With speculation mounting that the Detroit Lions are interested in signing New Orleans Saints restricted free agent defensive tackle Anthony Hargrove to an offer sheet, WWL-TV in New Orleans is reporting that Hargrove will sign his tender from the Saints on Monday.
Tendered at the original round level, the Saints would have had the right to match any offer for Hargrove, or receive a third round pick as compensation.
The former St. Louis Rams draft pick has had numerous off-field problems during his career, including being suspended for the entire 2008 season due to substance abuse. Hargrove experienced a renaissance with the Saints however, recording 42 tackles and five sacks last season.
As shown on NFL Network's Super Bowl Journey, Hargrove became a leader for the Saints defense last season, and his life and career are now on the right track.
Hargrove will make $1.226 million in 2010.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Report: Lynch wants a new home
Buffalo Bills running back Marshawn Lynch may be interested in finding a new home next season, according to a report from Mark Gaughan of The Buffalo News.
Though Gaughan has no hard evidence, he says that the locker room chatter is that Lynch "would not be disappointed at all if he were shipped elsewhere."
Considering Fred Jackson took over the starting tailback role last season, this is hardly surprising news. Since his rookie campaign in which he wowed everyone who saw him, Lynch has started to fall out of favor in Buffalo. His run-ins with the law have not helped the situation, and his four game suspension at the beginning of last season made Jackson the starter, and Jackson took advantage of it. As the backup to Jackson, Lynch rushed for 450 yards and two touchdowns in 2009.
With three years left on his rookie contract, Lynch likely isn't going anywhere this offseason.
Though Gaughan has no hard evidence, he says that the locker room chatter is that Lynch "would not be disappointed at all if he were shipped elsewhere."
Considering Fred Jackson took over the starting tailback role last season, this is hardly surprising news. Since his rookie campaign in which he wowed everyone who saw him, Lynch has started to fall out of favor in Buffalo. His run-ins with the law have not helped the situation, and his four game suspension at the beginning of last season made Jackson the starter, and Jackson took advantage of it. As the backup to Jackson, Lynch rushed for 450 yards and two touchdowns in 2009.
With three years left on his rookie contract, Lynch likely isn't going anywhere this offseason.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Cardinals sign Feeley
The Arizona Cardinals have lost a number of star players this offseason, including Kurt Warner and Anquan Boldin. But can they deal with the loss of Neil Rackers?
Cardinals fans may have to deal with that question. In a move first reported by the Newark Star-Ledger, Jay Feeley has agreed to a two-year deal with the NFC West club, ending Rackers' stay in Arizona.
Feeley was solid for the New York Jets last season, connecting on 30-of-36 attempts, including a streak of 24 made field goals. Rackers conversely made 16-of-17 field goal attempts last year.
The Cardinals and Rackers were reportedly working on a new contract, but that seems to be irrelevant now that Feeley is a member of the team.
Cardinals fans may have to deal with that question. In a move first reported by the Newark Star-Ledger, Jay Feeley has agreed to a two-year deal with the NFC West club, ending Rackers' stay in Arizona.
Feeley was solid for the New York Jets last season, connecting on 30-of-36 attempts, including a streak of 24 made field goals. Rackers conversely made 16-of-17 field goal attempts last year.
The Cardinals and Rackers were reportedly working on a new contract, but that seems to be irrelevant now that Feeley is a member of the team.
Parkers joins Redskins
Apparently, you can never have enough over-the-hill running backs. At least that's what Mike Shanahan believes, as evidenced by the Washington Redskins signing of former Pittsburgh Steelers star Willie Parker.
Parker, 29, signed a one-year deal with the team today, joining a backfield that already includes Clinton Portis and Larry Johnson.
Much like Johnson's three-year deal, Parker signed a deal that, with incentives, could be worth up to $3.1 million. Parker rushed for just 389 yards last season as Rashard Mendhenhall took over the work load in Pittsburgh.
How Parker will fits into the Redskins plan is anyone's guess, but conventional wisdom says the Redskins don't plan on keeping all three running backs. Since Shanahan has indicated that Portis will be the team's starter, it could mean that Parker will be battling Johnson for a roster spot. If it comes down to that, it could be one of the most intriguing training camp stories to follow this offseason.
