HEAV
04-22-2006, 09:19 AM
According to a Ravens source, Ray Lewis or a representative called team officials 20 minutes before Wednesday's news conference about the draft and asked to be traded. Smart move, Ray. But that's exactly why the Ravens need to trade Lewis. He'll probably be stomping his feet and complaining until the season opens. The Ravens don't need this headache. Lewis has already been a disruptive force in the locker room the past two seasons.
Bears coach Lovie Smith reacted adamantly against the idea Thomas Jones could be traded, but general manager Jerry Angelo did not deny an ESPN Internet report that has linked the veteran running back to the Indianapolis Colts, who are still working to replace Edgerrin James in their high-powered offense. Complicating the matter is that Jones fired agent Tom Condon and signed on with Drew Rosenhaus in the last week, and has stopped reporting for the voluntary offseason program at Halas Hall. A source in Indianapolis said the best package the Bears could get would start with a third-round pick in the draft, the 94th overall selection at the end of the day next Saturday, which would seem to be a small payment for the franchise's first 1,300-yard rusher since Walter Payton.
Cornerback Charles Woodson, remains on the Packers radar, but they are battling the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for his services. Woodson, like LaVar Arrington, is represented by Carl and Kevin Poston.
A week before the NFL Draft, a picture of the Titans' draft room has been painted by at least some outside the building. It looks something like this: the coaches like Southern Cal's Matt Leinart, and the front office, especially General Manager Floyd Reese, likes Texas quarterback Vince Young.
One week before the NFL draft, the Texans intensified negotiations with running back Reggie Bush in an attempt to get the Heisman Trophy winner from Southern California signed in time to make him the first overall pick. Although no one in the organization will admit it publicly, owner Bob McNair prefers the top pick to be signed by the time commissioner Paul Tagliabue announces the Texans' selection at 11 a.m. on April 29.
The 49ers likely won't try to move up in next week's draft by packaging their two first-round picks in a trade with one of the five teams in front of them. While coach Mike Nolan wouldn't rule out such a move, he said Friday that the 49ers were leaning toward using their sixth and 22nd overall selections in hopes of acquiring two players who can start from Day 1. The 49ers acquired their second first-round pick earlier this week from Denver in exchange for second- and third-round selections. "This trade is more about getting starters and guys that can come in and be impact players than it does creating a whole lot of depth," Nolan said.
Bears general manager Jerry Angelo said Friday he planned to resume negotiations with agent Drew Rosenhaus on a long-term extension for linebacker Lance Briggs. Rosenhaus spent two days in negotiations at Halas Hall last week, leading to optimism a deal could get done. Talks broke off when Rosenhaus sought a deal that would exceed Brian Urlacher's nine-year, $56.65 million deal.
DeAngelo Williams. Laurence Maroney. LenDale White. All should be there when the Pats go on the clock at No. 21 in the first round of the NFL draft, which opens April 29. Bill Belichick hasn’t drafted a player with a marquee name at the position since taking over the Patriots in 2000. Could this be the year? History says no. Defense usually comes first for Belichick early in the draft, and he hasn’t drafted a back higher than the 76th selection, the slot at which J.R. Redmond was taken in the third round in 2000.
Jets rookie GM Mike Tannenbaum didn't seem too sure about was the status of Chad Pennington, he of the twice-surgically repaired throwing shoulder. Tannenbaum, commenting on the quarterback's condition for the first time in a month, provided only a vague update, hinting that Pennington won't be at full throwing strength for the first veterans' minicamp. That's not until mid-June. By then, he will be eight months removed from surgery. A year ago, Pennington was throwing on a full-time basis six months after his first operation. "I'm not sure how much he'll do right now," Tannenbaum said. "Ultimately, that will be something that will have to be worked out between the training staff and Eric (Mangini), with reps and things like that." Asked if the best-case scenario for Pennington is limited participation in minicamp, Tannenbaum said, "I wouldn't feel comfortable characterizing exactly what he'll be doing."
