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Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
Report: Saturday talks conclude; no face-to-face meetings Sunday
Updated 6:45 p.m. ET Saturday
Lawyers for the players and owners wrapped up Saturday's talks and may communicate on Sunday by phone or email. The two sides are scheduled to meet with Judge Arthur Boylan Tuesday.
NFL Network's Albert Breer reported Saturday afternoon when the meetings concluded just before 5 p.m. ET. He said the legal teams don't plan to meet face-to-face on Sunday but may still communicate.
Judge Boylan, who has been mediating negotiations since they resumed in June, scheduled a meeting with the two sides for July 19 before going on vacation last week. The two sides will meet on Monday and Judge Boylan will rejoin the negotiations on Tuesday.
ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported there are still some issues that need to be resolved when the players and owners meet Monday and Tuesday. Among the issues are restoration of $320 million in lost benefits from the 2010 uncapped season, a one-time franchise tag for players, workman's compensation and settlement of the TV contract case. The Brady antitrust lawsuit also needs to be settled, and Mortensen reports that the 10 plaintiffs could avoid free-agent restrictions. According to Breer, player safety issues will also be discussed.
Also in Mortensen's report are the safety issues already resolved. The owners agreed to eliminate two-a-day practices in training camp and, as expected, offseason work for players would not have to begin until May 1.
Commissioner Roger Goodell and NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith talked on Saturday.
The hope is that a new Collective Bargaining Agreement is reached in time to be ratified by the owners at their July 21 meeting in Atlanta. In the timeline presented in the ESPN report, teams would have 72 hours to re-sign their own free agents starting July 22 before free agency begins on July 25.
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Cats, coaches abuzz about new season
Kentucky football players and coaches know there are plenty of doubters going into this season. But when asked about the question marks and potential lack of tested playmakers, all of them gave a knowing look.
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Eagles looking for veteran defensive end
Following are whispers we've been hearing from around the league:
• The Eagles, we hear, are planning to hit the free-agent market to look for a defensive end. With the news that DE Brandon Graham (right knee surgery) likely will not be available to start the season, expect the team to target a veteran pass rusher. Plus, the new salary cap — and floor — likely means the team will have the ability to pay for some talent.
• The Giants might have their sights set on Bills LB Paul Posluszny, and he almost certainly has mutual interest because of his respect for Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell (who coached him in Buffalo), but Posluszny has said his first preference will be to return to Buffalo. For other free-agent options, keep an eye on Bucs LB Quincy Black, who has played both OLB spots.
• PFW asked Falcons TE Tony Gonzalez if he's feeling a greater sense of urgency to win his first Super Bowl this season, considering that, heading into his 15th season, retirement is not far off. "Honestly, it's just as important to me now as it was right around my fifth year in the league," Gonzalez said. "That's when I really hit that point where I was like 'Man, I really want to win a Super Bowl.' When you first come into the league, at least for me, I was just trying to fit in and be the best player that I could be. Don't get me wrong, I was trying to win as many games as I could, but you're kind of just concentrating trying to make sure everybody doesn't think you're a bust."
• Buccaneers DT Gerald McCoy has made public his desire to become a leader on defense and we hear he already has made strides in that effort. With such a young defensive line, the players he lines up next to will be looking to him for guidance and he could be particularly helpful to rookie DEs Adrian Clayborn and Da'Quan Bowers.
• After his breakout year in 2010, Saints FS Malcolm Jenkins, a third-year veteran, could take another step toward stardom in '11. Count Saints SS Roman Harper among those who are optimistic about Jenkins' potential. "Malcolm's going to be a big-time player for us," Harper said. "He's got all the skills. He wants to be great. Just has to continue to put in the time and it's going to come. He's extremely talented. He can run. He can do everything. Malcolm only knows one speed, and that's full speed. He's going to give it his all at everything he does. That's why he's going to be successful."
• With no great options to replace Olin Kreutz at center on the roster, there is pressure on the Bears to make the right offer to the 13-year veteran whenever free agency begins. He'll generate interest on the open market and losing him would cost the Bears a solid player and a true leader.
• We hear that the Vikings' preference for adding a veteran quarterback will be through free agency rather than trade, which makes Marc Bulger perhaps a more likely option than, say, Donovan McNabb, Kyle Orton or perhaps Vince Young. The way the team figures, it would rather not give up a draft pick for a player who only will be a placeholder for Christian Ponder, whom it wants to win the starting job in time.
• There is no question that the Colts would like to re-sign free-agent RB Joseph Addai, whose contributions as a blocker and receiver make him a very valuable asset in the club's complex scheme. But we hear that Addai's durability issues, paired with the Colts' greater needs at safety and in re-signing QB Peyton Manning, could mean they are prepared to let Addai walk.
• WR Reggie Wayne and DE Robert Mathis are the biggest names among Colts players who will become free agents in 2012, but WRs Anthony Gonzalez and Pierre Garcon are also scheduled to become free agents after the season. The Colts are known for always looking one year down the road when drafting players, but dire needs along the offensive line prevented them from addressing the WR position this year. Regardless of whether the club elects to re-sign Wayne and the others, don't be surprised when it addresses the WR position in the '12 draft.
• Finding at least two dependable defensive backs is priority No. 1 for the Texans once free agency begins. We hear that finding a replacement for unrestricted free-agent P Matt Turk, who is not expected to return, also will be on the to-do list.
• The Jaguars think that WR Jason Hill could turn out to be the deep threat the offense has sorely missed for several seasons. Another player who could help take the top off the defense and create mismatches for Jaguars opponents is TE Zach Miller. We hear the Jaguars are cautiously optimistic that Miller can stay healthy and become a bigger part of the offense entering his third season.
• Don't be surprised if Chase Beeler, a starting center at Stanford under Jim Harbaugh, is signed as an undrafted free agent by the Niners and quickly thrown into the mix at center. Beeler has been working out regularly with the Niners this offseason. "They'd be smart to sign him," said one team source who has attended many of the Niners' players-only workouts at San Jose State. "He's a really gritty, hardworking guy."
• We hear it's possible the 49ers might consider switching third-round rookie CB Chris Culliver to safety if they are unable to re-sign free-agent FS Dashon Goldson.
