Nfl Report Friday

[HEAV]

Free-agent safety Damien Robinson worked out for the Cowboys on Thursday
for second time this off-season in hopes of landing a contract. The eight-year
NFL veteran, who spent last season on the Seattle Seahawks' injured reserve
list, played in high school at Dallas Hillcrest and said he would love to resume
his career with the team for which he grew up rooting. Robinson, who also has
worked out for the Buffalo Bills, said the decision is now in the hands of the
Cowboys and his agent, James Gould.


Vikings Pro Bowl center Matt Birk, who six weeks ago underwent surgery to repair
a torn labrum in his right hip, said Thursday he guarantees he will play in the
season opener Sept. 11 against Tampa Bay at the Metrodome. Birk will begin
running next week. "I feel great; this right hip will not keep me out of
the regular-season opener," said Birk, 28, who has been working out
regularly at Winter Park. "That's 100 percent guaranteed. I'm like
superhuman. At least that's what I tell myself."


Two weeks from today, the Bears will be in 11th-hour negotiations to get running
back Cedric Benson to training camp on time. That is, of course, if a deal is
not struck before then, but the chances of that happening aren't good for a
number of reasons, the first being that the Bears' July 23 reporting date is
earlier than any other team's. The Bears already were concerned about this
scenario on draft day. That's what they talked about with Benson's agent, Eugene
Parker, during the 15 minutes they were on the clock before announcing their
selection. As the fourth overall pick, Benson will command about $15 million in
total bonus money, and a deal like that doesn't get done easily.

[HEAV]

Thursday's NFL supplemental draft boasts some serious talent that could cause
teams to forfeit their picks in similar rounds in next April's draft. The most
coveted player available is former Southern Cal defensive tackle Manuel Wright,
who visited Cincinnati, Jacksonville, Miami and Philadelphia last month. The
6-foot-6, 322-pounder certainly has the size, and he scored a decent 17 on the
Wonderlic intelligence test given to all prospective draft picks. Wright, who
has been training hard in Colorado, will work out for NFL scouts today in Los
Angeles.


As impressive as Randy Moss obviously is on the field, it's the Moss the fans
don't see which really impresses Raiders QB Kerry Collins. "Randy Moss
comes to work everyday, he has a great attitude, he's professional, he goes out
and he works hard during practice. He's a good leader. I've seen him be vocal
and bring guys together and talk to guys. And he's willing to learn and a lot of
guys in his position wouldn't take his approach."


RB Quentin Griffin, often overlooked in discussions regarding Denver's running
back corps for 2005, said Thursday that his injured knee is nearly mended. And
even though Mike Anderson and Tatum Bell appear to be locked in a battle for the
starting tailback job, Griffin said he's determined to regain a prominent place
in the offense. "I earned my spot to play and I want to do the same thing -
earn it again," Griffin said after minicamp practice. "I don't mind
coming in under the radar." Heav: Can you say kick returner? I can!


Five practices into his Broncos career, and Jerry Rice is still trying to catch
his breath. "I'm still trying to get used to this mile-high (air),"
Rice said. "But I look at some of the other guys, and they're having a
little difficult time, too. So there's hope. "I don't care what type of
work you do down at sea level; once you get here, it's a whole new
ballgame."

[HEAV]

A chance to maintain his place as the Broncos' No. 2 quarterback was worth
$350,000 to Danny Kanell. That's how much salary the veteran gave up to better
his chances of making the roster. Kanell, penciled in as the primary backup to
starter Jake Plummer, was scheduled to make $1 million this season. But when the
Broncos recently asked him to take a pay cut, he obliged and now is scheduled to
make about $650,000. "They asked me to do it," Kanell said Thursday
after the second day of the Broncos' three-day minicamp. "I didn't want any
reason - other than my on-field performance - to determine my chances of making
the team."


Former Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino, who last month said that his son,
Daniel, would present him at the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremonies
Aug. 7, said Thursday that his father was actually his first choice. "My
dad [Dan Sr.] was my first and the best coach I ever had," Marino said
during a telephone conference call to promote the American Century Championship,
a celebrity golf tournament at Lake Tahoe next week. "My first choice was
my dad to do it, but he'd rather sit back and enjoy the moment rather than
speak." Daniel, 18, is an aspiring actor who will soon attend college at
North Carolina School of the Arts. Heav: Ok so Dan's dad was a better coach than
Don Shula???? Also Dan's kid is going to have to study very hard to match his
fathers career as an actor! Just go out a rent Ace Ventura and watch a great
actor at work!


