HEAV
06-15-2005, 03:40 PM
New Browns RB Reuben Droughns dropped his demand for a new deal and decided to
concentrate on just playing. ``Deep down inside the way I feel is that the way I
get a new deal is obviously by coming out here and proving myself on the
field,'' Droughns said. It's a far cry from statements that Droughns made
earlier in the off-season, when he left the Browns' off-season workout program
and went public with demands that his contract be reworked. He now says he
wishes he'd handled things differently. ``It was bothering me, but at the same
time, I wish I didn't say anything,'' Droughns said. ``I wish I had continued to
come out and work, and maybe, things would have been done differently.''
Droughns has two years left on his contract, and he is due to make $950,000 this
season and $1.15 million next season. The Browns treated Droughns' demands as if
they didn't happen. General manager Phil Savage said Droughns was not holding
out because workouts were voluntary, and Droughns returned on his own.
James "Shack'' Harris, the Jaguars' vice president of player personnel,
said Tuesday the Jaguars have had what he called "conversations'' about
cornerback Ty Law and running back Travis Henry, but didn't make it sound as if
they're close to making a serious run at either player.
Linebacker LaVar Arrington's oft-postponed hearing for a grievance against the
Washington Redskins is back on, according to two sources with knowledge of the
situation. The hearing is scheduled for July 18, almost one year after the sides
had hoped to decide the matter through binding arbitration. Arrington believes
that the Redskins omitted $6.5 million in bonuses agreed upon for 2006 from an
eight-year, $68 million contract extension signed in December 2003. He contends
that the Redskins purposely removed the difference from the final draft that he
signed at Redskins Park under deadline pressure. If Arrington wins, it will have
implications for the club's 2006 salary cap, bringing the linebacker's cap hit
from $12 million to $18.6 million.
Dolphins buzz: QB Gus Frerotte will enter camp as the front-runner to start,
with players privately praising his touch and command of the offense. . . .
Vernon Carey, trying to stave off Damion McIntosh at left tackle, has ''a ways
to go . . . [but] his run-blocking is good,'' coach Nick Saban said. . . . Less
than a year from knee surgery, David Boston remains a ways from returning to his
old form.
Daunte Culpepper was asked Tuesday his reaction to ex-teammate Randy Moss' ESPN
interview during which the eccentric wide receiver asserted that his new Oakland
Raiders teammate Kerry Collins is a better overall quarterback than the Vikings'
Pro Bowl QB. Culpepper smiled quizzically, then shook his head. "When I
first heard that, I figured maybe Randy had fallen and bumped his head to say
something that crazy," Culpepper said. "All they've got to do is look
at the numbers. I mean no disrespect to Kerry Collins. I understand that (Moss)
has to say something good about his quarterback. But he didn't have to say
anything that crazy."
Do not be fooled by the smiles, the gushing or the fact Az-Zahir Hakim had
dinner with the Vermeils last week and Carol Vermeil pointed out how much their
old friend had matured. Hakim will be in Kansas City today, he�ll compete for a
receiver spot, but that�s all coach Dick Vermeil is promising. �A position isn�t
going to be handed to him in a Christmas package,� Vermeil said Tuesday. �He�s
going to have to compete, and he knows that. I didn�t really actively recruit
hard to get this guy. I wanted him to come on his own.
Cardinals rookie running back J.J. Arrington is reaping the benefits of Troy
Hambrick's absence. With fewer players to share repetitions, Arrington is
getting more plays during practices and showing the coaches what he can do with
the ball in his hands. So far, Cardinals coach Dennis Green likes what he sees
from his second-round draft pick.
It's still not known exactly why Mike Holmgren has felt discomfort in his chest
several times in recent weeks, but there was good news on the condition of the
Seahawks coach's heart. A doctor found nothing wrong with Holmgren's heart after
conducting follow-up tests Friday. Holmgren was sent to the hospital with chest
pain last week and missed one day of the team's current minicamp so he could
rest. "I'm OK. I'm in good shape, and they just have to figure out why I
have these little things," Holmgren said, then switched to joking mode.