Much like Johnson's three-year deal, Parker signed a deal that, with incentives, could be worth up to $3.1 million. Parker rushed for just 389 yards last season as Rashard Mendhenhall took over the work load in Pittsburgh.
How Parker will fits into the Redskins plan is anyone's guess, but conventional wisdom says the Redskins don't plan on keeping all three running backs. Since Shanahan has indicated that Portis will be the team's starter, it could mean that Parker will be battling Johnson for a roster spot. If it comes down to that, it could be one of the most intriguing training camp stories to follow this offseason.
Rodgers "remorseful" after arrest
Shaun Rodgers was released from jail today after posting $1,000 bail.
The Cleveland Browns nose tackle was arrested Thursday night for allegedly carrying a loaded gun into an airport. Rodgers is facing a fourth-degree felony charge, and intends on pleading not guilty. After being released, Rodgers made a statement to reporters, saying: "By no means did I intend or willingly or knowingly take a firearm into the airport," he said. "That's not something I would do."
"I'm truly remorseful, and I really can't put into words how unfortunate the incident is," Rogers said. "Again, I'm completely sorry."
What this does to Rodgers' status with the team is not known, and team president Mike Holmgren said that he would not comment "until the legal process has taken its course."
Though Rodgers claims that he did not know his gun was in his luggage, it's a mistake that should not be taken lightly. Commissioner Rodger Goodell has come down hard on all incidents involving the law, and this is not a minor one. Goodell always mentions the "integrity" of the league, and this does nothing to help it. As a result, a suspension is not out of the question.
As the AP report mentions, Rodgers is arguably the Browns' best player, though Josh Cribbs' likely would have something to say to that.
The Cleveland Browns nose tackle was arrested Thursday night for allegedly carrying a loaded gun into an airport. Rodgers is facing a fourth-degree felony charge, and intends on pleading not guilty. After being released, Rodgers made a statement to reporters, saying: "By no means did I intend or willingly or knowingly take a firearm into the airport," he said. "That's not something I would do."
"I'm truly remorseful, and I really can't put into words how unfortunate the incident is," Rogers said. "Again, I'm completely sorry."
What this does to Rodgers' status with the team is not known, and team president Mike Holmgren said that he would not comment "until the legal process has taken its course."
Though Rodgers claims that he did not know his gun was in his luggage, it's a mistake that should not be taken lightly. Commissioner Rodger Goodell has come down hard on all incidents involving the law, and this is not a minor one. Goodell always mentions the "integrity" of the league, and this does nothing to help it. As a result, a suspension is not out of the question.
As the AP report mentions, Rodgers is arguably the Browns' best player, though Josh Cribbs' likely would have something to say to that.
Adams, Hamlin released by Cowboys
Two members of the Dallas Cowboys have hit the free agent market. The team announced today that left tackle Flozell Adams and safety Ken Hamlin have been released.
Adams, a five-time pro bowler, was a stalwart at the position for 12 years. He signed a $43 million deal in 2008, and his productivity has been in decline ever since. Adams has recently found himself near of the top of the list in most penalties, and his age (34) seems to be catching up with him. Still, he gave the Cowboys great protection for a number of years.
“We will always be grateful for his outstanding durability, dependability and contributions to this team,” said owner Jerry Jones in a statement released by the team. “I don’t know that you could ask for any more than what Flozell Adams gave to the Dallas Cowboys for 12 seasons.”
Adams was due to receive a base salary of $5.0 million this season, something that not even Jones was willing to pay. Reserve tackle Doug Free is expected to take over for Adams, if the Cowboys do not address the position through the draft.
As for Hamlin, he failed to live up to the big money contract that was given to him after his breakout season in 2007 in which he registered 102 tackles, five interceptions and a Pro Bowl appearance. The Cowboys could not justify paying him the $5.5 million he was set to earn in 2010.
Adams, a five-time pro bowler, was a stalwart at the position for 12 years. He signed a $43 million deal in 2008, and his productivity has been in decline ever since. Adams has recently found himself near of the top of the list in most penalties, and his age (34) seems to be catching up with him. Still, he gave the Cowboys great protection for a number of years.
