The Football Wire

The Kenyatta Jones Saga Continues

2008-07-24T20:05:00.004-05:00

If you don't know Kenyatta Jones before you read this then you probably won't want to know him. Drafted in 2001 in the fourth round by the New England Patriots, Jones was an offensive lineman with potential.

A former South Florida star, he received six months probation for driving with a suspended license in 1999. Just one year later he received two years probation for carrying a concealed weapon and resisting arrest.

Then in 2003 he threw scalding hot water on his roommate while sitting on the toilet. The victim, Mark Paul, didn't find the alleged "prank gone awry", as Jones calls it, as funny. Especially when he was recovering from the second and third degree burns. He was charged with one count of assault and battery and placed on.....drum roll please....probation! Glad to hear the criminal justice system is working.

The Patriots cut him after the hot water incident but he was later picked up by the Redskins.

In an article in the Washington Post nearly four years ago, Jones expresses his remorse for the incidents and pledged that he's grown up and has gotten away from the "frat-house pranks."

After he appeared in three games with the Washington Redskins he was relieved of his duties. Earlier this year he was playing for the Tampa Bay Storm in the Arena League until.....(I know the suspense is killing you)

He was caught peeing on the floor of a night club at the end of March earlier this year. At 2:15 AM I understand the need to go. I mean, hey, we've all been there. But for the most part I've been able to find my way to the bathroom (quick qualifier here: that statement is only true if the whole 'if I didn't remember it, it didn't happen' rule applies, which I imagine it does).

After being escorted out he forcibly shoved a police officer resulting in his arrest.

But wait, that's not all.

Jones recently turned himself into authorities after he was caught in a sting arranging a drug deal. Dubbed the "34th Street Initiative", he was one of 41 people arrested in the sting that took place near a housing project.

Devin Thomas, LaRon Landry Suffer Wear And Tear At Washington Redskins Training Camp

2008-07-24T19:54:00.002-05:00

Rookie Devin Thomas and second year LaRon Landry suffered slight injuries today during the Washington Redskins training camp. Neither are believed to be too serious but will keep them out for at least a few days.

Thomas was running down the sideline on a deep fly route when he went down. He was eventually carted off the field which caused quite a stir around the facility. Head coach Jim Zorn spoke immediately after practice and said, "Here we go again."

Later in the afternoon, though, it was revealed that he would be out for 10-14 days which would eliminate him from participating in the Hall of Fame game August 3rd. His expected return date is tentatively August 8th.

Laron Landry "tweaked his left hamstring" according to the Washington Post. "I should be back in a couple of days," Landry said. "I should be fine."

Several other players had minor injuries but nothing noteworthy.

Antoine Cason Accepts San Diego Chargers Offer

2008-07-24T19:48:00.004-05:00

Earlier today I put up a piece detailing the hard-nosed approach several GMs are taking regarding this year's crop of first round rookies. One of the examples involved Chargers GM A.J. Smith dissipating his concern that his first selection Antoine Cason may not accept his take-it-or-leave-it offer.

Better business-minded heads prevailed, though, as Cason inked a deal worth slightly above $12 million with $6 million in guarantees and a life of five years.

Cason is a cornerback that figures to play a role his first year especially since Drayton Florence departed via free agency. He will compete against Paul Oliver (former UGA CB picked up in the supplemental draft last year) and Cletis Gordon for the third cornerback spot.

He was the 27th overall pick in the draft.

San Francisco 49ers Ink Kentwan Balmer

2008-07-24T19:41:00.004-05:00

The San Francisco 49ers didn't fret about losing their first round pick to the New England Patriots this season. Instead they traded up with the Indianapolis Colts to get back into the first round and nabbed Kentwan Balmer with the 29th overall pick.

Balmer, a defensive lineman out of North Carolina, figures to begin competing for a spot at left end, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. However, Balmer's size makes him a candidate to compete as an interior defensive lineman.

The contract reportedly covers five years and is worth $11.5 million with $6 million guaranteed.

Let's hope Balmer ends up being more like former Tar Heel Julius Peppers than another former Tar Heel Ryan Sims (former Kansas City Chief).

For the sixth consecutive year the 49ers have completed contracts with all their draftees before the start of training camp, a truly impressive feat with the amount of money involved.

