Author: Anthony Stalter (Page 1423 of 1503)

Bills send McGahee to Baltimore

March 8, 2007 / Anthony Stalter

ESPN.com is reporting that the Bills have sent RB Willis McGahee to Baltimore for three draft picks. Buffalo will receive the Ravens’ third and seventh-round picks this year, as well as a third-round selection in 2008.

Baltimore needed to make a move for a back because Jamal Lewis signed a one-year deal with Cleveland on Wednesday. McGahee joins a crowded backfield that includes Musa Smith and former Bronco Mike Anderson, but presumably will be the starter.

The interesting thing now is whom Buffalo will go with. The Bills will soon bring in Dominic Rhodes for a meeting, but will have to compete with Tennessee for the former Colt. Another developing situation is in Green Bay, where the Packers are in need of a halfback after Ahman Green jettisoned to Houston. If Buffalo can land Rhodes, than Green Bay might have an easier time landing California RB Marshawn Lynch in the first round of next month’s draft.

NFL, NFL Draft

McGahee done in Buffalo?

March 7, 2007 / Anthony Stalter

As of Wednesday afternoon, Ahman Green and Travis Henry had found new homes, Jamal Lewis, Dominic Rhodes and Corey Dillon are still looking for new homes, and Willis McGahee may soon not have a home.

Green jettisoned Green Bay to sign a four-year deal with Houston while Henry, after being released by Tennessee, caught on with Denver. Lewis has a “take it or leave it” offer from the Ravens on the table, but is scheduled to meet with the Browns today and is not expected to re-sign in Baltimore. At one point, Rhodes appeared to be heading to New York to become a Giant, but instead is talking with Buffalo. Dillon also has a meeting set up with the Bills, which means McGahee’s days in Buffalo are likely offer.

The Bills have actively shopped McGahee since the start of free agency with Denver, Green Bay and Baltimore among teams interested. Before anyone wonders why Buffalo is willing to give up such a young talent in McGahee, let me highlight some points that I made on a previous post:

– He’s been slapped with three paternity suits from multiple women
– He has chosen not to take part in Buffalo’s offseason workout program
– He has often made noise about his contract
– Told Penthouse magazine that he thought the team should move to Toronto
– He’s had various nagging injuries that have limited him in games.
– Despite chewing up the yardage, hasn’t averaged over 4.0 YPC since ’04, when he was exactly at 4.0.

BUYER BEWARE.

NFL

Making sense of the Thomas Jones trade

March 6, 2007 / Anthony Stalter

Wait, the Bears gave up Thomas Jones plus their second round pick and got what? Only a second round pick?! Why the hell would the Bears give up Jones and a second rounder just to move up in the second round?

Well, when you actually think about it, the move works out well for the Bears seeing as how Jones wanted out of Chicago and the team was ready to make Cedric Benson the feature back. Jones was either going to be a very unhappy camper playing second-fiddle to Benson next year, or the Bears could trade up 26 spots and get a solid contributor next year. On the surface, it sounds like a bogus trade, but Jones will be a free agent in ’08 and wouldn’t be a Bear next year anyway, so why not get value for him? Plus, moving up 26 spots is no small move for a team. Watch what draft wizard Jerry Angelo does with that pick after finding gems Devin Hester, Mark Anderson and Lance Briggs in middle rounds of previous drafts.

For the Jets, what a deal this was for them. First and foremost, they get a guy in Jones who only has carried the rock 1,349 times despite already being 28. Jones is still an explosive runner, is a solid option out of the backfield and a tremendous locker room guy. Pair Jones up with a second year back in Leon Washington, and New York has the makings of a very solid backfield. Plus, the Jets didn’t lose a draft pick and actually still have two selections in the second round.

I’d give the edge to the Jets, but both teams made out in this deal

NFL

NFL Rumors 3/5

March 5, 2007 / Anthony Stalter

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.

NFL, Rumors & Gossip

Belichick covets Moss?

March 5, 2007 / Anthony Stalter

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.