsy and uncoordinated," Russell said.

"It was for narcissistic guys who wanted to look in mirrors. Of course, they were totally wrong."

Swann says that the money has changed the teams' expectations.
"When you start paying guys who haven't played a down for you $2 [million to] $10 million or more in bonuses, then you expect it to be a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week profession and you expect people to do everything they need to do to enhance their chances of being very, very good and help the team become a winner."

[POJO_Risin]

Man...that deal doesn't make much sense...Burress for ATrain...

god...he's a Steeler back though...

[ALinChainz]

by Profootballtalk editor Mike Florio



POSTED 12:35 p.m. EDT, May 23, 2004



COUGHLIN CONFRONTS O'HARA



A league source tells us that Giants coach Tom Coughlin has fingered newcomer Shaun O'Hara as one of the players who complained to the NFL Players Association regarding Coughlin's violation of offseason workout rules.



Following an investigation, the Giants lost two days of voluntary workouts.



Per the source, Coughlin tore into O'Hara so aggressively that it prompted other players in the vicinity to walk away.



We hear that O'Hara, who is expected to play center for the G-men, used to be a player rep with the Browns. Coincidentally, the Browns were accused last year of breaking the offseason workout rules. No violations ultimately were found.



Word also is that morale is low in Giants camp. As one source said, "If this is what it's like in minicamps, what the f--k is the season going to be like?"

[ALinChainz]

by Profootballtalk editor Mike Florio



POSTED 10:20 a.m. EDT, May 24, 2004



RAVENS, BEARS BLOW IT ON COLLINS



With news that the Oakland Raiders are poised to sign Giants' castoff Kerry Collins, several league insiders believe that the Bears and the Ravens committed a major faux pas (French for "f--k up") by not making a run at one of the most underrated passers in the game.



The Ravens stayed away from Collins, we're told, because they now believe that backup Anthony Wright might be able to come back from shoulder surgery sooner than expected. As one source said, "Am I missing something? Did he just turn into Steve McNair? . . . . Even if he comes back, he sucks."



Another personnel exec suggested to us that Ravens starter Kyle Boller isn't ready to be a successful starting quarterback, and that Collins would have provided a perfect Jon Kitna-type gap-filler until Boller is ready to go.



Yet another personnel guy was befuddled by the Bears' lack of interest in Collins. "All they got now at QB is a bunch of big and little turds," the source said.



Meanwhile, the Raiders pick up a guy who likely will take over the starting job, sooner if not later. At $5 million per year over a three-year deal, Collins ain't being paid to ride the painted pine pony. Our guess is that the Raiders will try to ska-weeze Rich Gannon into a significant pay cut to "compete" for the starting job in 2004, and that Gannon likely will refuse -- and get the boot.



As we see it, the only thing that might make the Raiders inclined to work out a deal with Gannon is the likelihood that he'll catch the first plane to Tampa and reunite with Jon Gruden, if/when he's released by Al Davis and company. Then again, if Davis is convinced that Gannon is washed up, maybe the Raiders' preference is to allow Gannon and Gruden to fail together.



MONDAY ONE-LINERS



Texans QB David Carr is doing the Johnny Damon thing with his hair.



The Jags are gearing up for rookie negotiations, including No. 9 overall pick Reggie Williams -- a Poston client.



Rams RB Arlen Harris is making the move to fullback.

[ALinChainz]

by Profootballtalk editor Mike Florio



POSTED 9:10 a.m. EDT; LAST UPDATED 10:45 a.m. EDT, May 25, 2004



NCAA SHOULD LET WILLIAMS BACK IN



With the Second Circuit Court of Appeals announcing on Monday its decision to bar from the NFL draft Maurice Clarett and any other underclassmen less than three years removed from high school, it's now time for the biggest winner in this legal three-ring circus -- the NCAA -- to do the right thing and allow USC receiver Mike Williams to regain his eligibility.



Make no mistake about it. The NFL secured for the NCAA the ability of its member schools to continue to earn millions in revenue in exchange for providing (drum roll, please) a free education.



The legal fight technically isn't over, but the overcome has never seemed more clear. Clarett can petition the full Second Circuit to reconsider the decision of the three-judge panel. Also, Clarett can ask the U.S. Supreme Court to take up the case.



In most cases, obtaining a reversal of a federal appeals court is, as a practical matter, a long shot. Still, we doubt that Clarett and his lawyer, Alan Milstein, are ready to fold the tents.



The loser in all of this is Williams, who was prepared to return to USC until Judge Shira Scheindlin announced in February her decision that Clarett should be allowed into the April draft.



Though, as we previously have explained, Williams cooked his own goose when he signed with an agent, the NCAA should make a special exception in Williams' case. And even if the NCAA isn't inclined to do it in the interests of helping out Williams, the NCAA should do it in the interests of helping the NFL out of a predicament that it created when it threw the gates open and welcomed all otherwise ineligible players into the April draft.



As NFL V.P. of public relations Greg Aiello told us last month, the league warned Williams that it would revoke the invitation if it prevailed in court. Still, the league now faces a separate suit from Williams, who is left with no realistic football options south of Saskatchewan if he doesn't get back into USC.



So, in our view, Williams rightly should be suing someone -- even if the ultimate culprit is his agent, Mike Azzarelli, who might not have given Williams a full and complete explanation regarding the risks of declaring for the draft and signing with an agent.



The entire mess, however, can be avoided if the NCAA simply lets Williams return to the Trojans.



