HEAV
03-30-2005, 07:25 AM
If Shaun Alexander is going to be traded, it looks increasingly likely to
be on draft day. That's because, as Ruskell said, "Everyone is kind of
stuck." The Seahawks have given their franchise running back permission to
seek a trade, and they are willing to discuss a deal for less than a first-round
pick. But Indianapolis' Edgerrin James and Buffalo's Travis Henry also can be
had in trade, and the draft offers three top tailbacks. With as many as five of
the top eight teams in the draft wanting running backs, Ruskell said interest in
the veterans is likely to pick up after Texas' Cedric Benson and Auburn's Ronnie
Brown and Carnell Williams are selected. "Unless I'm mistaken, they're
going to go pretty quick," Ruskell said. "So not everybody is going to
take care of their deal. So, at that point, I think this thing will start moving
again.
Rumors that the San Diego Chargers might trade Philip Rivers to the 49ers in
exchange for San Francisco's No. 1 overall pick in the April 23-24 NFL draft
were shot down Tuesday by officials from both teams. "It's never going to
happen, not in a million years," Chargers president Dean Spanos said.
"It's totally untrue, OK? There is no interest in that whatsoever and never
has been. There have been no talks" with the 49ers regarding such a deal.
The Dolphins were among five teams who scouted controversial former Florida
State quarterback Adrian McPherson during his impressive individual workout at
Southeast High on Tuesday. Dolphins college scout John Crea was among
representatives from five teams who watched as McPherson put on an athletic
display that drew comparisons to the likes of Michael Vick and John Elway.
Whether that's enough for McPherson to overcome charges of stealing and
accusations of gambling as an FSU student is another matter.
The mystery surrounding guard Will Shields and his plans to play for the Chiefs
next season only thickened Tuesday. Shields didn't attend the Chiefs' first
voluntary conditioning session of the offseason, saying later by telephone that
he had another commitment. He also said he was “not at liberty” to discuss his
intentions regarding next season. Coach Dick Vermeil, in discussing plans to
move John Welbourn from tackle to guard, previously indicated some uncertainty
over Shields' plans. “Will Shields hasn't told me 100 percent that he plans to
return, though I think he will,” Vermeil said earlier this week. The Chiefs are
willing to be patient with Shields, who keeps in good physical condition and
hasn't missed a game since joining the team in 1993. But if Shields should
retire and not to return for what would be his 13th season, the loss of the
10-time Pro Bowler would leave a huge void. Shields has been a pillar of what is
generally considered the NFL's best offensive line.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick recently flew to Gainesville, Fla., to conduct a
personal workout with highly touted Gators linebacker Channing Crowder. The Pats
have also taken a good look at Georgia's Odell Thurman.
Offensive lineman Ray Brown said he will re-sign with the Washington Redskins
today and is well into preparations for his 20th season in the NFL. Brown, 42,
said he is successfully rehabilitating from offseason knee and ankle surgery and
is in the process of moving his family to this area.
Chiefs cornerback Eric Warfield faces a possible suspension of as many as four
games under the NFL's substance abuse policy. Warfield pleaded no contest in
January to driving under the influence of alcohol. The incident happened in
Overland Park and was the third time in three years Warfield was charged with
DUI in Johnson County. But Warfield said Tuesday he was advised by his attorney
Kevin Regan and agent Craig Domann that he may avoid the suspension. “It's my
understanding from what I hear there will not be a suspension,” Warfield said.
Jury selection in the trial of Rams defensive end Leonard Little on allegations
of drunken driving and speeding in Ladue last year enters its third day today in
St. Louis County Circuit Court. Prospective jurors, first from a block of 48,
then from a group of 32, were questioned individually Monday and Tuesday about
publicity surrounding Little, 30, of St. Charles, and whether they could be
impartial. From that pool of 80, St. Louis County Circuit Judge Emmett M.
O'Brien, prosecutor Mark Bishop and defense attorneys Scott Rosenblum and John
Rogers hope to find 12 unbiased jurors.
Miami wants a second-rounder for Patrick Surtain, but Kansas City prefers
relinquishing a lower pick.
Former Dolphins RB Ricky Williams has told friends he misses football, and one
friend said there's a strong possibility he'll return. But with Ricky, who
knows?