• The latest word out of Seattle is that it's unlikely the Seahawks will be willing to break the bank to re-sign free-agent defenders Raheem Brock and Jordan Babineaux. "The thing to remember about Brock is that, as good as he was down the stretch, he really didn't become a factor until (DE) Red Bryant went down with a season-ending injury," one team insider said. "They really are trying to get younger, so it seems both guys will be back only if the price is right."
• It would appear the Cardinals' projected starting cornerbacks are going in different directions when they step on the scale. While Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie has added about 10 pounds that he hopes will enable him to mix it up a bit more in a defense expected to be a lot more aggressive under new coordinator Ray Horton, we hear first-round draft pick Patrick Peterson has trimmed down to 212 pounds — about 10 pounds lighter than his playing weight at LSU — in an effort to improve his quickness.
• We hear Packers CB Brandon Underwood's days are probably numbered in Green Bay after being recently charged with disorderly conduct for a domestic disturbance. The Packers granted Underwood a reprieve last June after pleading no contest to soliciting prostitution, and his latest off-the-field baggage is a good bet to send him packing along with DL Johnny Jolly, who was arrested for the second time for codeine possession in March.
• One interesting free-agency story line to watch for Baltimore: the Ravens would like to add another pass rusher, and their ability to employ 3-4 and 4-3 looks will allow them to potentially consider defensive ends and linebackers. Adding an end who can get after the quarterback might mean more 4-3 fronts for Baltimore, a daily team observer suggests.
• Steelers ROLB James Harrison publicly apologized for criticizing QB Ben Roethlisberger and RB Rashard Mendenhall in a Men's Journal story in a statement posted on Facebook on July 14. Whether Harrison, who a daily team observer tells PFW is respected by his teammates for his work ethic, will face any discipline from the Steelers or have to smooth over any hard feelings behind the scenes has been a source of speculation since news of the Men's Journal story broke.
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Ex-UK safety Matt Lentz signs rookie-league contract with Reds
Matt Lentz thought his athletic career was over a little more than a year ago when he made the heart-wrenching decision to give up his football career at Kentucky because of a string of concussions."It was tough because I came here to play for five years and experience everything," Lentz said. "I...
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Sunday, July 17, 2011
Report: Saturday talks conclude; no face-to-face meetings Sunday
Updated 6:45 p.m. ET Saturday
Lawyers for the players and owners wrapped up Saturday's talks and may communicate on Sunday by phone or email. The two sides are scheduled to meet with Judge Arthur Boylan Tuesday.
NFL Network's Albert Breer reported Saturday afternoon when the meetings concluded just before 5 p.m. ET. He said the legal teams don't plan to meet face-to-face on Sunday but may still communicate.
Judge Boylan, who has been mediating negotiations since they resumed in June, scheduled a meeting with the two sides for July 19 before going on vacation last week. The two sides will meet on Monday and Judge Boylan will rejoin the negotiations on Tuesday.
ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported there are still some issues that need to be resolved when the players and owners meet Monday and Tuesday. Among the issues are restoration of $320 million in lost benefits from the 2010 uncapped season, a one-time franchise tag for players, workman's compensation and settlement of the TV contract case. The Brady antitrust lawsuit also needs to be settled, and Mortensen reports that the 10 plaintiffs could avoid free-agent restrictions. According to Breer, player safety issues will also be discussed.
Also in Mortensen's report are the safety issues already resolved. The owners agreed to eliminate two-a-day practices in training camp and, as expected, offseason work for players would not have to begin until May 1.
Commissioner Roger Goodell and NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith talked on Saturday.
The hope is that a new Collective Bargaining Agreement is reached in time to be ratified by the owners at their July 21 meeting in Atlanta. In the timeline presented in the ESPN report, teams would have 72 hours to re-sign their own free agents starting July 22 before free agency begins on July 25.
Ward releases statement regarding arrest
Steelers WR Hines Ward released the following statement on his Facebook page thanking fans for their support after he was arrested last week for driving under the influence.
"Fans — I appreciate all the love and support. Thank you! It means a lot to me. I have a great respect for the legal system and am leaving things in the hands of my attorney. I can't wait for football. I've been working out hard. I want to get back to the big show again this year. We have some unfinished business to take care of. So we will be ready to go when we are given the Green light. Here we go!"
Ward was arrested early last Saturday morning. According to the police report, Ward drove out of his lane and hit a curb. He is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 6.
The 35-year-old Ward had five touchdown catches last season.
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Jaguars rookie Prosinski will be in the mix at safety
Jaguars rookie S Chris Prosinski, a fourth-round selection out of Wyoming, knows he will have plenty of catching up to do once the lockout is lifted.
Other than a few phone conversations, Prosinski still has not met his new teammates, nor has he acquired a playbook.
Nonetheless, the 24-year-old is confident he can get up to speed quickly. He recently told PFW he has spent the offseason in his hometown of Buffalo, Wyo., working out as often as possible and trying to "keep as much structure as I can on a day-to-day basis."
The good news for Prosinski is that he is well versed at both safety spots, as the positions were interchangeable at Wyoming. Furthermore, there will be a wide-open competition for playing time once camp finally opens.
The Jaguars are expected to sign a veteran in free agency, but incumbent starters Courtney Greene and Don Carey are far from having a stranglehold on their positions.
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Lessons From The Road
Thanks to the Interstate Highway System, it is now possible to travel from coast to coast without seeing anything. - Charles Kuralt An Epic Journey Last week, I embarked on a journey. Those of you that are friends of mine on Facebook already know that I’ve moved 2200 miles from my hometown of Louisville, KY [...]
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Kanter, Knight among top eight NBA Draft picks; Harrellson, Liggins go in second round
For the second straight year, the University of Kentucky figured prominently in the NBA Draft. Only in comparison to last year's unprecedented five first-round picks might two players taken among the first eight Thursday night seem less than extraordinary.
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GM Baalke says 49ers will focus on keeping own free agents
49ers general manager Trent Baalke would like to keep the majority of his team's pending free agents, according to Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News.
In a 36-minute interview with Kawakami, Baalke added that he didn't think the 49ers would be a big player in the free-agency market and that he expects teams that jump at players too fast could wind up hurting themselves.
Among other topics, Baalke added that head coach Jim Harbaugh would be involved in the team's free-agency decisions and that he was happy to see QB Alex Smith leading player workouts during the offseason.
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KFC To Prevent Breast Cancer? Are You Clucking Serious?