It could be wishful thinking on our part. The NCAA coaches individually care only about helping their programs win more games than they lose, and they aren't about to extend a gratuity to anyone -- especially if it means allowing the defending AP national champions to reload with one of its best players.



Hell, even as the NFL has been respecting the NCAA's desire over the years to have a hammerlock on young players, many NCAA coaches have done little to help NFL teams get a fair look at players who are getting ready to make the leap to the next level.



So our guess is that the NCAA will once again bite the generous hand that has been aiding in the feeding of the coffers of its member institutions with the blood, sweat, and talent of players whose rewards pale in comparison to the risks they take and/or the revenue they make.



TUBE TALKS TO GET STARTED?



With an improving economy and an increase in ad revenues for sporting events, the NFL apparently is interested in kick-starting discussions on an extension to broadcast rights contracts that expire after the 2005 season.



In the current deal, which had twice the length and twice the yearly haul of the prior package, the networks have taken a deep annual bath. Efforts by the networks to get relief at the height of the recent recession were ignored by the NFL, causing concerns that the networks will draw a line in the sand the next time the parties meet at the bargaining table.



It could be that the networks are willing to accept the fact that they will never make money directly on the NFL, but that having the NFL will allow them to preserve a certain status among their competitors. Coupled with the NFL's apparent willingness to tweak the product in an effort to enhance advertising revenues, it looks like the league will once again find itself rolling (rightfully so) in the billions of dollars that are paid to the 32 teams for the privilege of airing the greatest game ever invented.



As the Washington Post reports, it's possible that talks will commence even before the 2004 season. And, as we see it, the timing is just right. Prime-time television is in a massive state of flux, with every network betting that reality-based shows aren't merely a guilty pleasure of which the masses suddenly will tire.



The last thing that FOX, ABC, ESPN, and CBS should want to do is risk losing the ultimate TV reality series. And the first thing NBC should try to do is get back in.



These dynamics suggest that the NFL will, in the end, win again.



TUESDAY ONE-LINERS



With QB Anthony Wright, the Ravens will turn to Kordell Stewart or Brad Johnson, if he's released by the Bucs after they sign Rich Gannon, if he's released by the Raiders.



Stewart reportedly is mulling an offer from the Ravens that would pay him close to the veteran minimum.



The Lions are interested in DT Dana Stubblefield and TE Stephen Alexander.



Newly-signed Raiders QB Kerry Collins says he "wasn't in too much of a mood to help" the Giants after they picked up Eli Manning.



The Bears have signed fourth-round CB Nathan Vasher to a four-year deal.



The Texans are giving OL Seth Wand a shake at left tackle.



The Chiefs have signed FB Marvin Brown.



The Colts are taking a wait-and-see approach to CB Joseph Jefferson's recent DUI arrest.

[ALinChainz]

by Profootballtalk editor Mike Florio

http://www.profootballtalk.com

http://www.thefantasymasters.com

POSTED 2:04 a.m. EDT; UPDATED 8:19 a.m. EDT, May 26, 2004



GRUDEN KEEPING GANNON IN OAKLAND?



Though for now we have to keep this story in the "rank-but-informed speculation" folder, the uncanny decision of the Oakland Raiders to hang onto quarterback Rich Gannon seems to be a ploy by owner Al Davis to delay and/or derail an otherwise inevitable reunion of Gannon and former Raiders coach Jon Gruden.



The addition of Kerry Collins, with a three-year deal worth more than $16 million, prompted many to conclude that the Raiders would run Gannon and his $7 million salary out the door. But now the Raiders are saying that Gannon is still the starter, despite the arrival of Collins and lingering concerns regarding Gannon's shoulder.



Our discussions with various league sources over the past few months have confirmed that a deep degree of animosity exists between the Raiders and the Buccaneers. Thus, although the Raiders might have decided to cut the cord on Gannon, Davis surely wants to prevent Gannon from making a bee-line to Tampa, where Jon Gruden's magic touch with Gannon could make the Raiders look stupid for letting the 2002 NFL MVP go.



Instead, look for the Raiders to hold Gannon until it's too late, as a practical matter, for the Bucs to sign him.



In theory, the Raiders can cut Gannon on the eve of the regular-season opener and still avoid his salary for 2004. The only downside is that the Raiders will be required to carry his cap number until he's off of the roster.



But then the extra bulge of money can be used to extend the contracts of younger players, or to front-load a new deal for franchise player Charles Woodson, who likely will be without a new contract come September.



Meanwhile, the Bucs won't have the cap room to sign Gannon, or the time to get him integrated into the team.



Keep an eye on this one as the summer unfolds. Kerry Collins isn't some rookie who needs a season to learn the ropes from Gannon (and the irony of such a suggestion is obvious, given that the Giants wanted Collins to play the lame-duck role with Eli Manning). With a new head coach getting started this season, there's no time like right now to give Collins the ball. Keeping the title of starter under Gannon's name places a bit less pressure on Collins throughout the summer and, more importantly, it keeps Gannon out of Gruden's clutches.



Sure, the Bucs might sign Gannon after the Raiders cut him in September. But without three months to get comfortable in Tampa, the chances of Gannon and Gruden making the Raiders look bad in 2004 will be slim.



HARRIS CAN THANK LAMBERT FOR HALL SNUB



We cringed a bit when we saw that former Cowboys safety Cliff Harris is bellyaching about getting snubbed (again) in voting for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.



Harris was a solid player in his day. But a Hall of Famer? Please.



Harris suggests a bias against the 1970s Cowboys because they lost two Super Bowl games to the Pittsburgh Steelers. (Of course, the Cowboys also won Super Bowl XII.)



