New Cowboys coach Wade Phillips has returned former first-round pick Bobby Carpenter to inside linebacker, his position at Ohio State. There is no question that the rookie Carpenter struggled as an outside pass rusher last season.
“It's tough because Bill (Parcells) doesn't always communicate everything really well,” Carpenter said. “It was tough for me trying to get a feel for what was going on and what they expected out of me and what their goals were for me to be out on the field. They have done a good job this year of communicating what they want and what I need to do to get better.”
Phillips said he moved Carpenter to inside linebacker in his 3-4 scheme because he’s athletic and because he can run. Some believe the new defense is more flexible for a young player like Carpenter.
“Last year was a little difficult," Carpenter said. “But with this defense, it allows you to run and make more plays. It's not near the structure of how you have to play within the scheme. You get to let your athletic ability take over.”
Super Bowl redux
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones only beat Indianapolis by a vote of 17-15 in last week’s 2011 Super Bowl vote, and the tightness is a strong indicator of the divide between the big-market and small-market owners. Jones won because his new stadium will be able to have 30,000 more fans attend the championship game, whereas Indianapolis wowed many owners with a $25 million pot to alleviate any NFL expenses for the game.
There was a time, long, long ago when the Super Bowl went to the best city and venue. But when the late Pete Rozelle was commissioner, many cities began to include financial perks to the league to land the all-important game. I can remember writing in the mid-1980s the “selling of the Super Bowl” when Miami out-spent San Diego for the rights to XXIII, and Rozelle pulled me aside to explain the financial situation. The cities started by bidding a couple million dollars 20 years ago to now where Indy was prepared to spend $25 million simply to buy the NFL’s most-prestigious event.
It shows how valuable the game is to any city. And, also, how valuable the Super Bowl is to the NFL.
Hester looks great
The experiment never worked at the U. of Miami, but Chicago’s super return man, Devin Hester, looked like a natural at receiver in recent mini-camp work. The first two days of camp, he didn’t drop a pass. He ran solid, crisp routes and, basically, had his teammates and coaches raving about him.
Give head coach Lovie Smith high marks for convincing Hester to junk cornerback for being a wide receiver.
“It was more exciting than I really thought it would be,” Hester said. “Whenever a player gets his hands on the ball and knows what he can do with it, it's a lot of fun.”
After the catch, Hester routinely made players miss. The new dimension should be great for Rex Grossman and also alleviate the frustration that Hester, who returned six kicks for touchdowns last season, will face when punters and kickers kick away from during the season. The Bears needed to find a way for Hester to get more touches.
On kickoffs, Hester will be paired with safety Danieal Manning, former college kickoff specialist, in hopes they can form a 1-2 punch. He will still wear No. 23 and be listed as a running back/receiver.
Reggie helps again
Saints running back Reggie Bush matched his original $50,000 to Holy Rosary High School last year, which helped keep the school for learning-challenged youth open. Bush presented the New Orleans’ school with his second $50,000 gift last Friday.
“After last year, they did such a great job, and what they do is so important,” Bush said. “This is a school that needs to stay open.”
Holy Rosary serves the needs of students who face learning challenges in a typical classroom environment. The school offers hands-on learning and cross-curricula that is designed to provide students with alternative ways to learn mainstream subjects in a smaller classroom setting.
Although the Bucs keep insisting that quarterback Chris Simms probably ruptured his spleen in the second half, most NFL observers believe Simms was injured in the first quarter when sandwiched by the Panthers’ defensive tackle Kris Jenkins and linebacker Thomas Davis.
Simms, who had his spleen removed Sunday night, hasn’t said when he thought he was injured. The Bucs have been making a case against the Panthers’ Al Wallace, who has been upset over the accusation that his fourth-quarter tackle caused the injury. The NFL has fined Wallace $7,500 after revealing that he should have been penalized for roughing the passer on the play in question.
Panthers GM Marty Hurney said that his team left Tampa without knowing the severity of the injury.
“The only thing I know,” Hurney said, “is that no one will ever again accuse Simms of not being tough. That was a courageous performance against us. You could tell how much he was hurting.”
Wallace thought he sacked Simms on the bootleg pass. “He had fooled me earlier on that play, but this time I read it right,” Wallace said. “I thought I sacked him until I heard the crowd noise.” Simms completed a pass to Mike Alstott on the play.
Jenkins said that Simms started holding his side after his first quarter tackle.
“I don’t know if that was the play or not,” Jenkins said. “I just know he started holding his side a lot in the first quarter. To score a touchdown like he did and play almost the entire game, well, that shows a lot of guts on his part especially if he got hurt early in the game."
The Bucs sound like they are going to become the 11th NFL team to have only two healthy quarterbacks on their 53-man roster. Rookie Bruce Gradkowski will get his first start next week in New Orleans and the team expects Luke McNown (torn ACL last spring) to be activated from the physically unable to perform list on Oct. 17. Tim Rattay is the backup. The Bucs have a bye this week and haven’t placed Simms on injured-reserve. They have only two games (Saints and Bengals) before McCown returns.
The bigger question in Tampa is whether or not the team will offer Simms a long-term contract or if he’s possibly played his last game for the Bucs. If Tampa Bay continues to lose and slip out of playoff contention, why would Simms even consider playing in December when he’s possibly cleared to play again?
