HEAV
05-05-2005, 05:48 PM
While representatives for wide receiver Troy Brown indicated there was no change
in Brown's status last night, the Patriots have expressed interest in free-agent
linebacker Anthony Simmons. Another free-agent linebacker, Chad Brown, is
considering offers between the Patriots, Broncos, Saints and Steelers.
Free-agent offensive lineman Dan Neil reportedly visited team headquarters on
Tuesday.
The Redskins released Tim Hasselbeck, granting the third-string quarterback his
wish. The move was expected after the Redskins picked Auburn quarterback Jason
Campbell 25th overall in last month's draft, giving the club four quarterbacks.
Patrick Ramsey enters training camp as the starter with Mark Brunell as his
backup after losing the starting job last season. Hasselbeck -- who played the
past two seasons in Washington -- apparently requested a release after meeting
with Gibbs on April 26 at Redskins Park.
Released Redskins QB Tim Hasselbeck received feelers from a couple of teams this
winter, when he was a restricted free agent. Seattle, where his brother Matt is
the starter, Cleveland and the New York Giants are among the teams that could be
looking for help at quarterback.
The Washington Redskins yesterday reached an agreement on a six-year contract
extension with wide receiver Santana Moss, ending his unofficial holdout.
Sources said that the extension essentially is a five-year deal worth about $26
million.
Tennessee Titans general manager Floyd Reese called Monday�s meeting with former
Titans running back Eddie George more on friendly terms than a major step toward
a possible reunion for 2005. �I think the lion�s share of the meeting was more
friend to friend than anything else,� Reese said. �I think he wants to continue
to play and would like to continue to play here in a perfect world. But there
was no talk of money involved and no agents. It was just kind of a get together
of a couple of old friends who hadn�t seen each other in awhile.� �I think both
sides came away pleased,� Smith said of George�s meeting with Reese. �We�re
certainly not setting any deadlines, but I would hope that we would be able to
talk sometime by the end of the week.�
The Browns admitted they are concerned about Kellen Winslow's right knee,
according to a statement released Wednesday to update the tight end's medical
condition. Beyond admitting concern, though, the team offered few details and
asked that ``people respect (Winslow's) right to privacy regarding his medical
condition.'' Rumors and reports continue to circulate, though, that Winslow has
a torn anterior cruciate ligament. If true, he almost certainly would miss the
season. The Browns were not confirming that diagnosis because they can't.
Winslow already has defaulted on his contract because it states ``motorcycling''
is prohibited. The Browns could terminate the contract and demand Winslow repay
the portion of his signing and option bonus already paid as well as forfeit
future payments on the bonuses. They also could place him on the Non-Football
Injury List for this season, and Winslow would lose his 2005 salary.
You have not heard anything lately about Reggie Fowler and his desire to buy the
Vikings and to be the general partner and operate the club. Well Zygmunt Wilf,
the big money man in Fowler's group, has made it clear to the NFL that he, and
not Fowler, will be the general partner. The other investors in the purchase of
the team from Red McCombs will be two other New Jersey real estate tycoons,
David Mandelbaum and Alan Landis, and that while Fowler will be with the group,
he will have only a minority interest.
Dolphins LT Vernon Carey said the last time he saw former University of Miami
teammate Kellen Winslow, "he was in South Beach riding a Moped."
Winslow, a tight end with the Browns, was injured in a motorcycle accident
Sunday
Junior Seau, after 15 NFL seasons, wasn't sure if he wanted to play this year.
Until he took a February phone call from Dolphins coach Nick Saban. Saban is
gaining a track record for saying the right things in phone calls to players he
is recruiting. Whatever Saban said persuaded Seau that taking a pay cut to
return was acceptable. "It was warming to hear from him," said Seau,
who missed the second half of last season after surgery for a torn pectoral
muscle. "I respected that call. I had enough to say to him that I could
say, 'Yeah . . . I do want to play again.' " It seemed strange that Saban
would want a 12-time Pro Bowler on the downside of his career to be a part of
rebuilding. But aside from having Seau's leadership, Saban knew Seau would love
playing inside in a 3-4 defense. That's right, inside, where he established
himself in San Diego as one of the league's dominant players.
Junior Seau said he considered other teams during the offseason when the
Dolphins allowed him to seek a trade before he agreed to restructure his
contract. Ultimately, however, Seau said the fact that coach Nick Saban asked
him to return, plus Seau's desire to finish his career in South Florida,
clinched his decision. ''There were talks with other teams wanting the old
man,'' Seau, 36, said. ``It was nice to hear. But I didn't want to go to another
place and start over in the locker room. . . . They know me here as a player, as
a person. For me to go somewhere else, I didn't want to do that Jerry Rice kick
where I'm floating. This is going to be my last stop.