“We will always be grateful for his outstanding durability, dependability and contributions to this team,” said owner Jerry Jones in a statement released by the team. “I don’t know that you could ask for any more than what Flozell Adams gave to the Dallas Cowboys for 12 seasons.”
Adams was due to receive a base salary of $5.0 million this season, something that not even Jones was willing to pay. Reserve tackle Doug Free is expected to take over for Adams, if the Cowboys do not address the position through the draft.
As for Hamlin, he failed to live up to the big money contract that was given to him after his breakout season in 2007 in which he registered 102 tackles, five interceptions and a Pro Bowl appearance. The Cowboys could not justify paying him the $5.5 million he was set to earn in 2010.
Sproles signs tender
Coming into this offseason, San Diego Chargers running back Darren Sproles presumably had one goal in mind: sign a long-term deal. Thanks to the lack of a collective bargaining agreement and the Chargers placing the highest possible tender on him, that won't happen.
According to ESPN's John Clayton, Sproles today signed his one-year tender, which will keep him in San Diego at a base salary of $7.2813 million.
As a backup to LaDainian Tomlinson last season, Sproles rushed for 343 yards and 3 touchdowns. Sproles is also an excellent receiver, and last season he had 45 receptions for 497 yards. The Chargers will likely turn to this month's draft to add depth to the position. Sproles is not considered to be an every-down back, and adding too many carries to his workload could hamper his ability as a punt and kickoff returner.
As a backup to LaDainian Tomlinson last season, Sproles rushed for 343 yards and 3 touchdowns. Sproles is also an excellent receiver, and last season he had 45 receptions for 497 yards. The Chargers will likely turn to this month's draft to add depth to the position. Sproles is not considered to be an every-down back, and adding too many carries to his workload could hamper his ability as a punt and kickoff returner.
Rams must take Bradford for the right reasons
The St. Louis Rams have a tough decision on their hands. Holding the No.1 overall pick in this month's draft, the Rams must decide who they want to become their future face of the franchise. It's obviously a big decision -- one that can get a general manager and head coach fired. Three weeks from today, the Rams must send in the their pick.
Just one month ago, experts and draftniks generally agreed that former Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh should be the Rams' pick. Not since Reggie White has a defensive player this dominant come out of college, they said. And dominant he was. Suh registered 12 sacks in 2009, good enough to be tied for the fourth most in the country.
Personally, I have a huge problem with taking a defensive tackle with the first overall pick. Quarterbacks win games in the NFL, which is why they are paid the most money. Never have I come away from a Super Bowl believing that a defensive tackle was the reason a team won it all. Obviously, a large number of quarterbacks have made their marks in Super Bowl games. Moreover, with all of the money that the No.1 overall pick is commanding these days, it doesn't seem to make financial sense to pay a defensive tackle $40 million in guaranteed money. The Rams need a quarterback to turn around the franchise. While defensive tackle is a position that the Rams must address, it is not as important as finding a quarterback.
And this leads me to Bradford. Recently, all the talk regarding the Rams pick has centered around Bradford, who is now fully recovered from the shoulder injury he suffered during his last season at Oklahoma. Bradford received raving reviews from his pro day, where he threw just one incompletion. Many personnel gurus came away extremely impressed, including NFL.com's Gil Brandt, who said it was "one of the best individual workouts I've seen in a long time." Now, a pro day is a pro day, and I'm not someone who is going to overreact to a performance from a quarterback who has wearing a t-shirt and shorts. But what the workout did do was debunk any concerns regarding the shoulder, and that will make it easier for the Rams to take Bradford should they go that route.
If the Rams do decide to select Bradford, they need to make sure they are doing it for the right reasons. Some fans believe that the Rams must take Bradford because they passed up on Matt Ryan and Mark Sanchez over the last two drafts. Wrong. If that's how the Rams are going to operate, they might as well stop being a franchise. The Rams need to select Bradford because they believe he is the best player in this year's draft. If he's not, then they need to go in a different direction.
As I mentioned earlier, this pick will help shape the Steve Spagnuolo/Billy Devaney regime. The organization must be absolutely sure that Bradford is the player that they want to spend over $40 million on.
It's not an easy decision, especially if the building is split between Suh and Bradford. But when the Rams send in their pick on the 22nd, they better be damn confident in their choice.
