Chicago -   Vasher joins the list of angery Bears. According to the Chicago Tribune: "Cornerback Nathan Vasher is the latest Bear to leave organized team activities over dissatisfaction with his contract, which has two years remaining and is scheduled to pay him $425,000 in 2006."  The list is growing and growing and may force a few other players to be cut or back loaded contracts.

Green Bay - Veterans still continue to skip practices.  "No, maybe and yes. That's apparently what Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy has heard from Al Harris, Charles Woodson and Ryan Pickett or their representatives in recent conversations regarding the veterans' availability for the team's five remaining voluntary practices."  The team is still in need of Offensive line help and the group needs to be together to form some kind of continuity.  New head coach Mike McCarthy needs to nip this in the bud quickly.  Hey at least they have Favre there right?

Miaimi - On Tuesday, they had a visit and are working on a contract with Bennie Anderson, who was cut by Buffalo last week after starting 15 games last season.  Free agent defensive tackle Dan Wilkinson's agent said Tuesday his client likes Miami, and negotiations continue.  Wilkinson was recently cut from Detroit and could likely end up with former QB Joey Harrington.

New England - No "sign" of Law.  Ty Law has had talks with both Arizona and New England.  No doubt the former Patroit would like to return home after a one year stint with the rival Jets in which he had 10 interceptions for last year.  Arizona is also very interested in Law and still have $10 million under the salary cap.  New England has another issue with hold out wide reciever Deion Branch.  The Patriots could always try to put the squeeze on by trading for underachieving Denver receiver Ashley Lelie or disgruntled Saints wideout Donte' Stallworth, but with David Givens gone to the Titans, what they have right now as far as receivers. They aren't Deion Branch. And Branch knows it.  I'm Deion Branch bit%^!

Detroit - Mike Williams was sent home early from Lions mini camp last week because he missed a treatment for his sore hamstring and then was late to a meeting.  This also stems back to last season when he reportedly missed treatments and was late for meetings as a rookie.  The Lions however won't give up on him now.  Besides they can't.  All his bonus money would prorate this year and next year which would bump $12 million on to the cap.  They are financially committed right now and must find a way to untap the potential and cap off the foolishness.  Also with the signing of free agent offensive lineman Ross Verba the Lions hope to have shored up a dismal offensive line that had breakdowns all season long.  They are currently trying to work out a long term deal with left tackle Jeff Backus.  Backus was hesitant to sign the one year tender offer by the Lions but that had given him their word they will work out a long term deal before training camp.  Charles Rogers was pictured working out with the first team during mini-camp and this may not sound like much but that is the closest he has been to starting in a long time.  It has been rumored several times that he may not even make the team.

Pittsburgh - With the motorcycle accident of Ben Roethlisburger the Steelers have to look at another option for this season at least early on.  It has been rumored that Tommy Maddox may come back.  They do still have Charle Batch but we all know what he can do.  They may have to look into a slim market of free agents that are free agents for a reason.  Unless they think they can win with QBs like Tony Banks or Ty Detmer.  They do still have Kerry Collins and Jeff Blake they can talk to at least.

As it stands right now the Detroit Lions have five quarterbacks on their roster.  Jon Kitna, Josh McCown, Dan Orlovsky, Shaun King, and Joey Harrington.  Some say that there is power in numbers, but not in this case.  They may just have five back up quarterbacks.

Joey Harrington is still a Lion after deals have fallen through on trades for him with several teams.  Most recently the Browns (on draft day) and the Miami Dolphins.  The Browns were willing to give up a 4th or 5th round pick this year and Miami was only willing to trade a 6th rounder in next year's draft.  Matt Millen thinks his quarterback is much more valuable than just a 6th round pick.  I actually will have to agree with him to a certain extent.  Joey did have his issues with Detroit but has starting experience and also has had times without almost every starting skill position players in place.  On the other hand they do need to cut ties with him and try to get something for him. They really don't need him around with the attitude change he has had since wanting to be traded.  He sure has high demands for a player who has not accomplished anything in his career.  Joey and Terrell Owens have something in common and it isn't being a great player.  They both had division in the locker room causing rifts between players (right or wrong). Terrell had to go and so does Joey,  Philadelphia didn't get anything for Owens though.  Besides, the Lions weren't winning with him so now they will most likely be winning without him.

