Inside the NFL--Price's days in Atlanta may be numbered...Cowboy's Blurb - Dallas Cowboys Forum

**MichaelWinicki** · 06-05-2005

INSIDE THE NFL
Statistics say

6/5/2005

Reuters
Wide receiver Peerless Price has failed to live up to the seven-year, $42 million contract he got in 2003.

By MARK GAUGHAN

Peerless Price's future with the Atlanta Falcons might depend on what Falcons coach Jim Mora wants to do with his safety position.
Price is at risk of being cut because he has failed to live up to the seven-year, $42 million contract he got in 2003. Price had just 45 catches for 575 yards last year and has failed to establish much of a connection on the field with quarterback Michael Vick. His catch total ranked 66th in the league. The year before, he had 64 catches, still well below the 94 he had for the Buffalo Bills in 2002.

The Falcons would save a little more than $2 million on the cap this year by cutting him. That's the amount of his base salary. However, they would take a $5.7 million salary cap hit next year because the prorated remainder of his $10 million signing bonus from 2003 would be accelerated.

The Falcons might decide it's worth it to take that future hit on the cap if they can add a veteran at a position of need. Ex-Bill Keion Carpenter is at the top of the depth chart at strong safety, and the Falcons would be interested in upgrading the position. If a safety Mora likes gets cut in the coming weeks, that could push Price out the door. If not, Price probably will survive for one more season.

There's a good chance Tennessee will release veteran safety Lance Schulters this month to save $2.7 million against the cap. Schulters might be a player the Falcons covet.

Price wants to stay and get another shot to prove himself in Atlanta.

"I like playing with Mike Vick, all my receivers, everybody on this team, guys I've formed relationships with, I've bonded with," he told reporters in Atlanta last week. "I'd be a fool to say I don't want to be here, but whatever happens, happens.

"Personally, I want to be here to prove people wrong. People don't know what I can do. They judge you off what happened in the past. They don't go back to the year before that or the year before that. It's what have you done for me lately."

The Falcons drafted wide receivers Michael Jenkins and Roddy White in the first round the past two seasons. Jenkins, who had seven receptions as a rookie, has made a large "spike" in his play on the practice field, Mora said, and has been working at flanker behind Price. White has looked good enough for coaches to proclaim he could be a factor much sooner than initially projected.

Price said he doesn't see that as writing on the wall.

"I view it as the Atlanta Falcons organization doing what they feel they need to do to make this team better," Price said.

Price had just two catches in the Falcons' NFC title game loss at Philadelphia, and Vick barely looked his way the entire afternoon.

Last year of deal

The Bills have three starters scheduled to become free agents after the season. They are cornerback Nate Clements, center Trey Teague and fullback Daimon Shelton. The others entering the last year of their contracts who will become unrestricted free agents are: Ron Edwards, Josh Reed, Ryan Denney, Kevin Thomas, Justin Bannan, Joe Burns, Jon Dorenbos and Lawrence Smith. Travis Henry also has a year to go. And Eric Moulds' contract will have to be revised again for him to return after this year.

Sharing money

Little progress was made at the recent owners meetings on the question of greater sharing of revenue by NFL teams. Commissioner Paul Tagliabue made references to a "blended rate" of sharing local revenues, perhaps 80 percent to the team that generates the revenue and 20 percent shared by other clubs. Look for the owners ultimately to agree to some sharing of the local revenues. The question is the percentage. Will it be significant? It looks like it will take awhile to come to an agreement on the numbers.

Rusty is a hit

Former Bills strength and conditioning coach Rusty Jones, gobbled up by Chicago as soon as his contract ran out in Buffalo, has made a good first impression with the Bears.

After suffering through a season of injuries, the Bears hired Jones as their strength and conditioning coach.

"His work with nutrition is unbelievable," Bears veteran safety Mike Brown said. "Everyone can tell the difference in their bodies in the weeks we've been working with him."

"I do whatever Rusty tells me," Brian Urlacher said. "I'm doing stuff now for my legs, hamstring curls, different stuff for specific muscles that I've never heard of."

The Bears suffered through a slew of injuries last year and hope Jones will make a difference. Urlacher missed seven games with hamstring and leg injuries last year. Brown missed 14 with a torn Achilles tendon. Bears coach Lovie Smith was encouraged to hire Jones by friend Tony Dungy, the Colts coach, who knew of Jones through team President Bill Polian.

Jones had a great track record in Buffalo but moved on because Mike Mularkey brought long-time associate Brad Roll to the staff as strength coach when he was hired last year.

The other Drew

The Cowboys gave up a third-round draft pick and at least $7 million in guaranteed money to groom ex-baseball player Drew Henson as the team's quarterback of the future. They backed up that investment this offseason by having quarterbacks coach David Lee direct a change in Henson's throwing motion with daily teaching sessions and more than 5,000 passes. Henson will battle improving third-year player Tony Romo for the No. 2 job behind starter Drew Bledsoe.

Coach Bill Parcells said Romo knows the Cowboys' system a little better than Henson and will get an equal shot in training camp to win the backup job. Henson is a self-described "Star Wars" nerd and has all the action figures from the movie.

Onside kicks

• Some readers have had difficulty sending an e-mail to Joe Ferguson via the link supplied in this space last week. Another link is at www.mdanderson.org. Click the "contact us" button and then the link for sending a message to a patient.