Today, I want to take a look at a very touchy, emotionally-charged subject today: preventing breast cancer, along with how to go about funding prevention and education. Preventing Breast Cancer I think we all agree that preventing and treating breast cancer is a good thing. We all have moms, sisters, wives, friends, and girlfriends that [...]
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Saturday, July 16, 2011
No SEC coach favors a 22-game schedule
When it comes to Southeastern Conference basketball, crowning a "true" champion apparently will take a back seat to the exposure gained from scheduling attractive non-conference games and preparing the optimum profile for an NCAA Tournament bid.
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Toss Your Expectations Into the Ocean
‘Act without expectation.’ ~Lao Tzu Post written by Leo Babauta. How much of your stress, frustration, disappointment, anger, irritation, pissed-offedness comes from one little thing? Almost all of it comes from your expectations, and when things (inevitably) don’t turn out as we expect, from wishing things were different. We build these expectations in our heads [...]
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Without Vrabel, Chiefs need an outside linebacker to step up
The decision by Mike Vrabel to become a college football assistant coach instead of an active NFL player has several ramifications, but the most pressing one for the Chiefs is the vacancy left in their linebacking corps. Vrabel, who would have been a free agent had he chosen to remain in the league, started 30 games the past two seasons for the team, including every game in 2010 at left outside linebacker. Now that he's retired, a group of players will battle to replace him in the starting lineup.
It is expected that veteran Andy Studebaker will get the first crack at the job, playing opposite Pro Bowler Tamba Hali. Heading into his fourth NFL season, Studebaker has never been a full-time starter, coming off the bench for all but two of his 38 career games. He's a sure tackler, however, and it is believed he can help improve upon Vrabel's production (100 tackles, two sacks the past two seasons combined).
Third-round draft pick Justin Houston is another candidate to grab the job, though he's likely going to start the season as a situational pass rusher. Houston is a strong tackler and a better pass rusher than Studebaker, and his presence in the lineup likely would take some attention away from Hali. However, he's still very raw, and without a chance to learn the playbook and work with defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel and the other Chiefs coaches this offseason, the rookie will be behind the eight-ball when the lockout ends.
"We're going to have a competitive group this year and ultimately, that's what you want every year," Studebaker told PFW about the unit. "A group of guys that will compete against each other, and at the end of the day, we're going to compete together to do our job on Sundays."
There is also a chance that 2010 fifth-rounder Cameron Sheffield could be in the mix, though there are still major questions about his health after a preseason neck injury wiped out his rookie campaign. Sheffield and this year's fifth-round pick, Gabe Miller, a college defensive end, are likely to make their greatest contributions on special teams in 2011.
Without the trusted veteran Vrabel, who served as a coach on the field, in the lineup the other outside 'backers will need to adjust quickly entering their second year in the scheme.
"I think we've taken some steps forward, but obviously we're not settled where we need to be," Studebaker said.
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Facing Reality On Acidosis And Alkalosis
Acidosis and Alkalosis Today, we’re going to talk about acidosis and alkalosis. I’ll explain just what I mean by that in a second. But first, what put this topic in my head? In the past week, I’ve directly or indirectly read/heard two things that prompted me to write this. First, there was a comment by [...]
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Friday, July 15, 2011
Three of the top five in 2013 class give Calipari high praise
AKRON, Ohio — Kentucky Coach John Calipari told one player that he'd love to work with him. Another player said that Calipari told him they could collaborate on a national championship. A third player, who aspires to be another Oscar Robertson, does not include UK on his supposed final list of five college options. But he's open to amending it.
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Ravens will have plenty of options if free agents depart
It's no secret the Ravens aren't lacking in free agents that will be desirable to other clubs and that they could have a productive start to the new league year by simply re-signing some of their own players. However, if that fails, the team will have some options. It is expected to work hard to bring back potential UFA OG-OT Marshal Yanda, but overall, the free-agent guard pool is quite good, giving Baltimore some alternatives should Yanda, who's probably best suited inside, depart. Likewise, cornerback is also a deep position. A daily team observer says the Ravens figure to retain one of their starting corners from a season ago (UFA Chris Carr and potential UFA Josh Wilson). However, if both were to sign elsewhere, the Ravens probably wouldn't be lacking for potential veteran replacement candidates. However, not every position is as strong as guard and cornerback; for example, should the Ravens lose UFA QB Marc Bulger, it could be tough for them to find an accomplished veteran QB.
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The Zen Habits of Teen-agers
Post written by Leo Babauta. How do you improve your life and find happiness when you’re a teen-ager, and can’t control much of your life? You change what you can control, and let go of trying to control everything else. Several teen-agers have written to me recently, asking for a post on how to improve [...]
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Defensive lineman Delic to rejoin Kentucky football team
Nermin Delic, who decided to give up football three weeks ago, has decided to rejoin the University of Kentucky football team.
Former Kentucky player Brown named new coach at Clark Atlanta
Former University of Kentucky player Dale Brown has taken another step up the college basketball coaching ladder.
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'Thursday Night Lights' energize UK workouts
La'Rod King looks down at his left arm and shows it to the media hovered around.
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Thursday, July 14, 2011
Trainer Tells?More?About What I Have Learned in Health and Fitness
Without a doubt, my most popular article on the blog ever has been the Trainer Tells All post, with I can’t even tell you how many times it has been viewed (a ridiculously big number!).� People have asked for a “follow up”, which I always responded “Well I already told ‘all’, so what is left [...]
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Harrison apologizes for comments in statement
Steelers OLB James Harrison issued an apology on Thursday evening for his quotes in a magazine article where he insulted NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and teammates Ben Roethlisberger and Rashard Mendenhall; there was also controversy stemming from a photograph of Harrison holding two guns in the air that appeared with the story.
The statement by the linebacker was released on the Twitter account of reporter Josina Anderson.
Harrison's full statement follows:
"I'll start by offering my apologies for some of the words that I said during the four days in May that Men's Journal was invited to my house to discuss what the NFL has recently been portraying as their attempts at 'player safety' rules and regulations, and to cover my everyday workout routine.