Miami TE Randy McMichael said he has no plans to follow in the footsteps of
other NFL players who are hoping for restructured contracts. McMichael, entering
the fourth and final year of his original contract signed as a rookie in 2002,
has talked openly about wanting a contract extension, and agent Drew Rosenhaus
has held preliminary discussions with the team. ''What, a holdout?'' McMichael
asked. ``Why would I want to hold out? What does that prove? What is that going
to prove to anybody, by holding out? I love playing this game. I don't want to
be away from it. That's not even in the back of my mind at all.''
Dolphins Linebacker Zach Thomas said he has changed his workout regimen this
offseason in hopes of prolonging his career and avoiding the injuries that have
plagued him in the past. ''I'm not doing the body-building lifting as much,''
said Thomas, who has worked independently and with Dolphins trainers this
offseason to devise a suitable program." Thomas, 31 and entering his 10th
season, missed three starts and the better part of four games overall because of
a hamstring injury last season. He has missed at least one game in four of the
past five seasons. His new regimen is similar to what teammate Junior Seau has
been doing for years. Seau is returning for his 16th season.
New Bucs WR Ike Hilliard, 29, will likely compete with veteran Joey Galloway for
the starting job opposite second-year pro Michael Clayton. Hilliard has missed
16 games with various injuries since 2000, missing nine games in 2002 with a
separated shoulder and three in 2003 with a knee injury. Despite the injuries,
he totaled 368 catches for 4,630 yards and 27 touchdowns in eight seasons with
the Giants. He ranks fourth on the team's career receptions list.
Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle said Wednesday that city officials are engaged in
their "most serious discussions" with the NFL and next week plan to
elaborate on their vision for a football stadium in the so-called Platinum
Triangle. The city, which to this point has been especially low key about its
discussions with the league, has scheduled a news conference for Tuesday to
introduce an economical-impact study, announce projects and discuss land-use
ideas for the area surrounding Angel Stadium.
The Patriots released nose tackle Keith Traylor yesterday, as coach Bill
Belichick called the 13-year veteran to inform him the Pats were going with
younger players. Of course, that means the starting nose tackle spot in the
Pats' 3-4 is now the sole domain of Vince Wilfork, the 2004 first-round pick who
platooned with Traylor last year. As it stands, the starting defensive line will
be made up entirely of recent first-round picks, with Wilfork, 23, joining
Richard Seymour, 25, and Ty Warren, 24. Traylor, 35, who had contemplated
retirement late last year, decided to return for a 14th season after the Super
Bowl. However, he didn't work out in Foxboro this spring, and Traylor wondered
if that gave the impression that he wasn't committed to the team.
Restricted free-agent offensive tackle Kurt Vollers has signed a one-year deal
with the Cowboys. Terms were not disclosed. He started the final three games
last season at right tackle when Torrin Tucker was benched. Vollers, who can
play both tackle spots, was pressed into action in 2003 when right tackle Ryan
Young struggled with injuries. He started eight games that season. The Cowboys
will continue to try to work on a multi-year deal with 26-year-old Vollers.
The Giants got a little deeper -- and older -- on the offensive line yesterday
with the signing of free-agent tackle Bob Whitfield, a 14-year veteran who
played 10 games for the Jaguars last year after 13 seasons with the Falcons.
Whitfield, 33, agreed to terms with the Giants several weeks ago, but the
signing was delayed. Now that he has signed a deal for $765,000, the veteran
minimum, the team finally has insurance for starting left tackle Luke
Petitgout.
Chiefs players Trent Green and Tony Richardson stopped by to visit the Kansas
City firefighter who was the recipient of a 4,200-square-foot house courtesy of
ABC's �Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.� Stephen Johnson is a lifelong Chiefs fan
� friends say he looks like Derrick Thomas � and Green and Richardson
autographed jerseys that hang in one of the bedrooms. They could've waited to
see what the family looks like on TV Sunday night, but Green and Richardson
decided they had to meet Johnson, especially after hearing the story of how he
helped save a paramedic by running through a hail of bullets. The first thing
Johnson told Green was that he felt guilty for the lavish digs. �You shouldn't,�
Green said. �You did something very heroic.�
On May 15 and 16 at Atlantic City Country Club, he will host the 21st Ron
Jaworski Celebrity Golf Challenge. Last year, it raised a record $225,000,
bringing the two-decade total to more than $2 million. The highlight, of course,
is the Celebrity Shoot-Out on the 15th. For the first time, Jaws is the
defending champion. The others competing in a nine-hole Skins Game are Tony
Siragusa, Marshall Faulk, Sterling Sharpe, Michael Strahan, Joe Theismann, Bruce
Smith, Bryan Cox, Jeremiah Trotter and Julius Erving.
in Brown's status last night, the Patriots have expressed interest in free-agent
linebacker Anthony Simmons. Another free-agent linebacker, Chad Brown, is
considering offers between the Patriots, Broncos, Saints and Steelers.