Buffalo Bills Sign James Hardy

2008-07-24T19:35:00.005-05:00

Training camp is on the horizon or arrived for NFL teams and as expected they are rolling out the contracts for the first rounders who have yet to ink deals. In the past few hours there have been some activity in Buffalo.

The Bills announced that they have reached an agreement with James Hardy, wide receiver out of Indiana. Terms of the contract weren't disclosed.

Hardy is a tall, lanky receiver who figures to reap the benefits of playing opposite Lee Evans. He has had some off-the-field issues, including one this off-season, but if all goes well he could be starting from week one.

This leaves first round pick Leodis McKelvin as the lone draft pick yet to sign with the Bills.

Indianapolis Colts Sign Two QBs; Manning Injury Insurance?

2008-07-24T17:54:00.004-05:00

The Indianapolis Colts inked a pair of quarterbacks today according to the Associated Press. Former Jacksonville Jaguar Quinn Gray and former New York Giant Jared Lorenzen figure to compete for a back-up role on the team. The move raised a few eyebrows across the league because incumbent starter Peyton Manning has been shelved with an off-season knee injury.

Colts President Bill Polian addressed the moves. "That (position) was something we targeted to perhaps upgrade if we could, but we wanted to do it with experienced guys. So we thought it made sense to bring them in."

Some are inquiring that these roster additions are signaling that Manning's injury may be more serious than originally presumed. However, head coach Tony Dungy assured the Indy faithful that Manning will be on the field opening weekend.

Manning seems to be optimistic about his return to the practice field, despite worries by the team that he'll attempt to return too quickly. "It could be as soon as tomorrow or it could be some time next week. The doctors have not really given me a time-frame. I'm just trying to take their advice and do what I can."

As of now, however, Manning joins several of his other high-profile Colts teammates on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. Bob Sanders, Ryan Lilja and Dwight Freeney, among others, have been placed on the PUP list mostly for precautionary reasons.

Combine the assorted injuries with the [un]involvement of Marvin Harrison in an off-season shooting and the Colts off-season can aptly be described as tumultuous.

Detriot Lions Rookie Ordered Back To West Point

2008-07-24T17:42:00.004-05:00

Caleb Campbell graduated from West Point and took advantage of a new rule implemented by the Army that allows football players to be drafted and play in the NFL. The idea behind it was that a player like Campbell could help Army even more when given such exposure in the NFL. However, the rules, apparently, have been changed as of July 8th except that no one told Campbell until yesterday.

As of now he is required to serve two years of active duty and will be ordered back to West Point.

The good news for him, however, is that he won't be headed back to serve in Iraq. Instead, he'll be aiding the coaching staff of Army.

After admitting he shed a few tears when hearing of the implemented rule, Campbell said, "I really think I will be able to one day. They said maybe in 2010, I’ll have the opportunity to try out for another team, and I know the Lions are there and they’d give me the opportunity, and I know that I’ll be ready for that opportunity. Whenever they say that I do have do have a chance one day, I’m going to take it, I’m going to run with it, and we’ll see what happens.”

Part of the dilemna is that two other wings of defense, Navy and Air Force, are playing by different rules per a Department of Defense directive that requires two years of active service duty.

Glenn Dorsey, Kansas City Chiefs Contract Negotiation At A Stand Still

2008-07-24T17:23:00.004-05:00

I've received an unconfirmed tip that Kansas City Chiefs GM Carl Peterson and Joel Segal, agent for Glenn Dorsey, are at a stand still in contract negotiations.

I imagined this would be a difficult process for both parties involved. Peterson, whether deserved or not, has a reputation of being a hard-nosed negotiator who doesn't deviate from his initial offer. On top of that, he has had to sign ten draft picks thus far including another first rounder.

Joel Segal, on the other hand, represented JaMarcus Russell and Levi Brown last season. Russell was the #1 overall selection and received $31 million in guaranteed money. Brown was the fifth overall selection and was able to collect a six-year, $62 million deal.

Segal will presumably be looking for an increase from Brown's contract for this year's fifth overall Dorsey.

Peterson announced that he would not be calling Segal anymore after the agent allegedly hasn't counter-offered Peterson's offer.

Peterson has done an outstanding job signing all his draft picks, especially considering the volume. Out of the team's 12 selections, ten are in camp. Missing is Dorsey and seventh rounder Mike Merritt who it was recently disclosed is injured and won't be signed until/if he recovers in a timely manner.