"I did make comments about my teammates when I was talking about the emotional Super Bowl loss, but the handful of words that were used and heavily publicized yesterday were pulled out of a long conversation and the context was lost. Obviously, I would never say that it was all Ben's or Rashard's fault that we lost the Super Bowl. That would be ridiculous. Both Ben and Rashard are great players and great teammates. Clearly the entire team bears responsibility for the loss, me included. It was a team effort and a team loss. My teammates know me well, and hopefully understand the things I said were not meant to accuse them of the loss. We all have discussed several things that went wrong in the Super Bowl since that day. What I do apologize for and take full responsibility for is for speaking in such a candid manner to someone outside the team.
"I also need to make clear that the comment about Roger Goodell was not intended to be derogatory against gay people in any way. It was careless use of a slang word and I apologize to all who were offended by the remark. I am not a homophobic bigot, and I would never advocate intolerance of gay people.
"As far as the photo that was shown on air yesterday, collecting guns is a hobby of mine, and I advocate the responsible use of firearms. I believe in the right to bear arms. I like to go to the shooting range. I like to hunt. I like to fish. I could just as easily have posed with my fishing poles but it obviously wouldn't be an interesting picture for the magazine. I am not promoting gun violence by posing for that photo. There are also other photos in the magazine story that were not shown on air yesterday - including me with my sons, with my mom and as a kid.
"Unfortunately, the above items and other comments have detracted from the original purpose of the story - a position I have been advocating for some time now. If player safety is the NFL's main concern, as they say it is, they are not going about it in an effective manner. There's nothing about extending the season or issuing exorbitant fines on defensive players that makes any shift toward the prevention of injury to players.
"I believe that the league may have been feeling increasing pressure about injuries and concussions last year, and that they panicked and put rules in place that weren't fully thought out. I'm not advocating more flags and fines, I'm just saying that the current rules are not completely fair, and I don't believe in the way that the league is handling their position as overseer of the NFL and the well-being of its players.
"As far as the character and reputation hits I may suffer as a result of my comments in the article, I'll take those hits and more if it brings increased attention to the re-examination and installation of rules and regulations that would create a real impact on player safety."
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Week Nine confidence pool picks
This feature is designed to be helpful to readers who participate in office pools. Each Wednesday, the editors will make their selections, picking the teams they believe will win the games, without regard to the pointspread, and assigning a point value to each game. For example, in a week when there are 16 games scheduled, an editor will assign 16 points to the game in which he has the most confidence of the outcome (i.e., the most confidence that his pick will win the game), 15 points to the game in which he has the next-most confidence, all the way down to one point to the game in which he has the least confidence of the outcome.
| Matchup | Hub | Keith | Mike H | Dan A | Eric | Mike W | Dan P | Michael | Kevin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tampa Bay @ Atlanta | Atl. | Atl. | Atl. | Atl. | Atl. | Atl. | Atl. | Atl. | Atl. |
| 7 | 9 | 12 | 10 | 7 | 12 | 13 | 7 | 7 | |
| Chicago @ Buffalo (Toronto) | Chi. | Chi. | Chi. | Chi. | Chi. | Chi. | Chi. | Chi. | Buff. |
| 9 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 3 | |
| New England @ Cleveland | N.E. | N.E. | N.E. | N.E. | N.E. | N.E. | N.E. | N.E. | N.E. |
| 10 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 13 | 10 | 10 | 12 | |
| N.Y. Jets @ Detroit | NYJ | NYJ | NYJ | NYJ | NYJ | NYJ | NYJ | NYJ | Det. |
| 11 | 8 | 10 | 6 | 8 | 2 | 9 | 9 | 1 | |
| New Orleans @ Carolina | N.O. | N.O. | N.O. | N.O. | N.O. | N.O. | N.O. | N.O. | N.O. |
| 12 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 3 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | |
| Miami @ Baltimore | Mia. | Balt. | Balt. | Balt. | Balt. | Balt. | Balt. | Balt. | Balt. |
| 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 9 | 2 | 5 | 6 | |
| San Diego @ Houston | S.D. | Hou. | Hou. | S.D. | Hou. | Hou. | S.D. | Hou. | S.D. |
| 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | |
| Arizona @ Minnesota | Minn. | Minn. | Minn. | Minn. | Minn. | Minn. | Minn. | Minn. | Minn. |
| 8 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 12 | 10 | |
| N.Y. Giants @ Seattle | NYG | NYG | NYG | NYG | NYG | NYG | NYG | NYG | NYG |
| 5 | 11 | 6 | 7 | 11 | 5 | 11 | 8 | 11 | |
| Indianapolis @ Philadelphia | Phil. | Phil. | Ind. | Phil. | Phil. | Ind. | Ind. | Ind. | Phil. |
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | |
| Kansas City @ Oakland | Oak. | Oak. | Oak. | K.C. | Oak. | K.C. | Oak. | K.C. | K.C. |
| 3 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 4 | |
| Dallas @ Green Bay | G.B. | G.B. | G.B. | G.B. | G.B. | G.B. | G.B. | G.B. | G.B. |
| 13 | 10 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 8 | |
| Monday night Pittsburgh @ Cincinnati | Pitt. | Pitt. | Pitt. | Pitt. | Pitt. | Pitt. | Pitt. | Pitt. | Pitt. |
| 6 | 12 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 7 | 4 | 9 | |
| Tiebreaker: MNF total points | 48 | 43 | 45 | 43 | 39 | 42 | 37 | 41 | 43 |
| Points last week | 62 | 48 | 41 | 62 | 49 | 37 | 61 | 51 | 61 |
| Points season to date | 610 | 548 | 592 | 596 | 581 | 543 | 588 | 589 | 614 |
| Games won last week | 9 | 6 | 5 | 10 | 8 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 10 |
| Games won season to date | 73 | 70 | 72 | 72 | 68 | 62 | 67 | 69 | 79 |
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They Said It: week of July 11
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Agent Joel Segal, who represents free-agent WR Randy Moss, ensuring prospective buyers that his client is going to be an impact player this season: "Randy has been working out, two-a-days, all spring and summer in West Virginia. He is determined, motivated and quite frankly has a huge chip on his shoulder. Whatever team ends up getting Randy, they're going to know they're getting the old Randy Moss. He's not just coming in to be on the team, he's going to be Randy Moss — a difference maker."