Ben Roethlisberger won't be going overseas to entertain the troops after all.
Roethlisberger, the Steelers' record-setting rookie quarterback, had initially
been included in an NFL-USO Tour that left Tuesday for Iraq, Afghanistan and
Kuwait. He had to opt out for personal/family reasons. The Tour was to include
approximately five current NFL players. The highlight of the March 29-April 7
excursion will be the opening of the Pat Tillman USO Center in Afghanistan. The
facility is being funded by a $250,000 gift from the NFL to the USO. The
Steelers released a statement from Roethlisberger yesterday explaining his
sudden change of plans. "Unfortunately, I will not be able to participate
in the upcoming NFL-USO Tour due to an unexpected illness in my family,"
the statement read. "I had every interest in participating in this tour and
helping to open the Pat Tillman USO Center. Pat Tillman was a true American
hero, as are all soldiers who fight to defend our country.
Restricted free agent defensive end Ron Warner said he expects to re-sign with
the Redskins, and has hired a new agent in hopes of negotiating a deal above the
veteran minimum. Warner is working out at Redskins Park, as are many of the
unsigned free agents, and said he has no outside visits planned. "I love
being here," Warner said. "I love my teammates."
With the Redskins losing out on free agent defensive end Courtney Brown, many in
the NFL believe Marques Douglas to be the best free agent end available and,
while he is drawing significant interest, sources said the Redskins have made no
contact with the Howard University product, who has spent the past four seasons
with Baltimore.
At one point last season, Chris Simms earned the Bucs' starting quarterback job.
Simms believes he can regain that status again. ``I'm always going to work
toward that,'' Simms said of the starting quarterback position. ``This is a
crazy league. It's a long year in the NFL and anything can happen.'' The Bucs
began a three-day quarterback orientation Tuesday, with Simms and Griese holed
up in a meeting room with Coach Jon Gruden for the better part of the day. The
group pored over game film and discussed several topics. One topic of
conversation that didn't come up: the comments Gruden made about Simms during
last week's NFL owners' meetings. As reported in The Tampa Tribune, Gruden said
the young quarterback, entering his third year in the league, needed to ``tune
out'' the hype surrounding him and concentrate on hitting open receivers.
This from Eric Crouch, who's trying to make the Chiefs as a safety, as he just
recently arrived in Germany to play in NFL Europe: “All the signs are in German,
so it's a little frustrating not being able to read everything.” Hmmm. German
signs in Germany. Who would have thought?
Marvin Harrison's sixth trip to Honolulu for the NFL's Pro Bowl might be one of
his more memorable for all the wrong reasons. The Indianapolis Colts' standout
wide receiver and two other men are the subject of a civil lawsuit filed last
week in Honolulu. The trio is accused of assaulting three autograph seekers at a
Waikiki resort Feb. 10, three days prior to the Pro Bowl. The lawsuit was filed
on behalf of Johnnie Reshard Jr., Ernest Simon Jr. and Eric Gilbert Jr. by their
parents, and is seeking unspecified damages, including medical expenses and
punitive damages. Neither Harrison nor his agent, Tom Condon of International
Management Group, could be reached for comment. The Colts had no comment. No
criminal action has been taken by the Honolulu prosecutor's office. Police
interviewed Harrison on Feb. 12 in connection with two misdemeanor third-degree
assault cases and a petty misdemeanor harassment allegation. Jim Fulton, a
spokesman for the prosecutor's office, said Tuesday evening that the case
remains under investigation by a special prosecutor. According to the lawsuit,
the three boys approached Harrison outside a Louis Vuitton store at the Hilton
Hawaiian Village for his autograph and to take his photograph. Harrison was on
his cell phone at the time and told the boys to wait. Shortly thereafter, the
two men with Harrison, who are not identified but remain part of the lawsuit
nonetheless, arrived on the scene and the alleged assault ensued.
The Green Bay Packers signed defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins, an exclusive
rights free agent, to a one-year deal on Tuesday. Jenkins, who started six games
last year and was a regular on the third-down unit, signed for the second-year
minimum of $380,000, according to his agent, Cary Fabrikant. The Packers had
submitted the required tender offer after the season, guaranteeing that they
would maintain rights to the third-year pro.