UPDATE: A media source pointed out to us that the lack of communication between team and agent could be due to the each side waiting for the players behind Dorsey to sign, specifically defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis at #9 who presumably would set the floor for Dorsey's deal.

Kansas City Chiefs Sign First Round Pick

2008-07-24T10:00:00.002-05:00

No, not Glenn Dorsey. But almost as importantly, Carl Peterson announced that the Chiefs have agreed to terms with Branden Albert, offensive tackle out of Virginia. The deal is reportedly over five years but per Chiefs policy the financial terms weren't disclosed.

This is a big, big signing for the Kansas City Chiefs as they head off to training camp today. Over at Arrowhead Pride they were discussing who was more important to get into camp on time Dorsey or Albert. I get a sense that the majority of people would agree that Albert is the most important because of the cohesiveness necessary to success on the offensive line.

The Chiefs have signed 10 of their 12 picks. Seventh round selection Mike Merritt hasn't agreed to terms with the team because of an injury. The team won't sign him until he's cleared to practice.

Glenn Dorsey has long been presumed to be one of the longest holdouts in this year's draft. Combine his prominence with Peterson's stubborn negotiating tactics and you've got a recipe for disaster.

GMs Getting Tough On Rookie Contracts

2008-07-24T09:11:00.003-05:00

A couple general managers are getting especially tough on rookie contracts this season following an uproar regarding the amount of money rookies are being paid. Even Roger Goodell got in on the action clamoring about the absurdity of the amount of money given to first round picks.

Bill Polian of the Indianapolis Colts, staunch supporter of a system that caps the amount of money that can be given to rookies, took a hard-lined approach to negotiations with their draft picks just two days ago.

"We haven't made any progress. None. If they come in, they come in. If they don't, they don't. We'll play with the guys who are there. If these players don't want to sign because the union thinks our offers are too low or the agents are afraid to sign or whatever other excuses they use, it doesn't matter to me. I could care less."

I love that last statement. I could care less. Polian is one of the most respected men in the league so I love that he is taking a stand like that. I mean, it had the potential to blow up in his face.

Luckily, though, the Colts have agreed to four-year contracts with six of their draft picks, most importantly their first pick, second round offensive lineman Mike Pollak. I guess Polian's stance worked.

San Diego Chargers GM A.J. Smith is taking a similar approach as Polian, though speaking in more appropriate words for a public domain. Smith has been negotiating with Antoine Cason and his agent. Cason is a defensive back that was the 27th overall pick in the draft.

“Antoine and his agent, Ron Slavin, are viewing our offer,” Smith said. “When they call us and say they like it, they will be in. If they don't like it, they will stay away. They are both making a big business decision right now. Talks have been great; (the) relationship is great. I hope things work out. If not, we will be disappointed and move on.”

Smith (and Polian) are veterans of the league so it really does make me wonder what would happen if they did move on. The GMs would be castrated for losing a first round pick, in my opinion. Then the players would be doing a huge disservice to their own career if they chose not to sign.

Mickey Loomis of the New Orleans Saints is facing a similar situation with defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis and defensive back Tracy Porter, both of whom haven't agreed to deals yet. The asking price, according to Loomis, is outrageous.

"Frankly, they are looking for some huge increases," Loomis said. "Yeah, they'll do a deal if you want to give them outrageous increases. I just don't know any business that you hand out 20 percent, 30 percent increases every year. You're not going to be in business very long if you do that."

He went on to mention how difficult it is for any player, especially rookies, to compete with guys who have had 25 to 30 more reps than them. When you are coming into a league that is known for its speed it's important to get acclimated as quickly as possible.

What these rookies don't understand, in my opinion, is that it's not their first contract they're playing for, it's their second. Just ask Brady Quinn.

Hester Threatens To Hold Out All Of '08

2008-07-24T08:17:00.004-05:00

Devin Hester is in the third year of his rookie deal he signed when he was a second round pick by the Chicago Bears. His contribution to the team, primarily on special teams, has caused the way teams play, prepare and defend the Bears. Really, he's given a whole new importance to the kick returning position. Just two years into the league and many consider him to be the best return man in the history of the NFL.

And now he wants to be paid like it.

Speaking to the Chicago Sun-Times he said, "It's time for me to take a stand. We're going to stand by our decision to do this, and we feel like this can go down to whenever in the season or the end of the season. No matter what.''