Just one month ago, experts and draftniks generally agreed that former Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh should be the Rams' pick. Not since Reggie White has a defensive player this dominant come out of college, they said. And dominant he was. Suh registered 12 sacks in 2009, good enough to be tied for the fourth most in the country.
Personally, I have a huge problem with taking a defensive tackle with the first overall pick. Quarterbacks win games in the NFL, which is why they are paid the most money. Never have I come away from a Super Bowl believing that a defensive tackle was the reason a team won it all. Obviously, a large number of quarterbacks have made their marks in Super Bowl games. Moreover, with all of the money that the No.1 overall pick is commanding these days, it doesn't seem to make financial sense to pay a defensive tackle $40 million in guaranteed money. The Rams need a quarterback to turn around the franchise. While defensive tackle is a position that the Rams must address, it is not as important as finding a quarterback.
And this leads me to Bradford. Recently, all the talk regarding the Rams pick has centered around Bradford, who is now fully recovered from the shoulder injury he suffered during his last season at Oklahoma. Bradford received raving reviews from his pro day, where he threw just one incompletion. Many personnel gurus came away extremely impressed, including NFL.com's Gil Brandt, who said it was "one of the best individual workouts I've seen in a long time." Now, a pro day is a pro day, and I'm not someone who is going to overreact to a performance from a quarterback who has wearing a t-shirt and shorts. But what the workout did do was debunk any concerns regarding the shoulder, and that will make it easier for the Rams to take Bradford should they go that route.
If the Rams do decide to select Bradford, they need to make sure they are doing it for the right reasons. Some fans believe that the Rams must take Bradford because they passed up on Matt Ryan and Mark Sanchez over the last two drafts. Wrong. If that's how the Rams are going to operate, they might as well stop being a franchise. The Rams need to select Bradford because they believe he is the best player in this year's draft. If he's not, then they need to go in a different direction.
As I mentioned earlier, this pick will help shape the Steve Spagnuolo/Billy Devaney regime. The organization must be absolutely sure that Bradford is the player that they want to spend over $40 million on.
It's not an easy decision, especially if the building is split between Suh and Bradford. But when the Rams send in their pick on the 22nd, they better be damn confident in their choice.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
McNabb deserves better
Donovan McNabb has led the Philadelphia Eagles to five NFC Championship Games and one Super Bowl appearance, and this is how the franchise is treating him?
McNabb has been not a good, but great, quarterback for the Eagles. He has done almost everything the team has asked of him. And now, with the Eagles offense looking like one of the best in the NFL, it is all-but-inevitable that the team will trade him. According to reports, the leading candidate to land McNabb is none other than arguably the worst franchise in the league, the Oakland Raiders. That doesn't seem fair to McNabb. But when you look closer, McNabb has never been treated fairly by this organization.
From the day he was drafted, Eagles fans haven't respected McNabb, going so far as to boo him as he was announced as the Eagles draft pick by NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue. Through it all, McNabb has been as graceful as possible, never calling out Eagles fans for being the jerks that they are.
McNabb has broken every Philadelphia passing record of note, and should go down as the greatest quarterback ever to don a Eagles jersey. At 33 years old, McNabb is a franchise quarterback in the prime of his athletic career, and the Eagles are looking to trade him. How does that make sense?
Yes, McNabb never has been able to win a Super Bowl, but not that many quarterbacks have. To lead a team to five Conference Championship games is quite an achievement, one that Eagles fans should appreciate. Instead, the general consensus is that McNabb is a bum, and the team must trade him immediately if it ever wants to win a Super Bowl. The problem is that there is no guarantee that the team will get better if McNabb is traded.
Nearly everyone in the Eagles organization believes that Kevin Kolb is the future of the Eagles franchise, and I have no problem with that thinking. When McNabb went down with a rib injury last season, Kolb looked excellent in two starts against the New Orleans Saints and Kansas City Chiefs, respectively. He threw for 391 yards and two touchdowns against the Saints, and proceeded to throw for 327 yards and two touchdowns against the Chiefs. Just 25 years old, Kolb certainly would appear to be the future. But two games worth of film isn't enough to prove that he will be better than McNabb; McNabb has 11 years worth of statistics that show he is one of the league's best.