Home, sweet home
When he was a teenager, Jacksonville quarterback Byron Leftwich used to sneak into old RFK Stadium to watch the Redskins. This Sunday’s game in Washington will be Leftwich’s first in his hometown.
“I knew the man who took tickets at one of the gates,” Leftwich said this week. “He told me that if I ran past him, there was no way he could catch me. And so I ran.”
Leftwich is mindful that he’s going against Mark Brunell, who is still a favorite with some fans in Jacksonville. It was Leftwich’s arrival and club’s unwillingness to assume a huge Brunell contract that led to him landing in Washington.
“I know if I lose this game,” Leftwich said, “those Brunell fans will let me hear it.”
Getting ugly
The situation in Tennessee is getting somewhat ugly for respected head coach Jeff Fisher. There is now a FireCoachFisher.com site where you can visit and purchase a T-shirt asking owner Bud Adams to do exactly that.
The Titans are off to an 0-3 start and rookie Vince Young is probably a few games away from starting. Adams, to his credit, installed chief operating officer Steve Underwood in Nashville, to serve as a middle man between Fisher and GM Floyd Reese. Many believe that Underwood has Fisher’s back on most issues.
Reese is in the final year of his contract and the speculation persists that despite a potentially horrible final record on the field this season that Fisher will return and Reese will not.
'GM didn't want me'
Saints quarterback Drew Brees finally said this week that the only reason he’s not playing in San Diego this season is because Chargers GM A.J. Smith didn’t want him.
“He’s the guy who drafted Phillip (Rivers) and my shoulder injury gave him the excuse to play Phillip this season,” Brees said. “I think Marty Schottenheimer and a lot of players wanted me to stay there, but the general manager didn’t want that.”
Brees said he’s happy to be in New Orleans, but had once figured that he would finish his career in San Diego.
Warner's future in doubt
The good news in Arizona is that Brenda Warner hasn’t made any phone calls to the local radio talk shows. But there’s no question that her husband, Kurt, is dangling in the wind.
Only in the NFL can a quarterback go from being Player of the Week (Warner was after a victory over San Francisco) to being booed by the home crowd after a costly fourth-quarter fumble cost the Cardinals an opportunity to beat his old team, the Rams, last Sunday.
Warner will start Sunday in Atlanta against the Falcons. He’s 6-0 vs. Atlanta.
But it seems certain that head coach Denny Green will start rookie Matt Leinart next week against Kansas City if Warner continues his turnover streak (six in the last two games) against the Falcons.
Happy Hasselbeck
There is no doubt that Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck loves his new four-receiver formation. After using it 10 times in the first two games, coach Mike Holmgren used it 24 times last Sunday against the Giants.
“Most of the places I look with that formation, we have mismatches,” Hasselbeck said. “Sometimes it’s in two or more spots and that makes my job that much easier.
The key Sunday night in Chicago will be whether or not the Bears can rattle Hasselbeck before he finds an open receiver.
Points about penalties
Well, there were 78 false start penalties called last weekend and for the season the total count is 171, by far and away the league’s No. 1 penalty. Offensive holding is a distant second at 116. Mike Carey’s crew has called the most penalties after three weeks, 20.7 penalties per game. The fewest? Walt Coleman’s crew has called only nine penalties per game followed closely by Ron Winter’s crew at 9.7. They are the only crews under double digits.
One of the worst teams I saw this summer was the New Orleans Saints. Personnel people around the league concurred with me.
Now, that the Saints are 3-0 and heading toward a showdown game with the Carolina Panthers this Sunday, there are two theories: 1.) preseason games definitely don't reveal a team's true identity or 2.) new head coach Sean Payton and his defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs have this team playing well above their heads.
Granted, the Saints played with enormous emotion Monday night in the franchise's return to the Superdome, but they also stuffed the potent Atlanta rushing game and Drew Brees directed a wide-open offense.
Payton has done a masterful job with Reggie Bush, who may not have huge numbers but truly scares defensive coordinators. The Falcons made an effort to account for Bush and in the process it opened up other areas on the field for Deuce McAlister and rookie receiver Marques Colston. In August, the Saints' offensive line looked like it had major holes, but that hasn't been the case with Payton's aggressive play-calling.
Give Payton another huge pat on the back for realizing early in training camp that Colston, a mere seventh-rounder from Hofstra, might be a big-time receiver. Payton's confidence in Colston (15 catches for 204 yards) allowed the Saints to trade away Donte Stallworth to the Eagles.
Anybody notice that Stallworth is injured again?
Some truth to Shockey
It had been written for a week or more that Seattle head coach Mike Holmgren was seriously considering a lot of four-wide receiver formations prior to the New York game because he had to get newcomer Deion Branch on the field. Holmgren even admitted to possibly using the formation at least 10 times a game.
Well, the New York Giants apparently can't read.
They looked totally unprepared to deal with the four-wide look on Sunday as Holmgren used it extensively, helping Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck to a career day. Hasselbeck threw four of his five touchdown passes in the first half as Seattle built a 35-3 lead. In most cases, receivers were wide open. There wasn't a Giant within 10 yards of tight end Will Heller when he caught his fourth career touchdown.
The formation prevented the Giants' pass rushers from getting to Hasselbeck because with a receiver always open, Hasselbeck was getting rid of the ball before anyone got near him. It was a frustrating day for players like Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora.