Per GM Jerry Angelo's policy, he vows not to negotiate with players that do not show up to mini-camp or training camp, as evidenced by Brian Urlacher's willingness to show up to mandatory camp earlier in the off-season and subsequently receiving a restructured deal. But Hester wants a new deal before he sets foot in the Bears facility.

Hester made a play to the fans when he took a shot at Angelo claiming "95 percent of fans are saying why not reward a player that's been here two years and has contributed to the team in the ways I have."

His four career kick return TDs put him two behind the all-time leader and his seven career punt return TDs place him three behind the all-time leader. Not bad for a guy whose only been in the league for two years.

What's going to make this contract negotiation difficult is that the comparative factor. There hasn't been another player quite like Hester before so Angelo and Hester's team will certainly have different barometers of how to value his contributions to the team. With a traditional position such as wide receiver, there are statistics that are readily available to compare to others in the league, thus equating what is considered fair.

As PFT noted, if Hester doesn't report by August 5th (30 days before the season opener on September 5th), then his season won't count in terms of accruing the four years necessary to hit unrestricted free agency. In Hester's case, however, his fourth year happens to fall on the currently uncapped year of 2010, which would then revert the minimum years played to achieve unrestricted free agency to six.

Patrick: Brett Favre To Tampa Bay Buccaneers In 48-72 Hours

2008-07-23T11:55:00.006-05:00

Dan Patrick is reporting on his radio show that the Green Bay Packers will strike a deal with the Buccaneers that will send Brett Favre to Tampa Bay in the next 48-72 hours.

I haven't heard the entire show yet but the rumors are flying.

It's unclear who Patrick's sources are at this point.

This has been a rumored landing spot for Favre that gained even more traction when Bucs GM Bruce Allen reportedly asked Chris Simms about Favre's ability to learn and play under the Bucs current offensive scheme.

More updates will be posted here as they come.

[Ed. Note: Here is the link to Dan Patrick's radio show. Caution, this pops up in a different window. Be careful if you're at work...]

Non-Update Update: I just wanted to reiterate that this is still in the rumor stages. The only difference is that it's being pushed by a respected member of the MSM.

NFL Security Pays A Visit To Minnesota Vikings In Regards To Tampering Accusation

2008-07-23T10:44:00.002-05:00

The NFL Security team visited Winter Park today, presumably to clear up the allegations against the Minnesota Vikings that they had "inappropriate dialogue" with Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre.

It's been reported, although not confirmed (but highly assumed), that the security team spoke with head coach Brad Childress and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell.

The story goes that the Packers gave Brett Favre a team-issued cell phone then checked the call logs and discovered a curious amount of calls to Childress and Bevell.

As the Minneapolis Star-Tribune points out, the fact that the league is talking to the team a day before training camp indicates that they want to resolve this issue quickly.

Minnesota Vikings Sign Top Pick Tyrell Johnson

2008-07-23T10:28:00.004-05:00

The Minnesota Vikings agreed to terms with their first pick in the 2008 NFL draft Tyrell Johnson.
Johnson is a safety who figures to play some role in the return game as well.

His deal is believed to be for four years with a $1.5 million bonus.

The breakdown from the Minneapolis Star-Tribune:

Johnson, who also can return punts, received a four-year contract with a bonus of around $1.5 million. His base salaries are $295,000 this year, $385,000 in 2009, $470,000 in 2010 and $555,000 in 2011. He also gets a one-time incentive bonus of $600,000 if is he on the field for 35 percent of the defensive snaps this season or 45 percent of the defensive snaps in 2009.

Johnson was a second round pick for the Vikings.

Stay tuned - I've got another interesting Vikings nugget coming up in a few...

Where Is The NFL Quarterback Breeding Ground?

2008-07-23T09:09:00.002-05:00

I read a very interesting article over on KCChiefs.com earlier today. It was written by Bob Gretz, local writer in Kansas City. He is focusing on where today's NFL quarterbacks are coming from and it's not where you expect.

When you read the headline, think of where most NFL quarterbacks come from.

I would imagine a fair amount of you said Texas or California or Florida--these three states produce an outrageous amount of NFL players and their respective colleges across the state are annually outstanding.

Texas and Florida combined for seven quarterbacks who started NFL games last year. There is approximately 41 million people who live in those two states.

Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York combine for nine NFL starters.

The winner? Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama--with just 12 million people--combined for eleven starting quarterbacks last year.

According to Gretz, guys like "Brett Favre, Steve McNair, Jake Delhomme, Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, JaMarcus Russell and Philip Rivers all came from this territory. Same with not so famous names like Jason Campbell, Cleo Lemon, Brock Berlin and Travaris Jackson."

That's a pretty impressive resume for the south. Gretz, along with Chiefs Hall of Famer Len Dawson, attributes such a geographical shift to the importance the south puts on football all year round. High school football in those states isn't just a seasonal thing anymore--there's spring ball that's played as well.

Current Chiefs quarterback Brodie Croyle remembers, “We had four weeks of spring ball. Once a week we would have a full-out scrimmage. People would come and watch the scrimmages.”

So keep that in mind come next April when teams are lining up to select their next starting quarterback.

Kansas City Chiefs Nearing Deal With Second Rounder

2008-07-23T08:48:00.004-05:00

The Kansas City Chiefs are closing in on a deal with second round pick Brandon Flowers, according to the Kansas City Star.

Flowers is expected to replace Ty Law in the Chiefs line-up. The importance of getting him into camp on time is the expectation that he will crack the starting line-up in his rookie campaign.

Per Flowers' agent, Andy Ross,“We’re getting close. We’ve been talking. I think we’ll be able to finish it up (today).”

Ideally he will pair up with Patrick Surtain for another year (maybe two unless Chiefs fans revolt against Surtain like they did Law) or until fifth rounder Brandon Carr is ready to step onto the field full-time.

Herm Edwards seems to have a penchant for developing defensive backs considering he was one himself back in the day.

If Flowers and eventually Carr can smell the starting line-up and perform reasonably well and if Jarrad Page and Bernard 'Bone Crusher' Pollard continue to progress in the secondary, the Chiefs would have one of the youngest and most solid secondaries in the league.

Flowers was the 35th overall pick in the 2008 draft. Last year's 35th overall selection, Arron Sears, a tackle out of Tennessee, signed a four-year deal with an option on the fourth year that pays out $370,000 in the first year, $460,000 in the second and $550,000 in the third.

Could The Dallas Cowboys Cut Roy Williams?

2008-07-23T08:06:00.002-05:00

Roy Williams, safety for the Dallas Cowboys, could be a cap casualty by the end of training camp. He, along with his teammates, have expressed confusion and frustration regarding his role in the defense. But is it possible that a 5-time Pro Bowler would be cut at 27 (28 by the end of training camp)?

It's been established that Roy Williams isn't the type of player necessary for the Cowboys defense. He is such a liability in pass coverage, his coaches have been rumored to say, that he can't be on the field every down thus diminishing his value.

So if everyone else knows he isn't worth as much to the Cowboys then why would they give anything up to get him? They know he's going to the open market soon enough.

Defensive coordinator Brian Stewart and safeties coach Brett Maxie left Williams upbeat about his role in the defense but that was back in May. Now we're approaching training camp in August--I would imagine the mindset is completely different.

It's likely, with Anthony Henry practicing at safety due to the addition of Pacman Jones, that the Cowboys are going to dump Roy Williams.

Let's face it, this is becoming a pass happy league (at least relative to what it used to be) and the need for a hard-hitting safety (such as Greg Wesley who just moved from the Chiefs to the Raiders) is diminishing by the day.

Secondaries need cover-first guys, not hit-first guys and it looks like Williams will be a victim in this new trend.

Donovan McNabb Confident Philadelphia Eagles Can Make Playoffs

2008-07-23T07:40:00.003-05:00

And I believe him. I'm not sure why, but I do. The Eagles added a few key veterans in key positions.

Asante Samuel is just one of three Pro Bowl caliber cornerbacks on the team. The defense will be tough especially with Jim Johnson's blitzing schemes. He should have a hay-day with all the secondary support he'll have.

Brian Westbrook, although looking for a new contract (reportedly $30 million over the first three years of the deal), is second to maybe only LaDainian Tomlinson and Steven Jackson in versatility to his team.

Add in DeSean Jackson who the offense should have a lot of fun with. It will be hard for teams to figure out how the Eagles will use him because he can be utilized in so many ways. Reverses, lining up in the slot, hanging out in the backfield--it should be a fun season if he can get going.