At a pretrial hearing Friday, attorneys for Minnesota Vikings Fred Smoot and Bryant McKinnie discussed motions to dismiss charges against the players stemming from a cruise on Lake Minnetonka in October. They have been charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct, indecent conduct, and lewd and lascivious behavior. Smoot has been charged with using sex toys, and McKinnie is accused of performing oral sex in front of crew members.
LaVar Arrington is not a Giant yet, but his agents and the team are inching closer and closer to a deal that would bring the former Redskins linebacker to a team that could certainly use a veteran linebacker. A person familiar with the talks indicated a deal could have been consummated Friday night and that the two sides were "closer than ever." Reached Friday night, Carl Poston, one of Arrington's agents, sounded more cautious. "We're getting closer, but there's still some issues that remain," he said. Poston declined to indicate what those issues would be. Talks are expected to resume Saturday.
Scott Smith said he'd have to "wait and see" if a long-term extension could be worked out with the Steelers before Ike Taylor becomes an unrestricted free agent at the conclusion of the 2006 season. "Ike wants to continue to play with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and he'd love to retire with the Pittsburgh Steelers. But, at this point, it's too early to tell," Smith said. "It's a work in progress. Certainly, it's not going to happen over night, but it's something we'll continue to work on over time and try to find that common ground."
Marshall Faulk had an unspecified conflict. Remember, it's unusual for minicamps to be held before the draft. And this is the extra minicamp the Rams get because they have a new head coach. Faulk isn't physically cleared to participate anyway because of offseason surgery on both knees. He probably won't be cleared to practice until the team's third and final minicamp in June.
John Madden is absolutely ecstatic by the prospect of being immortalized in a bronze bust at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. The only hard part is sitting still for the artist. On Friday, the boisterous former Raiders coach-turned-broadcasting legend did sit still, a least awhile, at the Madden family's Pleasanton studio so sculptor Blair Buswell could measure and photograph his face and head. Madden handled it, well, like a pro. "It's a keeper," Madden, a Pleasanton resident, said of being inducted into the Hall of Fame at age 70 -- 28 years after stepping down as the Raiders coach. And he said it's important to do it right. "We only get one shot at this -- the speech, the bust, the presenting experience. It lasts forever," he said, But he squirmed a bit when Buswell -- who has done more than 50 of the more than 225 busts in the Hall of Fame -- said that in their next session Madden will have to sit and pose for perhaps an entire day so Buswell can get the nuances of his facial expressions. "I can't imagine any one of those guys in the Hall of Fame sitting for a day," Madden joked.
49ers VP Scot McCloughan put the odds at "50-50" that center Jeremy Newberry will be able to return to play this season after undergoing micro-fracture surgery to repair his degraded right knee joint. "We're getting good reports from Jeremy, but we're going to have to wait until training camp to see. It's a very serious surgery that took place."
Strong indications were given that Florida State defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley is the player they are targeting with the eighth pick. The Bills desperately need to shore up their run defense. Texas strong safety Michael Huff, whom Levy compared to ex-Bills star Henry Jones, is another player Buffalo is prepared to pounce on.
The Seattle Seahawks have released one starting cornerback (Andre Dyson) and resisted another (Ty Law) to this point in free agency. They’ll try to find one in the NFL draft next week.
The Vikings released a new biography Friday night for personnel director Fran Foley, who acknowledged in an interview that the original version contained four mischaracterizations of his early work history on the collegiate level. In three cases -- at Colgate, the Citadel and Rutgers -- Foley's biography implied that he was a full-time position coach when in fact he was a graduate assistant.
Despite Ray Lewis' public swipes at the Ravens this week, there are no plans to part ways with the seven-time Pro Bowl linebacker, a team official said yesterday. Lewis recently escalated his rift over a new contract when he failed to endorse the return of coach Brian Billick on Wednesday and then complained about the team's defensive scheme and personnel the next day. Asked if the Ravens are considering either trading or releasing Lewis, Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome quickly said, "No."