Patriots DT Dan Klecko is hard at work in Foxboro, where he has begun the spring
conditioning program along with many of the young players on the roster. For
Klecko, the offseason workout period is more than a training exercise. It's
another opportunity to earn his way onto the field. Klecko said he is 100
percent recovered from the knee injury that ended his season last October. But
no matter how well he feels, it's hard to picture Klecko as an immediate
replacement for Tedy Bruschi, whose status remains up in the air after his
February stroke. Even before his knee injury, Klecko's progress from collegiate
nose tackle to pro linebacker was spotty. He saw plenty of action there last
preseason, with varied results, before falling out of the picture with the
regular defense in the fall. Clearly, the coaches felt Klecko wasn't ready. When
he will be remains to be seen. To this point in his career, Klecko has more
experience as a fullback than a linebacker.
Former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Terry L. Long set fire to his North
Side poultry-processing plant in a scheme to collect $1.19 million in insurance
and fraudulently obtained $1.17 million in state loans and grants, according to
a federal indictment unsealed Tuesday. Long, 45, of Sewickley, surrendered to
federal authorities yesterday and appeared briefly before U.S. Magistrate Amy
Reynolds Hay, who ordered him released on a $10,000 secured bond.
Three Carolina Panther players had steroid prescriptions filled less than two
weeks before they played in Super Bowl XXXVIII last year, according to a report
on "60 Minutes Wednesday" airing tonight. The TV show obtained lists
that showed punter Todd Sauerbrun and offensive linemen Todd Steussie and Jeff
Mitchell had prescriptions written by South Carolina doctor James Shortt, who is
the subject of a Drug Enforcement Administration probe for allegedly prescribing
steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs. In a news release yesterday, the
CBS show said Steussie obtained 11 prescriptions for testosterone cream over an
eight-month period last year. Mitchell filled a testosterone prescription seven
times. Sauerbrun, one of the league's top punters, obtained testosterone as well
as syringes and the banned steroid Stanozolol.
The National Football League said yesterday that it wanted to make its steroids
policy more stringent and would seek a meeting with the players union to change
the agreement on testing procedures. The decision comes amid reports that three
members of the Carolina Panthers team that reached the 2004 Super Bowl received
prescriptions for banned steroids weeks before the game.
be on draft day. That's because, as Ruskell said, "Everyone is kind of
stuck." The Seahawks have given their franchise running back permission to
seek a trade, and they are willing to discuss a deal for less than a first-round
pick. But Indianapolis' Edgerrin James and Buffalo's Travis Henry also can be
had in trade, and the draft offers three top tailbacks. With as many as five of
the top eight teams in the draft wanting running backs, Ruskell said interest in
the veterans is likely to pick up after Texas' Cedric Benson and Auburn's Ronnie
Brown and Carnell Williams are selected. "Unless I'm mistaken, they're
going to go pretty quick," Ruskell said. "So not everybody is going to
take care of their deal. So, at that point, I think this thing will start moving
again.
Rumors that the San Diego Chargers might trade Philip Rivers to the 49ers in
exchange for San Francisco's No. 1 overall pick in the April 23-24 NFL draft
were shot down Tuesday by officials from both teams. "It's never going to
happen, not in a million years," Chargers president Dean Spanos said.
"It's totally untrue, OK? There is no interest in that whatsoever and never
has been. There have been no talks" with the 49ers regarding such a deal.
The Dolphins were among five teams who scouted controversial former Florida
State quarterback Adrian McPherson during his impressive individual workout at
Southeast High on Tuesday. Dolphins college scout John Crea was among
representatives from five teams who watched as McPherson put on an athletic
display that drew comparisons to the likes of Michael Vick and John Elway.
Whether that's enough for McPherson to overcome charges of stealing and
accusations of gambling as an FSU student is another matter.
The mystery surrounding guard Will Shields and his plans to play for the Chiefs
next season only thickened Tuesday. Shields didn't attend the Chiefs' first
voluntary conditioning session of the offseason, saying later by telephone that
he had another commitment. He also said he was “not at liberty” to discuss his
intentions regarding next season. Coach Dick Vermeil, in discussing plans to
move John Welbourn from tackle to guard, previously indicated some uncertainty
over Shields' plans. “Will Shields hasn't told me 100 percent that he plans to
return, though I think he will,” Vermeil said earlier this week. The Chiefs are
willing to be patient with Shields, who keeps in good physical condition and
hasn't missed a game since joining the team in 1993. But if Shields should
retire and not to return for what would be his 13th season, the loss of the
10-time Pro Bowler would leave a huge void. Shields has been a pillar of what is
generally considered the NFL's best offensive line.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick recently flew to Gainesville, Fla., to conduct a
personal workout with highly touted Gators linebacker Channing Crowder. The Pats
have also taken a good look at Georgia's Odell Thurman.