And then there's McNabb, who hasn't played in a post-season game since the '04-05 season Super Bowl. He likens getting back to the playoffs to "riding a bike."

"The team has been to the playoffs. I've been in the playoffs a lot, so it's not like I don't know how to play in the playoffs. For me, it's just doing what we need to do in order to get there. Once we're there, it will take care of itself. I've missed 3 years of not being in the playoffs. A lot of teams haven't been to the playoffs in 6 or 7 years. I look at it as just like riding a bike."

The NFC east, per usual, will be tough. However, they will beat each other up. The winner of this division is going to be the one that comes out of the battle royal against the other three teams.

The Eagles are tough enough to be that team, only if healthy, which history tells us is a BIG if.

The Basement Dwellers: Miami Dolphins

2008-07-22T11:35:00.001-05:00

Previewing the 2008-2009 season in descending power rankings style before the inevitable cuts, injuries and off the field conduct that gives the NFL it's nickname Not For Long.

Miami Dolphins - #31

Offense

Quarterback: To say 2007 was a disastrous year for the quarterback in Miami would be an understatement. Gone are antediluvian Trent Green and talent-challenged Cleo Lemon. Returning to the squad is former second rounder John Beck and rookie second rounder Chad Henne.

Beck hasn’t exactly lived up to expectations and many aren’t willing to give him a break even though he’s played with an offensive line as porous as a strainer. He was drafted on the basis of potential but will likely be canned based on the potential of Henne.

Chad Henne was a four-year starter at Michigan which in my opinion, is exactly what the Dolphins need. They will never find the next Dan Marino but they can find the next Trent Green-esque journeyman.

[Ed. Note: That might be the first time I’ve written about the Dolphins quarterback situation without bringing the ultimate fuck-up in the 2007 draft—drafting Ted Ginn over Brady Quinn.]

Running Back: Easily the most interesting position on the team with the reunion of the two-headed monster of Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams. There are two big ifs to each player and their impending success.

First, can Ronnie Brown stay healthy? Brown was well on his way to a Pro Bowl season last year when he blew out his knee just before the halfway point. If he continues his rehabilitation and is completely ready for the start of the season then he will continue what he started in 2007.

Second, can Ricky Williams stay on the field? Off the field troubles combined with, most recently the injury bug, leave Ricky a question mark in ’08. It appears that he is running out of money and literally needs to stay on the team to accrue a paycheck. Hopefully that’s enough motivation for him to stop seeing his lady Mary Jane and get back on the wagon. The injury bug, while unpredictable, poses a higher risk to Ricky because of the number of carries he has taken in his career—he’s a punishing runner that takes as many hits as he doles out.

Receiver: Disappointment is the word here. Ted Ginn Jr., after the aforementioned draft day blunder, has been slow to respond. His value is in the return game as well. However, a mid-season trade of #1 receiver Chris Chambers morphed Ginn into a better overall receiver with sure hands and a bit of toughness.

The others: Derek Hagan and tight end David Martin were disappointments. Neither showed much production when on the field. Newcomer Ernest Wilford probably won’t make much of an impact. He didn’t do anything in Jacksonville with no competition so don’t expect much of a turnaround from him. The tight ends were upgraded with the addition of Parcells-approved Anthony Fasano from Dallas.

Offensive Line: The adjustments made on this unit in the past four months should have a long lasting affect. First, #1 overall pick Jake Long will come in and immediately shore up the left side. Though the biggest knock against him is problems against speed rushers, he has the athleticism to become acclimated to the speed. His arrival allows Vernon Carey to move back to right tackle where he feels more comfortable. Left guard Justin Smiley was signed in free agency after he spent last season in San Francisco. The center, Samson Satele, came over in the Wes Welker trade and is a good fit thus far. The biggest question mark is right guard which will be decided in training camp.

Head coach Tony Sparano is a former offensive line coach so I would presume he’ll make this unit his own little project. Expect a vast, immediate improvement here.

Defense

Defensive Line: Jason Ferguson was signed in free agency to address the holes in the middle of the line. Matt Roth will man one of the defensive end spots—maybe not for long. I would imagine it wouldn’t take much competition to have him replaced. The other defensive end spot is veteran Vonnie Holliday—a replacement for him should be in the wings (but probably isn’t). Randy Starks came in via free agency which means he will play a role at some point.

