Author: John Blake (Page 5 of 6)

Nick Saban and the Miami Dolphins took a chance last season by signing pothead Ricky Williams off the streets and their taking a similar risk this season. They recently signed Virginia Tech QB Marcus Vick to a free agent contract. The Dolphins are welcoming Michael’s brother into camp as a “quarterback-wide receiver-specialist”. The younger Vick’s off the field issues have been well documented and was a large factor in him not getting drafted in April. However, Miami feels Marcus is worth the risk.

“As an organization, we did an enormous amount of research, including consulting with professionals in detailed, in-depth analysis to feel comfortable that giving Marcus an opportunity as a free agent is a risk worth taking,” Dolphins coach Nick Saban said in a statement released by the team.

Personally, after allowing Ricky Williams back on the team last year and now signing the troublemaker in Vick, the Dolphins are sending the wrong message to their team. Williams just up and left the team because he was more interested in smoking dope than playing football and Marcus seems to think he’s invincible because he’s Michael’s brother and he can do whatever he wants. It will be interesting to see if Marcus makes the team.

After the Texans’ miserable 2005 season and their controversial number one pick, Charley Casserly will step down as general manager of the team. Casserly took a lot of heat for passing on Reggie Bush and Vince Young, taking DE Mario Williams instead. He will officially resign June 1 and possibly pursue a job in the NFL’s front office.

“I have an interest in doing other things right now,” he said. “This was not an easy decision, but it was a decision I felt I had to make at this point in time.”

Casserly really screwed the franchise and the city over. Not only would taking Reggie Bush have been the right decision, it would have woken up a city that has witnessed the Texans sitting in the league’s cellar for most of its five year existence. Their fans finally would have someone to cheer for in Bush and would get a player that would make it worthwhile coming to the stadium. However, Casserly chose to go defense in Williams. Consequently, the fans and media have been outraged and they now find out they are losing their GM, which puts pressure on team president Bob McNair to find a replacement. Passing on Bush? Losing their GM? Sounds like they are headed in the right direction.

Cornerback Ricky Manning, Jr. was not picked up by his former team, the Carolina Panthers, and is able to sign with the Chicago Bears, who offered him a five-year deal worth up to $21 million. Manning was recently arrested for an alleged assault at a Los Angeles restaurant.

Because of the relatively modest compensation involved, Manning was an attractive target for a Bears team seeking to upgrade at cornerback. Veteran cornerback Jerry Azumah recently retired after battling injuries for two seasons. That left Chicago without an experienced No. 3 cornerback. The team’s starters are Nathan Vasher, who is coming off a Pro Bowl season, and Charles Tillman, considered a rising star until a difficult 2005 campaign.

He will bank about $7.5 million over the next 12 months on a creative deal negotiated by agents Jim Ivler, Bill Heck and Brian Mackler. The deal includes so-called “de-escalators” that could reduce its overall value if Manning is not a starter in the latter years of the contract.

Manning was a large part of the Panthers’ Super Bowl run in 2003 and would be a good fit in Chicago playing with Tillman and Vasher, two young solid corners. If I were a Bears fan, I would be a little concerned however that the team just signed a player with apparent character issues but if everything gets resolved and Manning is acquitted of the charges, I say pretty good move. The initial value of his contract in the first year seems a little steep for a nickel back but the de-escalator clause could help the Bears if things don’t work out down the road with Manning.