If Harris's theory had any merit, Carl Eller of the four-time Super Bowl loser Vikings wouldn't have been elected to the Hall in lieu of Harris in ballots cast this year (and Fran Tarkenton and Alan Page and Paul Krause and Bud Grant wouldn't have been inducted, either).



There also wouldn't be seven members of the 1970s Cowboys in Canton.



One potential factor that Harris might conveniently be ignoring is his role in one of the most memorable (or, in his case, forgettable) moments in Super Bowl history.



After Steelers kicker Roy Gerela missed a field goal in Super Bowl X, Harris embraced Gerela and patted him on the helmet.

Steelers linebacker Jack Lambert responded by throwing Harris onto the ground like a bag full of baby dolls.



Our guess is that the voters recall that same moment every time they see Harris's name on the ballot. And with an enduring image of poor sportsmanship met with swift justice undermining at his credentials, it's no surprise that he hasn't made it in yet.



For us, the surprise will be if he ever does.



JACKSON CLOSE TO HIRING ARCENEAUX

Word around the league is that, after weeks of mulling and contemplating, Rams rookie running back Steven Jackson is close to signing a rep agreement with agent Rocky Arceneaux.

We're confused, frankly, by Jackson's willingness to sign on with the same guy who represents Rams starter Marshall Faulk. Though the rules don't prohibit representation of multiple players who play the same position on the same team, the reality is that Arceneaux won't be able to fight for the best possible contract for Jackson without potentially alienating the Rams as to Faulk, and vice-versa.

Will, for example, Arceneaux risk pissing the Rams off via a Jackson holdout when Faulk's oversized contract gradually is reaching the point of diminished returns?



Likewise, will Arceneaux recommend a five-year rookie deal for Jackson, since a longer contract will, as a practical matter, delay the date on which it becomes prudent for the team to nudge Faulk aside? That extra season basically pushes Faulk's day of reckoning back by a full year, allowing Arceneaux another season of generating three percent from Faulk's high-end salary, while Jackson waits one year longer to get paid.

Moreover, will Arceneaux argue that Jackson should be paid like a starter in the short-term, based on widespread whispers that Faulk's knee is in worse condition than previously feared?



The fact that Arceneaux sports a relatively small stable of clients (including embattled Rams defensive end Leonard Little, who easily could lose the support of Rams if the Rams so choose) makes it even more important for him to finesse the Faulk-Jackson relationships in a manner that allows Arceneuax to maximize his Faulk fee as long as he can -- and that incentive naturally works against the interests of a guy like Jackson, who stands to receive a big contract a couple of years from now if he gets a chance to become the go-to guy quickly, a la Clinton Portis in Denver.

Instead, Jackson could languish like Ron Dayne in New York as Faulk continues to get the bulk of the touches. And if the Rams decline over the next few seasons and coach Mike Martz gets the boot, who's to say that the new coach will conclude that Jackson fits with the team's objectives on offense?



We hear that Arceneaux is using his "good relationship" with the Rams as a feather in his cap with the Jackson camp. But just as players should want to be represented by the Postons in discussions with the Redskins, players also should shy away (in our opinion) from agents who are cozy to the point of beholden to any given team. As we see it, Arceneaux falls squarely into this category.

So, in our view, Jackson should choose someone/anyone other than the guy who understandably will be trying to keep Marshall Faulk on the field as much as possible over the next few years -- since that can only happen if Jackson is on the bench. The bottom line is that an agent needs to be able to put his own interests on the shelf when fighting to get his client the best deal, and the objective facts tell us that Arceneaux simply isn't in a position to do it.

WEDNESDAY ONE-LINERS



Bucs G.M. Bruce Allen says that the team isn't interested in QB Rich Gannon (and what else can he say, in light of the above?).



Titans owner Bud Adams says, like his natural hair, he's "pessimistic" that RB Eddie George will return.



Giants coach Tom Coughlin has pulled the plug on player-organized workouts for the two lost days of voluntary practices.



With talks on a new batch of broadcast rights contracts looming, the NFL says that a team will be in the No. 2 television market by 2008.



The Pats have created enough cap room to sign their rookies by restructuring the contracts of several veterans (none of which have the words "Ty" or "Law" in their names).



Former Giants DT Keith Hamilton faces up to six months in jail after pleading guilty to cocaine possession (and Playmakers is still a gross exaggeration of real life in the NFL).



Lions S Brock Marion has been charged with insurance fraud after collecting $54,000 for a vehicle he reported as stolen (and Playmakers is still a gross exaggeration of real life in the NFL).



The Jags are losing patience with DE Tony Brackens in their efforts to re-sign the veteran defensive end.



The Ravens are moving closer to signing (gulp) QB Kordell Stewart (and Jim Fassel will be given a box of crayons and a stack of construction paper as he prepares a playbook for the team's new No. 2 quarterback).



Art Shell has been named the NFL senior V.P. for football operations and development.



The Steelers are talking to QB Tommy Maddox about a new contract that will keep the No. 1 guy on the depth chart from being the No. 3 man on the payroll totem pole.



POSTED 7:05 p.m. EDT, May 25, 2004



NFLPA GOING AFTER ENGLEHARD



Multiple league sources have advised us that the NFL Players Association has initiated disciplinary action against Hadley Englehard based on two alleged violations of the rules governing agents.