Free-agent offensive lineman Dan Neil reportedly visited team headquarters on
Tuesday.
The Redskins released Tim Hasselbeck, granting the third-string quarterback his
wish. The move was expected after the Redskins picked Auburn quarterback Jason
Campbell 25th overall in last month's draft, giving the club four quarterbacks.
Patrick Ramsey enters training camp as the starter with Mark Brunell as his
backup after losing the starting job last season. Hasselbeck -- who played the
past two seasons in Washington -- apparently requested a release after meeting
with Gibbs on April 26 at Redskins Park.
Released Redskins QB Tim Hasselbeck received feelers from a couple of teams this
winter, when he was a restricted free agent. Seattle, where his brother Matt is
the starter, Cleveland and the New York Giants are among the teams that could be
looking for help at quarterback.
The Washington Redskins yesterday reached an agreement on a six-year contract
extension with wide receiver Santana Moss, ending his unofficial holdout.
Sources said that the extension essentially is a five-year deal worth about $26
million.
Tennessee Titans general manager Floyd Reese called Monday�s meeting with former
Titans running back Eddie George more on friendly terms than a major step toward
a possible reunion for 2005. �I think the lion�s share of the meeting was more
friend to friend than anything else,� Reese said. �I think he wants to continue
to play and would like to continue to play here in a perfect world. But there
was no talk of money involved and no agents. It was just kind of a get together
of a couple of old friends who hadn�t seen each other in awhile.� �I think both
sides came away pleased,� Smith said of George�s meeting with Reese. �We�re
certainly not setting any deadlines, but I would hope that we would be able to
talk sometime by the end of the week.�
The Browns admitted they are concerned about Kellen Winslow's right knee,
according to a statement released Wednesday to update the tight end's medical
condition. Beyond admitting concern, though, the team offered few details and
asked that ``people respect (Winslow's) right to privacy regarding his medical
condition.'' Rumors and reports continue to circulate, though, that Winslow has
a torn anterior cruciate ligament. If true, he almost certainly would miss the
season. The Browns were not confirming that diagnosis because they can't.
Winslow already has defaulted on his contract because it states ``motorcycling''
is prohibited. The Browns could terminate the contract and demand Winslow repay
the portion of his signing and option bonus already paid as well as forfeit
future payments on the bonuses. They also could place him on the Non-Football
Injury List for this season, and Winslow would lose his 2005 salary.
You have not heard anything lately about Reggie Fowler and his desire to buy the
Vikings and to be the general partner and operate the club. Well Zygmunt Wilf,
the big money man in Fowler's group, has made it clear to the NFL that he, and
not Fowler, will be the general partner. The other investors in the purchase of
the team from Red McCombs will be two other New Jersey real estate tycoons,
David Mandelbaum and Alan Landis, and that while Fowler will be with the group,
he will have only a minority interest.
Dolphins LT Vernon Carey said the last time he saw former University of Miami
teammate Kellen Winslow, "he was in South Beach riding a Moped."
Winslow, a tight end with the Browns, was injured in a motorcycle accident
Sunday
Junior Seau, after 15 NFL seasons, wasn't sure if he wanted to play this year.
Until he took a February phone call from Dolphins coach Nick Saban. Saban is
gaining a track record for saying the right things in phone calls to players he
is recruiting. Whatever Saban said persuaded Seau that taking a pay cut to
return was acceptable. "It was warming to hear from him," said Seau,
who missed the second half of last season after surgery for a torn pectoral
muscle. "I respected that call. I had enough to say to him that I could
say, 'Yeah . . . I do want to play again.' " It seemed strange that Saban
would want a 12-time Pro Bowler on the downside of his career to be a part of
rebuilding. But aside from having Seau's leadership, Saban knew Seau would love
playing inside in a 3-4 defense. That's right, inside, where he established
himself in San Diego as one of the league's dominant players.
Junior Seau said he considered other teams during the offseason when the
Dolphins allowed him to seek a trade before he agreed to restructure his
contract. Ultimately, however, Seau said the fact that coach Nick Saban asked
him to return, plus Seau's desire to finish his career in South Florida,
clinched his decision. ''There were talks with other teams wanting the old
man,'' Seau, 36, said. ``It was nice to hear. But I didn't want to go to another
place and start over in the locker room. . . . They know me here as a player, as
a person. For me to go somewhere else, I didn't want to do that Jerry Rice kick
where I'm floating. This is going to be my last stop.
