HEAV
04-10-2005, 09:17 AM
Oakland is still desperate to unload cornerback Charles Woodson, who's due to make more than $10 million this season, and, sources tell The Post, the club is willing to take less than the two No. 1 picks required to sign a franchise player. "At this point, we'd probably take a one and a five or a seven," one front-office member said. "We're hoping to get something done before camp."
The word is the Colts are still anxious to trade Edgerrin James and get rid of the $8.1 million he's eating on their cap after he signed the franchise tender. Here's the problem dealing him: James will be 27 in August, it's going to take a lot of money to sign him and this is a strong draft for running backs. James can be had for a second-round pick. ... Seattle is also willing to deal Shaun Alexander, who has not yet signed the franchise tender.
Patriots wide receiver David Givens claims he and the New England brass are working on the details of a long-term contract that would solidify his future in New England.
The Saints are trying to trade defensive end Darren Howard, their franchise player, for a first- or second-round pick. New Orleans was last in defense in 2004, but Howard is a luxury the team can't afford. They have former No. 1 picks Charles Grant and Will Smith at end. Howard doesn't want to move inside. They need the pick to get help at linebacker or in the secondary.
Now, after a strong personal workout, Mike Williams will go higher than he would have gone last year, even after sitting out last season. "He looked like he tried to get better with the time off," one GM said. Williams is the No. 2 receiver in the draft behind Michigan's Braylon Edwards and could go sixth to the Titans, where Norman Chow, his USC offensive coordinator, is the new offensive coordinator. He won't get past the Vikes at No. 7.
Cornerback Mike McKenzie is the lone Saints player not attending the club's offseason conditioning program without an excuse. The program is voluntary, but players are expected to participate unless they are injured or competing in NFL Europe. McKenzie is believed to be boycotting at the request of his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, who is seeking a new long-term contract for the veteran. McKenzie is scheduled to earn $3.4 million in base salary this season. The Saints expect McKenzie to report for the start of coaching sessions in May.
Akron quarterback Charlie Frye could invoke the names of the Mid-American Conference quarterbacks who became first-round picks before him - Chad Pennington, Byron Leftwich and Ben Roethlisberger - but he's already being compared to a bigger star. When Green Bay offensive coordinator Tom Rossley visited Akron for the Zips' Pro Day workouts, he compared Frye to the Packers' Brett Favre. "He's a lot like Brett," Rossley said. "There's a lot of comparisons. He throws well on the run, he's athletic, looks like he's tough. Size-wise, they're very similar. He's a playmaker. He had a good workout, did a nice job."
The San Francisco 49ers are prepared to begin negotiations with four players but have invited offers for their No. 1 pick. The Miami Dolphins have been shopping No. 2 for weeks. The Chicago Bears traded their pick the last time they held No. 4 in 2002. The Tennessee Titans at No. 6 will happily field calls. Even the Dallas Cowboys, with the 11th and 20th picks, have professed interest in moving down.
The Washington Redskins aren't messing around in their pursuit of a top wide receiver in the NFL Draft. As Oklahoma wideout Mark Clayton completed a visit to Washington yesterday, it became clear that Southern California's Mike Williams toured Redskin Park recently and South Carolina's Troy Williamson is due in late this week. One source familiar with Washington's thinking said the club even considered bringing in Michigan's Braylon Edwards but held off when it became clear Edwards wouldn't last until the ninth overall pick. Edwards is considered almost certain to be selected among the draft's top five overall players.
The Saints are interested in ex-Falcons linebacker Chris Draft, who visited the team Thursday, as a potential backup to Courtney Watson at middle linebacker
While Ricky Williams' plans are uncertain, a friend of his said the running back is encouraged by Nick Saban's offense, which wouldn't over-utilize him like Dave Wannstedt's did. Saban threw plaudits at Williams on Thursday, saying he was ''a really good guy'' when he was here.
It still looks like the 49ers will take Aaron Rodgers over Alex Smith with the first pick and then the Dolphins will take Auburn RB Ronnie Brown, although they should take a QB. Miami is without its No. 2 pick (traded to Philly for QB A.J. Feeley) and No. 3 pick (traded to the Rams for RB Lamar Gordon) and wants to trade down in the first round, except there is no trade partner. Cleveland should take the QB the 49ers don't, but could take Braylon Edwards or Texas LB Derrick Johnson. Remember, Romeo Crennel just came from New England, which won three Super Bowls with Brady, who was taken in the sixth round.
