Author: Anthony Stalter (Page 1382 of 1503)

The Pittsburgh Steelers signed safety Troy Polamalu to a five-year, $33 million contract with a $15,375,000 signing and roster bonus. The deal makes him the highest paid safety in the league.

I’m not going to dispute this deal one bit. Anyone who has read my stuff before, knows I believe a safety who plays the run as well as the pass is worth his weight in gold. Polamalu had injury issues last year, but nevertheless has been one of the best defenders in the league over the past couple seasons. He’s only 26, would have commanded a butt load of cash if he would have hit the open market next year, and in a era of ass clowns like Michael Vick and Pacman Jones, he’s been a total class act.

I’ve got no problem with a standup, hardworking player like Troy Polamalu being one of the highest paid safeties in the league.

Jay Glazer of FOX Sports is reporting NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has ordered Michael Vick not to attend Atlanta Falcons’ training camp this year.

“While it is for the criminal justice system to determine your guilt or innocence, it is my responsibility as commissioner of the National Football League to determine whether your conduct, even if not criminal, nonetheless violated league policies, including the Personal Conduct Policy,” Goodell said in a letter to the quarterback.

This was hands down the right decision by Goodell and the rest of the Falcons players should be grateful. Protesters already showed up at the Falcons’ training facilities in Flowery Branch today, with more likely to come when camp officially opens on Thursday. Owner Arthur Blank and the rest of the Atlanta organization couldn’t guarantee the right amount of security to protect all of its players, so there was no other decision to be made. With Vick absent, the media circus is still going to be horrendous, but it will pail in comparison to if the quarterback attended.

Warning to Michael: this is just Goodell’s warm up – plenty more is to come.

With all the trouble Michael Vick is getting into these days, apparently Falcons’ safety Jimmy Williams felt left out. Williams was reportedly charged with misdemeanor marijuana possession in early June according to a report from CBS 46 in Atlanta. He has of course stated his innocence.

On top of Vick and Williams’ issues, don’t forget that defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux was accused of killing his girlfriends’ dog (what’s with this team and cruelty to dogs?) in mid-February and may face a suspension himself. Throw in Rod Coleman and Demorrio Williams’ freak injuries, and I don’t think an NFL franchise has seen a more tumultuous offseason than the Falcons have. This was a team in the NFC Championship just three years ago, now it’s completely self destructing.