Per the sources, the NFLPA alleges that Englehard improperly adjusted his fee arrangement with Chiefs defensive tackle Ryan Sims. Initially, Englehard was scheduled to receive 1.5 percent of Sims' signing bonus and 1.5 percent of the salary and other payments made under the seven-year deal. Englehard later persuaded Sims to change the numbers to 2 percent of the bonus money and 1 percent of the future payment, allegedly telling Sims that it was better for him to make this adjustment.



The problem, the NFLPA contends, is that the change is only better for Sims if he plays out the full seven years -- and if he achieves the various escalators included in the package. If he suffers a career-ending injury or if the Chiefs decide to release him before the contract ends (which isn't out of the question given his performance through his first two seasons), Englehard likely will end up with a bigger total fee than he would have earned under the original arrangement.



Englehard, we're told, contends that he passed this arrangement through Sims' financial advisors, who in theory should be sharp enough to catch the possibility that Sims was potentially getting screwed. What Englehard doesn't seem to realize, however, is that he's got a little thing known as a fiduciary obligation not to try to screw Sims -- regardless of whether the guy doing Sims' financial planning is Warren Buffett or Jimmy Buffett.



The NFLPA also is pursuing discipline against Englehard for allegedly providing confidential salary information to members of the media. Though the line in this regard can at times be vague, Englehard arguably did a cannonball into the wrong side of the rules by allegedly giving his password for the NFLPA's proprietary database to ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli.



Though Englehard believes the rules against such conduct are unclear, we think that a pinch of common sense and a dash of conscience are all that he and/or Pasquarelli would need to realize that it shouldn't have happened.



For Pasquarelli, it's a sign of laziness; for Englehard, it's a sign of sleaziness. Part of what agents pay for is access to that information. Sure, nothing prevents Englehard or any agent from sharing salary info with Pasquarelli or anyone else. But by merely giving a reporter access to a computerized database into which his cookies don't belong is just plain wrong.



It'll be interesting to see whether ESPN takes a look at whether Pasquarelli has violated the company's internal rules and regulations by taking advantage of a fairly significant short-cut to scoop. Moreover, we wonder whether the powers-that-be in Bristol will take a look-see at Len's history of stories regarding Englehard and his clients to see if Hadley got any "quo" for this sizable "quid."



Though we don't wish termination of employment on anyone, keep an eye on the manner in which Mickey Mouse and Company handle this one, given that they summarily fired Gregg Easterbrook last year for making ill-advised comments unrelated to his substantive work. At a minimum, the matter merits an investigation to determine whether Pasquarelli and any of his colleagues are using questionable tactics to harvest information.



As to Englehard, the process will play itself out within the confines of the NFLPA. Meanwhile, we're pleased to see that the union is enforcing its rules.



POSTED 9:10 a.m. EDT; LAST UPDATED 10:45 a.m. EDT, May 25, 2004



NCAA SHOULD LET WILLIAMS BACK IN



With the Second Circuit Court of Appeals announcing on Monday its decision to bar from the NFL draft Maurice Clarett and any other underclassmen less than three years removed from high school, it's now time for the biggest winner in this legal three-ring circus -- the NCAA -- to do the right thing and allow USC receiver Mike Williams to regain his eligibility.



Make no mistake about it. The NFL secured for the NCAA the ability of its member schools to continue to earn millions in revenue in exchange for providing (drum roll, please) a free education.



The legal fight technically isn't over, but the overcome has never seemed more clear. Clarett can petition the full Second Circuit to reconsider the decision of the three-judge panel. Also, Clarett can ask the U.S. Supreme Court to take up the case.



In most cases, obtaining a reversal of a federal appeals court is, as a practical matter, a long shot. Still, we doubt that Clarett and his lawyer, Alan Milstein, are ready to fold the tents.



The loser in all of this is Williams, who was prepared to return to USC until Judge Shira Scheindlin announced in February her decision that Clarett should be allowed into the April draft.



Though, as we previously have explained, Williams cooked his own goose when he signed with an agent, the NCAA should make a special exception in Williams' case. And even if the NCAA isn't inclined to do it in the interests of helping out Williams, the NCAA should do it in the interests of helping the NFL out of a predicament that it created when it threw the gates open and welcomed all otherwise ineligible players into the April draft.



As NFL V.P. of public relations Greg Aiello told us last month, the league warned Williams that it would revoke the invitation if it prevailed in court. Still, the league now faces a separate suit from Williams, who is left with no realistic football options south of Saskatchewan if he doesn't get back into USC.



So, in our view, Williams rightly should be suing someone -- even if the ultimate culprit is his agent, Mike Azzarelli, who might not have given Williams a full and complete explanation regarding the risks of declaring for the draft and signing with an agent.



The entire mess, however, can be avoided if the NCAA simply lets Williams return to the Trojans.



It could be wishful thinking on our part. The NCAA coaches individually care only about helping their programs win more games than they lose, and they aren't about to extend a gratuity to anyone -- especially if it means allowing the defending AP national champions to reload with one of its best players.



Hell, even as the NFL has been respecting the NCAA's desire over the years to have a hammerlock on young players, many NCAA coaches have done little to help NFL teams get a fair look at players who are getting ready to make the leap to the next level.



So our guess is that the NCAA will once again bite the generous hand that has been aiding in the feeding of the coffers of its member institutions with the blood, sweat, and talent of players whose rewards pale in comparison to the risks they take and/or the revenue they make.

[ALinChainz]

by Profootballtalk editor Mike Florio

http://www.profootballtalk.com

http://www.thefantasymasters.com

POSTED 6:12 a.m. EDT, May 27, 2004



GANNON GONE IF HE REFUSES PAY CUT



A league source tells us that, despite recent proclamations that Rich Gannon remains the starting quarterback in Oakland, the Raiders will indeed release him if he refuses to significantly reduce his $7 million salary.