Lions QB Matthew Stafford, discussing his surgically repaired throwing shoulder, as quoted on detnews.com: "Until we put the pads on and the helmets on, I'm not going to feel comfortable again. I know once I do it (put pads on), I'm 100 percent confident in my shoulder. I feel great. It feels as good as it's ever felt and hopefully this thing (settlement) gets done sooner rather than later and we can play football again." Added Stafford on his ascending team: "We did some great things in the draft and hopefully, when free agency opens up, we can add a couple more pieces and really go into this season fully loaded. If we can do that and stay healthy, the sky is the limit for this team. We have a ton of talent on offense and defense, and I'm just excited to get back out there and play the game I love with my teammates."
Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz, quoted on chicagotribune.com on his team being ready to play in the Hall of Fame game on Aug. 7 despite the lockout threatening the opening of training camp: "If we report to camp and they say, 'Tomorrow, you're playing the game,' that'll be plenty." Added Martz: "You don't do game plans for those games, anyway. It's not like a regular-season game at all. There's not a whole lot of game preparation. You look at personnel, things of that nature, and clean things up execution-wise. The preparation for preseason games, particularly the first one, is not real hard."
Cowboys WR Dez Bryant, discussing his maturation, as quoted on dallasnews.com: "Of course, there were problems. And it was some stuff that I didn't understand, that I do understand now, where it could have been a problem, and I feel like they've been taken care of. I really have looked over my past and, like I've said, I'm just ready to go. I've felt like I've matured as a man and I've got my priorities straight. I'm just ready to go out and do my job." Added Bryant on the speculation that he did not know all of the offensive plays last season: "I felt like all those were rumors. The only thing I found was the plays that I know are the plays Roy [Williams] knows. I know the plays Miles [Austin] knows. So I just feel like those were rumors."
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Hall of Fame CB Deion Sanders, quoted on aol.sportingnews.com on cutting the cord from Cowboys WR Dez Bryant: "It's hard to talk to a person when they have millions, man, because there is so much noise in their life. Everybody around them is employed and they have 'yes men.' You gotta start hiring a 'no man.' " Added Sanders: "I had to cut my umbilical cord with him because a lot of things people do not know about. I'm trying to open schools and get these kids prepared for the future, and I can't have that on my record saying that: 'How am I going to send my kids to your school, and this is what you are turning out over here?' No, I am not turning that out over there. … I love (Bryant). I see him from time to time. I pray for him, but as a unit we had to separate."
Giants S Antrel Rolle, discussing the time frame after the lockout is lifted for players to get into football shape, as quoted in the New York Post: "I'm in great shape right now. I wouldn't say I'm in great football shape, but I'm in great shape. The only thing that is going to prepare you to get into football shape is actually playing football, so once you get out there with the guys and run around and do a couple of drills and have a little contact. You know what I mean? We have been playing this sport of football for a long time. It's not going to take too long to get back into football shape and maybe a week-and-a-half, two weeks maximum." Added Rolle on the reports that the end of the lockout is nearing: "To be honest with you I have been hearing that it is going to get done in a week, two weeks, ever since the beginning of March, so I'm at the point right now that whenever it happens I'll be ready and whenever I get that call I'll be ready."
Free-agent QB Tarvaris Jackson, quoted on startribune.com on the rumors of another possible comeback from his old teammate, QB Brett Favre: "I think he is [retiring], but I don't know if he thinks he is." Added Jackson: "I ain't got to answer that stuff no more. Last year was kind of expected that Brett was going to come back. I didn't want him to, but he kind of surprised us at the end — at least he thought he surprised us. But I learned a lot from him."
Bears WR Devin Hester would love to see free-agent WR and fellow former Hurricane Santana Moss sign with the Bears, as quoted in the Chicago Tribune: "Anybody that can come in and help out the team, I'm down for it, and a guy like (Moss) can come in and really help out a lot. I'm hoping we can get him."
Free-agent DE Ray McDonald, quoted on sfgate.com on his desire to re-sign with the 49ers: "Before we left there was a good vibe amongst me and the coaching staff and the GM. They said they liked the way I played and want me back, so I'm just going off that. I want to be back here. I'm comfortable out here."
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Chiefs GM Scott Pioli, praising LB Mike Vrabel, who announced his retirement on Monday after 14 seasons, as quoted by The Associated Press: "His genuine love for the game, his preparation, his work ethic, leadership and dependability are qualities you want from every player. He is a champion in every sense of the word and I'm confident all of these qualities will make him a great coach. I cannot overstate my respect for him as a person and a football player.
49ers WR Josh Morgan, discussing how the use of multiple-receiver sets in new head coach Jim Harbaugh's offense will give defenses more to think about, as quoted on sfgate.com: "You can't just focus on me and [WR Michael] Crabtree. You can't just focus on (tight end) Vernon (Davis) neither. It will make you be honest as a defense. It will make you play us straight up."
Free-agent ILB Paul Posluszny, quoted in the New York Post on the possibility of landing with the Giants: "I love Coach [Perry] Fewell and the type of defense that he ran when we were in Buffalo, we had a good relationship together." Added Posluszny: "Actually I have an uncle that lives in the New York area and he just sent me a text the other day saying he's read on the Internet that the Giants are a possible spot for me. … the Giants, along with several other teams, there are some interesting opportunities out there, that's for sure."
Ravens LB Jameel McClain, discussing how the Baltimore defense suits his style of play, as quoted on philly.com: "It was like I was born into it. Because it's the way I play the game. You look at a Raven player, it's the way people have looked at my game my whole career from high school to college. It was a big surprise to me, because I thought the way I played was — 'Man, like why am I so intense?' But then I come to the Ravens, and I'm like, 'Everybody's just like me. Everybody's mentality is the same.' So it's exciting." Added McClain: "You know there's a standard. You know you've got to represent yourself when you're around such talented people. And at the end of the day, you've got to understand that you're not there by mistake."
Monday, July 11, 2011
Bengals CB Adam Jones, who was arrested early Sunday morning in Cincinnati and charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, quoted on lancastereaglegazette.com denying any wrongdoing: "The only thing I can do is be me and do what I'm supposed to do. I was not yelling at the police. I was not yell(ing) profanity at the police. And at the end of the day … I'm the bad guy."
Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald, discussing his contract status — Fitzgerald's current deal expires after the 2011 season — as quoted on startribune.com: "I try to put it like this. I have one more year left on my deal, my job is to try to help the Arizona Cardinals win a championship and that's my focus. I would like to play there. I've enjoyed my seven years there. If they want to keep me they're going to have the first option to keep me. If they don't, then obviously I have to find employment elsewhere."
