Author: Anthony Stalter (Page 926 of 1503)

      Report: Raiders, Lions players lost at sea

      March 1, 2009 /

      The Tampa Tribune is reporting that Lions’ free agent Corey Smith and two Raiders’ players including special teamer Marquis Cooper are lost on a fishing boat in the Gulf of Mexico.

      The search includes an 87-foot cutter, two helicopters and two planes. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is expected to join the search of inshore waters on Monday.

      Coast Guard Capt. Timothy Close said current weather conditions are hampering search efforts. They are encountering 14-foot seas and 30 mph gusts with whitecaps making it difficult to spot a white boat, he said.

      The weather is expected to stay bad at least through Monday.

      About 10 a.m., the Coast Guard withdrew a 47-foot rescue boat that had been searching since 2 a.m. because the rough seas made it difficult to search effectively.

      The search started 50 miles offshore because a family member provided GPS coordinates of a place the men have fished in the past.

      The men left Clearwater Pass about 6:30 a.m. Saturday in a 21-foot, center-console boat with a single engine. They were expected back by Saturday afternoon or early evening. There was no contact between the boaters and their families during the day Saturday and the Coast Guard received no distress call.

      That does not mean one was not issued, just none was received, Close said.

      The Coast Guard was alerted about 1:30 a.m. today when the boat did not return as expected. The search started about 2 a.m., centered about 50 miles from Clearwater Pass. The search area covers about 750 square miles.

      I pray for the men’s safe recovery.

      NFL

      Giants beef up their defense with additions of Boley and Canty

      March 1, 2009 /

      The Giants signed two players over the weekend that should make their already stout defense even better.

      On Saturday, New York signed free agent linebacker Michael Boley (Falcons) to a five-year $25 million contract with $11 million in guaranteed money and on Sunday, the G-Men added defensive lineman Chris Canty (Cowboys) after agreeing to terms on a six-year, $42 million contract. (Canty’s deal also includes $17.25 million in guarantees.)

      Not many football fans have probably heard of Boley – especially not after he lost his starting job last year to Coy Wire. But before the Falcons hired Mike Smith to be their new head coach last offseason, Boley was on his way to becoming a Pro Bowl player. He didn’t fit into Smith’s defensive scheme so that’s why he fell out of favor in Atlanta, but he’s a young, athletic linebacker that could excel at the weak-side position in New York given the amount of talent that will be around him. He could become a household name next season.

      Canty, who stands 6’7” and weighs 300 pounds, is a massive defensive end best used in the 3-4. But the Giants could use him as a defensive tackle in a 4-3, or an end when they go to more 3-4 fronts next season. He joins an already stacked defensive line that includes Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck, so it’ll be interesting to see how NY plans on using all three linemen to wreak havoc on opposing offenses.

      The G-Men are quietly having a solid offseason.

      NFL

      Cowboys sign LB Keith Brooking

      March 1, 2009 /

      Keith BrookingAccording to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Cowboys have agreed to a three-year deal with linebacker Keith Brooking, who will play inside in Dallas’s 3-4 defense.

      Before this signing, Brooking had played his entire football career in the state of Georgia. He went to high school in the state, then went on to Georgia Tech before being drafted by the Falcons in the first round of the 1997 NFL Draft.

      Brooking has experience in Wade Phillips’ 3-4 defense, so this signing makes sense on the surface. But he has clearly lost a step over the past three years and for being such an intense player, he’s not that physical. He doesn’t meet blockers head on, instead choosing to use his speed to get around linemen and make tackles on the run.

      This certainly wasn’t a bad signing for Dallas because Brooking does have experience in this defense, is an outstanding leader and will do absolutely anything for the good of the team. He truly is one of the most professional players in the league and he did everything and anything the Falcons asked him to, including switching positions multiple times because of injuries to other players. He was also the last remaining player of the Falcons’ 1998 Super Bowl team.

      But at this point in his career, Brooking probably won’t be much better than Zach Thomas was last year for the Cowboys. It’s highly doubtful he sees the final year of his three-year contract.

      NFL

      Jay Cutler upset with Broncos after trade talks

      March 1, 2009 /

      In one of the more bizarre stories this offseason, Jay Cutler reportedly was almost traded by the Broncos in a three-team deal involving Matt Cassel, the Chiefs, the Patriots, the Lions, the Bucs, a milkshake machine, a monkey, a tricycle, a kazoo and a whistle.

      The deal obviously never went through because the Patriots agreed to send Cassel and linebacker Mike Vravel to the Chiefs for a second round pick, but apparently Cutler is now upset that his name was even brought up in a possible trade.

      Tampa approached Denver to try to make a three-way trade that would have sent Cassel to the Broncos and quarterback Jay Cutler to the Buccaneers. The Broncos entertained the notion and pondered it but ultimately decided against it.

      Also, the Lions approached the Broncos about a trade for Cutler, trying to dangle Cassel as bait. Once again, Denver debated the deal and opted against it apparently. What made it a moot point was that while all Tampa, Detroit and Denver engaged in trade talks with New Engalnd, the Patriots went ahead and dealt Cassel to the Chiefs.

      This is what Cutler said in response to the trade talks:

      “I’m upset. I mean I’m really shocked at this point,” he said. “I could see why they want Cassel. I don’t know if they think I can’t run the system or I don’t have the skills for it. I just don’t get it. Or if they don’t think they can sign me with my next contract. I just don’t know what it is. I’ve heard I’m still on the trading block.”

      According to ProFootballTalk.com, Cutler was as good as gone from Denver at one point, but you have to take what PFT says with a grain of salt because their unnamed sources only hit about 50% of the time.

      This is a wild rumor and if it’s true, it makes sense. McDaniels is more familiar with Cassel then he is Cutler and if he felt that Cassel gave the Broncos a better chance to win, then seeking a trade isn’t that far-fetched.

      And I don’t blame Cutler for being upset. His new head coach isn’t giving him a vote of confidence by trying to trade for Cassel, although Cutler also has to strap on the big boy pants and be a professional. Trades happen. If this rumor is true and the trade fell through, Cutler still has an obligation to the Broncos. Buck up, Jay.

      NFL

      Broncos sign Brian Dawkins to five-year deal

      February 28, 2009 /

      NFL.com’s Adam Schefter is reporting that the Broncos have reached a deal with free agent safety Brian Dawkins (Eagles) on a five-year, $17 million contract with $7.2 million guaranteed.

      Brian DawkinsDenver signs free agent safety Brian Dawkins to a five-year, $17 million deal that includes $7.2 million guaranteed. The contract also has escalators that could boost the value of the deal to $27 million over five years, but the deal also could be voided to two years, $9 million.

      Considering Dawkins is already 35 years old, chances are the two-year deal will be the one that comes into play. But even at 35, Dawkins has always remained in fantastic shape and the Broncos landed a true veteran leader. He’s always been one of the classier players in the league and here’s hoping he has a few more productive years left in him.

      It’s going to be weird not seeing Dawkins in a Philadelphia uniform next season.

      NFL

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