Ponder these numbers
- Everything you hear out of Detroit is that the Lions finally have the right head coach in Rod Marinelli. And still the Lions are off to a 0-3 start and GM Matt Millen is now 21-62.
- Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger doesn't have a quarterback rating over 31.0 in his last three starts, which includes the Super Bowl. The "great" Hines Ward has nine catches for 99 yards. Where are the big plays?
- The Raiders are in their must-win mode this week. But just remember they lost to the Browns last season at home on three Phil Dawson field goals, 9-7.
- Minnesota's offense has gone 10 quarters now without a touchdown.
Good move
Packers head coach Mike McCarthy opted for a lot more shotgun formations last Sunday in order to give Brett Favre time to see downfield. With young offensive linemen learning a new zone-blocking system, it made a lot of sense and Favre delivered with three touchdown (402 in his career) passes. McCarthy figures to do more of the same because Green Bay will be in a lot of high-scoring games this season.
Wait a week on Leinart
Arizona coach Denny Green is leaning towards starting rookie Matt Leinart over Kurt Warner this Sunday in Atlanta. But wouldn't it be better, considering the Georgia Dome might be pretty hostile this weekend, to wait a week and allow Leinart to get his first start at home against the Kansas City Chiefs?
Of the rookie quarterbacks, Leinart was always considered the one most ready to play this season. Mentally, he knows the playbook. He possesses big-game poise, too. But there's nothing wrong in waiting because Green really doesn't want him to fail and there's really no sense in turning back to Warner once the coach makes the switch.
Eagles safety Matt Ware had the most claims: by Atlanta, Cincinnati and his assigned team, Arizona.
The Jets put a claim in for failed first-round pick Michael Haynes, a defensive end cut by the Bears, who was assigned to the Saints.
The Saints were assigned five players off claims, including two Cowboys, offensive tackle Rob Petitti and special teams/receiver Terrance Copper. They also got Giants cornerback Curtis Deloatch and Rams defensive back Dejuan Groce.
The Miami Dolphins were the only team to claim Browns running back Lee Suggs and no team put a claim for ex-Packer running Najeh Davenport.
The Steelers claimed Detroit running back Artose Pinner, but lost out on him to Minnesota, the priority team based on last season’s record.
The Packers put safety Michael Hawkins on their injured reserve list after waiving him.
The Saints placed quarterback Adrian McPherson on their injured reserve list after waiving him. McPherson, remember, was injured by the Titans mascot T-Rac, who ran into him on the sidelines with his golf cart.
Those close to the Cowboys can’t remember owner Jerry Jones being this visibly upset as he was over the leak of the Terrell Owens’ fine. Jones has a great relationship with the local and national media, but he sure was mad about the Dallas Morning News’ story that the club fined T.O. for being late for a meeting and his rehab work. Most of his employees are shaking in their sneakers about talking to the media now.
The Owens saga simply won’t die. He’s missed 21 practice days now with a sore hamstring and he will miss the entire preseason. The next important story will occur next week. Will he practice? If he practices, I’m sure coach Bill Parcells will play him in the season opener in Jacksonville.
But if he doesn’t practice, there’s a very good chance Parcells won’t play him even if Owens says he’s fit to go. Jones went on record last weekend that he thought Owens could play even he didn’t practice.
My considerable gut says that Parcells might simply be reluctant to play Owens for fear of further damaging the hamstring. Every player wants to be close to 100 percent on Sundays. We all know that Owens will be trying to make a statement if he plays and by exerting a lot of effort, he could damage the hamstring. I mean, who sees Owens simply not trying hard against the Jaguars?
If Parcells had a history with Owens, he would be more apt to play him without practicing him. But what coach takes a risk with such a star player without really knowing his physical limits?
Nice move by Eagles
The salaries are a wash, the numbers virtually identical, and that’s why the Eagles acquisition of Saints receiver Donte Stallworth in exchange for undersized linebacker Mark Simoneau was a good move.
Should Philadelphia be able to sign Stallworth to a long-term contract, the Eagles will owe the Saints a third-round pick next season. It’s a solid deal for both teams, considering the Eagles can find out if they really like Stallworth and how he fits into their offense. If he doesn’t, they can move on and so can the former first-round pick.
However, the most important part of the deal is that Stallworth comes a whole lot cheaper than spending a first-round pick on holdout Deion Branch, who also wants more than $6 million a season.
Browns draft success
Heading into the final preseason games, the Cleveland Browns appear to have had a quality draft this season. Most scouts are talking about second-round linebacker D’Qwell Jackson, who definitely will be a starter.
But how about running back Jerome Harrison, a fifth-rounder from Washington State? Harrison has scored two touchdowns and has averaged 7.1 yards per touch in three games. He should be the backup to starter Reuben Droughns.
Good calls
So far so good.
Mike Pereira, the NFL’s director of officiating, wanted his crews to focus on reducing the number of false start penalties this season. Last season, a record 852 false starts were called or an average of 3.33 per game. After 49 preseason games, the average has dropped to 2.65 false starts per game. Offensive holding is also down this preseason to 2.96 penalties per game compared to 3.44 calls per game during the 2005 regular season.
There are two new referees this season. After three games, Gene Steratore’s crew has called the most penalties (60) and Jerome Boger’s crew ranks fifth overall with 42 penalties.