Offensive lineman Ray Brown said he will re-sign with the Washington Redskins
today and is well into preparations for his 20th season in the NFL. Brown, 42,
said he is successfully rehabilitating from offseason knee and ankle surgery and
is in the process of moving his family to this area.
Chiefs cornerback Eric Warfield faces a possible suspension of as many as four
games under the NFL's substance abuse policy. Warfield pleaded no contest in
January to driving under the influence of alcohol. The incident happened in
Overland Park and was the third time in three years Warfield was charged with
DUI in Johnson County. But Warfield said Tuesday he was advised by his attorney
Kevin Regan and agent Craig Domann that he may avoid the suspension. “It's my
understanding from what I hear there will not be a suspension,” Warfield said.
Jury selection in the trial of Rams defensive end Leonard Little on allegations
of drunken driving and speeding in Ladue last year enters its third day today in
St. Louis County Circuit Court. Prospective jurors, first from a block of 48,
then from a group of 32, were questioned individually Monday and Tuesday about
publicity surrounding Little, 30, of St. Charles, and whether they could be
impartial. From that pool of 80, St. Louis County Circuit Judge Emmett M.
O'Brien, prosecutor Mark Bishop and defense attorneys Scott Rosenblum and John
Rogers hope to find 12 unbiased jurors.
Miami wants a second-rounder for Patrick Surtain, but Kansas City prefers
relinquishing a lower pick.
Former Dolphins RB Ricky Williams has told friends he misses football, and one
friend said there's a strong possibility he'll return. But with Ricky, who
knows?
Ben Roethlisberger won't be going overseas to entertain the troops after all.
Roethlisberger, the Steelers' record-setting rookie quarterback, had initially
been included in an NFL-USO Tour that left Tuesday for Iraq, Afghanistan and
Kuwait. He had to opt out for personal/family reasons. The Tour was to include
approximately five current NFL players. The highlight of the March 29-April 7
excursion will be the opening of the Pat Tillman USO Center in Afghanistan. The
facility is being funded by a $250,000 gift from the NFL to the USO. The
Steelers released a statement from Roethlisberger yesterday explaining his
sudden change of plans. "Unfortunately, I will not be able to participate
in the upcoming NFL-USO Tour due to an unexpected illness in my family,"
the statement read. "I had every interest in participating in this tour and
helping to open the Pat Tillman USO Center. Pat Tillman was a true American
hero, as are all soldiers who fight to defend our country.
Restricted free agent defensive end Ron Warner said he expects to re-sign with
the Redskins, and has hired a new agent in hopes of negotiating a deal above the
veteran minimum. Warner is working out at Redskins Park, as are many of the
unsigned free agents, and said he has no outside visits planned. "I love
being here," Warner said. "I love my teammates."
With the Redskins losing out on free agent defensive end Courtney Brown, many in
the NFL believe Marques Douglas to be the best free agent end available and,
while he is drawing significant interest, sources said the Redskins have made no
contact with the Howard University product, who has spent the past four seasons
with Baltimore.
At one point last season, Chris Simms earned the Bucs' starting quarterback job.
Simms believes he can regain that status again. ``I'm always going to work
toward that,'' Simms said of the starting quarterback position. ``This is a
crazy league. It's a long year in the NFL and anything can happen.'' The Bucs
began a three-day quarterback orientation Tuesday, with Simms and Griese holed
up in a meeting room with Coach Jon Gruden for the better part of the day. The
group pored over game film and discussed several topics. One topic of
conversation that didn't come up: the comments Gruden made about Simms during
last week's NFL owners' meetings. As reported in The Tampa Tribune, Gruden said
the young quarterback, entering his third year in the league, needed to ``tune
out'' the hype surrounding him and concentrate on hitting open receivers.