Jaguars backup quarterback Quinn Gray has witnessed that scene countless times in his football career, but this was no Alltel Stadium practice field during training camp. This was the hallway of a high school, the fight was between two teenage girls, and his job was to break it up and mete out the consequences -- by himself. "I was like, 'What in the world do I do?'" he recalled last week. "That was pretty scary." It also came with the territory during Gray's recent internship here as assistant dean of students at James Rickards High School, an exercise that was the final step toward a long-delayed degree in physical education from Florida A&M. He graduates this month. Gray, 26, left FAMU four years ago needing only an internship to graduate but put it off to pursue a long shot at playing in the NFL as an undrafted free agent.
The Bears signed Carolina cornerback Ricky Manning Jr. to an offer sheet that the Panthers aren't expected to match in their seven-day window to do so. A league source said the five-year deal could be worth up to $21 million if Manning collects on the $6 million tied to incentives for numbers of starts and interceptions. Another source said the first two years contain $7 million in guaranteed money, which should thwart Carolina with its paucity of salary-cap space.
Cornerback Raymond Walls, who was a backup with the Cardinals last year, has signed a one-year deal with the Chargers. Walls was an unrestricted free agent.
There is also a place in the Pats’ scheme for players like Kevin Faulk, which could put diminutive UCLA runner/returner Maurice Drew in their sights.
While the Redskins will look at former George Mason basketball player Jai Lewis in a workout next week and brought in Notre Dame tight end Anthony Fasano for a visit, linebacker is the key. Two players some draft experts believe the Redskins like are Thomas Howard from the University of Texas-El Paso and San Diego State inside linebacker Freddie Keiaho.
After a two-year retirement, Rick Smith has rejoined the Rams as VP of media relations and is setting up his office at Rams Park.
In the past, Rams quarterbacks wore the red "no contact" jerseys. But under Scott Linehan they will wear gold. "I'm an old quarterback," Linehan said. "Red's like 'hands off.' Gold's just 'Hey, it's a quarterback, don't tackle him.' But I just like the color better than putting them in red jerseys."
As expected, Terrence Murphy’s career with the Green Bay Packers has come to an end. The Packers released the second-year receiver on Friday, two days after it became apparent their doctors wouldn’t pass him on a physical exam. That determination came after Murphy underwent a final series of tests on his injured neck. Even if Murphy wants to play in the NFL again, it’s highly unlikely another team would give him medical clearance.
Bears coach Lovie Smith reacted adamantly against the idea Thomas Jones could be traded, but general manager Jerry Angelo did not deny an ESPN Internet report that has linked the veteran running back to the Indianapolis Colts, who are still working to replace Edgerrin James in their high-powered offense. Complicating the matter is that Jones fired agent Tom Condon and signed on with Drew Rosenhaus in the last week, and has stopped reporting for the voluntary offseason program at Halas Hall. A source in Indianapolis said the best package the Bears could get would start with a third-round pick in the draft, the 94th overall selection at the end of the day next Saturday, which would seem to be a small payment for the franchise's first 1,300-yard rusher since Walter Payton.
Cornerback Charles Woodson, remains on the Packers radar, but they are battling the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for his services. Woodson, like LaVar Arrington, is represented by Carl and Kevin Poston.
A week before the NFL Draft, a picture of the Titans' draft room has been painted by at least some outside the building. It looks something like this: the coaches like Southern Cal's Matt Leinart, and the front office, especially General Manager Floyd Reese, likes Texas quarterback Vince Young.
One week before the NFL draft, the Texans intensified negotiations with running back Reggie Bush in an attempt to get the Heisman Trophy winner from Southern California signed in time to make him the first overall pick. Although no one in the organization will admit it publicly, owner Bob McNair prefers the top pick to be signed by the time commissioner Paul Tagliabue announces the Texans' selection at 11 a.m. on April 29.
The 49ers likely won't try to move up in next week's draft by packaging their two first-round picks in a trade with one of the five teams in front of them. While coach Mike Nolan wouldn't rule out such a move, he said Friday that the 49ers were leaning toward using their sixth and 22nd overall selections in hopes of acquiring two players who can start from Day 1. The 49ers acquired their second first-round pick earlier this week from Denver in exchange for second- and third-round selections. "This trade is more about getting starters and guys that can come in and be impact players than it does creating a whole lot of depth," Nolan said.