Grossman not that bad
I realize it isn’t a big mathematical sampling, but three scouts who have attended Chicago games this summer have told me that quarterback Rex Grossman hasn’t played that badly. Or, at least, not as poor as the Chicago writers are reporting.
It apparently is unanimous among the Chicago columnists that Brian Griese should be the starting quarterback in the season opener against the Green Bay Packers.
Raiders get George
The Raiders are unbeaten in the preseason, but they have played two of the weakest teams in the league this summer in San Francisco and Detroit.
With the signing of Jeff George, the Raiders may be forced to release quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo, who has struggled adjusting to having four different offensive coordinators in six seasons. At one time, Tuiasisopo was a favorite of Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden, but don’t expect Tampa Bay to be interested this time around.
The last time George played in a regular-season game was with the Washington Redskins. Then head coach Marty Schottenheimer had seen enough of George, who was a player signed and liked by owner Dan Snyder.
The Redskins lost those two games by a combined score of 67-3. Schottenheimer turned to Tony Banks and finished the season 8-8 after starting 0-5. It was one of his best coaching seasons. Of course, George has a history in Oakland — he led the NFL with 3,917 passing yards in 1997.
He also threw a few touchdowns to Randy Moss when the two were employed in Minnesota in 1999. The signing, though, probably says that backup Andrew Walter is a no-go (sore shoulder) in Thursday night’s preseason game in Seattle.
Reggie Bush proved a couple things in his NFL preseason. One, he should have been drafted No. 1 overall. Two, he looked like a pretty physical player while lowering his shoulder into Titans cornerback Pacman Jones; and three, he definitely will be fined by the NFL office, who warned him not to wear his signature gold-toed adidas cleats.
"He doesn't like to tape his shoes," said Mike Ornstein, Bush's marketing guru.
Yes, Bush was supposed to cover the gold with black tape. Oh, well, what's a $5,000 or $10,000 fine to a young millionaire?
Bush, according to Ornstein, already has the best shoe deal and the best autograph deal in the NFL. His product endorsements' income is approaching $5 million for this season and he hasn't played in a regular-season game yet.
"I have never seen anything like it," Ornstein said Saturday night in Nashville. "I think his football jersey in close to being in the top five." Prior to his Monday night football debut Bush will be coming out with a 6-1-9 cologne, those famous San Diego area code numbers he wore in eye black while at USC.
The 6-1-9 is banned, of course, in the NFL.
Bush has committed a percentage of proceeds to several relief themes in hurricane-ravaged New Orleans, beginning with a $50,000 donation to Holy Rosary School, a school for children with special needs. He is now working toward, with the help of the NFL and the Saints, installing a Field-turf field for the 2007 high school season. Most of the top New Orleans high schools use the same stadium, meaning there could be six to seven games a weekend there.
On his second carry of the preseason game against the Titans, Bush reversed his field, running left to right for 44 yards.
"I was a little disappointed I didn't score," Bush said. "I'd like to see a tape of that. As a team, we still have a lot of work to do if we are going to be a Super Bowl-contending team."
Take mascot's license away
New Saints quarterback Drew Brees said that the league (or somebody) has to do something about Tennessee's mascot, T-Rac, driving the sidelines in a scaled-down motorcycle with bucket seat at LP Field in Nashville.
Prior to the start of the second half, T-Rac ran into Adrian McPherson, the Saints' third-team quarterback who was scheduled to play. The Saints said that McPherson suffered a bruised leg, but that he is expected to practice this week.
"That's an issue," Brees said. "They definitely should do something about that. I mean, to get hit by a golf cart on the field by the mascot. I can't think of anything dumber than that."
Saints coach Sean Payton added: "You have to play an opponent, but to have to worry about the team's mascot. Those things are bothersome.
On a positive note, Brees said his surgically repaired throwing shoulder felt great. "I didn't think about it at all," he said.
Calling it a career?
With linebacker Junior Seau unable to find employment at age 37, look for the future Hall of Famer to announce his retirement as a San Diego Charger this week.
Holding their breath
There was a scary moment for Tennessee's rookie quarterback Vince Young in the second half when he sprained his left ankle. However, the tackle by newly signed New Orleans defensive end Javon Nanton looked initially like it may have caused a knee injury. Young did look very effective running around, but that close call should temper some of that impromptu scrambling.
Looking a little lost
Seattle's backup quarterback Seneca Wallace was sacked four times by the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday. Does anyone think that the Seahawks have spent so much time using Wallace as a receiver that maybe he's become lost as a quarterback?
Before leaving the Falcons’ $11 million condo facility at the team’s top-flight Flowery Branch facility Wednesday night, I bumped into former NBA star Magic Johnson. He was checking into the guest suite next door to owner Arthur Blank’s room.
Johnson loves football despite the fact that his pro hometown, Los Angeles, is without the NFL. The former Laker has become a big USC fan.
“Every year I’ve been bringing in motivational guys to speak and meet with the players,” Falcons GM Rich McKay said. “I think it’s great for someone like Mike Vick to spend some time with Magic, who has experienced so much as a celebrity, as a star, and try to relate it to his own life.”
At the end of the evening practice, Falcons coach Jim Mora invited Michael Wallin, 35, to run into the team huddle. Wallin has been a regular at most practices at training camp.
