Category: NFL (Page 775 of 1282)

      Jay Cutler, Josh McDaniels situation getting worse?

      March 11, 2009 /

      One source tells ESPN.com that the Jay Cutler/Josh McDaniels situation has gone from bad to worse after the two had a meeting yesterday to air out any hurt feelings stemming from the Broncos attempt to trade the quarterback a week ago.

      The call was supposed to be a meeting of the minds between Cutler and the Broncos’ brass, in particular new head coach Josh McDaniels. The two got sideways Feb. 28 when word broke that McDaniels, the former New England offensive coordinator who replaced Mike Shanahan after 14 seasons, engaged in discussions about acquiring Matt Cassel from the Patriots in a three-way trade. Cutler had maintained the Broncos initiated the talks. McDaniels publicly said he was approached about a deal.

      The conference call was anything but genial and the two sides are now further apart than prior to it, the source said. The source added that the Broncos’ tone of the conference call was as if Cutler created the situation by asking for the trade and not the other way around.

      A Broncos source with knowledge of the discussions said that two sides did not grow further apart in Monday’s conference call and that issues were discussed openly and it was re-emphasized to Cutler he will not be traded.

      Okay, so one source said the call was a disaster while the other one said it went fine. Great…

      Not to kick a horse (pardon the pun) while it’s down, but none of this would have happened if the Broncos kept Mike Shanahan. Pat Bowlen wanted change and he got it. Now he has an inexperienced coach mucking up everything he touches, a pissed-off young quarterback and a franchise in a bit of disarray. The good thing is that it’s only March, so things could definitely straighten out by the time the season starts. But so far, McDaniels’ first couple months on the job have been a disaster.

      NFL

      Tomlinson to stay in San Diego with reworked contract

      March 11, 2009 /

      LaDainian Tomlinson and the Chargers were able to come together on a restructured contract that allows the running back to stay in San Diego.

      LaDainian TomlinsonThe deal, which concludes nearly two weeks of contract talks, will also allow Tomlinson to make the $6.725 million he was scheduled to earn this season. That amount was originally in base salary, but has been restructured to be part signing bonus and part salary to help the team create room under the salary cap. Tomlinson’s pay for this season had been a sticking point because his backup, Darren Sproles, is scheduled to make $6.6 million this season as a result of the one-year tender for being designated with the team’s franchise tag.

      As part of the deal, Tomlinson also reworked the final two years of the contract to help the Chargers. Tomlinson will reduce his base salaries of $8 million in 2010 and $9.275 million in 2011. Tomlinson will be able to earn the money back in incentives. In addition, some of his contract will be converted to a roster bonus payable in March 2010, forcing the Chargers to have to make an earlier decision on whether to keep him.

      “I love San Diego and being a part of this team with my teammates,” said Tomlinson. “My No. 1 priority was to stay here in San Diego. I truly believe this is the place that gives me the best chance to be successful and win a championship. I want to finish the job we started when I got here eight years ago. My heart has always been in San Diego. I couldn’t imagine putting on another uniform.

      “I really appreciate the role Dean played throughout this process. He made it work for everyone, and I appreciate his friendship more than he knows.”

      Good to see this deal get done. Just because LT didn’t put up LT-like numbers last year, doesn’t mean that he’s done. With a full offseason of rest, he can join Darren Sproles again in San Diego’s backfield next year and hopefully have a bounce back season.

      But what I want to know is – where is A.J. Smith in all over this? How big (or small) of a role did he have in re-working this deal?

      NFL

      Favorite team not making many moves? Don’t sweat.

      March 10, 2009 /

      With the first wave of free agency complete in the NFL, this is roughly the point in time where fans start having mental breakdowns regarding why their favorite team hasn’t made many moves.

      It’s because they’re smart, Junior.

      The draft is just over a month away and it appears that more and more teams have realized that you don’t build a core in free agency – you build it in April.

      Two offseasons ago, the 49ers signed Nate Clements, Michael Lewis and Tully Banta-Cain in free agency and all the experts bought into the idea that San Fran had dramatically upgraded its defense in one offseason. But then the games started and it was same old, same old for the Niners as they finished 5-11 and third in the NFC West. As it turns out, the players that San Fran had drafted high in previous years (Rashaun Woods, Alex Smith, Vernon Davis, etc.) didn’t produce.