Bears general manager Jerry Angelo said Friday he planned to resume negotiations with agent Drew Rosenhaus on a long-term extension for linebacker Lance Briggs. Rosenhaus spent two days in negotiations at Halas Hall last week, leading to optimism a deal could get done. Talks broke off when Rosenhaus sought a deal that would exceed Brian Urlacher's nine-year, $56.65 million deal.
DeAngelo Williams. Laurence Maroney. LenDale White. All should be there when the Pats go on the clock at No. 21 in the first round of the NFL draft, which opens April 29. Bill Belichick hasn’t drafted a player with a marquee name at the position since taking over the Patriots in 2000. Could this be the year? History says no. Defense usually comes first for Belichick early in the draft, and he hasn’t drafted a back higher than the 76th selection, the slot at which J.R. Redmond was taken in the third round in 2000.
Jets rookie GM Mike Tannenbaum didn't seem too sure about was the status of Chad Pennington, he of the twice-surgically repaired throwing shoulder. Tannenbaum, commenting on the quarterback's condition for the first time in a month, provided only a vague update, hinting that Pennington won't be at full throwing strength for the first veterans' minicamp. That's not until mid-June. By then, he will be eight months removed from surgery. A year ago, Pennington was throwing on a full-time basis six months after his first operation. "I'm not sure how much he'll do right now," Tannenbaum said. "Ultimately, that will be something that will have to be worked out between the training staff and Eric (Mangini), with reps and things like that." Asked if the best-case scenario for Pennington is limited participation in minicamp, Tannenbaum said, "I wouldn't feel comfortable characterizing exactly what he'll be doing."
At a pretrial hearing Friday, attorneys for Minnesota Vikings Fred Smoot and Bryant McKinnie discussed motions to dismiss charges against the players stemming from a cruise on Lake Minnetonka in October. They have been charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct, indecent conduct, and lewd and lascivious behavior. Smoot has been charged with using sex toys, and McKinnie is accused of performing oral sex in front of crew members.
LaVar Arrington is not a Giant yet, but his agents and the team are inching closer and closer to a deal that would bring the former Redskins linebacker to a team that could certainly use a veteran linebacker. A person familiar with the talks indicated a deal could have been consummated Friday night and that the two sides were "closer than ever." Reached Friday night, Carl Poston, one of Arrington's agents, sounded more cautious. "We're getting closer, but there's still some issues that remain," he said. Poston declined to indicate what those issues would be. Talks are expected to resume Saturday.
Scott Smith said he'd have to "wait and see" if a long-term extension could be worked out with the Steelers before Ike Taylor becomes an unrestricted free agent at the conclusion of the 2006 season. "Ike wants to continue to play with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and he'd love to retire with the Pittsburgh Steelers. But, at this point, it's too early to tell," Smith said. "It's a work in progress. Certainly, it's not going to happen over night, but it's something we'll continue to work on over time and try to find that common ground."
Marshall Faulk had an unspecified conflict. Remember, it's unusual for minicamps to be held before the draft. And this is the extra minicamp the Rams get because they have a new head coach. Faulk isn't physically cleared to participate anyway because of offseason surgery on both knees. He probably won't be cleared to practice until the team's third and final minicamp in June.
John Madden is absolutely ecstatic by the prospect of being immortalized in a bronze bust at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. The only hard part is sitting still for the artist. On Friday, the boisterous former Raiders coach-turned-broadcasting legend did sit still, a least awhile, at the Madden family's Pleasanton studio so sculptor Blair Buswell could measure and photograph his face and head. Madden handled it, well, like a pro. "It's a keeper," Madden, a Pleasanton resident, said of being inducted into the Hall of Fame at age 70 -- 28 years after stepping down as the Raiders coach. And he said it's important to do it right. "We only get one shot at this -- the speech, the bust, the presenting experience. It lasts forever," he said, But he squirmed a bit when Buswell -- who has done more than 50 of the more than 225 busts in the Hall of Fame -- said that in their next session Madden will have to sit and pose for perhaps an entire day so Buswell can get the nuances of his facial expressions. "I can't imagine any one of those guys in the Hall of Fame sitting for a day," Madden joked.