Philip Merling and Kendall Langford came in from the draft. Merling, especially, has a ton of upside. He came out of Clemson suffering from an injury but the Dolphins took a flyer on him and, pending a healthy outcome, should get their money’s worth.

Linebacker: This position on the Dolphins received more fanfare than maybe any other story (other than Favre) in the NFL this off-season due to one man: Jason Taylor. Just two years removed from a Defensive Player of the Year award, Taylor still has it but can’t decide if he A) will play for the Dolphins if not traded or B) retire. The latter is unlikely but regardless Taylor has already admitted 2008 will be his last.

Joey Porter is a loudmouth and proved his critics right with a six sack season after signing a $30+ million free agent contract. I really, really don’t like Porter at all. I think Pittsburgh linebackers are products of the system (Hi, have you met Kendrell Bell?) and can’t function anywhere else. So, I digress.

Zach Thomas is gone from a defense that will sorely miss him. He was a leader and a mentor and the team will have trouble replacing him, especially after Taylor’s departure. He would have helped in the development of Channing Crowder who is looking for a new deal.

Secondary: Will Allen was one of the bright spots at cornerback last season—but the other side of the secondary isn’t as lucky. Michael Lehan and Andre Goodman will battle it out in training camp to play opposite Allen. Safety was a concern last season but if Yeremiah Bell and Jason Allen can keep it together health-wise they can adequately lock down the last line of defense.

Special Teams: Jay Feely had a solid season hitting 21 out of 23 FGs. Brandon Fields was a rookie punter and showed enough promise to warrant another shot.

Ted Ginn was drafted in part because of his outstanding return ability and will once again showcase them after racking up one return TD last year. Many receivers/return men can’t excel at both positions so if that continues to be the case with Ginn as he matures as a player then they might cut down his chances in the return game.

Field position is crucial with the Dolphins. Though Feely nailed his kicks when given the opportunity, 6 of the team’s 15 losses were still by a FG or less.

Coaching Staff: The coaching staff should be the strong point of this team. Tony Sparano was hand picked by new czar Bill Parcells to right the ship that has been going wrong for about a decade now.

Clyde’s Conclusion: This will be another tough year for the Dolphins but with Bill Parcells in place they are taking the correct strides. Soon enough the transition to the 3-4 defense will be complete and Parcells can continue to establish big, bulky defensive players. My guess is that the ceiling is somewhere around six wins. Anything more than that would be a disappointment because they would lose valuable draft position.

Schedule:

New York Jets

At Arizona

At New England

BYE

San Diego

At Houston

Baltimore

Buffalo

At Denver

Seattle

Oakland

New England

At St. Louis

Buffalo (In Toronto)

San Francisco

At Kansas City

Wesley Signs With Raiders?

2008-07-22T06:11:00.004-05:00

I've received an unconfirmed tip that the Oakland Raiders picked up Greg Wesley.

Wesley was released by the Kansas City Chiefs just days ago.

He plays safety which is strange considering the team presumably has their starting safety set in tact.

It's not unusual for division rivals to sign the other's free agents in hopes that they can get even the slightest information about their opponents. It's especially not unusual for a guy like Al Davis to do that.

UPDATE: Profootballtalk.com has a story up about it as well but nothing from the national media.

More Signings From The Arizona Cardinals And Carolina Panthers

2008-07-21T20:30:00.002-05:00

More and more teams are pumping out contracts as training camp approaches. Today's list includes the Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers.

The Cardinals agreed to terms with 6'8" Calais Campbell, a defensive end out of The U. The second round pick reportedly agreed to a four year deal but financial terms weren't disclosed. A few of the mock drafts I conducted included Campbell going to the Washington Redskins. With the recent trade of Jason Taylor to the 'Skins after Philip Daniels and Alex Buzbee went down may have them rethinking their strategy of going with wide receiver Devin Thomas and tight end Fred Davis in the second round.

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is the only Cardinal yet to sign a contract.

The Carolina Panthers signed third rounder Charles Godfrey and seventh rounder Geoff Schwartz according to the Associated Press. Godfrey was a defensive back at Iowa but has been seeing time at free safety during mini-camp. Schwartz is an offensive tackle out of Oregon.

Still waiting to sign are first rounders Jeff Otah, offensive tackle out of Pittsburgh, and Jonathan Stewart, running back out of Oregon.

