Month: March 2007 (Page 10 of 12)

Raiders looking to trade Lamont Jordan
Several reports, including Profootballtalk.com and Chris Brown from BuffaloBills.com, are reporting the Raiders are shopping RB Lamont Jordan because the team doesn’t want to pay him a roster bonus of $4.75 million. One problem, Oakland would have to pull off the deal by Wednesday, because that’s when the bonus is due. The more likely option is the Raiders will be forced to cut him and one team to watch out for is Green Bay, who just lost Ahman Green. The Packers want to give Vernand Morency more carries, but are likely to pair him in a two-back system with either a free agent or rookie.
Update: Jordan agreed to cut his roster bonus to $3 million and will be a Raider in ’07.

Lance Briggs wants out of Chicago
LB Lance Briggs, who was set to become a free agent before Chicago franchised him a few weeks ago, has stated he doesn’t want to play for the Bears in ’07. Briggs has said he likes the players, coaches and city of Chicago, but won’t play for the organization. I can’t blame Briggs for wanting out of a franchise that consistently proves to be cheap, but he might have hurt his stock elsewhere by opening his mouth. He’ll certainly command attention around the league, but teams are often hesitant on acquiring any player that makes waves. Either way, this situation is bound to get uglier before it gets better.

Kerney Seattle bound?
Denver and Seattle have heavily wooed free agent DE Patrick Kerney, but it appears the Seahawks have offered the more lucrative contract. I’m shocked that he hasn’t already re-joined former Falcons defensive line coach Bill Johnson in Denver, but obviously he’s waiting for the best deal possible. I love Kerney’s off the field workout regiment, leadership and hustle on the field, but I wrote last week that he also might be a potential free agent bust. He’s already 30, his sack totals have been fading since ’04 and is coming off major pectoral surgery. I think Kerney is a fine player, but I think his price tag is going to far exceed his production.
Update: Kerney signed a six-year, $39.5 million contract with the Seahawks Monday night.

Randy McMichael to be cut?
Profootballtalk.com is reporting that the Dolphins will cut TE Randy McMichael within the next few days. McMichael was rumored to be on the trading block late last week, but Miami needs to release him before his roster bonus is due on Wednesday. He’ll garner plenty of interest on the market for a team looking for a red zone threat. He isn’t the greatest blocker and struggled a bit last year catching the ball, but I’ve always felt that the Dolphins shoddy quarterback play has held him back over the past couple of years.
Update: McMichael offically released Monday.

The Boston Herald is reporting the Patriots are interested in Randy Moss. According to several league sources, head coach Bill Belichick has admired Moss for several years and thinks he can turn around his poor attitude. Just days ago, the Packers were rumored to be interested in Moss, but Oakland is looking for a first round pick and the Packers covet theirs at No. 16, especially now that Ahman Green has signed with Houston.

I’ll admit that I wasn’t too gun-ho on Moss to Green Bay, but let me play devil’s advocate on this latest rumor. If any team was going to take on Randy Moss, it’s the Patriots. New England has an established head coach, an extra first rounder, a winning franchise and veteran players like Tom Brady, Richard Seymour, Adalius Thomas and Rodney Harrison to keep Moss in check. Plus, the Patriots don’t do anything stupid when it coes to lofty contracts, so I doubt they make the trade before first asking Moss for a discounted price. Hey, you don’t want to take a pay cut to get out of Oakland and play for a respect franchise? Fine. Rot as a Raider, Randy.

His play is diminishing, but if Moss has anything left in the tank, I think Belichick and the Patriots are the one’s to coax it out of him. Just look at Corey Dillon, who was roughly the same age and had similar baggage as Moss when New England acquried him and turned him into a Super Bowl contributor.