Heav: The guy is freaking 3 bills and over 50. He's asking for a heart attack!
A private plane arriving at Norwood Airport to pick up New England Patriot
superhero Tom Brady skidded off the runway and into a marsh yesterday. Brady was
not aboard and no one was injured. Whew. Jim Peters of the Federal Aviation
Administration said the jet, a Dassault Falcon Ten manufactured in 1976, went
off the end of the runway and became stuck in mud. The plane, registered to an
Arlington, Va., company called Ginju, was to fly Brady and a Patriots staffer to
Vegas where Tom had a speaking engagement. Brady was scheduled to leave for Sin
City after meeting with a group of four Make-A-Wish Foundation kids but his
departure was delayed
The Baltimore Ravens signed Pro Bowl tight end Todd Heap to a six-year contract
extension yesterday, locking up one of their offensive cornerstones through
2011. Terms were not disclosed and a phone message left for Heap's agent, David
Dunn , was not returned, but Coach Brian Billick said that Heap is now the
highest-paid tight end in the NFL.
The Ravens now can focus on signing some of their other players, such as running
back Jamal Lewis , who also is in the final year of his contract. There had been
reports that safety Ed Reed was unhappy and wanted to renegotiate his contract,
which has two years remaining, but the NFL defensive player of the year played
down that talk. "When that time comes, we'll see. That's definitely
something that's going to go on with my agent and the Ravens," Reed said.
"I feel good. When it happens, it happens. I'm focused on practicing right
now and learning the defense."
Yesterday, the Miami-Dade state attorney's office held a pre-filing conference
to begin determining whether to prosecute Redskins safety Sean Taylor for two
felony counts of aggravated assault with a firearm and one misdemeanor charge of
battery. The procedure was closed to the public and Taylor's defense lawyer. The
process is expected to last a few days. If the police's evidence is judged
insufficient, the charges will be dropped. A decision isn't expected to be
revealed until Taylor's arraignment June 24.
concentrate on just playing. ``Deep down inside the way I feel is that the way I
get a new deal is obviously by coming out here and proving myself on the
field,'' Droughns said. It's a far cry from statements that Droughns made
earlier in the off-season, when he left the Browns' off-season workout program
and went public with demands that his contract be reworked. He now says he
wishes he'd handled things differently. ``It was bothering me, but at the same
time, I wish I didn't say anything,'' Droughns said. ``I wish I had continued to
come out and work, and maybe, things would have been done differently.''
Droughns has two years left on his contract, and he is due to make $950,000 this
season and $1.15 million next season. The Browns treated Droughns' demands as if
they didn't happen. General manager Phil Savage said Droughns was not holding
out because workouts were voluntary, and Droughns returned on his own.
James "Shack'' Harris, the Jaguars' vice president of player personnel,
said Tuesday the Jaguars have had what he called "conversations'' about
cornerback Ty Law and running back Travis Henry, but didn't make it sound as if
they're close to making a serious run at either player.
Linebacker LaVar Arrington's oft-postponed hearing for a grievance against the
Washington Redskins is back on, according to two sources with knowledge of the
situation. The hearing is scheduled for July 18, almost one year after the sides
had hoped to decide the matter through binding arbitration. Arrington believes
that the Redskins omitted $6.5 million in bonuses agreed upon for 2006 from an
eight-year, $68 million contract extension signed in December 2003. He contends
that the Redskins purposely removed the difference from the final draft that he
signed at Redskins Park under deadline pressure. If Arrington wins, it will have
implications for the club's 2006 salary cap, bringing the linebacker's cap hit
from $12 million to $18.6 million.
Dolphins buzz: QB Gus Frerotte will enter camp as the front-runner to start,
with players privately praising his touch and command of the offense. . . .
Vernon Carey, trying to stave off Damion McIntosh at left tackle, has ''a ways
to go . . . [but] his run-blocking is good,'' coach Nick Saban said. . . . Less
than a year from knee surgery, David Boston remains a ways from returning to his
old form.