This from Eric Crouch, who's trying to make the Chiefs as a safety, as he just
recently arrived in Germany to play in NFL Europe: “All the signs are in German,
so it's a little frustrating not being able to read everything.” Hmmm. German
signs in Germany. Who would have thought?
Marvin Harrison's sixth trip to Honolulu for the NFL's Pro Bowl might be one of
his more memorable for all the wrong reasons. The Indianapolis Colts' standout
wide receiver and two other men are the subject of a civil lawsuit filed last
week in Honolulu. The trio is accused of assaulting three autograph seekers at a
Waikiki resort Feb. 10, three days prior to the Pro Bowl. The lawsuit was filed
on behalf of Johnnie Reshard Jr., Ernest Simon Jr. and Eric Gilbert Jr. by their
parents, and is seeking unspecified damages, including medical expenses and
punitive damages. Neither Harrison nor his agent, Tom Condon of International
Management Group, could be reached for comment. The Colts had no comment. No
criminal action has been taken by the Honolulu prosecutor's office. Police
interviewed Harrison on Feb. 12 in connection with two misdemeanor third-degree
assault cases and a petty misdemeanor harassment allegation. Jim Fulton, a
spokesman for the prosecutor's office, said Tuesday evening that the case
remains under investigation by a special prosecutor. According to the lawsuit,
the three boys approached Harrison outside a Louis Vuitton store at the Hilton
Hawaiian Village for his autograph and to take his photograph. Harrison was on
his cell phone at the time and told the boys to wait. Shortly thereafter, the
two men with Harrison, who are not identified but remain part of the lawsuit
nonetheless, arrived on the scene and the alleged assault ensued.
The Green Bay Packers signed defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins, an exclusive
rights free agent, to a one-year deal on Tuesday. Jenkins, who started six games
last year and was a regular on the third-down unit, signed for the second-year
minimum of $380,000, according to his agent, Cary Fabrikant. The Packers had
submitted the required tender offer after the season, guaranteeing that they
would maintain rights to the third-year pro.
Patriots DT Dan Klecko is hard at work in Foxboro, where he has begun the spring
conditioning program along with many of the young players on the roster. For
Klecko, the offseason workout period is more than a training exercise. It's
another opportunity to earn his way onto the field. Klecko said he is 100
percent recovered from the knee injury that ended his season last October. But
no matter how well he feels, it's hard to picture Klecko as an immediate
replacement for Tedy Bruschi, whose status remains up in the air after his
February stroke. Even before his knee injury, Klecko's progress from collegiate
nose tackle to pro linebacker was spotty. He saw plenty of action there last
preseason, with varied results, before falling out of the picture with the
regular defense in the fall. Clearly, the coaches felt Klecko wasn't ready. When
he will be remains to be seen. To this point in his career, Klecko has more
experience as a fullback than a linebacker.
Former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Terry L. Long set fire to his North
Side poultry-processing plant in a scheme to collect $1.19 million in insurance
and fraudulently obtained $1.17 million in state loans and grants, according to
a federal indictment unsealed Tuesday. Long, 45, of Sewickley, surrendered to
federal authorities yesterday and appeared briefly before U.S. Magistrate Amy
Reynolds Hay, who ordered him released on a $10,000 secured bond.
Three Carolina Panther players had steroid prescriptions filled less than two
weeks before they played in Super Bowl XXXVIII last year, according to a report
on "60 Minutes Wednesday" airing tonight. The TV show obtained lists
that showed punter Todd Sauerbrun and offensive linemen Todd Steussie and Jeff
Mitchell had prescriptions written by South Carolina doctor James Shortt, who is
the subject of a Drug Enforcement Administration probe for allegedly prescribing
steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs. In a news release yesterday, the
CBS show said Steussie obtained 11 prescriptions for testosterone cream over an
eight-month period last year. Mitchell filled a testosterone prescription seven
times. Sauerbrun, one of the league's top punters, obtained testosterone as well
as syringes and the banned steroid Stanozolol.
The National Football League said yesterday that it wanted to make its steroids
policy more stringent and would seek a meeting with the players union to change
the agreement on testing procedures. The decision comes amid reports that three
members of the Carolina Panthers team that reached the 2004 Super Bowl received
prescriptions for banned steroids weeks before the game.