HEAV
03-23-2005, 07:22 AM
For the first time since his rookie season, Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi has retained the services of an agent to represent him, and they are discussing the possibility of Bruschi sitting out the 2005 season for health reasons, similar to the way Carolina linebacker Mark Fields sat out 2003 after being diagnosed with cancer."I can relate to you only that Tedy is considering not playing next year," Blank said. "Beyond that, I cannot comment on anything."
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An Alameda County jury ruled Tuesday that former Oakland Raiders linebacker Bill Romanowski should pay ex-teammate Marcus Williams $340,000 in damages -- far less than the millions Williams had sought -- for punching him in the face during a practice. The verdict capped a six-week trial that featured testimony from National Football League players including former 49ers and Raiders stars Ronnie Lott and Jerry Rice, both of whom testified that Romanowski's punch crossed the line in an admittedly violent sport.
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Coach Jack Del Rio said Tuesday he's prepared to welcome safety Donovin Darius back to the Jaguars. "We're happy to have him back,'' Del Rio said during the AFC coaches breakfast session at the NFL owners meetings. "I believe he's a good football player.''Del Rio said the window is still open for Darius to try to arrange a trade, and Darius' agent, Tom Condon, said he'll be contacting teams after club personnel return from the annual meetings in Maui this week.
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Contrary to most draft predictions, the Bucs may select a quarterback or a defensive player with their first-round pick, according to Coach Jon Gruden. Gruden and General Manager Bruce Allen are scheduled to meet with the draft's two top-rated passers, Aaron Rodgers of California and Utah's Alex Smith, this weekend.
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The Broncos will not match the offer sheet signed by CB Kelly Herndon with the Seahawks; since Herndon was not drafted, the Broncos receive no draft pick compensation from Seattle.
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The Washington Redskins expect to learn today or tomorrow whether they will land free agent defensive end Courtney Brown. Brown, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2000 draft, completed his expected team visits yesterday with a trip to Seattle. On Monday he was in Jacksonville, and last week he journeyed to Denver and Washington.
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The Indianapolis Colts have been awarded two compensatory picks in the April 23-24 draft, but are in no mood to thank the NFL for the gesture.
The Colts believe at least one of the selections -- a fourth-rounder, No. 135 overall -- should have been higher in the drafting process. The team also received a fifth-round pick, No. 173 overall."I'm asking for a clarification right now and haven't gotten one at this point," president Bill Polian said Tuesday during a break from the NFL owners' meetings. "I know how the system works. We want to know how (NFL officials) arrived at what they did."
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Calling the team's free-agent shopping unfinished business, Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said Tuesday he likes what the team has done to the roster and noted there is a long way to go before the work is done. "It's too early to tell, it's very early in the free agency stage," Shanahan said at the league meetings. "We don't have our team together yet. We have a plan for it . . . but it's only been a couple weeks of free agency. We've got time to find the guys we think can help us."
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Denver has yet to draw the kind of interest it wants to trade defensive end Trevor Pryce. The Broncos are seeking at least a first-round pick for Pryce, who played in only two games in 2004 because of surgery to repair a herniated disc in his back.
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Eli Manning was thrilled when the Giants signed receiver Plaxico Burress last week. Now he can't wait for the newest Giant to arrive so they can get to work.
"I'm sure he's coming soon, hopefully," Manning said yesterday.
"Now is when you learn the timing and the speed and how he comes out of his cuts and when you can throw it up and have him make plays. All of that comes with practice and work in the offseason."Manning and Burress should get plenty of practice in over the next few months. Manning returned from his New Orleans home on Sunday. Burress, who signed his six-year, $25 million contract Friday, is expected to join his new teammates later this week.When he does, Burress will be "a fine addition" to the Giants, according to Eli's father, Archie, who joined his son last night at the Police Athletic League's 14th annual SportsNite Dinner in Manhattan. Archie received the PAL's Sports Legend Award. Eli was named the PAL's Athlete of the Year."Plaxico is a good-looking receiver," Archie said. "I think what he brings to the Giants is some experience. A receiving corps is not about one guy, but he should blend in well with Amani (Toomer) and (Jeremy) Shockey and those young guys they had last year
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Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio declined to confirm that the team wants a first-round pick for backup QB David Garrard.
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The Patriots deny that they have a standing 4-year, $26 million offer on the table for CB Ty Law.
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Pats V.P. of player personnel Scott Pioli is the Sporting News Executive of the Year; it's the second time he's received this specific recognition.
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The Bucs apparently have lost interest in QB Quincy Carter.
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The Packers have signed former Tampa G Matt O'Dwyer to a one-year deal.
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Fins coach Nick Saban is still trying (we think) to make other teams believe he's not going to draft a running back by continuing to talk about possible flirtations with RB Ricky Williams.
