NFL Report Sat

[HEAV]

The Chiefs are still in contact with free-agent cornerback Ty Law’s agents, but nothing is imminent and no visit is scheduled, a person close to the situation said Friday. The Chiefs will be without cornerback Eric Warfield for the first four games because of an NFL suspension. Coach Dick Vermeil has said that the Chiefs would like to sign Law but that cap constraints are an issue.


Whether it's because he is headed into the last year of his contract or because the Colts invested a sixth-round pick in another kicker, Indianapolis kicker Mike Vanderjagt has taken the unusual step this offseason of hiring his own kicking coach. And not just any kicking coach. Vanderjagt hired former Dallas Cowboys kicking coach Steve Hoffman, who has helped develop so many unproven NFL kickers over the years. In recent weeks, Vanderjagt has been working with Hoffman in Dallas, trying to improve his performance. It's a big year for Vanderjagt. As it is, he is scheduled to count $2.87 million against the Colts salary cap. After this season, he is scheduled to become a free agent.


The Browns are determined to prove that Kellen Winslow's actions -- riding a motorcyle, crashing it and suffering season-ending injuries -- carry consequences. Thus, they won't pay him the $2 million bonus due to Winslow on Friday. But the Browns, Winslow and Winslow's father are discussing a long-term solution so Cleveland can be properly compensated and Winslow can remain a significant part of the Browns future.

The Seahawks still have interest in signing DE-LB Peter Boulware after attending his workout on Thursday in Florida. The former Baltimore Raven didn't appear to show ill effects from injuries that cost him all of last season.


The Jaguars reported no movement on the possible trade for Travis Henry on Friday. The Jaguars remain close to acquiring Henry from the Buffalo Bills after working out most of the details for a contract extension with the veteran running back, Henry's agent said. With an extension all but done, the biggest roadblock to a deal remains compensation to the Bills. Buffalo is seeking at least a third-round pick, but the Jaguars have not yet agreed on that. Tennessee also remains in the mix for Henry but doesn't have nearly as much room under the salary cap for the contract extension Henry is demanding.


In an ESPN radio interview yesterday, cornerback Ty Law hinted that a return to the Patriots is a possibility, and said he has spoken with Bill Belichick, who has called Law directly. He didn't address reports that he reached a deal with the Chiefs.

[HEAV]

Titans General Manager Floyd Reese said he has not spoken recently with Eddie George, the franchise's all-time leading rusher. Reese said the idea of the Titans turning to George is not necessarily dead, but he also said that "when this whole (Henry) thing winds down, however it goes, we will have a conversation. He deserves that." Appearing on NFL Network's NFL Total Access this week, George said he still wants to play and that the Titans remain his first choice. Released by the Titans just before the 2004 season, George signed a one-year deal with the Dallas Cowboys and rushed for just 432 yards.


The Seahawks can now re-open contract negotiations with their franchise player, running back Shaun Alexander. And yesterday they were on the phone. Mike Reinfeldt, the Seahawks' vice president of administration, spoke with one of Alexander's agents, Jim Steiner. The conversation was characterized as the Seahawks letting Alexander know they still want to talk about re-signing him to a long-term contract. With training camp less than two weeks away, Alexander is almost certain not to be there. He is seeking an agreement to a long-term contract and told The Seattle Times earlier this month that he does not intend to sign the team's one-year franchise tender.


Greg Ellis, the former No. 1 draft pick who has led the Cowboys in sacks each of the last four seasons, knows he isn't the player Bill Parcells is looking for to execute the new 3-4 defense. Ellis said he's concerned that moving from left defensive end in the 4-3 to right defensive end in the 3-4 will compromise his ability to be productive and pave the way for Parcells to release him next March, when he's scheduled to receive a $500,000 roster bonus. Ellis is entering the third year of a six-year, $24 million contract extension that included a $4.2 million signing bonus. The deal came less than a month into Parcells' first season. "We ended up pretty good, but I really don't foresee me being here," Ellis said. "I want to be here, but I don't think I will. That's the truth."


Reports of the Seattle Seahawks' interest in trading for Browns wide receiver Andre Davis have sparked a wave of concern among fans in Cleveland, who fear the possibility of losing perhaps the team's most talented receiver. This is a contract year for Davis, who is a good-character guy and the type of guy you would take home to meet your family. According to his agent, Kennard McGuire, there have been no talks of a new contract with the Browns, but that's not to say the two sides will not enter negotiations. If the Browns cannot use Davis in the way he should be used, maybe a change of scenery would be the best thing for this underrated receiver.

[HEAV]

Seattle and Chicago are trying to make room on their rosters right now for dynamic return specialist J.J. Moses, the Texans former-kick and punt returner from the past two years. Seattle would like to add Moses so that it would not have to use Bobby Engram returning kicks and backup quarterback Seneca Wallace returning punts. Chicago is looking at Moses as the potential successor to recently-released cornerback R.W. McQuarters, who handled the Bears return game. Bears director of pro personnel Bobby DePaul called Moses "electrifying."




The more intresting question surrounding franchise players such as Seattle's running back Shaun Alexander, Philadelphia's defensive tackle Corey Simon and Jets defensive end John Abraham is whether they will report to training camp. None of those three franchised players has signed his tender, and none is obligated to report to camp. The prevailing thought is that none of those players will be reporting with the rest of their teammates on the opening day of camp.