“He screams out every players’ stats and seems to know something about everybody. He’s been a hoot,” said Falcons defensive end Patrick Kerney. “I’m sure there a 100 guys like him at the Cowboys’ practices. He’s been yelling for two weeks now.”
Why I like the NFC South
There is a debate in the NFC right now on which division is the strongest overall and my vote goes to the NFC South despite the defensive shortcomings of the New Orleans Saints. Reggie Bush, Drew Brees and the return of Deuce McAllister should at least make the Saints very exciting on offense.
“I know our division is tough, but I understand the hype over the (NFC East),” said Carolina head coach John Fox, whose previous job was as defensive coordinator of the New York Giants. “It’s hard to compare. They have the big markets and Dallas has T.O. But we’re going to find out this season who is the best because we all play the East during the regular season.”
The Panthers have critical home games against the Cowboys and the Giants, a team they whipped in the playoffs last season. The Giants, remember, are the defending East champions.
“I think it’s difficult for anybody to say right now who is really the best,” Falcons head coach Jim Mora.
Just consider this: the top three teams in the South all have elite pass-rushers with the addition of ex-New York Jet John Abraham with the Falcons. The Panthers have the game’s resident athletic freak, Julius Peppers, and the Bucs have Simeon Rice.
The way the schedule breaks this season, the South also plays the AFC North, meaning the Steelers and Bengals, plus the improving Ravens, are on every team’s schedule.
“Whoever wins our division will be battle-tested and ready for the playoffs,” Fox said. “Our division and the East, because we all play each other, might have a tough time having two 11-win teams like we did last season.”
And if the East and South beat each other up, Fox realizes that if the Seahawks and Bears are as good as they were last season, they both will have a better shot at gaining home-field advantage for the NFC championship game.
Bears have interest in Lelie
No team seems interested in the Raiders’ Jerry Porter while the Bears still seem to be fishing around Denver receiver Ashley Lelie.
The Broncos want a high pick, first or second-rounder for Lelie, while the Bears have offered a fourth-round pick. The inclusion of defensive end Michael Haynes, the Bears’ No. 1 pick in 2003, shouldn’t be that tempting to the Broncos because of his bad back and his lack of production in Chicago.
The Falcons aren’t interested in either player despite the loss of receiver Brian Finneran for the season.
Mora said on Wednesday that he’s considering using cornerback DeAngelo Hall as a receiver.
“Depending on the flow o####ame, say there are a bunch of three-and-outs for our defense, we might be able to get him eight to nine offensive plays a game,” Mora said. “It’s not that DeAngelo is asking for this. I simply believe he can do so many special things when he has the football. And using him as a receiver, you can control more of what he’s going to do as opposed as to using him as a punt returner. A lot of bad things can happen on punts.”
However, if Hall is needed a lot on defense, he many never see the field on offense.
Making Mora laugh
One of the first things I told Jim Mora today was that I know one general manager who would select Michael Vick over Peyton Manning if he had to choose between those two quarterbacks.
Mora laughed when told the GM’s name.
“No question Michael is very special, and he’s having a very good camp so far, but he will only be a footnote as a quarterback if he doesn’t win a Super Bowl,” Mora said.
In my book, the same could be said of Manning if he never wins a title. Then again, many clubs believe the Colts have the league’s best overall talent and are geared to win this year’s Super Bowl.
Apologies to Thompson
My apologies to Green Bay GM Ted Thompson who insists that the Rams never called inquiring about trading backup quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and that the Packers would never be interested in the Harvard passer.
Another thought on Green Bay ... the tension that pervaded the building when Mike Sherman was the head coach is gone. The little people, the secretaries, those in the Pro Shop, enjoy the new working atmosphere under Thompson and new head coach Mike McCarthy. This is a bigger deal in Green Bay because it is such a small city.
“It was never a good working relationship between Ted and Coach Sherman because no matter how much Ted tried to open a dialogue with him, it never happened,” said a Packers’ source. “There simply wasn’t enough give-and-take between the two. And all Ted wanted to do was to help him and improve the team.”
The Raiders opened training camp this week and the big local story was that disappointing receiver Jerry Porter, who took some big bonus money from Al Davis more than a year ago, wants to be traded after totally rebuffing the new work standards of Art Shell, a Hall of Fame player now in his second stint with the Raiders as the team's head coach.
Porter, who was nursing a sore calf while missing two days of practice, returned to the field on Friday and then spent his post-practice time venting to NFLPA executive director Gene Upshaw about the Raiders holding him hostage. Upshaw, who is making the rounds of training camps, played with Shell for over a decade. Upshaw's bottom line is that he's happy that he's not Shell these days.
Randy Moss, who doesn't speak with local reporters, looks fit. He has publicly supported Shell and outside of practicing, is pushing his new juice product. If Porter doesn't come around, Doug Gabriel will move into a starting role. The club also has high hopes that Johnnie Morant, a third-year player from Syracuse, can push for more playing time.
Bad idea
How much goodwill is Reggie Bush flushing down the drain if he becomes a holdout with the Saints? Bush owns New Orleans right now, buying a new condo, donating money for the high school fields and pushing ticket sales through the Superdome roof as the team returns this season to the city after missing a whole year because of Hurricane Katrina.