In 19 days, the Chiefs leave for training camp, and the popular linebacker�s NFL
future will hinge on how his surgically repaired knee holds up in River Falls.
Coach Dick Vermeil says Mike Maslowski is running at 100 percent. Maslowski
isn�t saying much. He�s politely declined interview requests this summer because
he doesn�t want to speak until he knows he�ll be back.


John Mara, the Giants executive vice president and driving force behind the
construction of a proposed 80,000-seat stadium, said this week that he intends
to speak with the Jets "very soon" about forming a partnership that
would result in both teams playing in a new state-of-the-art facility at the
Meadowlands.

[HEAV]

NFL Draft Scoreboard... The SEC was first with 37 draftees, one more than the
ACC. All but 26 of the 255 players chosen played in Division I-A. One Division
III player, Michigan Tech offensive lineman Joe Berger; one NAIA player, William
Penn tight end Andrew Stokes; and one junior college player, Pearl River
Community College receiver Larry Brackins, were drafted. Of the 31 players
selected who weren't invited to the February scouting combine, only San Diego
State linebacker Matt McCoy, who went to Philadelphia with the second to last
pick of the second round, was taken on the draft's first day. By contrast, 107
players who were invited to the combine weren't drafted.

There were more linebackers (36) taken in the NFL draft than any other position,
with receivers (31) leading the way on offense. However, among the top 100,
cornerback (18) was the top position, followed by linebacker (15). Just two
punters, three kickers and five fullbacks were selected.


Former Clemson receiver Roscoe Crosby worked out in South Carolina on July 1 for
nearly 20 teams, with Carolina, Chicago, Kansas City, Miami, New Orleans and the
New York Giants reportedly the most interested in taking him in the supplemental
draft. Because Crosby cramped up and had to cut his workout short, he plans a
repeat session Tuesday, one day after that of running back Vashon Pearson, who
led Mississippi in rushing last year. Former Michigan State receiver Agim Shabaj
also has entered the supplemental draft. Linebacker Michael Tolbert, who wrecked
Texas A&M last fall and already has his degree from Baylor, also is eligible. So
is ex-Toledo defensive end Jerome Walker and Ivory McCann, a cornerback/return
man/running back from Texas Tech, who ran 40 yards in a blazing sub-4.4 seconds
during his June 30 workout.



Buffalo is the only franchise to lose four straight Super Bowls, so it should
have been no surprise Bills owner Ralph Wilson, 86, lost in the final of the
85-and-over doubles at the European Tennis Championships last month in Austria.

[Rocket 7]

As impressive as Randy Moss obviously is on the field, it's the Moss the fans
don't see which really impresses Raiders QB Kerry Collins. "Randy Moss
comes to work everyday, he has a great attitude, he's professional, he goes out
and he works hard during practice. He's a good leader. I've seen him be vocal
and bring guys together and talk to guys. And he's willing to learn and a lot of
guys in his position wouldn't take his approach."



He has a great attitude now but when the season starts and Oakland is 3-6 you'll see the real Randy Moss.

[Kaylore]

He has a great attitude now but when the season starts and Oakland is 3-6 you'll see the real Randy Moss.

I think he's Corey Dillon type. The team does well and he's great. If not, well you know.

[Bronx33]

I think he's Corey Dillon type. The team does well and he's great. If not, well you know.


I can't wait....

[watermock]

I keep telling you, Moss has a chronic ankle. We are supposed to buy "Leader" in Oakland and a guy that has a history of acting about back to high school?

I shudder to think what they actually think a "Leader" is in Oakland. Collins? Joey Porter" Lamont Jordan? Randy Moss? Warren Sapp?

The only one with decent stones is Robert Gallery, who took his signing bonus and paid off the family farm in Iowa for his mom.

[wabbit]

Thursday's NFL supplemental draft boasts some serious talent that could cause
teams to forfeit their picks in similar rounds in next April's draft. The most
coveted player available is former Southern Cal defensive tackle Manuel Wright,
who visited Cincinnati, Jacksonville, Miami and Philadelphia last month. The
6-foot-6, 322-pounder certainly has the size, and he scored a decent 17 on the
Wonderlic intelligence test given to all prospective draft picks. Wright, who
has been training hard in Colorado, will work out for NFL scouts today in Los
Angeles...




Shanahan hasn't said no to the prospect of tapping someone in the Supplemental Draft, but there has been no indication the Broncos are interested in anyone either.

I haven't heard anything, but I have to wonder if perhaps the Broncos sent somebody to talk with Wright during those work-outs...and I'd be interested to know who has the facilities that would properly suit his needs

[-Slap-]

I think he's Corey Dillon type. The team does well and he's great. If not, well you know.

I would have to disagree. If the Raiders win five straight games, but Moss isn't getting as many touches as he likes, he'll be unhappy and it will be evident.