All throughout his career, McNabb has never had great pieces around him offensively. Things have now changed, with DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, Brent Celek and LeSean McCoy forming a young nucleus that has the chance to do some great things for the Eagles. The time to win is now, and McNabb provides the team with the best opportunity to do that.
Instead, the Eagles believe it is time to cut ties with McNabb. A number of teams reportedly want McNabb, as they should. After all, everyone but the Eagles seems to believe this guy can still get it done. With so many teams reportedly interested, the Eagles should be demanding the world for him, right? Wrong. He's available for a high second round pick, according to multiple outlets. Multiple outlets are also reporting that McNabb would prefer to stay in Philadelphia and does not want to play for Oakland, but that doesn't matter to the Eagles. After all he has given to this organization, they are willing to send him to Al Davis' insane asylum, against his wishes.
When McNabb was benched at halftime of a game against the Baltimore Ravens two years ago, Andy Reid seemed to permanently damage the relationship between coach and quarterback. How could Reid have benched McNabb in a game the Eagles were still in? McNabb deserves better than Reid, who like the rest of the city doesn't seem to appreciate all McNabb has done for this franchise. Without McNabb, Reid likely would have been fired years ago.
For Donovan's sake, I hope he gets traded. He has always been an excellent quarterback for the Eagles, and deserves to go to a place where his talents are respected and celebrated. He may not love the idea of going to Oakland -- who would -- but Raiders fans would love and adore him in the Silver and Black. He deserves to go to a city can logically look at the game of football and realize that it takes more than a good quarterback to win a championship. Should he end up on a team in the NFC, I hope he comes back to torment the Eagles and make them regret the day they traded away a franchise quarterback in his prime.
Should McNabb win a championship with another team, justice will have been served. He deserves it.
McNabb has been not a good, but great, quarterback for the Eagles. He has done almost everything the team has asked of him. And now, with the Eagles offense looking like one of the best in the NFL, it is all-but-inevitable that the team will trade him. According to reports, the leading candidate to land McNabb is none other than arguably the worst franchise in the league, the Oakland Raiders. That doesn't seem fair to McNabb. But when you look closer, McNabb has never been treated fairly by this organization.
From the day he was drafted, Eagles fans haven't respected McNabb, going so far as to boo him as he was announced as the Eagles draft pick by NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue. Through it all, McNabb has been as graceful as possible, never calling out Eagles fans for being the jerks that they are.
McNabb has broken every Philadelphia passing record of note, and should go down as the greatest quarterback ever to don a Eagles jersey. At 33 years old, McNabb is a franchise quarterback in the prime of his athletic career, and the Eagles are looking to trade him. How does that make sense?
Yes, McNabb never has been able to win a Super Bowl, but not that many quarterbacks have. To lead a team to five Conference Championship games is quite an achievement, one that Eagles fans should appreciate. Instead, the general consensus is that McNabb is a bum, and the team must trade him immediately if it ever wants to win a Super Bowl. The problem is that there is no guarantee that the team will get better if McNabb is traded.
Nearly everyone in the Eagles organization believes that Kevin Kolb is the future of the Eagles franchise, and I have no problem with that thinking. When McNabb went down with a rib injury last season, Kolb looked excellent in two starts against the New Orleans Saints and Kansas City Chiefs, respectively. He threw for 391 yards and two touchdowns against the Saints, and proceeded to throw for 327 yards and two touchdowns against the Chiefs. Just 25 years old, Kolb certainly would appear to be the future. But two games worth of film isn't enough to prove that he will be better than McNabb; McNabb has 11 years worth of statistics that show he is one of the league's best.
All throughout his career, McNabb has never had great pieces around him offensively. Things have now changed, with DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, Brent Celek and LeSean McCoy forming a young nucleus that has the chance to do some great things for the Eagles. The time to win is now, and McNabb provides the team with the best opportunity to do that.
Instead, the Eagles believe it is time to cut ties with McNabb. A number of teams reportedly want McNabb, as they should. After all, everyone but the Eagles seems to believe this guy can still get it done. With so many teams reportedly interested, the Eagles should be demanding the world for him, right? Wrong. He's available for a high second round pick, according to multiple outlets. Multiple outlets are also reporting that McNabb would prefer to stay in Philadelphia and does not want to play for Oakland, but that doesn't matter to the Eagles. After all he has given to this organization, they are willing to send him to Al Davis' insane asylum, against his wishes.
