Hostile
The Duke
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The 2007 season will be important for Bob Sanders. The former Pro Bowl selection will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. Considering his value to the defense, Colts management likely will do whatever it takes to retain Sanders. He could become the highest-paid safety in the NFL, unless Troy Polamalu beats him to it. Pittsburgh's veteran safety also will be a free agent at the end of the season.
Daunte Culpepper continues to make progress during his recovery from two knee surgeries, while the Dolphins and Chiefs resumed trade talks recently about Trent Green, a source said on Sunday. But while South Florida is likely in the equation for Green, Culpepper has to prove he belongs in Miami. Former Super Bowl MVP and current NFL analyst Phil Simms said Culpepper, a three-time Pro Bowler in Minnesota, has to overcome a lot more than a devastating injury to his left knee that he aggravated last season with the Dolphins. "I've always admired his talents as a quarterback," said Simms, who played 14 seasons with the New York Giants. "But there are two things just as important: Does the team believe in him, and does the offense fit him? "He was a 10 in Minnesota in those two areas. Right now in Miami, on a scale of 10, the number's real low."
The Arapahoe County Sheriff's office has identified Broncos receiver David Kircus as "a person of interest" in an alleged assault against a Centennial man early Sunday morning. Grayson Robinson, sheriff of Arapahoe County, said his investigators were planning to bring Kircus in for a photo lineup Sunday night or this morning. The victim suffered multiple broken facial bones in the alleged assault and was taken to Sky Ridge Medical Center in Lone Tree for surgery. According to Robinson, the incident took place about 3:20 a.m. Sunday at a party in Centennial.
The Bears expect the worst and hope for the best for Tank Johnson. Word is expected from commissioner Roger Goodell's office this week on a possible suspension. "We'll deal with it. We know it's coming and that's enough for us," coach Lovie Smith said at the conclusion of minicamp Sunday. "When it does, we'll deal with it then." The Bears hope their own backing of Johnson through his probation violation and 60 days in jail soften up the commissioner. They're also hoping the two games Johnson missed last season for what essentially was a team-mandated suspension carries some weight. Finally, they believe Johnson's pledge to clean up his act in a meeting with Goodell on Wednesday will make a difference.
Colts DE Dwight Freeney made a good-faith gesture by attending minicamp. He has not signed his one-year, $9.43 million tender as a "franchise'' player, and was not required to attend the mandatory event. "I know my situation,'' Freeney said. "I'm not planning on going anywhere. I love the city of Indianapolis and playing for coach (Tony) Dungy and Jim (Irsay, owner) and Bill (Polian, president). "Hopefully they have the same type of mentality.'' Irsay is confident the team will sign Freeney to a long-term contract. That must be accomplished prior to July 15. If that deadline passes, Freeney must play under the one-year franchise tag.
In the interim, second-year linebacker Jamar Williams gets first crack at Lance Briggs’ weak-side position with the Bears first team. The 2006 fourth-round pick impressed coaches with his special teams play early last year but suffered a season-ending torn chest muscle in the third game. “He’s picked up the system well, and that’s about all you can ask from the players right now,” Smith said. “I just know that we have a good athlete at the position, he’s capable of learning it and (has) the ability that we think will allow him to take that next step. Now it’s about him getting a chance to play in games, and we think he’ll do well.” With the realization that he’s got an opportunity for career advancement, the 6-foot, 234-pound Williams said he’s cut a few pounds and some body fat to get into the best possible shape, but he knows replacing Briggs is a tall order.
Dolphins defensive back Jason Allen returned home to Muscle Shoals, Ala., this offseason and got back to basics. He caught eggs. The art of catching raw eggs under pressure is the true test of poise, athleticism and quickness in the Allen household. It is a time-honored tradition that Allen has been playing with his mother, Cynthia Allen, since he was young. And dropping an egg on her furniture could draw a penalty worse than a flag. ''It's to see how good his hands are and his reaction time -- and that's my good sofa now,'' Cynthia Allen said. ``He better catch that egg every time because if it gets on my furniture, he don't want the ultimate football player on him. I'll tackle everybody.''
The NFL's fastest man could not outrun the NYPD. The New York Jets' fleet-footed cornerback and kick returner Justin Miller was arrested early yesterday after he tried to dash away from a fight outside a Manhattan nightspot, police said. Miller was named the league's fastest man at February's Pro Bowl in Hawaii, where he was Gang Green's only representative on the All-Star squad. But his quick feet were no match for cops in a patrol car. Miller, 23, was grabbed just a block from Chelsea's trendy Maritime Hotel, where a woman says she was punched by the pro ballplayer. He was arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court on third-degree assault charges.