Former Rams and Cardinals QB Kurt Warner thinks Cowboys QB Tony Romo has what it takes to lead his team to the Super Bowl, as quoted on USATODAY.com: "I believe Tony Romo's a top-10 quarterback in this league. I believe he has all the tangibles to be able take that team to the Super Bowl. I just think they need to figure out the pieces within the organization. You look at them — all kinds of talent — but they haven't been able to put everything together. And whether that's leadership, whether that's continuity, whether that's some changes that need to take place, I don't know what it is. But I don't believe Tony Romo's the problem. I think he's safe in Dallas for a long time to come, and I think he'll continue to succeed year in and year out because he's that kind of talent."
Giants LB Keith Bulluck, continuing the war of words between several members of his own team and Eagles RB LeSean McCoy, as quoted on philly.com: "I don't think that anyone on their team is irritated. I think it's something that he [McCoy] chose to do on his own. Twitter's an open format and you can get out there and say what you want. I bet (McCoy) wouldn't really have those same words for Osi (Umenyiora) if Osi was standing in front of him. I know he wouldn't have those same words. Internet gangster."
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Mark Story: A look at Kentucky's NBA first-round picks
New-employee kits for some recent college students with ties to the state of Kentucky who entered the working world as NBA first-round draft picks Thursday night: New employee: Enes Kanter (the 6-foot-11 center, who sat out last season at Kentucky after being ruled ineligible by the NCAA, was taken with the third pick of the first round)
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Word on the tweet: UK's Newton showing team he's ready to lead
Twitter messages are required to be 140 characters or less.
But often a big message can be sent in that tiny format.
Just ask University of Kentucky quarterback Morgan Newton, who learned that recently when he wondered in a tweet whether enough of his teammates wanted to get better.
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Report: Six owners to join Wednesday's talks
Six owners will join negotiations when players and owners resume face-to-face meetings on Wednesday. According to NFL Network's Albert Breer, Jerry Jones, Jerry Richardson, John Mara, Art Rooney, Robert Kraft and Clark Hunt will join commissioner Roger Goodell to represent the league.
Jeff Saturday, Sean Morey and Domonique Foxworth will be among the players joining NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith.
Since negotiations resumed in June, five owners present has generally been the norm for the league. All six owners expected to be present on Wednesday are on the league's labor committee. Reports indicate that the rookie wage scale is the biggest issue that has yet to be resolved.
Lawyers worked for about nine hours on Tuesday, continuing to work on language of a new Collective Bargaining Agreement on Tuesday.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the plaintiffs in the Brady vs. NFL case had a conference call in the late afternoon on Tuesday. It's not known what was said in that call.
An ESPN report on Monday pointed to the July 21 owners meeting as the date a new CBA could be ratified.
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Rams announce their camp will be at home facility
The Rams have announced that they will hold their training camp in St. Louis at their home facility instead of going to a college campus, the fourth team to do so as a result of the lockout. The Jets, Ravens and Giants announced previously their plans to not go away for their camps.
Earlier in the year, the Rams had considered moving their camp to a different location. Instead they will get ready for the season at the Russell Training Center, where they have held camp each of the past two years.
The team did not announce dates or times when their camp will start, saying instead that information is still to be determined. St. Louis is scheduled to play in the Hall of Fame game on Aug. 7, though that is in question depending on when the labor situation is resolved.
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Over-signing in football tops agenda at SEC Spring Meeting
BATON ROUGE, La. — Football and the numbers games within the game will take center stage this week during the annual Southeastern Conference Spring Meeting in Destin, Fla.As league coaches and administrators began arriving Tuesday, legislation was expected to be presented that will address ...
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Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Report: Six owners to join Wednesday's talks
Six owners will join negotiations when players and owners resume face-to-face meetings on Wednesday. According to NFL Network's Albert Breer, Jerry Jones, Jerry Richardson, John Mara, Art Rooney, Robert Kraft and Clark Hunt will join commissioner Roger Goodell to represent the league.
Jeff Saturday, Sean Morey and Domonique Foxworth will be among the players joining NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith.
Since negotiations resumed in June, five owners present has generally been the norm for the league. All six owners expected to be present on Wednesday are on the league's labor committee. Reports indicate that the rookie wage scale is the biggest issue that has yet to be resolved.
Lawyers worked for about nine hours on Tuesday, continuing to work on language of a new Collective Bargaining Agreement on Tuesday.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the plaintiffs in the Brady vs. NFL case had a conference call in the late afternoon on Tuesday. It's not known what was said in that call.
An ESPN report on Monday pointed to the July 21 owners meeting as the date a new CBA could be ratified.
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UK basketball notebook: AAU coach laments July 'cattle show'
Kaleb Tarczewski, a 7-footer from Southborough, Mass., had to decline interview requests at the Adidas Invitational in Indianapolis last week. "My coach doesn't want us doing interviews," he said.
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Word on the tweet: UK's Newton showing team he's ready to lead
Twitter messages are required to be 140 characters or less.
But often a big message can be sent in that tiny format.
Just ask University of Kentucky quarterback Morgan Newton, who learned that recently when he wondered in a tweet whether enough of his teammates wanted to get better.
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Britt pleads not guilty; trial set for September
Titans WR Kenny Britt pleaded not guilty at a New Jersey courthouse on Tuesday to three charges resulting from his arrest in June.
The receiver was charged with three disorderly person crimes, including resisting arrest. A judge set his trial for Sept. 20.
It has been a busy offseason for Britt, who has been arrested multiple times and had a lawsuit filed against him as a result of a fight. He also had to surrender to police in Tennessee on a warrant alleging he falsified information on his driver's license application.
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RB Jones takes leadership role with Chiefs
Following are whispers we've been hearing from around the league:
• One of the undisputed locker-room leaders of the Chiefs is RB Thomas Jones, and that has been apparent this summer, even as the team is locked out of their locker room. According to a report, Jones called some of his teammates "fat and out of shape" when the team met for some players-only workouts this summer. While the unconditioned players are a concern, having veterans like Jones step up as a de facto coach during the labor dispute is a positive for the team.