At this point, it's a foregone conclusion that Buffalo running back Travis Henry is going to be traded. The Bills are on high alert, bracing for a trade to be announced any time now. Now the big question is, where does Henry end up? The only two candidates are the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Tennessee Titans


The Dolphins drafted Ronnie Brown with the second overall pick, are getting back Ricky Williams, and their starting running back on opening day might be none other than Lamar Gordon. Brown is not expected to sign his contract before the Dolphins report to training camp on July 24, which could make his road to the starting lineup all the more challenging. Williams is facing a four-game suspension to open the season. And Gordon is completely recovered from the season-ending shoulder injury he suffered last season against Pittsburgh.


Before the Dolphins report to training camp next Sunday, July 24, there still is some significant bookkeeping to be done. Running back Ricky Williams is scheduled to earn $3.7 million in base salary, yet there is language in his contract that, based on his prior behavior, could reduce his salary figure to $540,000. But if his four-game suspension is tacked on, that would lower Williams' salary to $405,000 -- and somewhere around $275,000 after taxes. Under no circumstances does Williams plan to spend the coming season playing for $405,000, that is a certainty. Then there is the matter of the $8.6 million that an arbitrator ruled Williams owes the Dolphins for walking out on them. But that money was actually incentives and rollovers built into Williams' contract, not signing bonuses. Still, however it is figured, the Dolphins and Williams must figure out how they want to handle it and, as of Thursday, Williams' agent Leigh Steinberg insisted that the two sides hadn't even addressed the issue.

[HEAV]

The Titans may or may not have upped their offer for Bills running back Travis Henry in recent days. But the likelihood of anything happening between Tennessee and Buffalo this weekend appears minimal. The Titans want to add a veteran back up to their injury-prone starter, Chris Brown. Because Henry only has one year left on his contract, the Titans would want to lock him up with a long-term deal before committing to a trade.




49ers coach Mike Nolan said he expected that every player on the roster, except for center Jeremy Newberry, who had knee surgery in the spring, would be ready for the start of training camp in two weeks.


Eagles defensive end Hugh Douglas visited the dugout during batting practice last night, said the Eagles would win or without possible holdout wideout Terrell Owens and marveled that baseball players have a game virtually every day. "I didn't know that. I was ignorant," Douglas said.


In a move solidifying the 1-2 management punch that has helped elevate the Patriots to the top of the NFL, Pioli signed a lucrative contract extension with the club yesterday. The 40-year-old vice president of player personnel was working under a contract that was set to expire after the 2006 draft. The length and terms of the extension are not known, nor is it clear if there is language that prohibits Pioli from leaving for another job. The deal comes a few months after the Seattle Seahawks reportedly offered Pioli a $3 million per year package to run their personnel department. The Browns had also expressed interest in speaking with Pioli to become their general manager.


In a dispute with city officials over signage at Alltel Stadium, the Jacksonville Jaguars said they lost money in 2002 and 2004. Those losses mean the Jaguars can get out of their lease with a payment of between $32 million and $40 million. It's generally believed club owner Wayne Weaver, who brought the NFL to Jacksonville in 1995, wouldn't leave. But even after covering up nearly 10,000 seats, the Jaguars are still about 7,000 shy of the 49,000 non-premium seats they need sold to lift the embarrassingly usual home television blackouts. They also have about 2,500 unsold club seats, in part because the corporate presence in Jacksonville is so much smaller than in most NFL markets.


Since winning Super Bowl XXXVII, Tampa Bay is just 12-20. The Buccaneers have just 13 players and nine starters left from that January 2003 victory over Oakland.


Hoping to revive Jacksonville's public drinking law after it was found unconstitutional, the City Council is considering legislation that seeks to clarify the ordinance and eliminate concerns about selective enforcement. Among other measures, the proposal would designate a "sports complex zone" where drinking would be allowed during football games and other events.

[Bronx33]

The Browns are determined to prove that Kellen Winslow's actions -- riding a motorcyle, crashing it and suffering season-ending injuries -- carry consequences. Thus, they won't pay him the $2 million bonus due to Winslow on Friday. But the Browns, Winslow and Winslow's father are discussing a long-term solution so Cleveland can be properly compensated and Winslow can remain a significant part of the Browns future.


Back pedal, Back pedal, Back pedal, save da money! save da money! save da money! I REPEAT! SAVE DA MONEY!

[WoodMan]

[QUOTE=HEAV]
The Browns are determined to prove that Kellen Winslow's actions -- riding a motorcyle, crashing it and suffering season-ending injuries -- carry consequences. Thus, they won't pay him the $2 million bonus due to Winslow on Friday. But the Browns, Winslow and Winslow's father are discussing a long-term solution so Cleveland can be properly compensated and Winslow can remain a significant part of the Browns future.

OUCH! This has to hurt alot worse than the accident.

[lookin' glass]

Salary cap issues ect.ect. aside (i.e. possibilty) is this J. J. Moses guy someone the
Broncos should be looking at?

[Rocket 7]

[QUOTE=HEAV]
The Browns are determined to prove that Kellen Winslow's actions -- riding a motorcyle, crashing it and suffering season-ending injuries -- carry consequences. Thus, they won't pay him the $2 million bonus due to Winslow on Friday. But the Browns, Winslow and Winslow's father are discussing a long-term solution so Cleveland can be properly compensated and Winslow can remain a significant part of the Browns future.

OUCH! This has to hurt alot worse than the accident.
It didn't help his ego either.