NFL Report Friday

[HEAV]

Acknowledging their concerns about Fred Taylor's availability this season, the Jaguars are close to completing a long-discussed trade for Buffalo Bills running back Travis Henry. Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio said Thursday in a statement released by the team that a deal for Henry, a Pro Bowl selection in 2003, could be completed "in the next few days or week." The Jaguars are pursuing Henry, who at 26 is nearly three years younger than Taylor, despite what Del Rio described as an encouraging workout by Taylor earlier this week. Neither the Bills nor the Jaguars would comment Thursday on possible compensation for Henry, although a Buffalo radio station reported it could be a third-round pick that improves to a second-round choice if Henry reaches certain statistical benchmarks. Tennessee and Seattle are still in contention, but Henry's agent said Thursday that he is further along with the Jaguars on an extension than with any other team.




Free-agent linebacker Peter Boulware did not impress the Browns enough in his workout Thursday to warrant an immediate contract offer. "We're still interested and will evaluate it next week with the coaches, but there's nothing imminent," General Manager Phil Savage said through a team spokesman. Boulware's workout in Tallahassee, Fla., was attended by the Browns, Seattle, Houston and Pittsburgh. Savage, the highest-ranking club executive in attendance, was joined by Browns linebacker coach Mike Haluchak.


Contract talks between the Jets and three-time Pro Bowl DE John Abraham can officially resume today as the blackout for negotiations between franchise players and their teams is lifted. The club has placed the franchise tag on Abraham ($6.67 million) but he wants a long-term deal and didn't take part in the team's off-season condition program. Abraham, who spent the off-season working with a personal trainer, may not report to training camp on time. The Jets are balking at giving Abraham a long-term deal because of his injury history. Last season, he missed the final four games of the regular season and two playoff games after suffering a torn lateral collateral ligament in his left knee.

[HEAV]

The NFL is considering taking its annual college draft on the road in 2006 or 2007, and San Diego is one of nine cities that have expressed interest in hosting the popular two-day event. The past 40 drafts were held in New York, but limited fan seating in the Javits Convention Center and a public spat with the parent company of Madison Square Garden led league officials to inquire whether other NFL cities would be interested in hosting the draft.


The Jets are also interested in pursuing ex-Patriots cornerback Ty Law but have been reluctant because of his asking price, according to someone with the knowledge of the Jets' thinking. That asking price is reportedly $7 million a season.


The Steelers were one of four NFL teams attending a personal workout of former Ravens linebacker Peter Boulware on Thursday morning in Tallahassee, Fla. Boulware, a Pro Bowl selection in four of his seven active NFL seasons, was released by the Baltimore Ravens on May 11 after spending the 2004 season on the physically unable to perform list. The Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans and Seattle Seahawks were also represented at the Boulware audition at Florida State University, Boulware's alma mater.


With the Cowboys scheduled to fly to Oxnard, Calif., for training camp on July 28, the team is in the beginning stages of signing its eight draft picks. The Cowboys, who have a $4.9 million rookie pool, have two first-round picks in Demarcus Ware and Marcus Spears. "I'd actually say, that even though we have two No. 1s to sign, the fact is they're not in the top 10 like they have been in the past with Roy [Williams] and Terence [Newman]," Stephen Jones said. "As you go down the line there pretty quickly, the contracts aren't near as complicated and sophisticated from our experience as if you were in the top 10."


Team insiders are quietly predicting this is the season third-year linebacker Chaun Thompson establishes himself as an above-average NFL linebacker. Thompson is certainly focused: While he and other Browns are squeezing in their final vacation time before training camp, he's still going through punishing workouts each day.

[HEAV]

One day after the fallout over Adam “Pacman” Jones’ arrest on two misdemeanor assault and a felony vandalism charges, the Tennessee Titans first-round pick’s camp was taking a wait-and-see attitude regarding potential consequences. Agent Michael Huyghue, who said he has spoken several times with general manager Floyd Reese and the Titans organization regarding the situation, asks that the organization and the general public not rush to judgment in the matter.


The Dolphins got a defensive tackle with potential that they badly need -- and a slightly added bonus. Manuel Wright has a chip on his shoulder now. The Dolphins selected Wright with a fifth-round pick in the NFL supplemental draft Thursday, forfeiting a corresponding pick in the 2006 draft in the process. But that was a relatively cheap price to pay for a talented player and was far lower than Wright expected to be taken. ''Basically, I just wanted to get in the league, but this adds a little something to it,'' Wright said from Compton, Calif. Wright, the only player chosen in the draft, had expected to be taken in the second or third round. He declared for the supplemental draft after being ruled academically ineligible at Southern California, where he played two years. ''I've been proving people wrong for a long time and I will again, all those people who don't think I'm going to make it,'' he said.


John Elway, appearing on the "The Best Damn Sports Show Period," asked if Alex Smith, the No. 1 draft pick selected by the 49ers, should play right away: "In my career, I was glad I was thrown to the wolves. But I probably walked onto a better team in Denver than Alex has in San Francisco...In the long run, it made me a much better football player."


Steelers RB Jerome Bettis says he "would love" to move into broadcasting once his playing days are over.


Excluding upcoming signing bonuses for top draft picks Troy Williamson and Erasmus James, the Vikings are committed to $79.4 million in real money (not salary-cap trickery) for the coming season and still have the wherewithal if a player they want becomes available.

[Mediator12]

Nothing on CB Pete Hunter getting traded to the Jets? He is one guy I wish Denver would have tried to make a conditional Draft pick for to get some veteran depth. I would have made the deal in a heartbeat if he has recovered from his ACL.

[MT-Tdawg]

Originally Posted by HEAV

The Jets are also interested in pursuing ex-Patriots cornerback Ty Law but have been reluctant because of his asking price, according to someone with the knowledge of the Jets' thinking. That asking price is reportedly $7 million a season.

If this is true, and the KC signs Law news is true, I wonder how much they paid for him? If he was asking 7mil there is no freakin way they got him for 1 mil.

[Bob's your Information Minister]

I don't think ANYONE is going to pay Law 7 million. The Chiefs have around 4 million in cap room, reportedly.