Bush is in a great situation. Most fans in New Orleans still despise owner Tom Benson for attempting to move the franchise to San Antonio. If Bush drags his feet over getting $27 million guaranteed (as opposed to "just" $25 million), you can bet the fans, many still living in trailers, will remove Bush from his favorite son status.
Ray would shine
Falcons executive Ray Anderson appears to be the favorite to replace Shell as the league's head of football operations. It makes great political sense to hire Anderson, a minority, for the position. If the league has a new commissioner by the middle of August, his first move will be to fill this vacant role. Former Houston GM Charley Casserly was considered the favorite for this position because of his friendship with Roger Goodell, the league's No. 2 executive, but the word is that Casserly has been talking to CBS Sports about working there.
More than just hurt feelings
Hey, Bears running back Thomas Jones isn't faking a hamstring injury. He merely tweaked it attempting to meet the club's conditioning test. Yes, Jones is perturbed over his contract status because he is coming of####reat season and was the team's most consistent offensive performer last season. It's tough for veteran players to see untested rookies and second-year players earn more merely because of their draft status. I'm not saying Jones is a great football player, but he's the type of player others should emulate when it comes to effort and toughness.
Baltimore GM Ozzie Newsome is being ripped in some NFL circles for surrendering a fourth-round draft choice for Steve McNair, a quarterback the Tennessee Titans would have released later this month. But Newsome is trying to win and head coach Brian Billick insisted on having McNair as quickly as possible in order for him to learn the offense.
Yes, a fourth-round pick can be a lot. But the Ravens are in a difficult division and they are hoping McNair can make them a playoff team once again. It’s asking a lot, especially for such a fragile quarterback, but McNair may enjoy the change, especially if Baltimore can run the football like it has in the past.
For the Titans, they gain $9 million in salary-cap savings, enough to sign their draft class and possibly another free agent. McNair will also cost $14.43 million in dead money this season, the last one he’s on the books for.
In Tennessee, Billy Volek may be the announced starter, but it will be only a matter of time before rookie Vince Young plays. It probably will happen when owner Bud Adams calls down from his owner’s box and suggests it.
The real Mularkey?
Through the years, there is no doubt that defensive players have loved playing for #### Jauron, now Buffalo’s head coach. You can count safety Troy Vincent in that group. Vincent, as we know, is one of those savvy veterans, someone who has a shot at replacing Gene Upshaw as executive director of the NFL Players Association.
Vincent respects Jauron for who he is. While saying that, he took a little swipe at former coach Mike Mularkey, a nice-guy offensive coordinator while with the Steelers, who simply failed in Buffalo.
“(Mularkey) was trying to build a personality that I’m not sure was what we were,” Vincent said this week. “You can’t teach a show dog how to fight. I have great respect for Coach Mularkey, but he tried to project a tough image … That was (Bill) Cowher.”
Believe me, it is a common mistake among rookie head coaches to project a personality that is not their own. Mularkey saw the kind of success Cowher had and tried at times to emulate him. But in the process, it chipped away at his own personality and the players saw through that.
Keep an eye on Addai
For anyone looking for a rookie running back to pick up in fantasy football, keep tabs on the health of the Colts’ Joseph Addai during training camp. Addai will be given every opportunity to win the job in Indianapolis. Plus, in that offense, there will be a chance for Addai to rack up a lot of yards and touchdowns.
Law's list
The teams really interested in cornerback Ty Law are, in order of seriousness, New England, Kansas City and Arizona. He also could be of some help in Tennessee.
Holmes to return?
Although neck specialist Dr. Robert Watkins of Los Angeles hasn’t cleared him to play, Chiefs running back Priest Holmes sounds like he may be willing to play this season. Holmes turns 33 in October. The Chiefs believe it is too risky for Holmes and that he’ll probably retire. But Holmes is making noises, unless you believe he simply likes to hear himself talk about a possible return.
Payton cleans house
Congratulations to new Saints head coach Sean Payton for doing some necessary house cleaning in the locker room. He traded away defensive tackle Johnathan Sullivan, maybe the biggest bust in team history, to New England and also linebacker Courtney Watson. His first moves were dumping underachieving quarterback Aaron Brooks and guard Kendyl Jacox and also trading soft offensive tackle Wayne Gandy.
Drew Brees was seen throwing 10 to 15-yard passes in a recent mini-camp and insists he will have better velocity once training camp starts.
You have to tip your hat to the Tennessee Titans. They are being very creative with their delaying tactics before allowing quarterback Steve McNair to leave town and play for the rival Baltimore Ravens. Having lost the arbitration hearing over McNair's demand to be on the Tennessee practice field, the club now wants him to pass a physical – he failed the '05 season ender with a torn pectoral muscle – before allowing him to work out with the team.
McNair may or may not take the physical. I mean, how much does he want to play for the Titans? Bus Cook, his agent, already has a better contract offer on the table from the Ravens. The Titans can't afford him, plus owner Bud Adams would like to see his first-round pick, Texas quarterback Vince Young, starting a few games this season.
Now, the coaches may not want to play Young – remember, Jeff Fisher took a long wait-and-see approach with McNair – but these are different times in Tennessee.
Get motivated
Hey, either Patriots coach Bill Belichick will light a fire under disappointing defensive tackle Johnathan Sullivan, who seemingly doesn't understand that he must be in super physical condition to play in the NFL, or he will be unemployed come September. Sullivan, the Saints' first-round pick in 2003, was swapped for New England receiver Bethel Johnson, who couldn't stay on the field enough.
