HEAV
04-23-2005, 08:21 AM
It appears possible that, for the second straight year, Chargers General Manager A.J. Smith could shake up the first round of the NFL draft today. It is believed that the Chargers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers were working on a trade yesterday that would bring Pro Bowl defensive end Simeon Rice to San Diego in exchange for the 28th pick in the first round. One source said yesterday afternoon there was a "70 percent" probability the deal would get done. Last night, ESPN reported that the Dallas Cowboys were also interested in trading for Rice.
New Orleans has shopped defensive end Darren Howard throughout the offseason. The Saints have also dangled tight end Boo Williams and guard Kendyl Jacox, according to two league sources. Dallas still seems the most willing suitor for Howard, whom the Saints have designated as their franchise player. The Cowboys have two first-round picks, Nos. 11 and 20, and a willingness to pull the trigger. Dallas has dealt its first-round pick 10 times since 1993, including last year to Buffalo. The Saints have fielded calls from Dallas, Washington and Philadelphia this week. The Cowboys reportedly offered to swap first-round picks with the Saints, sending the No. 11 pick to New Orleans in exchange for the No. 16 and Howard. Philadelphia also reportedly offered its first-round pick, No. 31 overall, for Howard. The Saints, however, appear reluctant to part with their most productive defender for anything less than a middle first-rounder.
Rumors were flying last night that the Eagles will, indeed, trade today for Buffalo Bills running back Travis Henry. At least one NFL source close to the situation said he believed there was substance to them. The Eagles are said to be ready to send one of their two third-round selections in today's NFL draft - they choose 77th and 94th overall in that round - to the Bills for Henry, 26, who presumably would be signed to a long-term deal. Henry has a year left on his current contract, and agent Hadley Englehard has indicated a new contract must be part of a trade. If they do get Henry, it seems very unlikely the Eagles will pursue a long-term contract with running back Brian Westbrook, who has not yet signed the 1-year, $1.43 million restricted-free-agent tender.
The great mystery of the 2005 NFL draft finally will be revealed today with the San Francisco 49ers on the clock and the Bears not sure what they will find waiting when they make their first selection at No. 4. The team has zeroed in on a running back, and most experts project Cedric Benson of Texas will be their man. The intrigue for the Bears includes the possibility that Auburn's Ronnie Brown, the other running back invited to New York and long figured a lock to wind up with Miami at No. 2, could slip to the Bears.
The Jaguars aren't likely to make any major trades in the draft. They don't have much ammunition to move up because they only have seven picks --one in each round -- and the market for safety Donovin Darius appeared to evaporate after several teams filled their safety need in free agency. The Jaguars also aren't likely to trade backup quarterback David Garrard in this draft. By giving him a $2 million signing bonus, they showed they're committed to him this year, although they could trade him in a year or two.
If the Eagles do not draft a defensive tackle early in today's draft, they may be interested in Green Bay defensive tackle Cletidus Hunt, who has become expendable due to the offseason work of last year's third-round pick, Donnell Washington. Hunt, who is liked by at least one member of the Eagles' organization, likely would cost the Eagles one of their third-round picks, or could be used in a package, like the two teams did two years ago when the Eagles sent Al Harris and a fourth-round pick to Green Bay for a second-round pick. Since Andy Reid became head coach of the Eagles in 1999, he has engineered 15 trades involving draft-day picks, and five of those have been with the Packers.
The only scenario in which the Ravens would make a dramatic leap in the first round is if either Southern California receiver Mike Williams or West Virginia cornerback Adam Jones unexpectedly slip.
The Redskins hold the ninth and 25th picks in the first round and, according to numerous league sources, have made it clear to clubs with picks at the top that they are willing to talk trade. The Redskins have identified Michigan receiver Braylon Edwards as the best player available, sources said, and scheduled a final conference-call interview between him and team officials yesterday. When asked about the conversation with Edwards, Coach Joe Gibbs responded, "We're talking to a lot of people right now." Gibbs said last night that the Redskins would continue to look at various scenarios through late in the evening and he expected to be back at Redskins Park very early. The draft begins at noon.
Both teams have denied a report that the Eagles would send franchise-tagged defensive tackle Corey Simon to the Colts for franchise-tagged running back Edgerrin James.
If the Rams are serious about landing Georgia safety Thomas Davis or Oklahoma offensive tackle Jammal Brown in the first round of the NFL draft, it's looking more and more like they will have to trade up to do so. After completing a trade with the Miami Dolphins for cornerback Patrick Surtain, the Kansas City Chiefs now are expected to take Davis - whom some NFL teams project as an outside linebacker - with the No. 15 overall pick this afternoon. The surest way for the Rams to get Davis or Brown seemingly would be to move up to the No. 14 spot currently held by Carolina. The Rams have a pair of third-round picks - one at the top of the round (from Miami in last year's Lamar Gordon trade), and one in the middle of the round. In theory, they could use one of those third-round picks, plus their No. 19 first-round pick, to trade up with the Panthers.