Kansas City Chiefs Sign Two More

2008-07-21T19:57:00.003-05:00

Kansas City Chiefs GM Carl Peterson announced today that the team has agreed to terms with two of their three third round selections Jamaal Charles and Brad Cottam.

Charles is a speedster hailing from the University of Texas. He figures to play a prominent role in ensuring Larry Johnson doesn't hit 400 carries again (and the Chiefs can get at least three years out of the six year deal they signed with LJ).

Brad Cottam is a massive (6'7", 270 pounds) tight end from Tennessee. He isn't the receiving threat to replace Tony Gonzalez but he should play a substantial role with the team's emphasis on a punishing ground attack.

Both deals were reportedly for three years. Per Chiefs policy, no other terms were released.

This marks the eighth of the Chiefs' 12 draft picks to be signed. 7th round tight end (/possible offensive lineman) Mike Merritt and second rounder Brandon Flowers still need to be signed.

But more importantly, Glenn Dorsey and Brandon Albert, both first rounders, have yet to be signed. Many are speculating that both players, especially Dorsey, won't be at camp when the Chiefs head to River Falls, WI on July 24th mainly due to Carl Peterson's hard-headed negotiation tactics.

(Ed. Note: I actually just saw Carl Peterson on the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City. He was driving a very sharp looking Mercedes Benz with the top down. Maybe he was meeting Dorsey and Albert for dinner. I should have put my investigative cap on and followed him.)

Philadelphia Eagles Sign Laws; All Rookies Will Be At Camp

2008-07-21T16:44:00.000-05:00

The Philadelphia Eagles announced that they have inked the final member of their 2008 draft class. Trevor Laws, defensive tackle from South Bend, IN, was signed hours before the rookies are to report to training camp.

The deal is over four years. Financial terms of the deal haven't been released.

The Eagles also agreed to terms with their other second round pick, DeSean Jackson out of Cal.

Both players are undersized but uberly productive in college. Jackson will presumably play the slot position and potentially have a shot at returning kicks. Laws lasted until the second round because of his size but had an outstanding amount of tackles in college, presumably the reason the Eagles took a flyer on him.

Chicago Bears, Brian Urlacher Agree To Revised Contract

2008-07-21T16:25:00.002-05:00

The Chicago Bears have given in to star middle linebacker Brian Urlacher's request for his contract to be redone according to ESPN. Urlacher's complaint is that the market has changed dramatically since he signed his original deal.

His current contract had four years and approximately $25.5 million left. The revised contract includes the following changes:

$6 million signing bonus
$1 million raise for each of the next four seasons
One year extension to 2012 with a salary of $7.5 million
$500,000 workout bonus in 2012

This should make Urlacher much happier. At thirty years old it's reasonable to assume he can make it to the final year of his contract.

The total amount of the deal now stands at approximately $43.5 million over five years and about $18 million in new money.

He missed some voluntary workouts, but no mandatory despite reports that he would, in his quest for a new deal. The Bears will enter training camp with a couple of their biggest off-season priorities, Tommie Harris being the other, fully compensated and ready to roll.

Glazer: New York Giants Trade Jeremy Shockey to New Orleans Saints

2008-07-21T16:14:00.005-05:00

With his second big scoop in as many days, FOX Sports' Jay Glazer is reporting that the Giants have agreed to send disgruntled tight end Jeremy Shockey to the Saints in exchange for a pair of draft picks. The picks are reportedly a second and fifth rounder.

This is a good trade for both sides. Shockey enters New Orleans where it's perceived he will do as well, if not better, than he did in New York. The Saints are a pass happy offense and haven't had an elite tight end to pair with Drew Brees.

The Giants found Shockey to be expendable when they found themselves to be content with the play of rookie Kevin Boss during last year's Super Bowl run, particularly an impressive catch and run during the big game itself.

Shockey hasn't been in the best light with the Giants following several particularly questionable incidents as of late. From the team's stance that he couldn't stand on the field during the Super Bowl (and subsequently showing Shockey double-fisting mixed drinks in a suite) to his reported shouting match with GM Jerry Reese (to which Reese responded that much of the report was inaccurate).

The compensation is the same that the Saints reportedly offered before and during April's draft. A lot has happened since February when Reese said Shockey would not be traded.