Miami TE Randy McMichael said he has no plans to follow in the footsteps of
other NFL players who are hoping for restructured contracts. McMichael, entering
the fourth and final year of his original contract signed as a rookie in 2002,
has talked openly about wanting a contract extension, and agent Drew Rosenhaus
has held preliminary discussions with the team. ''What, a holdout?'' McMichael
asked. ``Why would I want to hold out? What does that prove? What is that going
to prove to anybody, by holding out? I love playing this game. I don't want to
be away from it. That's not even in the back of my mind at all.''
Dolphins Linebacker Zach Thomas said he has changed his workout regimen this
offseason in hopes of prolonging his career and avoiding the injuries that have
plagued him in the past. ''I'm not doing the body-building lifting as much,''
said Thomas, who has worked independently and with Dolphins trainers this
offseason to devise a suitable program." Thomas, 31 and entering his 10th
season, missed three starts and the better part of four games overall because of
a hamstring injury last season. He has missed at least one game in four of the
past five seasons. His new regimen is similar to what teammate Junior Seau has
been doing for years. Seau is returning for his 16th season.
New Bucs WR Ike Hilliard, 29, will likely compete with veteran Joey Galloway for
the starting job opposite second-year pro Michael Clayton. Hilliard has missed
16 games with various injuries since 2000, missing nine games in 2002 with a
separated shoulder and three in 2003 with a knee injury. Despite the injuries,
he totaled 368 catches for 4,630 yards and 27 touchdowns in eight seasons with
the Giants. He ranks fourth on the team's career receptions list.
Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle said Wednesday that city officials are engaged in
their "most serious discussions" with the NFL and next week plan to
elaborate on their vision for a football stadium in the so-called Platinum
Triangle. The city, which to this point has been especially low key about its
discussions with the league, has scheduled a news conference for Tuesday to
introduce an economical-impact study, announce projects and discuss land-use
ideas for the area surrounding Angel Stadium.
The Patriots released nose tackle Keith Traylor yesterday, as coach Bill
Belichick called the 13-year veteran to inform him the Pats were going with
younger players. Of course, that means the starting nose tackle spot in the
Pats' 3-4 is now the sole domain of Vince Wilfork, the 2004 first-round pick who
platooned with Traylor last year. As it stands, the starting defensive line will
be made up entirely of recent first-round picks, with Wilfork, 23, joining
Richard Seymour, 25, and Ty Warren, 24. Traylor, 35, who had contemplated
retirement late last year, decided to return for a 14th season after the Super
Bowl. However, he didn't work out in Foxboro this spring, and Traylor wondered
if that gave the impression that he wasn't committed to the team.
Restricted free-agent offensive tackle Kurt Vollers has signed a one-year deal
with the Cowboys. Terms were not disclosed. He started the final three games
last season at right tackle when Torrin Tucker was benched. Vollers, who can
play both tackle spots, was pressed into action in 2003 when right tackle Ryan
Young struggled with injuries. He started eight games that season. The Cowboys
will continue to try to work on a multi-year deal with 26-year-old Vollers.
The Giants got a little deeper -- and older -- on the offensive line yesterday
with the signing of free-agent tackle Bob Whitfield, a 14-year veteran who
played 10 games for the Jaguars last year after 13 seasons with the Falcons.
Whitfield, 33, agreed to terms with the Giants several weeks ago, but the
signing was delayed. Now that he has signed a deal for $765,000, the veteran
minimum, the team finally has insurance for starting left tackle Luke
Petitgout.
Chiefs players Trent Green and Tony Richardson stopped by to visit the Kansas
City firefighter who was the recipient of a 4,200-square-foot house courtesy of
ABC's �Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.� Stephen Johnson is a lifelong Chiefs fan
� friends say he looks like Derrick Thomas � and Green and Richardson
autographed jerseys that hang in one of the bedrooms. They could've waited to
see what the family looks like on TV Sunday night, but Green and Richardson
decided they had to meet Johnson, especially after hearing the story of how he
helped save a paramedic by running through a hail of bullets. The first thing
Johnson told Green was that he felt guilty for the lavish digs. �You shouldn't,�
Green said. �You did something very heroic.�
On May 15 and 16 at Atlantic City Country Club, he will host the 21st Ron
Jaworski Celebrity Golf Challenge. Last year, it raised a record $225,000,
bringing the two-decade total to more than $2 million. The highlight, of course,
is the Celebrity Shoot-Out on the 15th. For the first time, Jaws is the
defending champion. The others competing in a nine-hole Skins Game are Tony
Siragusa, Marshall Faulk, Sterling Sharpe, Michael Strahan, Joe Theismann, Bruce
Smith, Bryan Cox, Jeremiah Trotter and Julius Erving.