Category: NFL (Page 770 of 1282)

      Julius Peppers unlikely to become a Patriot

      March 17, 2009 /

      Despite a report yesterday by NFL.com’s Vic Carucci, the NFL Network’s Adam Schefter and NBCSports’ Tom Curran says that the Panthers are unlikely to trade Julius Peppers to the Patriots.

      Julius PeppersCommunicating with two sources close to the “Peppers to Patriots” sandstorm that blew up suddenly Monday afternoon, I’ve learned…

      1. Julius Peppers would indeed be interested in playing for the Patriots.
      2. It’s a virtual certainty that he will not.

      The sources, obviously coming from different sides of the issue, didn’t go into greater detail beyond what I’ve shared .. no talk about contracts, salary cap, compensation back to Carolina or fits in the Patriots defensive scheme. That is, as they say, what it is.

      While the unlikelihood of the pieces falling together was something I looked at last night, Adam Schefter of NFL.com and the NFL Network was a morning guest on Boston’s WEEI and poured the first bucket of ice water on the notion.

      Turns out – as it often does – Schefter was pretty accurate.

      I wrote yesterday that since NFL.com was reporting the rumor, that the deal would likely get done. But I guess if it doesn’t come out of Schefter’s mouth, it probably isn’t true. Carucci doesn’t come off looking to good here.

      NFL, Rumors & Gossip

      Is LT running or being run out of San Diego?

      March 17, 2009 /

      Last week, the San Diego Chargers ended the LaDainian Tomlinson controversy by signing him to a new restructured three-year deal…or did they postpone an inevitable confrontation with their marquee star until next year.

      Under the new terms of his contract, LT will receive $6.75 million as his base salary for next season, with a large roster-bonus payment being owed in March of 2010. At that time, the Chargers will have to decide if they want to pay him for another year of service.

      Team President Dean Spanos played a large role in completing this contract agreement, as he couldn’t bear to see LT playing in another uniform this upcoming season. GM AJ Smith advised management that the team needed immediate salary cap relief in order to sign several key players (QB Philip Rivers, TE Antonio Gates, CB Antonio Cromartie) to future contracts, and felt they should zero in on Tomlinson’s contract.

      Smith hoped to use his abrasive managerial style to negotiate a restructured deal with Tomlinson. In a newspaper article (click here to read), he mocked LT’s wishes to remain in San Diego. Spanos had to step in and remove Smith from the negotiating team in order to complete this deal. Tomlinson publicly thanked him for his role in smoothing out their relationship during the process and also for their personal friendship.

      Tomlinson turns 30 this summer and is eager to prove his explosive running style has not left him just yet. Defensive coordinators from opposing teams would agree, as they still respect LT’s running ability enough to employ an eight-man front on first and second down last season. This allowed Rivers to blossom into an upper-echelon passer, as he exploited single coverage for over 4000 yards and 34 touchdowns last season. And Rivers did this without a legit # 1 receiver on the roster.

      The reports of LT’s demise are a bit premature, as he has only missed one regular season game in his career. Unfortunately, Tomlinson’s last two post-seasons have been cut short due to injuries. The uncertainty of his health raised the question if he would continue his career as a Charger. But the alternative is unthinkable for Charger fans…in their minds, he belongs in San Diego forever.

      NFL

      Does anybody want L.J. Smith?

      March 17, 2009 /

      At the start of the NFL free agency period, it appeared that free agent tight end L.J. Smith had two potential candidates to acquire his services: the Falcons and Lions.

      In early March, Smith visited the Lions, but left Detroit without a contract. He then traveled to Atlanta and this past weekend, ESPN reported that Smith had chosen the Falcons and that a deal would be worked out soon.

      But now the Atlanta Journal-Constitution is reporting that the Falcons have ended their talks with the free agent and won’t pursue Smith going forward.

      Smith’s options were down to Detroit and Atlanta. It seemed like the Falcons would easily be the winner. But Smith dragged his feet and the Falcons had a change of heart. In the end, they are a running team and Smith doesn’t block. That’s what football teams call “a bad scheme fit.”

      Ironically, on the same day the Falcons decided to end contract negotiations with Smith, the Lions signed tight end Will Heller, formally of the Seahawks.