Jon Kitna may be the starter when the season rolls around.  He will have the strongest competition from Josh McCown who they recently signed from the Arizona Cardinals.  Jon Kitna is not the answer this team needs to turn the corner, is he?  Kitna joins the Lions after spending the last four years with the Cincinnati Bengals. He signed a four year deal with Detroit.  While in Cincinnati he played a crucial role in the Bengals current success. After going 12 seasons with 11 seasons below .500 and one 8-8 season, Kitna engineered a run to compete for a playoff spot in 2003. That season, he posted career highs in completions (324), completion percentage (62.3), passing yards (3,591), touchdown passes (26) and passing rating (87.4) as he led the team to an 8-8 record while starting all 16 games. The year prior, the Bengals finished the season with a 2-14 record.  For his performance in 2003, Kitna was named the NFL Comeback Player of the Year by the associated Press and Pro football Weekly. He was the only quarterback in the NFL in ’03 to take every snap. He led the team to an NFL-best improvement from 2-14 in 2002 to 8-8 in 2003. Kitna also had a plus-11 differential in touchdown passes (26) to interceptions (15) that was the best by a Bengals passer with at least 20 passes since 1989.

Josh McCown the biggest competition to this point for Kitna was a starter and back up in Arizona.  He was drafted by Arizona in the third round (81st overall) of the 2002 draft and has played in 33 games with 22 starts, completing 498-of-862 passes for 5,431 yards and 25 touchdowns.  To me I always wonder why teams (especially teams like Arizona) give up on young players.  Sometimes players look good from a far but are far from good.  If Arizona was comfortable letting him go to hold on to Kurt Warner doesn't that raise a red flag?  At the time they didn't know that they would be drafting Matt Leinart.  Maybe Arizona just thought it would be smarter to pay a rookie than McCown to back up Warner.

Dan Orlovsky may be the teams no. three quarterback when the season rolls around but as far as this staff sees it they all have a shot at starting.  Shaun King is in the mix to possibly make the team but he didn't even play in 2005.  King and Orlovsky may just be battling just to make the team as the third qb. 

To a Lions fan like myself, I really don't see any of the quarterbacks making a big splash this season.  Really Detroit's best hope is that McCown or Orlovsky take over because of their ages.  It would be better off for them to have a young guy be good enough to take the job from Kitna as far as the future of the team is concerned.  As long as they are the best player it bodes well for Detroit.  That is what they need.  If someone is on the field it is because they are the best player, not the highest paid or been here the longest.  Personally though I am not sold on any of these guys and have a great deal of concern for this position.  The good news is that the Lions have put in place a offense coordinator and offensive line coach in place that should get the most out of what the team has.

coming soon: 

 Ty Law and Az Hakim Lions?

"Hurtin" Ernie Sims, Brian Calhoun, and Daniel Bullocks.  What impact are they going to have?

Don Mexico is Ron's evil twin (click for picture)

This weekend the Miami Dolphins will have Marcus vick in town for their first post draft mini camp.  They basically gave him a shot with no strings attached or promises made.  Vick went undrafted last weekend and thinks he is just as good as anyone in the top ten.
He Said in an interview with Michael Smith of ESPN.com of Vince Young "He's great. He'll throw for 300 and run for 200. He's like a taller Michael Vick."

When asked about comparing himself to the other two top quarterbacks taken in the draft last Saturday. 

Marcus Vick versus Matt Leinart: "I'm taking Marcus Vick in this case right here, because it's something about when you have an athlete at the quarterback position it just changes the game."