Daunte Culpepper was asked Tuesday his reaction to ex-teammate Randy Moss' ESPN
interview during which the eccentric wide receiver asserted that his new Oakland
Raiders teammate Kerry Collins is a better overall quarterback than the Vikings'
Pro Bowl QB. Culpepper smiled quizzically, then shook his head. "When I
first heard that, I figured maybe Randy had fallen and bumped his head to say
something that crazy," Culpepper said. "All they've got to do is look
at the numbers. I mean no disrespect to Kerry Collins. I understand that (Moss)
has to say something good about his quarterback. But he didn't have to say
anything that crazy."
Do not be fooled by the smiles, the gushing or the fact Az-Zahir Hakim had
dinner with the Vermeils last week and Carol Vermeil pointed out how much their
old friend had matured. Hakim will be in Kansas City today, he�ll compete for a
receiver spot, but that�s all coach Dick Vermeil is promising. �A position isn�t
going to be handed to him in a Christmas package,� Vermeil said Tuesday. �He�s
going to have to compete, and he knows that. I didn�t really actively recruit
hard to get this guy. I wanted him to come on his own.
Cardinals rookie running back J.J. Arrington is reaping the benefits of Troy
Hambrick's absence. With fewer players to share repetitions, Arrington is
getting more plays during practices and showing the coaches what he can do with
the ball in his hands. So far, Cardinals coach Dennis Green likes what he sees
from his second-round draft pick.
It's still not known exactly why Mike Holmgren has felt discomfort in his chest
several times in recent weeks, but there was good news on the condition of the
Seahawks coach's heart. A doctor found nothing wrong with Holmgren's heart after
conducting follow-up tests Friday. Holmgren was sent to the hospital with chest
pain last week and missed one day of the team's current minicamp so he could
rest. "I'm OK. I'm in good shape, and they just have to figure out why I
have these little things," Holmgren said, then switched to joking mode.
Heav: The guy is freaking 3 bills and over 50. He's asking for a heart attack!
A private plane arriving at Norwood Airport to pick up New England Patriot
superhero Tom Brady skidded off the runway and into a marsh yesterday. Brady was
not aboard and no one was injured. Whew. Jim Peters of the Federal Aviation
Administration said the jet, a Dassault Falcon Ten manufactured in 1976, went
off the end of the runway and became stuck in mud. The plane, registered to an
Arlington, Va., company called Ginju, was to fly Brady and a Patriots staffer to
Vegas where Tom had a speaking engagement. Brady was scheduled to leave for Sin
City after meeting with a group of four Make-A-Wish Foundation kids but his
departure was delayed
The Baltimore Ravens signed Pro Bowl tight end Todd Heap to a six-year contract
extension yesterday, locking up one of their offensive cornerstones through
2011. Terms were not disclosed and a phone message left for Heap's agent, David
Dunn , was not returned, but Coach Brian Billick said that Heap is now the
highest-paid tight end in the NFL.
The Ravens now can focus on signing some of their other players, such as running
back Jamal Lewis , who also is in the final year of his contract. There had been
reports that safety Ed Reed was unhappy and wanted to renegotiate his contract,
which has two years remaining, but the NFL defensive player of the year played
down that talk. "When that time comes, we'll see. That's definitely
something that's going to go on with my agent and the Ravens," Reed said.
"I feel good. When it happens, it happens. I'm focused on practicing right
now and learning the defense."
Yesterday, the Miami-Dade state attorney's office held a pre-filing conference
to begin determining whether to prosecute Redskins safety Sean Taylor for two
felony counts of aggravated assault with a firearm and one misdemeanor charge of
battery. The procedure was closed to the public and Taylor's defense lawyer. The
process is expected to last a few days. If the police's evidence is judged
insufficient, the charges will be dropped. A decision isn't expected to be
revealed until Taylor's arraignment June 24.