      Chances are, Smith was asking for too much and the Falcons balked. There’s no sense overspending on a soon-to-be 29-year old tight end who doesn’t block and who comes with major injury concerns. Atlanta would love to give quarterback Matt Ryan a nice receiving target at tight end, but the draft is deep at that position this year so expect the Falcons to target one at some point next month. (Many will buy into the notion that the Falcons will go with Brandon Pettigrew in the first round if he’s available, but don’t forget that they have more pressing needs on the defensive side of the ball.)

      So where will Smith wind up? The Lions could still be an option, but they seemed to have moved on after Smith snubbed them for Atlanta. As of right now, there doesn’t seem to be much of a market for the free agent, even though he’s currently the best tight end on the market.

      Update: Apparently the Ravens wanted L.J…

      NFL

      Marshawn Lynch to be suspended 1-2 games

      March 17, 2009 /

      CBSSports.com is reporting that Bills’ running back Marshawn Lynch is expected to be suspended one to two games next season.

      Marshawn LynchLynch earlier this month pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor gun charge stemming from a Feb. 11 arrest in Culver City, Calif. According to the police report, Lynch was one of three men seated in a parked Mercedes Benz when he was questioned.

      At the time, he was charged with possession of a concealed firearm. But the felony gun charge later was reduced to three misdemeanors — with two of them dropped. Lynch was sentenced to three years of probation and 80 hours of community service.

      He also agreed to submit to police searches at any time.

      Now that he’s a Bill, maybe T.O. could help this kid get his life on track…

      …wait, what happened? I blacked out for a second.

      NFL

      Patriots trying to trade for Julius Peppers

      March 16, 2009 /

      According to Vic Carucci of NFL.com, the Patriots are trying to put together a trade package to acquire Julius Peppers from the Panthers.

      According to league sources, the Patriots and Panthers are hoping to complete the deal at some point between the March 22-25 NFL owners meetings and the start of the draft on April 25.

      Peppers, on whom the Panthers have placed a franchise tag that assures him of a one-year contract worth $16.68 million, would be converted to outside linebacker in New England’s 3-4 defense.

      The Patriots already were looking ahead to the possibility of acquiring Peppers when they shipped Cassel and Vrabel to Kansas City, NFL sources say, because they wanted to clear the salary-cap space necessary to sign Peppers to a new contract that would put him among the higher-paid defensive players in the league. After signing Cassel to a one-year, franchise-tag tender contract worth $14.65 million, New England had nearly $30 million in cap money devoted to two quarterbacks (including $14.62 million for Tom Brady).

      Once the Patriots were convinced that Brady would be fully recovered from the season-ending knee injury he suffered last year, they were comfortable with trading his replacement to the Chiefs and putting the wheels in motion to bolster a defense that has gotten particularly old at linebacker. Vrabel and fellow linebacker Tedy Bruschi are well into the twilight of their respective careers.

      NFL sources say the Panthers would welcome the chance to unload Peppers for a second-round draft pick, even though it would be well below his market value, because it would be less costly than signing a first-rounder. The Panthers already have made some belt-tightening financial moves within their front office.

      This, in part, could help answer the lingering question of why the Patriots were willing to take only a second-round pick for Cassel and Vrabel rather than possibly go for a higher choice as part of a three-way deal involving the Denver Broncos, who were ready to give up Jay Cutler for Cassel. Without an additional second-round pick, the Patriots might not be able to pursue Peppers.

      This isn’t surprising news because as the article states, a trade scenario involving Peppers and the Patriots has been rumored for some time now. But what is surprising is that the Panthers would be willing to take a second rounder for Peppers when the compensation for a franchised player is two first round picks. Now granted, if a team is willing to take less, then they can work out a deal for whatever compensation is agreed upon. But a second rounder for Peppers seems weak.

      If I’m Carolina, I’m demanding New England hand over the 23rd overall pick. There can’t be that much of a difference between paying the 23rd overall pick and the 34th overall pick (which the Patriots acquired from the Chiefs in the Cassel trade). But the talent level could be.

      Regardless, this is an interesting rumor and if NFL.com is posting it, I’m willing to bet a deal gets done. The league’s site doesn’t post any rumors on a whim. And if he does wind up in New England, it’ll be interesting to see how Bill Belichick uses Peppers as a 3-4 outside linebacker. He and Adalius Thomas could make one hell of a pass-rushing tandem. (If Peppers is motivated, that is.)

      NFL

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