Steroids, sex and scalping. The NFL has hit the trifecta in the offseason. It doesn't get much worse than steroids suspicions about the 2003 Panthers, who played in the Super Bowl; Atlanta's Michael Vick, one of the league's marquee players, getting sued by his ex-girlfriend who accused him of giving her genital herpes; and Vikes coach Mike Tice, on the verge of getting fined by Paul Tagliabue for scalping his Super Bowl tickets. There should be a tax on the fine for lack of common sense.
Now that his playing days are over, NFL career rushing leader Emmitt Smith is looking to rejoin Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin and Darryl Johnston in the broadcast booth as an analyst. ``I want to follow in (their) footsteps and do something on Sundays right alongside them or with a network somewhere,'' Smith said, adding that there's a possibility he could join an NFL ownership group. ``We don't know when it's going to happen, but it is a possibility,'' he said.
Supposed Giants tough guy Tom Coughlin continues to let no-show tight end Jeremy Shockey do what he wants, which is often the absolute minimum. Coughlin never takes on Shockey, who's skipped the first three weeks of the offseason program without a note. When your team wins 10 games in two seasons and you score 10 touchdowns in three, you're set, I guess. Why lift a finger? Why practice with the team? Why get accustomed to Eli Manning's passes? It's obvious by now, Shockey cares more about hooking up with Tara Reid than Manning. While Manning publicly voiced disappointment over Shockey's extended absence, Coughlin has stayed silent. He's the classic bully. He picks on media members, backups and deposed coaches, not on stars like Shockey.
Maybe the Jets should have traded John Abraham (who, like Shockey, isn't participating in team drills) for Randy Moss. How about Abraham for Jeremy Shockey, a protester for a pain? One Jets person said no, that Shockey is "too beat up."
Jerome Bettis had wavered the past five weeks on his decision to return for 2005. But the only thing that will hold him back now, he said, is his 33-year-old body. He feels good physically and mentally, but he has left an option that, if his body does not respond to the rigors of spring workouts and/or training camp, he may not make it for another season. "Like, if I were not able to do a lot in the spring," Bettis said. "I don't see it happening, but I'm realistic; it is what it is. I don't see a problem. I feel pretty good."
The word is the Colts are still anxious to trade Edgerrin James and get rid of the $8.1 million he's eating on their cap after he signed the franchise tender. Here's the problem dealing him: James will be 27 in August, it's going to take a lot of money to sign him and this is a strong draft for running backs. James can be had for a second-round pick. ... Seattle is also willing to deal Shaun Alexander, who has not yet signed the franchise tender.
Patriots wide receiver David Givens claims he and the New England brass are working on the details of a long-term contract that would solidify his future in New England.
The Saints are trying to trade defensive end Darren Howard, their franchise player, for a first- or second-round pick. New Orleans was last in defense in 2004, but Howard is a luxury the team can't afford. They have former No. 1 picks Charles Grant and Will Smith at end. Howard doesn't want to move inside. They need the pick to get help at linebacker or in the secondary.
Now, after a strong personal workout, Mike Williams will go higher than he would have gone last year, even after sitting out last season. "He looked like he tried to get better with the time off," one GM said. Williams is the No. 2 receiver in the draft behind Michigan's Braylon Edwards and could go sixth to the Titans, where Norman Chow, his USC offensive coordinator, is the new offensive coordinator. He won't get past the Vikes at No. 7.
Cornerback Mike McKenzie is the lone Saints player not attending the club's offseason conditioning program without an excuse. The program is voluntary, but players are expected to participate unless they are injured or competing in NFL Europe. McKenzie is believed to be boycotting at the request of his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, who is seeking a new long-term contract for the veteran. McKenzie is scheduled to earn $3.4 million in base salary this season. The Saints expect McKenzie to report for the start of coaching sessions in May.
Akron quarterback Charlie Frye could invoke the names of the Mid-American Conference quarterbacks who became first-round picks before him - Chad Pennington, Byron Leftwich and Ben Roethlisberger - but he's already being compared to a bigger star. When Green Bay offensive coordinator Tom Rossley visited Akron for the Zips' Pro Day workouts, he compared Frye to the Packers' Brett Favre. "He's a lot like Brett," Rossley said. "There's a lot of comparisons. He throws well on the run, he's athletic, looks like he's tough. Size-wise, they're very similar. He's a playmaker. He had a good workout, did a nice job."