And even if Gannon takes a sufficient pay cut, the source says that the Raiders will continue to take a wait-and-see approach regarding Gannon's fitness to remain a viable NFL quarterback, given concerns regarding his age and a shoulder he injured in 2003.



But if Gannon swallows a big chunk of his salary and otherwise shows he can still play, the Raiders will keep both Gannon and Collins on the roster in 2004. If, after all, the Raiders can keep Gannon and Collins for roughly the same total salary required to have Gannon only, it's a no-brainer to go with both of them.



The source also agreed with our assessment that the decision to hang onto Gannon in the short term is influenced in large part by the desire of the Raiders to keep Gannon from joining Jon Gruden and Bruce Allen in Tampa. But the reality is that the Raiders don't have to wait until late August or early September to dump Gannon in order to effectively keep him out of the Bucs' clutches. Given cap issues in Tampa -- including a stiff hit resulting from the potential release of Brad Johnson -- the Bucs simply might not be able to do the math to get Gannon on the squad while still signing their draft picks.



Also, don't count on Gannon's agent, Tom Condon, provoking a release by flat-out refusing to take a pay cut. The general consensus among the agent community is that Kerry Collins' agent, David Dunn, acted prematurely by forcing the Giants' hand without have a damn good idea as to what the market for Collins would otherwise be.



So Condon likely won't draw any lines in the sand until he knows that he can get more elsewhere than the Raiders are willing to pay. Though Gannon might actually prefer to bolt for less money with another team, these agent types continue to be driven by a desire to maximize their fees, and the fees only get maximized if the player is getting the highest possible salary.



Look, then, for this issue to go somewhat slowly, with impasse being reached (if at all) in early July.



GARRARD ON THE BLOCK



A league source tells us that the Jacksonville Jaguars are willing to listen to trade offers for backup quarterback David Garrard.



Per the source, the Jags are happy with newcomers Doug Johnson and Quinn Gray. There also could be some lingering resentment among the powers-that-be regarding Garrard's grousing early last season, when it became clear that he was third in line for the starting job, behind then-rookie Byron Leftwich.



Earlier in the offseason, there was a sense that some teams might be interested in Garrard, a former East Carolina standout. But his recent diagnosis with Crohn's disease likely will prompt most teams to shy away from giving up a player or a pick in return for a guy whose health currently is up in the air.



THURSDAY ONE-LINERS



Agent Lamont Smith concedes that, if Titans owner Bud Adams thinks that RB Eddie George won't be back, George probably won't be back.



The supposedly flimsy case against Ravens RB Jamal Lewis for arranging a drug deal could get a whole lot stronger if an incriminating videotape is allowed into evidence at trial (and Playmakers is still a gross exaggeration of real life in the NFL).



The Steelers have signed CB Willie Williams, who played in the 'Burgh before heading to Seattle seven years ago, to a one-year deal for the veteran minimum.



NFLPA chief Gene Upshaw promises that the next extension to the CBA will contain explicit language regarding the rule that players must be three years removed from high school in order to be eligible for the draft.



NFL Network chief Steve Bornstein will produce the pregame and halftime shows for Super Bowl XXXIX.



The Cowboys have released undrafted rookie free-agent LB Ryan Fowler, despite giving him a $20,000 signing bonus.

[ALinChainz]

by Profootballtalk editor Mike Florio



POSTED 10:25 a.m. EDT, May 28, 2004



G-MEN WAITING FOR WARNER



Word around the league is that the New York Giants are counting the days until the Rams quarterback Kurt Warner is released, when the G-men will promptly pounce on him.



There's speculation in some circles that the Giants and Warner's agent already have reached an agreement regarding compensation and duration. As we see it, if Warner and the Giants reach a formal agreement quickly, it's likely that most of the heavy lifting on the negotiations was accomplished in advance. Really, there's no reason for Warner and the Giants not to talk turkey, since there's no other team that plans to make a run at the two-time former league MVP.



The other big-name June 1 cuts will include Jeremiah Trotter, Jason Gildon, Daryl Gardener, and (most likely) Eddie George.



Trotter previously has been linked to the Giants and Gardener likely will be headed to Cincinnati. For Gildon and George, their destinations are unclear.



Some league insiders can envision Gildon heading to a team like the Raiders, who are installing the 3-4 defense. As for George, the Cowboys would be a no-brainer match -- which likely means it won't happen.



Other teams who could be interested in the 1995 Heisman winner include (rank speculation alert) the Eagles, the Bears, the Raiders (who are interested generally in anyone over 30), the Buccaneers (who are interested generally in anyone they've ever heard of), and the Broncos. As we see it, George's best chance to win a starting job in 2004 is in Big D, where rookie Julius Jones is No. 1 on the depth chart.



Regardless, some league insiders question whether George will earn elsewhere the $2.12 million in salary he could have realized in Tennessee, if he'd merely agreed (as the team asked) to slice his $4.25 million salary in half. Though some players (e.g., Kerry Collins) don't want to stick around in a city where their time is clearly running out, the reality is that most guys like Collins and George could get more by staying put and swallowing their pride than by hitting the open market after the early March spending spree.



Jerome Bettis, for example, understood that it was better to eat a big chunk of his salary for the ability to stay in Pittsburgh, since there was no guarantee he'd find elsewhere the money that the Steelers were still willing to pay him. Then again, maybe Bettis decided in the end to stick around because the Steelers were appropriately sensitive to the fact that squeezing money out of a guy's pocket is an enormous blow to the ego, even if the team is leaving more money behind than the guy ever will find anywhere else.