A player the Eagles will try to move today, tomorrow and every day after that is wide receiver Freddie Mitchell, their No. 1 pick in 2001. Hard as it might be to believe, they are not getting a lot of calls from teams that want Mitchell. The guess here is some team eventually gives the Eagles a late pick or a conditional pick next year for FredEx.
Speaking to Frank Cusumano on KFNS, Florida State quarterback Adrian McPherson said he was told by Mike Martz that McPherson was the only QB in this draft who interested the Rams.
While acknowledging a "drop-dead date" and insisting he has two backup buyers in place, Vikings owner Red McCombs said Friday he remains confident that the NFL will approve his sale agreement with a group headed by Reggie Fowler. Speaking shortly before he planned to fly to the Twin Cities for this weekend's draft, McCombs said he has been told of no changes to the configuration of Fowler's partnership. But when asked about reports that Fowler could swap positions with one of his limited partners, McCombs said: "I'm not aware of any decision along those lines, but that's not the kind of thing the NFL would tell me about. From what the league has told us, the deal is on track to be closed in late May as scheduled."
One of the hot rumors had the Jets trying to package their two second-round picks to move back into the first round. "That doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me," one team official said Friday. They couldn't get any higher than the 23rd pick - probably not high enough, but an intriguing option
If the 49ers decide to keep the top pick, they are expected to draft quarterback Alex Smith of Utah, preferring him slightly to quarterback Aaron Rodgers of California. But the 49ers were feverishly discussing potential trades yesterday with a number of teams, making it appear that they were more likely to deal the pick than to keep it. Coach Mike Nolan and other 49ers' decision-makers seemed determined to explore all options until noon today, when they will have 15 minutes to announce a decision. "I can envision the 49ers being on the clock and fielding trade offers during the first 15 minutes," said Michael Sullivan, Rodgers's agent. "This year, the perception is that there are a handful of players who are very close together. Quantity is worth more than one specific player, at least that's the perception."
Despite a stellar career at Florida State, Adrian McPherson carries the baggage of having pleaded no contest to theft and gambling charges as a college student. He was sentenced to 90 days on a prison work detail, with 30 months of probation. Once among the top quarterback prospects, McPherson, 21, now finds himself being described as a risk. Several teams reportedly have even taken his name off their lists; others rate him a highly talented prospect who may well be worth a gamble, perhaps as early as the third or fourth round. Former NFL quarterback Steve DeBerg, who coached him in the Arena Football League last year described McPherson as a taller version of Michael Vick and last week told the Miami Herald that "experience is the only factor he lacks. John Elway came into the NFL having played a lot in college. Adrian hasn't done that, so he has to learn. But if you're talking about just physical talent, Adrian is as good as anyone I've ever seen."
The Cardinals could sign cornerback Raymond Walls, an unrestricted free agent from Baltimore, to a one-year contract by Monday. The 5-foot-10, 188-pound Walls, a four-year veteran, spent the past two years with the Ravens and previously played for Cleveland and Indianapolis. He has started one game in his career and is viewed as a nickel and dime back.
On Friday, the Packers completed a weeklong flirtation with various veteran linebackers by signing former Arizona Cardinals second-round pick Ray Thompson. The 6-foot-3, 229-pound Thompson signed a one-year deal with the Packers, according to his agent, James D. Williams. Financial terms weren't released but chances are Thompson will be paid the league minimum of $540,000 for a player with five years of experience.
Tom Heckert, the Eagles' vice president of player personnel, said earlier this week that there are fewer than a handful of players the team would be willing to move up to get this year. Two possibilities are University of Washington offensive tackle Khalif Barnes and Virginia tight end Heath Miller. Coach Andy Reid believes the foundation of any good team is its interior lines, and the Eagles' situation at offensive tackle indicates a change is coming soon.
The last time neither New York team had a first-round pick on NFL draft day was in 1975. Joe Namath was the Jets' quarterback and the Jets and Giants shared Shea Stadium.
According to a league source, the Ravens have spoken with the Cincinnati Bengals about moving up in the first round to draft Oklahoma offensive tackle Jammal Brown. If Brown is still available at the Bengals' No. 17 spot, the Ravens would seriously consider trading their first- and third-round picks (the 22nd and 84th overall selections) to grab their highest-rated lineman, the source said.