Free agent running back Chris Brown, whose representatives had preliminary discussions with the Patriots last month, is in a holding pattern and might be more inclined to wait until a team suffers an injury at the position before signing. The Bears, Colts, Packers, and Titans have also inquired but Brown, perhaps the top free agent running back available, hasn't made a visit because no team is offering the type of contract that will get him on a plane.
Michael Vick rap sheet:
• The herpes case, which led to lampooning (Ron Mexico) and an out-of-court settlement.
• The picture of Vick possible holding a “blunt” on his girlfriend’s ******* page.
• Flipping off home fans.
• The fake water bottle with alleged marijuana particulates (later cleared) at the Miami airport.
• Subsequent suggestions he might’ve been “framed” by Miami police and claims of his explanation for the water bottle, which were disputed.
• Blowing off Congress, then giving an alibi that even his own endorsement partner (AirTran) stomped on.
• Allegations of a connection to dogfighting. It’s not merely a felony, it’s a pastime for the bottom-feeders of society.
Safety Bob Sanders was an interested spectator during the Indianapolis Colts' three-day minicamp, which ended Sunday evening. He's still recovering from surgery on his left shoulder. Sanders insisted his rehabilitation is ahead of schedule but stopped short of declaring he'd be ready for the start of training camp in late July. The target date is Sept. 6, which is when the Colts open the regular season in the RCA Dome against New Orleans. "My No. 1 goal this year is to make sure I stay healthy and just focus on continuing to get better and not allow this past year to affect the way I play,'' Sanders said.
The Dolphins have shown no interest in free agent Keyshawn Johnson -- whose receptions and yards would have led them last season -- for the same reason they're willing to deal Marty Booker: Neither has the exceptional speed they covet.
Tarik Glenn has been one of the constants for the Colts over the last 10 seasons, starting at left tackle for all but six games, protecting the blind side of quarterback Peyton Manning. Yet in a reflection of the way successful teams operate in today's NFL, the Colts are already planning for his potential departure. Glenn is entering the final year of his contract and is scheduled to make $4.5 million. With that in mind, the Colts traded their 2008 first-round draft choice for a 2007 second-round choice and selected Arkansas's Tony Ugoh. The Colts, who return their top eight linemen this season, will ease Ugoh into the mix this year and use him as leverage if negotiations with Glenn don't head in the direction they want.
Minicamp is over and, knock on wood, Will Blackmon is not only 100% healthy, he's one of a few defensive backs who are the emerging stars of the Packers' off-season program. "Basically right after the season I went home and basically got me a rehabilitation team," Blackmon said Sunday. The fourth-round draft pick hired a soft tissue specialist to further repair his leg, which had to overcompensate for the broken foot as he attempted to play again last season. He also hired a physical trainer and a sprint running coach. He did all this in Boston in the only two months - mid-January to mid-March - that NFL players are technically, really off from work. "Your body is your business. You can't rely on everything being taken care of here" in Green Bay, Blackmon said. "I wasn't going to sit around."
What will the reaction be to the trouble Falcons QB Michael Vick has gotten himself into? “There’s no doubt Vick’s image has taken a huge hit,” said Frank Mahar of Genesco Sports Enterprises, a sports marketing firm in New York. “It’s been one incident on top of another. For some people now, the question isn’t, ‘When is it going to stop?’ but ‘What’s next?" “When Vick came into the league, he had multiple TV spots — Nike, a video game, Powerade. I would guess we’re not going to see him on much this year.” “Blank’s in a hard place,” Mahar said. “If the town is really that split, it almost like no matter what he does he’s going to upset somebody. He wants to sell tickets but he doesn’t want to upset people in the process. It almost comes down to, ‘What’s the lesser of two evils?’ “
The Green Bay Packers may have seen the last of cornerback Charles Woodson until training camp opens in late July. After practicing Friday and Saturday morning, Woodson was absent from the Saturday afternoon workout inside the Don Hutson Center, and a Packers spokesman said Woodson had been excused for "personal reasons." ... Woodson said Friday he was not going to attend the team's technically voluntary 12 organized team activity practices that begin May 31, choosing instead to work out on his own in Houston as he did last year.
One Viking who is optimistic that defensive end Erasmus James, who had knee surgery twice, will return to action this year is linebacker Chad Greenway, who also had knee surgery and has been rehabbing with the No. 1 draft choice from Wisconsin. "After his surgery, we were rehabbing basically the same time every day together," said Greenway. "So, we've been through it, the hard parts together, but he had to go back in and have that little extra surgery which slowed him down a little bit. But I know he's feeling a lot better now, and he's looking forward to getting back for training camp. Absolutely, I think with the will he has and the type of person he is, I have no doubt that he'll be back."
Did You Know? At the end of the 2004 season, Michael Vick was the centerpiece of this city. He was 23-12-1 as a starter, had just led the Falcons to within a win of the Super Bowl and radiated like a 100-watt bulb. Since then, he is 15-16 as a starter and the bulb has been crushed.