[ALinChainz]

by Profootballtalk editor Mike Florio



POSTED 7:55 a.m. EDT; UPDATED 8:30 a.m. EDT, May 29, 2004



AGENTS PISSED AT EARLY DEALS



We're hearing that the agent community generally is up in arms regarding the decision of a handful of their colleagues to commence early negotiations with middle-round draft picks.



Generally, seasoned agents believe that delaying negotiations until July creates a greater sense of urgency for the teams, which at that point want to get all of their picks into camp. The thinking is that greater urgency generally results in better deals for the players.



The problem with early deals is that these contracts help establish the framework for other contracts, due to the "slotting" phenomenon. This year, those early deals in the middle rounds likely will have even greater influence, since the rookie salary pool has increased by a paltry 1.3 percent and the lack of an extension to the CBA probably will cut down the length of contracts for first-rounders -- which means that the first-year cap numbers for high-end picks would be higher than usual in 2004.



Though the agents generally accept the reality that inexperienced contract reps might be inclined to pull the trigger too quickly on rookie deals, one agent with whom we spoke specifically complained about the fact that Neil Schwartz, an established agent, has been making early contracts an annual ritual.



This year, Schwartz already has agreed to terms with the Vikings as to fourth-round running back Mewelde Moore, and with the Panthers as to third-round offensive tackle Travelle Wharton. Both of these contracts are four-year deals, which essentially rob the player of a crack at restricted free agency -- and which often don't fairly compensate the player for the lost crack at a seven-figure tender after only three years of football.



So why are these early deals done? As it has been explained to us, the contracts are finalized because either the player or the agent wants to get paid sooner rather than later. In cases where the player wants the money, the thinking among most experienced agents is that the agent should take steps to help the player acquire sufficient financial support until a better deal can be done in July.



Agents also are keeping an eye on the proliferation of five-year contracts, which also wipe out the player's first season of potential unrestricted free agency. Last year, the Browns forced five-year deals onto every draft pick, and word is that they plan to do it again this time around. We're hearing that other teams could be following suit.



BLAKE FINDS YET ANOTHER NEW HOME



Make it six NFL teams for veteran quarterback Jeff Blake.



Blake, who has been with the Jets, the Bengals, the Saints, the Ravens, and the Cardinals, has agreed to a one-year deal with the Eagles.



"Think about it," Blake said Friday, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. "The Eagles have been to three NFC championship games three years in a row. I played for the Cincinnati Bengals, the New Orleans Saints and the Arizona Cardinals. I've only been involved in the playoffs one time.



"The Eagles have been a Super Bowl contender the last three years. You're talking about a team that has been one game away three years in a row, and I'm coming from Arizona."



As noted by the Inquirer, the expansion of the practice squad from five to eight players this year affords teams like the Eagles the luxury of using a veteran as the No. 3 quarterback, with the No. 4 guy available via the practice squad. Also, with Donovan McNabb signed into the next decade and Koy Detmer entrenched as the No. 2 guy, there's no need for the team to focus on getting a young guy ready to take over either of the top spots on the depth chart.



Then again, Blake says he's under the impression that he'll be competing with Detmer for the No. 2 job, according to the Philadelphia Daily News.



"I'm capable of being a backup and a good one," Blake said.



The contract is thought to be in the vicinity of the minimum value of $760,000, which means that the deal will cost only $450,000 in cap dollars and in real dollars.



Finally, we couldn't help but notice a bit of revisionist history regarding that one year in which Blake's team qualified for the postseason.



"I've only played on one team that made the playoffs -- the Saints in 2000 -- and I got hurt and couldn't play in the playoff game, Aaron Brooks played."



To the untrained eye, this statement creates the impression that Blake led the team to the playoffs, strained a groin the week before the playoff game, and that Aaron Brooks was pressed into service. Blake's suggestion that there was only one playoff game connotes that his backup blew it, and Blake's statement arguably implies that, if he'd been available, the team likely would have gone farther.



Unless the 2001 NFL Record & Fact Book was written in part by Jayson Blair, the truth is that Blake went down with a season-ending broken foot in the first quarter of the Saints' eleventh game. Aaron Brooks came in and came on over the final four-plus contests, leading the Saints to the first playoff win in the history of the franchise, against the defending Super Bowl champion Rams, before falling to the Vikings in the divisional round.



Of course, we can understand why Blake would slant the facts regarding his tenure in the Bayou. After all, when he was healthy in 2001, he lost the starting gig in a straight-up duel with Brooks. Since then, Brooks has been the No. 1 guy in New Orleans -- and Blake has bounced to a different squad every year.

[ALinChainz]

by Profootballtalk editor Mike Florio



POSTED 7:56 a.m. EDT, June 1, 2004



PACKERS TO CUT THE ANTI-WHITE



Though it's hardly a shocker, the fact that the Green Bay Packers will be cutting defensive end Joe Johnson is noteworthy because, once upon a time, the team's addition of a big-name defensive end arguably catapulted the team toward its 1996 Super Bowl title.



That guy, of course, was Reggie White, the first marquee player to change teams under the then-fledging free agency system. The Pack gave him a pile of cash to leave the Eagles, and White delivered by helping the team gradually improve its fortunes until, after his fourth season in Green Bay, they brought home the Lombardi.