Most recently came a series of meetings with individual teams that took Howard CB Ronald Bartell to Tennessee and St. Louis. He attended the Washington Redskins' workout day for prospects with local ties, but didn't work out. Griffin said he turned down proposed visits to Philadelphia and Cleveland because of scheduling conflicts. On these visits, Bartell said, coaches would put him in front of a chalkboard and quiz him on Xs-and-Os. But many of the other questions sounded familiar. "There's nothing different left to ask me, really," Bartell said.
New Orleans has shopped defensive end Darren Howard throughout the offseason. The Saints have also dangled tight end Boo Williams and guard Kendyl Jacox, according to two league sources. Dallas still seems the most willing suitor for Howard, whom the Saints have designated as their franchise player. The Cowboys have two first-round picks, Nos. 11 and 20, and a willingness to pull the trigger. Dallas has dealt its first-round pick 10 times since 1993, including last year to Buffalo. The Saints have fielded calls from Dallas, Washington and Philadelphia this week. The Cowboys reportedly offered to swap first-round picks with the Saints, sending the No. 11 pick to New Orleans in exchange for the No. 16 and Howard. Philadelphia also reportedly offered its first-round pick, No. 31 overall, for Howard. The Saints, however, appear reluctant to part with their most productive defender for anything less than a middle first-rounder.
Rumors were flying last night that the Eagles will, indeed, trade today for Buffalo Bills running back Travis Henry. At least one NFL source close to the situation said he believed there was substance to them. The Eagles are said to be ready to send one of their two third-round selections in today's NFL draft - they choose 77th and 94th overall in that round - to the Bills for Henry, 26, who presumably would be signed to a long-term deal. Henry has a year left on his current contract, and agent Hadley Englehard has indicated a new contract must be part of a trade. If they do get Henry, it seems very unlikely the Eagles will pursue a long-term contract with running back Brian Westbrook, who has not yet signed the 1-year, $1.43 million restricted-free-agent tender.
The great mystery of the 2005 NFL draft finally will be revealed today with the San Francisco 49ers on the clock and the Bears not sure what they will find waiting when they make their first selection at No. 4. The team has zeroed in on a running back, and most experts project Cedric Benson of Texas will be their man. The intrigue for the Bears includes the possibility that Auburn's Ronnie Brown, the other running back invited to New York and long figured a lock to wind up with Miami at No. 2, could slip to the Bears.
The Jaguars aren't likely to make any major trades in the draft. They don't have much ammunition to move up because they only have seven picks --one in each round -- and the market for safety Donovin Darius appeared to evaporate after several teams filled their safety need in free agency. The Jaguars also aren't likely to trade backup quarterback David Garrard in this draft. By giving him a $2 million signing bonus, they showed they're committed to him this year, although they could trade him in a year or two.
If the Eagles do not draft a defensive tackle early in today's draft, they may be interested in Green Bay defensive tackle Cletidus Hunt, who has become expendable due to the offseason work of last year's third-round pick, Donnell Washington. Hunt, who is liked by at least one member of the Eagles' organization, likely would cost the Eagles one of their third-round picks, or could be used in a package, like the two teams did two years ago when the Eagles sent Al Harris and a fourth-round pick to Green Bay for a second-round pick. Since Andy Reid became head coach of the Eagles in 1999, he has engineered 15 trades involving draft-day picks, and five of those have been with the Packers.
The only scenario in which the Ravens would make a dramatic leap in the first round is if either Southern California receiver Mike Williams or West Virginia cornerback Adam Jones unexpectedly slip.
The Redskins hold the ninth and 25th picks in the first round and, according to numerous league sources, have made it clear to clubs with picks at the top that they are willing to talk trade. The Redskins have identified Michigan receiver Braylon Edwards as the best player available, sources said, and scheduled a final conference-call interview between him and team officials yesterday. When asked about the conversation with Edwards, Coach Joe Gibbs responded, "We're talking to a lot of people right now." Gibbs said last night that the Redskins would continue to look at various scenarios through late in the evening and he expected to be back at Redskins Park very early. The draft begins at noon.
Both teams have denied a report that the Eagles would send franchise-tagged defensive tackle Corey Simon to the Colts for franchise-tagged running back Edgerrin James.
If the Rams are serious about landing Georgia safety Thomas Davis or Oklahoma offensive tackle Jammal Brown in the first round of the NFL draft, it's looking more and more like they will have to trade up to do so. After completing a trade with the Miami Dolphins for cornerback Patrick Surtain, the Kansas City Chiefs now are expected to take Davis - whom some NFL teams project as an outside linebacker - with the No. 15 overall pick this afternoon. The surest way for the Rams to get Davis or Brown seemingly would be to move up to the No. 14 spot currently held by Carolina. The Rams have a pair of third-round picks - one at the top of the round (from Miami in last year's Lamar Gordon trade), and one in the middle of the round. In theory, they could use one of those third-round picks, plus their No. 19 first-round pick, to trade up with the Panthers.