49ers VP Scot McCloughan put the odds at "50-50" that center Jeremy Newberry will be able to return to play this season after undergoing micro-fracture surgery to repair his degraded right knee joint. "We're getting good reports from Jeremy, but we're going to have to wait until training camp to see. It's a very serious surgery that took place."
Strong indications were given that Florida State defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley is the player they are targeting with the eighth pick. The Bills desperately need to shore up their run defense. Texas strong safety Michael Huff, whom Levy compared to ex-Bills star Henry Jones, is another player Buffalo is prepared to pounce on.
The Seattle Seahawks have released one starting cornerback (Andre Dyson) and resisted another (Ty Law) to this point in free agency. They’ll try to find one in the NFL draft next week.
The Vikings released a new biography Friday night for personnel director Fran Foley, who acknowledged in an interview that the original version contained four mischaracterizations of his early work history on the collegiate level. In three cases -- at Colgate, the Citadel and Rutgers -- Foley's biography implied that he was a full-time position coach when in fact he was a graduate assistant.
Despite Ray Lewis' public swipes at the Ravens this week, there are no plans to part ways with the seven-time Pro Bowl linebacker, a team official said yesterday. Lewis recently escalated his rift over a new contract when he failed to endorse the return of coach Brian Billick on Wednesday and then complained about the team's defensive scheme and personnel the next day. Asked if the Ravens are considering either trading or releasing Lewis, Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome quickly said, "No."
Jaguars backup quarterback Quinn Gray has witnessed that scene countless times in his football career, but this was no Alltel Stadium practice field during training camp. This was the hallway of a high school, the fight was between two teenage girls, and his job was to break it up and mete out the consequences -- by himself. "I was like, 'What in the world do I do?'" he recalled last week. "That was pretty scary." It also came with the territory during Gray's recent internship here as assistant dean of students at James Rickards High School, an exercise that was the final step toward a long-delayed degree in physical education from Florida A&M. He graduates this month. Gray, 26, left FAMU four years ago needing only an internship to graduate but put it off to pursue a long shot at playing in the NFL as an undrafted free agent.
The Bears signed Carolina cornerback Ricky Manning Jr. to an offer sheet that the Panthers aren't expected to match in their seven-day window to do so. A league source said the five-year deal could be worth up to $21 million if Manning collects on the $6 million tied to incentives for numbers of starts and interceptions. Another source said the first two years contain $7 million in guaranteed money, which should thwart Carolina with its paucity of salary-cap space.
Cornerback Raymond Walls, who was a backup with the Cardinals last year, has signed a one-year deal with the Chargers. Walls was an unrestricted free agent.
There is also a place in the Pats’ scheme for players like Kevin Faulk, which could put diminutive UCLA runner/returner Maurice Drew in their sights.
While the Redskins will look at former George Mason basketball player Jai Lewis in a workout next week and brought in Notre Dame tight end Anthony Fasano for a visit, linebacker is the key. Two players some draft experts believe the Redskins like are Thomas Howard from the University of Texas-El Paso and San Diego State inside linebacker Freddie Keiaho.
After a two-year retirement, Rick Smith has rejoined the Rams as VP of media relations and is setting up his office at Rams Park.
In the past, Rams quarterbacks wore the red "no contact" jerseys. But under Scott Linehan they will wear gold. "I'm an old quarterback," Linehan said. "Red's like 'hands off.' Gold's just 'Hey, it's a quarterback, don't tackle him.' But I just like the color better than putting them in red jerseys."
As expected, Terrence Murphy’s career with the Green Bay Packers has come to an end. The Packers released the second-year receiver on Friday, two days after it became apparent their doctors wouldn’t pass him on a physical exam. That determination came after Murphy underwent a final series of tests on his injured neck. Even if Murphy wants to play in the NFL again, it’s highly unlikely another team would give him medical clearance.