In contract, the guy who was supposed to help put this decade's version of the Packers over the top has been a colossal bust -- arguably one of the worst free-agency moves since the system was launched in 1993. The Packers gave Johnson a six-year, $33 million deal barely two years ago, and they've already decided based on two seasons of play that it's time to cut the cord.



The signing of Johnson also contributed in large part to the departure of a once-promising defensive end, Vonnie Holliday, who left for the Chiefs because the team couldn't (and wouldn't) pay him like Johnson, especially with the emergence of Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila.



By dumping Johnson, the Pack will pick up a net cap gain of $4 million this year, which is the difference between the salary that Johnson won't receive and the cap hit resulting from his unallocated bonus amount for 2004. In 2005, the team will take a cap hit of $3.25 million, but the team will avoid three additional years of salary obligations.



In 2000, Johnson formed a fearsome front four in New Orleans, teaming with Norman Hand, Darren Howard, and La'Roi Glover to create one of the best rush lines in the league. In our view, Johnson likely will be forced to accept a one-year deal close to the veteran minimum as he attempts to persuade NFL teams that he's more like the guy who starred for the Saints in 2000 than the guy who has sputtered for the Pack over the past two seasons.



And the release of Johnson casts even further doubt on the wisdom of having a dual-role coach/G.M. in Green Bay, especially where the front office is otherwise full of capable people. We delved into this question several months back, and our conclusion at the time was that grand poobah Mike Sherman simply isn't taking full advantage of the talent that surrounds him.



Clearly, if the Pack don't produce in 2004, the powers-that-be likely will look to the misadventures with Johnson as a fact that favors, at a minimum, removing the G.M. title from Sherman's parking space.



TUESDAY ONE-LINERS



Eagles DE Jevon Kearse says he still hasn't gotten used to the fact that he isn't playing for the Titans -- and he doesn't rule out a possible return down the road.



The Steelers plan to extend the contracts of LB Kendrell Bell and LB James Farrior, who like WR Plaxico Burress are entering the final year of their current deals but who unlike Burress are participating in offseason workouts.



LB Jeremiah Trotter will be released no later than Wednesday by the Redskins, who also might end the campaign of RB Trung Canidate.



54-year-old QB Vinny Testaverde will be released by the Jets; Testaverde could end up in Dallas or New England.



The Redskins plan to sign TE Fred Baxter.



If Testaverde lands in Dallas, look for QB Chad Hutchinson to be released.

[ALinChainz]

by Profootballtalk editor Mike Florio



POSTED 6:30 p.m. EDT, June 1, 2004



KURT KUT BY RAMS



The move was anticipated, but it is nevertheless jarring to see the name of the 1999 league MVP, the 2001 league MVP, and the MVP of Super Bowl XXXIV on the NFL's June 1 trash heap.



The guy, of course, is former Rams quarterback Kurt Warner.



Warner was poised to become this generation's Joe Montana -- a soft-spoken pillar of confidence who seemed consistently to play above his God-given skills within a system that was perfectly suited to maximize his strengths and disguise his weaknesses.



But a late-season concussion in 2000 and an early-season thumb injury in 2001 became harbingers for Warner's eventual downfall. By 2002, Warner's hand continued to be a problem and his eggs continued to be scrambled. The injuries forced him to the bench after an 0-4 start, enabling another unlikely quarterback, Marc Bulger, to steal the starting job.



Then again, Bulger's 2002 performance didn't bump Warner to No. 2. in 2003. Until, that is, after the first regular-season game was played. The Giants battered and bruised Warner into Tysonesque bolivian, resulting in Bulger getting and keeping the gig, permanently.



And as Warner sets his sights on joining the same G-men who dropped the curtain on his grill in St. Louis, we continue to be baffled by Warner's desire to set up behind one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL. Unless coach Tom Coughlin plans to have Warner through the ball while in the midst of a two-step drop, Warner will continue to takes shots to the head -- and our guess is that his tenure as the starter in New York will be short-lived.



If that happens, few tears will be shed for Warner, who squandered his rags-to-riches goodwill through the antics of a Yoko Ono spouse and a bizarre, restrained feud with Mike Martz. Though Warner still tends to say the right things at the right times, many regard his act as transparent -- and there's a feeling of quiet satisfaction in some circles that God's gift to grocery clerks has seen his NFL career fall into a premature funk.



Whether it stays there remains to be seen. Our guess is that it will.

[ALinChainz]

by Profootballtalk editor Mike Florio


POSTED 10:03 p.m. EDT; UPDATED 10:40 p.m. EDT, June 1, 2004



POSTONS MISJUDGED MARKET FOR T-BUCK?



Word around the league is that veteran cornerback Terrell Buckley will signing a one-year deal with the Patriots soon. It's a move that, as one league insider opined, represents another failure by agents Carl and Kevin Poston to properly gauge the market for one of their players.



Buckley spent 2001 and 2002 with the Patriots before re-joining the Dolphins for 2003. Previously, T-Buck spent five seasons with the Fins, from 1995 through 1999.



Per a league source, the Dolphins were serious about bringing Buckley back, but they were willing to offer only a one-year deal for the veteran minimum of $760,000. This specific device, which was adopted a couple of years ago, caps the cost of such contracts at $450,000.



But Buckley, through the Postons, wanted more. Miami held firm, signing Reggie Howard and drafting Will Poole.



And if Buckley thought there still was a chance to stay in Miami after the draft, the decision of the team to issue his number to Poole likely cemented his status.



So the end result is that Buckley will be forced to leave Miami, where he lives and where he wanted to play, for the same dollars that he turned down. A less obvious factor in all of this is that Buckley's $760,000 salary would have been exempt from state income tax in Florida.