If Sullivan can end up being half the player Richard Seymour is, the Patriots might really have something. But Sullivan has to work much harder than he did in New Orleans, where he was always on former head coach Jim Haslett's ---- list. Sullivan has the athletic ability, but he's never displayed a willingness to sacrifice, mentally or physically, to be the best he can possibly be.
Speaking of the Pats, they still have a good chance of landing former star Ty Law. However, the Arizona Cardinals could end up offering the former Pro Bowl cornerback a better one-year salary like he received from the Jets last season.
Billy not silly
Maybe we weren't clear with our recent column on the Minnesota Vikings. There is no way that someone like Billy Kuharich, who really wants to be a general manager again, would leave a top-notch organization like the Kansas City Chiefs for a similar pro personnel role in Minnesota. Kuharich has more influence and more stability in KC than he ever would have had in Minnesota. Remember, Rick Spielman wasn't all that excited about missing out on the Vikings' job when he was interviewed the first time around. But when you don't have a NFL job, it was easier for Rick to say yes the second time around.
Backup plan
The best thing about Mark Brunell being on the shelf with a broken finger, is that second-year quarterback Jason Campbell has gotten more work in with the veterans. Campbell has been a regular this entire off-season with the Redskins, and several veterans said he has looked awesome in workouts throwing the football. The only knock on Campbell is that he may not know the offense as well as Brunell, who will be 36 this season. You can count on Campbell, who failed to take a snap as a rookie, to get some playing time this season.
One of the biggest headaches facing the New Orleans Saints right now is settling on a contract with first-round pick Reggie Bush.
Their biggest worry is whether or not Bush will actually receive more money than No. 1 pick Mario Williams. Remember, the NFL prides itself with a well-known slotting system for first-round draft picks, but a precedent was set last season when the Cleveland Browns paid receiver Braylon Edwards, the third overall choice, quite a bit more than Miami paid running back Ronnie Brown, who was drafted second.
Alex Smith, the first choice, received compensation that could end up paying him $56.1 million in San Francisco. Brown's package was worth about $29.4 million, but the Browns shocked the league by giving Edwards a deal worth $36 million. Any way you slice it, Bush will try to get top dollar.
With a state income tax in Louisiana, Bush has already lost thousands compared to what he would have earned playing in Houston because Texas has no income tax.
Where's Webster?
The Buccaneers seem resigned to losing director of player personnel Rushton Webster to the highest bidder. Early indications were that Webster would join friend Tim Ruskell with the Seattle Seahawks, but the St. Louis Rams also are after Webster to replace GM Charlie Armey. Webster obviously would have more power with the Rams than in Seattle.
The Vikings should have pursued Webster prior to giving their job to the now-fired Fran Foley.
The Saints derby
You always run into some NFL people at the Kentucky Derby and I bumped into Saints owner Tom Benson and his wife, ####le, on Millionaires Row at Churchill Downs. Being from the Los Angeles-area, I had to ask about all the rumors about the Saints eventually relocating to L.A. in the future.
"Do you have $1.2 billion?" Benson asked. He was smiling, but he wasn't joking about the price.
This is the problem the NFL has with Benson right now. Sure, they are committed to New Orleans for this season, but what if the Saints' fans don't return to sellout the Superdome? What is the future of the NFL in a city that right now doesn't have 200,000 citizens?
Benson's asking price will be too much for any Los Angeles owner wanting to buy the Saints and try to succeed financially in either the Coliseum or Anaheim. The league has had no success in getting Benson to lower his price tag.
Also, it appears that Wayne Weaver is serious about remaining in Jacksonville and few really believe that Ralph Wilson would leave Buffalo for Los Angeles. The Saints make the most sense.
Also, many owners really thought that California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger wasn't dealing in NFL reality by asking for teams in both the Coliseum and Anaheim.
NFL insiders know that Gov. Schwarzenegger and other California politicians won't help them build the necessary stadiums. That's why the Raiders and Rams left the region 11 years ago. The state and city wouldn't help them, either.
Was it Paris' fault?
Arizona rookie quarterback Matt Leinart has been dating Paris Hilton for six weeks now and, believe me, that news scared a few teams, some thinking that the former USC star had gone too much Hollywood.
Leinart, however, was the choice of Tennessee coach Jeff Fisher and GM Floyd Reese. But Titans owner Bud Adams told his coach and personnel man to draft Texas quarterback Vince Young even though Leinart was rated higher on the final Tennessee draft board. Adams, who moved his team from Houston to Nashville in 1997, wanted Young, his hometown kid.
No football agent would ever admit this on the record, but wouldn't most players take less money to live in Houston over New Orleans? Think about it.
Yes, the Texans haven't won anything yet, but their organization is considered much sounder than the Saints, particularly from the ownership angle. Houston, from its stadium to its practice facility, is considered a first-class operation. Saints and first class ... well, that's a misnomer.
I mean what's the difference between earning $54 million over six years compared to earning $50 million over six years? We can all do the math, but what about the quality of life? Then there's home values and business opportunities and nightlife?