And Marcus Vick versus Jay Cutler: "I'm taking Marcus Vick once again."

I want to ask him if he has ever heard of Lawrence Phillips.  I actually prefer to think of him as Michael Vick's (Ron Mexico) evil twin.  They both very much look a like as well.  However they are leading very different lives once they made it as the starting quarterback for Virginia Tech.  In fact I remember reading years ago when Marcus was in high school that they were trying to get him into this college summer football camp where most of the blue chip football players go but he either had community service to do or he was in juevenal detention.  Once Marcus was suspended a full season (2004)because of other off the field legal problems.  He also received a speeding ticket and a ticket for driving on a suspended license in Hampton on Dec. 17 while under a “zero tolerance” policy from Virginia Tech.  The policy was implemented when Vick was suspended in 2004. He later came under further scrutiny because of replays of his actions against Elvis Dumervil.  Vick claimed it was accidental, but hurt his cause by claiming to have apologized to Dumervil, the NCAA sacks leader. Dumervil said he received no such apology.

Vick was booted from the team for his behavior on and off the field, he was charged with pulling a gun on three teenagers during an altercation in a McDonald's parking lot.  So of coarse they had to draw the line somewhere.

“I’m gonna show you in the future,” he said. “The teams that don’t pick me, I’m gonna get the chance to play you, and you are going to be sitting up in the box saying, ‘Damn, we should have considered him. We should have taken him. “

I guess he doesnt realize he may never get that chance because of his past.  He only played one full season for the Hokies and part of another in 2003.  All we have to go on is his past, and that is not good.  Playing football at any level is a priveledge not a right.  Even if you are Michael Vick's (evil twin) little brother.  Michael isn't that "great" of a quarterback at this point anyway and he has had some time to develop.

It is time for Marcus to play arena football or Canadian and show that he can stay out of trouble for more thatn his probationary period and that he actually can play football and be a leader on the field.  A quarterback is almost always the leader on the field and he has shown none of any of these qualities.  Here are his career stats.

Career Totals	Passing									Rushing
SEASON	CMP	ATT	YDS	CMP%	YPA	TD	INT	SACK	RAT	ATT	YDS	AVG	TD
2005	177	289	2393	61.2	8.3	17	10	32	143.3	147	380	2.6	6
2003	30	57	475	52.6	8.3	2	5	4	116.7	37	102	2.8	0

  Ricky Williams lost his appeal of his suspension, and as a result, he will be out all of next season.  The appeal was heard April 10 in New York by NFL attorney Jeff Pash, who then gave his recommendation to league Commissioner Paul Tagliabue.  This means he will have missed two of three seasons when he comes back at age 30.  There is good and bad news with this all around for the Dolphins.  Lets take a look at a few things that are effected by this.

Lets start with all the negative stuff and get it out of the way right now.

Negatives:

1.  The team still holds a federal court judgment of $8.6 million against Williams for breach of his contract in 2004.

2.  He will have missed two of three seasons

3.  He has three kids and a fourth on the way with his long time girlfriend. He has nearly $9000 in child support each month. 

4.  The Dolphins will be without their best back once again.

5.  If Williams had won his appeal, the Dolphins had planned to offer Williams around the league in trade.  Can't do that now and his value only goes down more and more now.

Okay enough of the negatives.  Lets move on just like the Miami Dolphins should.

Positives:

1.  The Dolphins can now see exactly what Ronnie Brown is made of featuring him as the number one back.

2.  Ronnie Brown has one season under his belt so the game should dtart to slow down a bit for him. 

3.  The Dolphins can now see what they have in the post Ricky Williams era, which they have already kind of started but not really.

4.  At least they didn't trade away their whole draft to get him and then smoke a cigar afterwards!!

5.  He is one of the best running backs in the league, or at least once was.  Now they have a younger back with a whole lot less miles on him.

6.  They don't have Ricky Williams around anymore.  I guess he really needs to lose himself before he will ever really find himself.