"It's the same thing as with Ian Gold," a league source said. "The Postons overestimated their guy's value, and their client got burned."



PATS BITING THE BULLET ON LAW?



So are the Pats planning for the potential departure of Postons client Ty Law by adding Buckley, another Postons client?



Word around the league is that the Pats plan to bite the bullet on Law's ginormous 2004 salary and cap number, despite Law's stated desire for a new deal that places him among the highest-paid corners in the game -- preferably from a team other than New England.



There was speculation that the Pats, in the end, would give Law the Lawyer treatment, cutting him in the same fashion that they dumped Pro Bowl safety Lawyer Milloy prior to the 2003 season. But with several contract restructurings giving the Pats enough cap room to sign their rookies, it's looking like the team won't give up their shut-down corner, yet.



Part of the reality is that the Pats don't have another guy on hand to step in and fill Law's shoes if he's dumped. So with a solid roster in place for a run at a third NFL title in four seasons, it's looking more and more likely that the team won't engage Law in a pay-cut-or-else stare down.



The Pats' decision likely was driven by the team's belief that Law, in the end, will play -- since he's scheduled to be paid a total of $7.15 million this season in the form of a $1 million reporting bonus and seventeen weekly checks in the amount of $360,000. Each.



MCCARDELL STILL MIFFED



The impasse between the Bucs and receiver Keenan McCardell isn't any closer to getting resolved.



McCardell wants an increase in his $2.5 million compensation for 2004, to reflect his status as one of the top receivers in the game. Never mind the fact that McCardell is 34 -- he believes that his production in 2003 merits a bigger pay day this season.



Given the team's decision a year ago to send Keyshawn Johnson home after he pouted long enough, we don't rule out a release of McCardell. As we see it, there aren't many other teams out there that will be willing to give more than $5 million over the next two years to an aging pass-catcher who, despite his numbers in 2003, isn't, never was, and never will be a No. 1, go-to receiver.



GEORGE RELEASE NOT A DONE DEAL?



Despite rhetoric from last week indicating that the Titans soon will be releasing veteran running back Eddie George, we're hearing that the move isn't the sure thing that many now presume.



Though we're not saying that it won't happen, it's hardly a foregone conclusion. With George rejecting a request that he cut his $4.25 million salary in half, the possibility remains that the two sides will settle on a number somewhere south of his currently scheduled pay and $2.125 million.



Without George, the Titans would turn to Chris Brown, a third-round draft choice in 2003. Notwithstanding conventional wisdom that George is suffering from the Earl Campbell syndrome, it's hard to imagine a team that's among the best in the AFC consciously placing its running game into the hands of a generally unproven commodity as it prepares to take on the Colts and the Pats for a berth in Super Bowl XXXIX.



STEWART, RAVENS CLOSE TO DEAL



Free-agent quarterback Kordell Stewart remained in Baltimore on Tuesday night, extending his visit with the Ravens as his agent, Leigh Steinberg, tries to hammer out a contract with the team.



Stewart has drawn little interest elsewhere, with only the Broncos and Bills expressing serious interest in the ten-year veteran. Still, the Ravens have both a specific need for a quarterback and a sufficiently simple plan of attack on offense to accommodate Stewart's, um, unique skills.



After being benched by the Steelers in late 1999 and excluded from quarterback meetings, Stewart worked his way back into the lineup in 2000, seizing the opportunity to play when then-starter Kent Graham was injured. In 2001, Stewart's confidence slowly grew in a running-based attack, allowing him to take advantage of passing lanes when opposing defense sold out to stop Jerome Bettis.



The Ravens apparently are betting on the fact that the Stewart who flourishes in the face of reduced (or no) expectations will be able to perform if starter Kyle Boller gets hurt before Anthony Wright is ready to return.



Coupled with Stewart's history of solid play when pressed into service by an injury to the starter, the Ravens plan to pound away with Jamal Lewis makes Stewart a sound replacement for Wright, who won't begin throwing again until September after undergoing surgery to repair a torn labrum.



With that said, Stewart shouldn't get greedy. With precisely zero other options out there, Stewart needs to hope that he can carve out a late career niche for himself as a year-to-year option for a team that needs a backup who can hold the clipboard when the starter is healthy and put on the plastic hat if/when the starter gets dinged.



POSTED 9:10 p.m. EDT, June 1, 2004



VINNY A VICTIM OF JUNE 1 CUTS



The Jets officially have released quarterback Vinny Testaverde, ending his six-year tenure in New York.



The expected move creates a $1.5 million net cap savings for the Jets, but it will require the Jets to carry $4 million in "dead money" in 2005.



Testaverde had a late-career rejuvenation in New York, taking the Jets to the 1998 AFC title game -- and a halftime lead over the eventual Super Bowl champions, the Denver Broncos.



But Testaverde's run of excellence in New York took a big step backward in 1999, when he tore an Achilles' tendon in week one of the regular season. Vinny was the starter again come 2000, but the Jets already had acquired his eventual replacement, Chad Pennington, with one of four first-round draft picks.



Vinny held onto the starting gig for two more full seasons, but the handwriting was on the wall. By the middle of 2002, Pennington had secured the starting gig.



Current speculation is that Testaverde will head for Dallas, where he'll be reunited with Bill Parcells, who originally brought Vinny to New York. Another potential player is the Patriots, who arguably give Vinny the best chance at leaving the NFL with a trophy in his hands named for another Italian guy named Vince.