• Expect the Raiders to be one of the teams in the Plaxico Burress derby. The team needs a veteran wide receiver, especially one with size. There are questions about how much the club can offer the former Giants star who was in jail the past two years, but if they can fit him under the cap, Oakland could make Burress one of their top free-agent targets.
• Three of the Chargers' top inside linebackers could potentially be free agents, meaning general manager A.J. Smith has some decisions to make. We hear that Kevin Burnett is the clear-cut top choice for the team, and though there will be competition for Burnett, Smith is willing to pay big bucks to ensure the Bolts' leading tackler from 2010 returns. Re-signing Stephen Cooper and Brandon Siler are secondary options.
• With many holes to fill after winning four games a season ago, we hear the Broncos will target both a productive running back and depth on the defensive line when free agency begins. A source close to the team said that the Broncos have had several plans in place for months, and are ready to make free-agency decisions once the free-agency class is determined.
• The Patriots are known for taking other team's trash and making it their treasure. Well, the Buccaneers and GM Mark Dominik plucked a couple players off the Patriots' cutting room floor who have provided a nice impact in Tampa Bay. Recently, QB Josh Freeman talked to the Tampa Tribune about LB Tyrone McKenzie's emergence as a leader during player-organized workouts. The Patriots drafted McKenzie in the third round of the 2009 draft and released him from the practice squad last November. New England's sixth-round pick in 2010, C Ted Larsen, did not make the team's 53-man roster. The Bucs picked him up and the rookie went on to start 11 games for Tampa Bay.
• We hear 49ers rookie QB Colin Kaepernick has wasted no time raising eyebrows in players-only workouts with his strong arm. Sources on the scene cited one Kaepernick bullet that literally knocked free-agent WR Lance Long off his feet on one slant route. "He's got a gun," one close observer said of Kaepernick. "He's got a much stronger arm than Alex Smith. As a sophomore pitcher in high school, he was throwing a baseball 93 mph."
• Keep a close eye on 49ers free-agent WR Kevin Jurovich, who we hear might provide a surprise impact in the slot. Acquired by the Niners last season after the Eagles released him during training camp — word is the Niners had a very hard time choosing between 2010 sixth-round rookie Kyle Williams and Jurovich — Jurovich has made an impression with his understanding of the Niners' new offense in players-only workouts overseen by QB Alex Smith. "He's a very intriguing prospect," one team insider said of Jurovich. "He gives them that small, shifty slot they haven't had, and he has some return ability. And he can get deep, too."
• Even though the Cardinals' defensive line could be dangerously thin with so many free agents possibly splitting the scene, we hear it would be a mistake to assume sixth-round rookie DL David Carter will be force-fed the system at an accelerated pace. "He's a project. I don't see them counting on him too much right away," one team insider said of Carter, who started for only one season at UCLA and is being switched from tackle to end at the pro level. "It would be too much to expect him to participate much in the rotation."
• In recent years, the Cardinals have normally kept five safeties and four cornerbacks on the final roster. But after drafting CB Patrick Peterson in the first round in April, we hear the secondary breakdown could be reversed, with five cornerbacks and four safeties surviving the final cut.
• Neil Cornrich, agent for former Browns P Dave Zastudil, said his client is "100 percent" healthy after missing last season as he tried to recover from surgery on his right knee. Cornrich believes the time off helped Zastudil, who was waived off injured reserve last November. Zastudil, 32, posted a 39.1-yard net average in eight games in '09 before suffering the injury.
• Cornrich, who represents Browns PK Phil Dawson, whom Cleveland gave the franchise tag before the lockout, declined comment on if Dawson would sign the one-year franchise tender or if he preferred a multiyear contract. "We'll just have to wait and see what happens on that," Cornrich said.
• We're told that Lions general manager Martin Mayhew's emphasis in acquiring players with good character is a factor that could guide them in free agency. The feeling is Detroit will not take character risks.
• The Eagles have spent much of the offseason coming up with ways to improve their red-zone production and pass protection — the two things they identified as the biggest problems coming out of last season. They believe with improvements in these departments, the offense could be the league's best this season.
• From what we hear, nothing has changed in Mike Shanahan's mind about his QB situation: He still plans to go with John Beck as his starter. That could change whenever free agency starts, but it appears to be the direction the Redskins firmly are headed.
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Report: Rookie wage scale remains sticking point
One of the issues that both sides reportedly agreed upon, in principle, was a rookie wage scale. But a source told Pro Football Talk that the two sides are "at a stalemate" when it comes to the rookie wage scale.
Owners want five-year contracts for first-round picks, which would make it harder for the great players to get properly compensated, having to wait five years until free agency.
The league is concerned about the large amounts of money flowing to potential busts.
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Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Georgia offensive lineman commits to Kentucky
The University of Kentucky received its 12th commitment for the football class of 2012 on Tuesday when offensive lineman Jordan Watson of Fayetteville, Ga., reportedly pledged to the Cats.
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Kentucky running back Sanders expected to recover quickly after knee surgery
University of Kentucky running back Raymond Sanders, the team's starting tailback coming out of spring drills, underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Thursday but is expected to make a complete recovery in time for the start of fall practice in early August.
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49ers' new offense bodes well for Davis
Two seasons ago, the 49ers' Vernon Davis went from being an inconsistent, me-first performer to one of the first names mentioned among fantasy breakthrough performers after tying the single-season league record for most TD catches with 13.
Last season, while his numbers were significantly down after signing a new deal that made him the league's highest-paid tight end — he had 56 catches for 914 yards and seven TDs — Davis might have been a better, more complete performer than the previous season.
While still managing to lead the Niners in catches, receiving yards and TDs — the first tight end in franchise history to accomplish that feat — and register a career-high 16.3 yards per catch, which was the best average among NFL tight ends, Davis also had only a handful of dropped passes, after mishandling 13 passes the previous season.
He remained a huge big-play threat, particularly out of his signature seam route, hauling in 13 catches of more than 25 yards, which ranked first among NFL tight ends and tied for fifth in the entire league.
Davis also committed only two penalties, 10 less than the previous season, and he very willingly took on more of a leadership role in what could not have been a more tempestuous environment — the best example coming when he chewed out Niners WR Michael Crabtree in a late-offseason walk-through for displaying a less-than-stellar work ethic.