• The Titans have tight end health problems. Titans starter Ben Troupe may miss much or all of preseason after breaking a bone in his foot. The injury is likely to affect him early in the season. It's an injury similar to one suffered in the past by Titans Jevon Kearse and Bo Schobel. Schobel missed three months with it last year. The healthy tight ends on the Titans roster are veteran Erron Kinney and rookies Ben Hall from Clemson and Jimmy St. Louis from Murray State.

• Jerry Rice did not want to ask Denver veteran Rod Smith to give up his No. 80 jersey, so the new Broncos receiver will wear No. 19.

e-mail: mgaughan@buffnews.com

**WoodysGirl** · 06-05-2005

Price is planning to restructure his contract according to NFL.com.

Quote:

(June. 3, 2005) -- After internal discussions about what to do with wide receiver Peerless Price, the Falcons have decided to try to keep him on the roster and restructure his contract. Talks already are underway, and both sides have incentive for finalizing the deal.

Price wants to stay in Atlanta and continue working for the upstart franchise. The Falcons want to keep Price, who has had worked hard this offseason by getting in great shape and catching most every pass thrown his way. Now the two sides need to come to an agreement on what to do with Price's base salary. It seems likely that Price will provide the Falcons with some cap relief for the chance to remain in Atlanta.
http://www.nfl.com/nflnetwork/story/8530381

**big dog cowboy** · 06-05-2005

Brace yourself.....

The reason Price hasn't been as effective as most thought he would be in Atlanta is because he doesn't have a very good passing QB throwing him the ball.

**MichaelWinicki** · 06-05-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by big dog cowboy

Brace yourself.....

The reason Price hasn't been as effective as most thought he would be in Atlanta is because he doesn't have a very good passing QB throwing him the ball.

True.

As an athlete few are better than Michael Vick but as an accomplished NFL quarterback he's one of the worst in the leage in my opinion.

LaTunaNostra · 06-05-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by big dog cowboy

Brace yourself.....

The reason Price hasn't been as effective as most thought he would be in Atlanta is because he doesn't have a very good passing QB throwing him the ball.

Gee, Big Dog, Algee Crumpler managed.

Agreed, a receiver has to be a bit more proactive to get on the same page with Vick, but guys with the talent level of Finneran developed some chemistry.

I think what happened with Price is in Atlanta he saw doubles he never saw paired with Moulds.

Just like Keyshawn and Terry, Price is a top notch complementary receiver, but he is no # One.

**MichaelWinicki** · 06-05-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by LaTunaNostra

Gee, Big Dog, Algee Crumpler managed.

Agreed, a receiver has to be a bit more proactive to get on the same page with Vick, but guys with the talent level of Finneran developed some chemistry.

I think what happened with Price is in Atlanta he saw doubles he never saw paired with Moulds.

Just like Keyshawn and Terry, Price is a top notch complementary receiver, but he is no # One.

Add Alvin Harper to that list of #2's that thought they were # 1's but weren't.

LaTunaNostra · 06-05-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelWinicki

Add Alvin Harper to that list of #2's that thought they were # 1's but weren't.

Geez, Mikey, that seems to be most all of them these days..

But let's not forget Freddy Mitchell as the best example of a #4 who thinks he's a #1.

dargonking999 · 06-05-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by LaTunaNostra

Geez, Mikey, that seems to be most all of them these days..

But let's not forget Freddy Mitchell as the best example of a #4 who thinks he's a #1.

he's a CFL guy trying to be #1 in the NFL

SultanOfSix · 06-05-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelWinicki

INSIDE THE NFL

Henson is a self-described "Star Wars" nerd and has all the action figures from the movie.

I heard he knows how to use "the Force" too.

StonetheCrow77 · 06-05-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by SultanOfSix

I heard he knows how to use "the Force" too.

lol I was wondering why they felt in necessary to throw that Star Wars thing in there... totally irrelevant...

DallasEast · 06-05-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by LaTunaNostra

But let's not forget Freddy Mitchell as the best example of a #4 who thinks he's a #1.

Freddie Mitchell. Another poor victim of THD, otherwise known as Troy Hambrick Disease. The most common symptom of THD is constantly running off your mouth and saying that you're better the #1 guy, but never back up your words on the field.

Unfortunately, it's a terminal illness. There is no cure.

WHITEHOUSE GROUPIE · 06-05-2005

price is nothing more then a #2 at best. We need to go get a true # wr, i.e reggie wyane. anquan bolden or maybe one of det trio.

smashmouth · 06-05-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by WHITEHOUSE GROUPIE

price is nothing more then a #2 at best. We need to go get a true # wr, i.e reggie wyane. anquan bolden or maybe one of det trio.

Agree

DanTanna · 06-05-2005

SultanOfSix I would like to use the force on Kristin Kruek as you probably would/did.

kartr · 06-05-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by LaTunaNostra

Gee, Big Dog, Algee Crumpler managed.

Agreed, a receiver has to be a bit more proactive to get on the same page with Vick, but guys with the talent level of Finneran developed some chemistry.

I think what happened with Price is in Atlanta he saw doubles he never saw paired with Moulds.

Just like Keyshawn and Terry, Price is a top notch complementary receiver, but he is no # One.

Hey, we finally agree on something. I get a little sick of all the Mike Vike bashing on this board. I'm not a fan his, but there are so many more QB's with more experience than he has who've under-achieved, yet we don't hear anyone bashing those guys. What's up with the Vick bashing, I mean, he's not even in our division and we've only played against him once and it's was Leaf's screw up that lost the game, not Vick's heroics.