Reggie Bush is a walking endorsement and no one can deny that his off-the-field value wouldn't be greater in Houston, America's fourth largest city, compared to gritty New Orleans, a city desperately trying to recover from the worst national disaster in years. Even before Katrina, most Americans probably would choose to live in Houston over New Orleans. It's simply a fact of life.
Plenty of negotiating mistakes were made by Team Bush and the Texans in the pursuit of becoming the NFL's first overall draft choice. After dumping on local favorite, Texas quarterback Vince Young, the Texans' only rational approach was to tab Bush, whether he was signed or not. Houston owner Bob McNair didn't have to insist on his top pick being signed prior to being announced by Paul Tagliabue.
Neither the Texans nor Bush used much common sense in this matter.
A glorious opportunity was lost by both. The team and Bush's agents both made critical mistakes and misjudgments.
More Houston blunders
There is one thought circling the NFL that Texans coach Gary Kubiak's thinking is much like his mentor, Denver's Mike Shanahan. That Kubiak doesn't need a Clinton Portis or an Edgerrin James, basically a high-priced runner, to make his offense function at a high level and that's why Bush wasn't selected. Sounds crazy, doesn't it? Just give me a Tatum Bell look-alike!
The other blunder is that Houston never tried to talk trade with New Orleans, Tennessee or even the Jets about any of them trading up to select Bush. This maneuver would have allowed Houston to collect some extra draft picks. Bush in the Big Apple would have been sexy, plus Curtis Martin turned 33 on Monday.
Had Houston done a trade, we're sure the Texans could have made sure that North Carolina State's Mario Williams was still available for them.
Playing hardball
Can you really blame the Tennessee Titans for not bending over backwards for Steve McNair and their old rivals, the Baltimore Ravens?
McNair has refused to rework his $9 million contract in order to play for the Titans this season. He wants out and has been demanding a trade to the Ravens.
The Titans are holding out for a fourth-round draft choice, which doesn't sound like very much for a NFL starting quarterback.
Consequently, the Titans plan on holding onto McNair simply to prevent him from joining the Ravens until July, when they will need his $24 million salary-cap allocation for this season to sign rookies like Vince Young. What the Titans are saying is that they'd rather sit on McNair and mess with the Ravens unless they get what they want.
Did Fisher get his man?
Speaking of the Titans, coach Jeff Fisher told his good friend Mike Shanahan that Vanderbilt's Jay Cutler really had no negatives about him. It almost sounds like Fisher's quarterback draft board read: 1. Matt Leinart, 2. Cutler and 3. Vince Young.
What would the Green Bay Packers do if USC quarterback Matt Leinart were available with the fifth overall choice? Well, we’ve put Maryland tight end Vernon Davis there, but Leinart would be difficult to ignore even with Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers on the roster.
Why? Well, there was a strong rumor last year at this time that 49ers offensive coordinator Mike McCarthy preferred Alex Smith to Rodgers. Well, McCarthy is now the new Green Bay head coach and his backup quarterback is Rodgers. This is why Leinart would be compelling.
Why is Leinart falling?
Well, it seems that Tennessee GM Floyd Reese has the call with the third overall pick and he prefers Texas QB Vince Young to the USC quarterback, who is preferred by the coaching staff. Remember, owner Bud Adams lives in Houston, Young’s hometown. It will be pretty easy for Reese for convince Adams.
Of course, such a pick could force head coach Jeff Fisher to re-think his future in Tennessee. Adams owns options on his contract for 2007 at around $6 million a season. If Fisher doesn’t get Leinart, will he ask Adams for his freedom in 2007?
Leinart as next Namath?
The Jets are actually worried about Hollywood Matt Leinart turning into the off-the-field version of Joe Willie Namath. Old-time New Yorkers would think that’s ridiculous, considering Joe Willie was a lot of fun to watch, on and off the field.
Donald Trump likes Leinart. Then, again, that could be interpreted in Jets’ headquarters as the kiss of death.
Raiders looking at Young
If the Titans pass on Vince Young, everybody in the NFL believes that Raiders owner Al Davis will pick him with the seventh overall choice. The Raiders may need Texas safety Michael Huff, but Davis and head coach Art Shell are thinking long-term.
Lions like Sims
New Lions head coach Rod Marenelli wants a defensive demon and it appears that Florida State linebacker Ernie Sims could be the team's first-round pick. Sims is known for playing at 100 miles per hour and some teams believe he must gauge his speed or he could actually end up hurting himself in the pros.
Bunkley the Bill
The Buffalo Bills are seriously thinking of taking Florida State defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley with the eighth overall pick, meaning that monster nose tackle Haloti Ngata could be available to the Rams at No. 11. And some teams believe the Dolphins will take Tennessee safety Jason Allen with the 16th overall pick. Safety is a big need for Miami.
Walker on the wild side
If they can get a second-round pick, the Packers will trade unhappy receiver Javon Walker. It’s up to the Saints and Broncos to make the call. Green Bay has decided not to re-work Walker’s contract and the club believes its better to get him out of town.
What about Rodgers and Walker to New Orleans for receiver Donte Stallworth, a second-round pick and a third-round pick?
Bush's eye black
Reggie Bush has all these problems with that free house outside San Diego, but one thing is certain: he won’t be wearing his familiar 619 eye black in the NFL. He will be allowed to wear it during training camp and at practice, but the league doesn’t allow “personal messages” on the field on game days.