The San Francisco 49ers are prepared to begin negotiations with four players but have invited offers for their No. 1 pick. The Miami Dolphins have been shopping No. 2 for weeks. The Chicago Bears traded their pick the last time they held No. 4 in 2002. The Tennessee Titans at No. 6 will happily field calls. Even the Dallas Cowboys, with the 11th and 20th picks, have professed interest in moving down.
The Washington Redskins aren't messing around in their pursuit of a top wide receiver in the NFL Draft. As Oklahoma wideout Mark Clayton completed a visit to Washington yesterday, it became clear that Southern California's Mike Williams toured Redskin Park recently and South Carolina's Troy Williamson is due in late this week. One source familiar with Washington's thinking said the club even considered bringing in Michigan's Braylon Edwards but held off when it became clear Edwards wouldn't last until the ninth overall pick. Edwards is considered almost certain to be selected among the draft's top five overall players.
The Saints are interested in ex-Falcons linebacker Chris Draft, who visited the team Thursday, as a potential backup to Courtney Watson at middle linebacker
While Ricky Williams' plans are uncertain, a friend of his said the running back is encouraged by Nick Saban's offense, which wouldn't over-utilize him like Dave Wannstedt's did. Saban threw plaudits at Williams on Thursday, saying he was ''a really good guy'' when he was here.
It still looks like the 49ers will take Aaron Rodgers over Alex Smith with the first pick and then the Dolphins will take Auburn RB Ronnie Brown, although they should take a QB. Miami is without its No. 2 pick (traded to Philly for QB A.J. Feeley) and No. 3 pick (traded to the Rams for RB Lamar Gordon) and wants to trade down in the first round, except there is no trade partner. Cleveland should take the QB the 49ers don't, but could take Braylon Edwards or Texas LB Derrick Johnson. Remember, Romeo Crennel just came from New England, which won three Super Bowls with Brady, who was taken in the sixth round.
Steroids, sex and scalping. The NFL has hit the trifecta in the offseason. It doesn't get much worse than steroids suspicions about the 2003 Panthers, who played in the Super Bowl; Atlanta's Michael Vick, one of the league's marquee players, getting sued by his ex-girlfriend who accused him of giving her genital herpes; and Vikes coach Mike Tice, on the verge of getting fined by Paul Tagliabue for scalping his Super Bowl tickets. There should be a tax on the fine for lack of common sense.
Now that his playing days are over, NFL career rushing leader Emmitt Smith is looking to rejoin Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin and Darryl Johnston in the broadcast booth as an analyst. ``I want to follow in (their) footsteps and do something on Sundays right alongside them or with a network somewhere,'' Smith said, adding that there's a possibility he could join an NFL ownership group. ``We don't know when it's going to happen, but it is a possibility,'' he said.
Supposed Giants tough guy Tom Coughlin continues to let no-show tight end Jeremy Shockey do what he wants, which is often the absolute minimum. Coughlin never takes on Shockey, who's skipped the first three weeks of the offseason program without a note. When your team wins 10 games in two seasons and you score 10 touchdowns in three, you're set, I guess. Why lift a finger? Why practice with the team? Why get accustomed to Eli Manning's passes? It's obvious by now, Shockey cares more about hooking up with Tara Reid than Manning. While Manning publicly voiced disappointment over Shockey's extended absence, Coughlin has stayed silent. He's the classic bully. He picks on media members, backups and deposed coaches, not on stars like Shockey.
Maybe the Jets should have traded John Abraham (who, like Shockey, isn't participating in team drills) for Randy Moss. How about Abraham for Jeremy Shockey, a protester for a pain? One Jets person said no, that Shockey is "too beat up."
Jerome Bettis had wavered the past five weeks on his decision to return for 2005. But the only thing that will hold him back now, he said, is his 33-year-old body. He feels good physically and mentally, but he has left an option that, if his body does not respond to the rigors of spring workouts and/or training camp, he may not make it for another season. "Like, if I were not able to do a lot in the spring," Bettis said. "I don't see it happening, but I'm realistic; it is what it is. I don't see a problem. I feel pretty good."