Both Crabtree, the Niners' projected No. 1 wideout, and Davis must adapt to the team's ninth offensive coordinator in nine years — Greg Roman, who followed new head coach Jim Harbaugh from Stanford.
Most close team observers suspect Davis will continue to be the Niners' most productive receiving weapon in a West Coast offense designed to get the ball to the receivers as quickly as possible for the following reasons:
• Crabtree continues to send shaky signals and has yet to show that he can be a consistent big-play threat the caliber of Davis, who has much better natural tools.
• Davis won't be double-teamed as much as he was early last season, when deep-threat WR Ted Ginn Jr. was out for a prolonged stretch with a knee injury.
• Harbaugh really loves to employ tall, athletic, versatile tight ends. He used three different ones (Coby Fleener, Zach Ertz and Konrad Reuland) to totally fluster Virginia Tech in Stanford's 40-12 Orange Bowl victory.
Of course, Harbaugh's affinity for tight ends also bodes well for the very talented and athletic Delanie Walker. The Niners' backup tight end had his moments last season — he had a team-high 80 receiving yards in a Week 10 win over the Rams — and he has lost 15 pounds this offseason in anticipation of being used more in the slot.
Is it possible Walker could steal some of Davis' fantasy thunder in 2011?
Even if he does, Davis should provide plenty of firepower as one of the league's most explosive fantasy tight ends.
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Lessons From The Road
Thanks to the Interstate Highway System, it is now possible to travel from coast to coast without seeing anything. - Charles Kuralt An Epic Journey Last week, I embarked on a journey. Those of you that are friends of mine on Facebook already know that I’ve moved 2200 miles from my hometown of Louisville, KY [...]
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RB Jones takes leadership role with Chiefs
Following are whispers we've been hearing from around the league:
• One of the undisputed locker-room leaders of the Chiefs is RB Thomas Jones, and that has been apparent this summer, even as the team is locked out of their locker room. According to a report, Jones called some of his teammates "fat and out of shape" when the team met for some players-only workouts this summer. While the unconditioned players are a concern, having veterans like Jones step up as a de facto coach during the labor dispute is a positive for the team.
• Expect the Raiders to be one of the teams in the Plaxico Burress derby. The team needs a veteran wide receiver, especially one with size. There are questions about how much the club can offer the former Giants star who was in jail the past two years, but if they can fit him under the cap, Oakland could make Burress one of their top free-agent targets.
• Three of the Chargers' top inside linebackers could potentially be free agents, meaning general manager A.J. Smith has some decisions to make. We hear that Kevin Burnett is the clear-cut top choice for the team, and though there will be competition for Burnett, Smith is willing to pay big bucks to ensure the Bolts' leading tackler from 2010 returns. Re-signing Stephen Cooper and Brandon Siler are secondary options.
• With many holes to fill after winning four games a season ago, we hear the Broncos will target both a productive running back and depth on the defensive line when free agency begins. A source close to the team said that the Broncos have had several plans in place for months, and are ready to make free-agency decisions once the free-agency class is determined.
• The Patriots are known for taking other team's trash and making it their treasure. Well, the Buccaneers and GM Mark Dominik plucked a couple players off the Patriots' cutting room floor who have provided a nice impact in Tampa Bay. Recently, QB Josh Freeman talked to the Tampa Tribune about LB Tyrone McKenzie's emergence as a leader during player-organized workouts. The Patriots drafted McKenzie in the third round of the 2009 draft and released him from the practice squad last November. New England's sixth-round pick in 2010, C Ted Larsen, did not make the team's 53-man roster. The Bucs picked him up and the rookie went on to start 11 games for Tampa Bay.
• We hear 49ers rookie QB Colin Kaepernick has wasted no time raising eyebrows in players-only workouts with his strong arm. Sources on the scene cited one Kaepernick bullet that literally knocked free-agent WR Lance Long off his feet on one slant route. "He's got a gun," one close observer said of Kaepernick. "He's got a much stronger arm than Alex Smith. As a sophomore pitcher in high school, he was throwing a baseball 93 mph."
• Keep a close eye on 49ers free-agent WR Kevin Jurovich, who we hear might provide a surprise impact in the slot. Acquired by the Niners last season after the Eagles released him during training camp — word is the Niners had a very hard time choosing between 2010 sixth-round rookie Kyle Williams and Jurovich — Jurovich has made an impression with his understanding of the Niners' new offense in players-only workouts overseen by QB Alex Smith. "He's a very intriguing prospect," one team insider said of Jurovich. "He gives them that small, shifty slot they haven't had, and he has some return ability. And he can get deep, too."
• Even though the Cardinals' defensive line could be dangerously thin with so many free agents possibly splitting the scene, we hear it would be a mistake to assume sixth-round rookie DL David Carter will be force-fed the system at an accelerated pace. "He's a project. I don't see them counting on him too much right away," one team insider said of Carter, who started for only one season at UCLA and is being switched from tackle to end at the pro level. "It would be too much to expect him to participate much in the rotation."
• In recent years, the Cardinals have normally kept five safeties and four cornerbacks on the final roster. But after drafting CB Patrick Peterson in the first round in April, we hear the secondary breakdown could be reversed, with five cornerbacks and four safeties surviving the final cut.
• Neil Cornrich, agent for former Browns P Dave Zastudil, said his client is "100 percent" healthy after missing last season as he tried to recover from surgery on his right knee. Cornrich believes the time off helped Zastudil, who was waived off injured reserve last November. Zastudil, 32, posted a 39.1-yard net average in eight games in '09 before suffering the injury.
• Cornrich, who represents Browns PK Phil Dawson, whom Cleveland gave the franchise tag before the lockout, declined comment on if Dawson would sign the one-year franchise tender or if he preferred a multiyear contract. "We'll just have to wait and see what happens on that," Cornrich said.
• We're told that Lions general manager Martin Mayhew's emphasis in acquiring players with good character is a factor that could guide them in free agency. The feeling is Detroit will not take character risks.
• The Eagles have spent much of the offseason coming up with ways to improve their red-zone production and pass protection — the two things they identified as the biggest problems coming out of last season. They believe with improvements in these departments, the offense could be the league's best this season.
• From what we hear, nothing has changed in Mike Shanahan's mind about his QB situation: He still plans to go with John Beck as his starter. That could change whenever free agency starts, but it appears to be the direction the Redskins firmly are headed.
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