      Last year, the Raiders made the biggest splash in free agency, signing Javon Walker and Gibril Wilson, while trading for young cornerback DeAngelo Hall, leading many to believe that they were heading in the right direction. After going 5-11 and finishing third in the AFC West, only Walker remains on the roster as both Hall and Wilson were released either during (Hall) or after (Wilson) the season. Not unlike the Niners, previous drafts had been the true demise of the Raiders.

      It was the Redskins turn to make the biggest splash in free agency this year (actually, this was the second time in three years that they made the biggest splash, because they did so in 2006 as well), signing Albert Haynesworth to a massive $100 million contract, agreeing to terms with guard Derrick Dockery and re-signing the aforementioned Hall. To make room for the three new comers, however, the team had to release starters Shawn Springs and Jason Taylor. How do you think the Skins will fare next season?

      If the Patriots, Colts and Steelers have taught the rest of the NFL anything over the years, it’s that having successful drafts are the key to building successful rosters – not adding a bunch of high-priced signings in free agency. Outside of the occasional big signing, none of those three teams make big splashes in free agency and they continue to be competitive year in and year out. That’s because the core of those three teams came from successful drafts and the ability to find prospects that fit their schemes and philosophies.

      This isn’t to say that free agency isn’t important, because it is. The Giants have made three excellent moves so far in free agency, adding Chris Canty, Michael Boley and Rocky Bernard. But they didn’t overpay for any of those players and none of the three were signed to be part of the main core. The three are just three pieces of the bigger puzzle – role players if you will. (Albeit starting-quality role players, but role players nonetheless.)

      The bottom line is that even though the bulk of free agency is already over, it doesn’t mean that your team won’t compete next year if it didn’t land Haynesworth, center Jason Brown or wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh. It just means that your team is gearing up for a successful draft, one in which will hopefully make it competitive over the long haul.

      Granted, if your team fails to put together a good draft, then it’ll be time to worry.

      NFL

      Rams bar Torry Holt and Orlando Pace from offseason programs

      March 10, 2009 /

      The Rams apparently told wide receiver Torry Holt and Orlando Pace not to show up to any offseason programs this spring.

      The Sports Xchange’s Howard Balzer reports that the Rams have uninvited Torry Holt and Orlando Pace from their offseason program.

      The Rams are trying to move on from the pricey duo, but this hurts their leverage in trade talks. Clearly, St. Louis isn’t open to bringing back either in 2009. Holt reportedly hasn’t heard from anyone in the organization since Steve Spagnuolo was hired as coach. It looks like Holt and Pace might both end up being released. Neither has been linked anywhere in a trade.

      It would be highly unwise for a team to trade a draft pick for Holt and Pace after this news. Both of these players are sure to be released soon and it’ll be interesting to see where they wind up. I’d be shocked if the Bears don’t try to make a play for Holt, who would be a quality addition to a receiving corps in desperate need of a boost.

      NFL

      UFL commissioner wants Michael Vick to play in new league

      March 10, 2009 /

      The United Football League is hoping to debut in August of this year and maybe attract a fan or two. UFL Commissioner Michael Huyghue figures one way to do that is to recruit a big name from prison, err, the NFL.

      Michael VickLast year, UFL Commissioner Michael Huyghue was candid regarding his league’s desire to offer an opportunity to Falcons quarterback Mike Vick, who might very well be suspended for a year (or more) after being released from federal custody in July. Last month, Huyghue backed off considerably, suggesting that the UFL would bow to the will of the fans. Are there any? Apparently, there are — and Huyghue apparently has consulted with them. And they apparently want Vick. According to Howard Balzer of the Sports Xchange, the UFL is believed to be plotting a run at Vick. The only potential impediment would come from a decision by the Falcons, if they don’t release him, to invoke the language in his contract preventing him from playing in any other league while on suspension. But assuming the Falcons don’t cut Vick, perhaps they’d be able to conjure a trade market for 2010 by letting Vick run circles around the slappies that will be populating the UFL.

      It won’t matter if the UFL gets Vick, Joe Montana and Hershel Walker to play – it’s doomed. I don’t understand why these leagues think they can compete with the NFL. Why would you start your season in August with the NFL starting its season in September? If you want to have any chance of succeeding, play in the spring when people are in their Super Bowl hangover and would watch any kind of football. It just doesn’t make any sense to go head to head with the most popular league in the world.

      That said, trying to lure Vick to playing in the league isn’t a bad idea by Huyghue. He has a new product and needs to draw attention to it – any form of attention. Regardless of whether or not people hate him, they’ll still tune in to see how Vick will look in pads again. It’ll be interesting to see whether or not the Falcons release him by that point and he catches on with the new league.

      NFL

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