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Former Steelers LB David Little has died at the age of 46 after a weight-lifting accident that apparently resulted from a heart arrhythmia.
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An Alameda County jury ruled Tuesday that former Oakland Raiders linebacker Bill Romanowski should pay ex-teammate Marcus Williams $340,000 in damages -- far less than the millions Williams had sought -- for punching him in the face during a practice. The verdict capped a six-week trial that featured testimony from National Football League players including former 49ers and Raiders stars Ronnie Lott and Jerry Rice, both of whom testified that Romanowski's punch crossed the line in an admittedly violent sport.
------
Coach Jack Del Rio said Tuesday he's prepared to welcome safety Donovin Darius back to the Jaguars. "We're happy to have him back,'' Del Rio said during the AFC coaches breakfast session at the NFL owners meetings. "I believe he's a good football player.''Del Rio said the window is still open for Darius to try to arrange a trade, and Darius' agent, Tom Condon, said he'll be contacting teams after club personnel return from the annual meetings in Maui this week.
-------
Contrary to most draft predictions, the Bucs may select a quarterback or a defensive player with their first-round pick, according to Coach Jon Gruden. Gruden and General Manager Bruce Allen are scheduled to meet with the draft's two top-rated passers, Aaron Rodgers of California and Utah's Alex Smith, this weekend.
--------
The Broncos will not match the offer sheet signed by CB Kelly Herndon with the Seahawks; since Herndon was not drafted, the Broncos receive no draft pick compensation from Seattle.
-------
The Washington Redskins expect to learn today or tomorrow whether they will land free agent defensive end Courtney Brown. Brown, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2000 draft, completed his expected team visits yesterday with a trip to Seattle. On Monday he was in Jacksonville, and last week he journeyed to Denver and Washington.
--------
The Indianapolis Colts have been awarded two compensatory picks in the April 23-24 draft, but are in no mood to thank the NFL for the gesture.
The Colts believe at least one of the selections -- a fourth-rounder, No. 135 overall -- should have been higher in the drafting process. The team also received a fifth-round pick, No. 173 overall."I'm asking for a clarification right now and haven't gotten one at this point," president Bill Polian said Tuesday during a break from the NFL owners' meetings. "I know how the system works. We want to know how (NFL officials) arrived at what they did."
-------------
Calling the team's free-agent shopping unfinished business, Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said Tuesday he likes what the team has done to the roster and noted there is a long way to go before the work is done. "It's too early to tell, it's very early in the free agency stage," Shanahan said at the league meetings. "We don't have our team together yet. We have a plan for it . . . but it's only been a couple weeks of free agency. We've got time to find the guys we think can help us."
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Denver has yet to draw the kind of interest it wants to trade defensive end Trevor Pryce. The Broncos are seeking at least a first-round pick for Pryce, who played in only two games in 2004 because of surgery to repair a herniated disc in his back.
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Eli Manning was thrilled when the Giants signed receiver Plaxico Burress last week. Now he can't wait for the newest Giant to arrive so they can get to work.
"I'm sure he's coming soon, hopefully," Manning said yesterday.
"Now is when you learn the timing and the speed and how he comes out of his cuts and when you can throw it up and have him make plays. All of that comes with practice and work in the offseason."Manning and Burress should get plenty of practice in over the next few months. Manning returned from his New Orleans home on Sunday. Burress, who signed his six-year, $25 million contract Friday, is expected to join his new teammates later this week.When he does, Burress will be "a fine addition" to the Giants, according to Eli's father, Archie, who joined his son last night at the Police Athletic League's 14th annual SportsNite Dinner in Manhattan. Archie received the PAL's Sports Legend Award. Eli was named the PAL's Athlete of the Year."Plaxico is a good-looking receiver," Archie said. "I think what he brings to the Giants is some experience. A receiving corps is not about one guy, but he should blend in well with Amani (Toomer) and (Jeremy) Shockey and those young guys they had last year
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Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio declined to confirm that the team wants a first-round pick for backup QB David Garrard.
------------
The Patriots deny that they have a standing 4-year, $26 million offer on the table for CB Ty Law.
--------------
Pats V.P. of player personnel Scott Pioli is the Sporting News Executive of the Year; it's the second time he's received this specific recognition.
--------
The Bucs apparently have lost interest in QB Quincy Carter.
------------
The Packers have signed former Tampa G Matt O'Dwyer to a one-year deal.
---------
Fins coach Nick Saban is still trying (we think) to make other teams believe he's not going to draft a running back by continuing to talk about possible flirtations with RB Ricky Williams.
----------
Former Steelers LB David Little has died at the age of 46 after a weight-lifting accident that apparently resulted from a heart arrhythmia.