A player the Eagles will try to move today, tomorrow and every day after that is wide receiver Freddie Mitchell, their No. 1 pick in 2001. Hard as it might be to believe, they are not getting a lot of calls from teams that want Mitchell. The guess here is some team eventually gives the Eagles a late pick or a conditional pick next year for FredEx.
Speaking to Frank Cusumano on KFNS, Florida State quarterback Adrian McPherson said he was told by Mike Martz that McPherson was the only QB in this draft who interested the Rams.
While acknowledging a "drop-dead date" and insisting he has two backup buyers in place, Vikings owner Red McCombs said Friday he remains confident that the NFL will approve his sale agreement with a group headed by Reggie Fowler. Speaking shortly before he planned to fly to the Twin Cities for this weekend's draft, McCombs said he has been told of no changes to the configuration of Fowler's partnership. But when asked about reports that Fowler could swap positions with one of his limited partners, McCombs said: "I'm not aware of any decision along those lines, but that's not the kind of thing the NFL would tell me about. From what the league has told us, the deal is on track to be closed in late May as scheduled."
One of the hot rumors had the Jets trying to package their two second-round picks to move back into the first round. "That doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me," one team official said Friday. They couldn't get any higher than the 23rd pick - probably not high enough, but an intriguing option
If the 49ers decide to keep the top pick, they are expected to draft quarterback Alex Smith of Utah, preferring him slightly to quarterback Aaron Rodgers of California. But the 49ers were feverishly discussing potential trades yesterday with a number of teams, making it appear that they were more likely to deal the pick than to keep it. Coach Mike Nolan and other 49ers' decision-makers seemed determined to explore all options until noon today, when they will have 15 minutes to announce a decision. "I can envision the 49ers being on the clock and fielding trade offers during the first 15 minutes," said Michael Sullivan, Rodgers's agent. "This year, the perception is that there are a handful of players who are very close together. Quantity is worth more than one specific player, at least that's the perception."
Despite a stellar career at Florida State, Adrian McPherson carries the baggage of having pleaded no contest to theft and gambling charges as a college student. He was sentenced to 90 days on a prison work detail, with 30 months of probation. Once among the top quarterback prospects, McPherson, 21, now finds himself being described as a risk. Several teams reportedly have even taken his name off their lists; others rate him a highly talented prospect who may well be worth a gamble, perhaps as early as the third or fourth round. Former NFL quarterback Steve DeBerg, who coached him in the Arena Football League last year described McPherson as a taller version of Michael Vick and last week told the Miami Herald that "experience is the only factor he lacks. John Elway came into the NFL having played a lot in college. Adrian hasn't done that, so he has to learn. But if you're talking about just physical talent, Adrian is as good as anyone I've ever seen."
The Cardinals could sign cornerback Raymond Walls, an unrestricted free agent from Baltimore, to a one-year contract by Monday. The 5-foot-10, 188-pound Walls, a four-year veteran, spent the past two years with the Ravens and previously played for Cleveland and Indianapolis. He has started one game in his career and is viewed as a nickel and dime back.
On Friday, the Packers completed a weeklong flirtation with various veteran linebackers by signing former Arizona Cardinals second-round pick Ray Thompson. The 6-foot-3, 229-pound Thompson signed a one-year deal with the Packers, according to his agent, James D. Williams. Financial terms weren't released but chances are Thompson will be paid the league minimum of $540,000 for a player with five years of experience.
Tom Heckert, the Eagles' vice president of player personnel, said earlier this week that there are fewer than a handful of players the team would be willing to move up to get this year. Two possibilities are University of Washington offensive tackle Khalif Barnes and Virginia tight end Heath Miller. Coach Andy Reid believes the foundation of any good team is its interior lines, and the Eagles' situation at offensive tackle indicates a change is coming soon.
The last time neither New York team had a first-round pick on NFL draft day was in 1975. Joe Namath was the Jets' quarterback and the Jets and Giants shared Shea Stadium.
According to a league source, the Ravens have spoken with the Cincinnati Bengals about moving up in the first round to draft Oklahoma offensive tackle Jammal Brown. If Brown is still available at the Bengals' No. 17 spot, the Ravens would seriously consider trading their first- and third-round picks (the 22nd and 84th overall selections) to grab their highest-rated lineman, the source said.
Most recently came a series of meetings with individual teams that took Howard CB Ronald Bartell to Tennessee and St. Louis. He attended the Washington Redskins' workout day for prospects with local ties, but didn't work out. Griffin said he turned down proposed visits to Philadelphia and Cleveland because of scheduling conflicts. On these visits, Bartell said, coaches would put him in front of a chalkboard and quiz him on Xs-and-Os. But many of the other questions sounded familiar. "There's nothing different left to ask me, really," Bartell said.