When McNabb was benched at halftime of a game against the Baltimore Ravens two years ago, Andy Reid seemed to permanently damage the relationship between coach and quarterback. How could Reid have benched McNabb in a game the Eagles were still in? McNabb deserves better than Reid, who like the rest of the city doesn't seem to appreciate all McNabb has done for this franchise. Without McNabb, Reid likely would have been fired years ago.
For Donovan's sake, I hope he gets traded. He has always been an excellent quarterback for the Eagles, and deserves to go to a place where his talents are respected and celebrated. He may not love the idea of going to Oakland -- who would -- but Raiders fans would love and adore him in the Silver and Black. He deserves to go to a city can logically look at the game of football and realize that it takes more than a good quarterback to win a championship. Should he end up on a team in the NFC, I hope he comes back to torment the Eagles and make them regret the day they traded away a franchise quarterback in his prime.
Should McNabb win a championship with another team, justice will have been served. He deserves it.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Minnesota magic: Vikings defeat Packers 38-26
D-Day finally hit Green Bay
At 40 years old, Favre put together yet another masterful performance, completing 17-of-28 passes for 244 yards and four touchdown passes in a 38-26 win. What's more, Favre threw no interceptions, something he did not do in the first meeting with Green Bay
Though Favre spoke all week about how this game had nothing to do with revenge, it clearly meant a great deal to him. Green Bay
Packers fans were with him through good, bad and devastating. They cheered him on every step of the way, and many still do -- when he's playing a different team. When it came to this meeting, this gut-wrenching sight of seeing Favre play against the Packers at Lambeau for the first time in his career, all Packers fans could do was boo, and boo some more. What else were they to do? Their hero was now the enemy, and he had already defeated them once this season. Moreover, Packers fans had to stand up and support their new quarterback, Aaron Rodgers.
On this day, Favre turned in a classic performance, much to the dismay of Packers fans everywhere. Every throw he needed to make, he made. His arm looked as strong as ever, and he was right on the money with each throw. On a touchdown pass to tight end Visanthe Shiancoe, Favre fit the ball into a small window, and Shiancoe was quickly able to find the endzone. The next was a deep ball to Percy Harvin, which went for 51 yards. The last two touchdowns came in the red zone, one to fullback Jeff Dugan and the other to wide receiver Bernard Berrian, the latter of which put the game away for the Vikings.
With the win, the Vikings have swept the Packers in the season series. For Favre, he got the revenge that he claimed his was not out to get. "Am I pleased with the way these two games have turned out? Absolutely," Favre said." It had nothing to do with trying to prove myself to anyone. I still have a passion for it. It's a little bit tougher to get up and bounce back but my arm feels great. My mind is in a good place, the team has welcomed me in and really all the other stuff doesn't matter. I know it makes for a good story. But I'm glad it's over, I'm glad we won both but I'm not going to sit here and throw any daggers.”
While the win certainly meant much to Favre, it also was an important game for the Vikings in the NFC North race. At 3-0 and in the division and 7-1 overall, the Vikings have a two game lead over the Packers, which virtually turns into three based on the tiebreaker.
Moreover, the Vikings were the better team in all phases of the game. Harvin, the electric rookie wide receiver who quickly is establishing as one of the most explosive players in the National Football League, made his presence felt in the receiving game and on special teams Sunday. Adrian Peterson had an impact, as did Shiancoe, Berrian and a host of others. Defensively, the Vikings out-played Green Bay
In a game where the quarterbacks were on everyone's attention, Rodgers played well. He threw for 278 yards and three touchdowns, but there had to be some moments where fans questioned his decision-making. There's little doubt that Rodgers will develop into a very good quarterback in the future, but he still has a lot to learn. Several of the sacks that he took were based on the fact that he held onto the ball too long, not the fact that the offensive line struggled. Though Favre faced little pressure on Sunday, he rarely holds onto the ball too long. That is something Rodgers must improve if he wants to become an upper-echelon quarterback.
Even though Minnesota
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