Colts coach Tony Dungy was missing Sunday, but it was for a good cause. He and his family traveled to Atlanta to attend graduation ceremonies for oldest daughter Tiara at Spelman College. Assistant head coach Jim Caldwell ran practice in Dungy's absence.
What NFL receiver does 5-11 Dolphins rookie Ted Ginn believe he can become? Ginn said '' Santana Moss,'' a 5-10 Commanders receiver and former Cane. And don't tell Ginn that some scouts view him as a No. 2 or No. 3 receiver. ''I can be a No. 1 [eventually], for sure,'' he said.
As state officials plan to meet today to review evidence of dog fighting against Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, some residents in this town near the James River are eager for the circus surrounding their famous but rarely seen neighbor to die down -- charges filed or not. "It was peaceful until people started making all this noise," said neighbor Ernest Hardy, who lives next to the home Vick owned on Moonlight Road where the purported dogfights occurred. "The Moonlight ain't been right since. Normally you can hear a tractor echoing through the woods."
Daunte Culpepper continues to make progress during his recovery from two knee surgeries, while the Dolphins and Chiefs resumed trade talks recently about Trent Green, a source said on Sunday. But while South Florida is likely in the equation for Green, Culpepper has to prove he belongs in Miami. Former Super Bowl MVP and current NFL analyst Phil Simms said Culpepper, a three-time Pro Bowler in Minnesota, has to overcome a lot more than a devastating injury to his left knee that he aggravated last season with the Dolphins. "I've always admired his talents as a quarterback," said Simms, who played 14 seasons with the New York Giants. "But there are two things just as important: Does the team believe in him, and does the offense fit him? "He was a 10 in Minnesota in those two areas. Right now in Miami, on a scale of 10, the number's real low."
The Arapahoe County Sheriff's office has identified Broncos receiver David Kircus as "a person of interest" in an alleged assault against a Centennial man early Sunday morning. Grayson Robinson, sheriff of Arapahoe County, said his investigators were planning to bring Kircus in for a photo lineup Sunday night or this morning. The victim suffered multiple broken facial bones in the alleged assault and was taken to Sky Ridge Medical Center in Lone Tree for surgery. According to Robinson, the incident took place about 3:20 a.m. Sunday at a party in Centennial.
The Bears expect the worst and hope for the best for Tank Johnson. Word is expected from commissioner Roger Goodell's office this week on a possible suspension. "We'll deal with it. We know it's coming and that's enough for us," coach Lovie Smith said at the conclusion of minicamp Sunday. "When it does, we'll deal with it then." The Bears hope their own backing of Johnson through his probation violation and 60 days in jail soften up the commissioner. They're also hoping the two games Johnson missed last season for what essentially was a team-mandated suspension carries some weight. Finally, they believe Johnson's pledge to clean up his act in a meeting with Goodell on Wednesday will make a difference.
Colts DE Dwight Freeney made a good-faith gesture by attending minicamp. He has not signed his one-year, $9.43 million tender as a "franchise'' player, and was not required to attend the mandatory event. "I know my situation,'' Freeney said. "I'm not planning on going anywhere. I love the city of Indianapolis and playing for coach (Tony) Dungy and Jim (Irsay, owner) and Bill (Polian, president). "Hopefully they have the same type of mentality.'' Irsay is confident the team will sign Freeney to a long-term contract. That must be accomplished prior to July 15. If that deadline passes, Freeney must play under the one-year franchise tag.
In the interim, second-year linebacker Jamar Williams gets first crack at Lance Briggs’ weak-side position with the Bears first team. The 2006 fourth-round pick impressed coaches with his special teams play early last year but suffered a season-ending torn chest muscle in the third game. “He’s picked up the system well, and that’s about all you can ask from the players right now,” Smith said. “I just know that we have a good athlete at the position, he’s capable of learning it and (has) the ability that we think will allow him to take that next step. Now it’s about him getting a chance to play in games, and we think he’ll do well.” With the realization that he’s got an opportunity for career advancement, the 6-foot, 234-pound Williams said he’s cut a few pounds and some body fat to get into the best possible shape, but he knows replacing Briggs is a tall order.
Dolphins defensive back Jason Allen returned home to Muscle Shoals, Ala., this offseason and got back to basics. He caught eggs. The art of catching raw eggs under pressure is the true test of poise, athleticism and quickness in the Allen household. It is a time-honored tradition that Allen has been playing with his mother, Cynthia Allen, since he was young. And dropping an egg on her furniture could draw a penalty worse than a flag. ''It's to see how good his hands are and his reaction time -- and that's my good sofa now,'' Cynthia Allen said. ``He better catch that egg every time because if it gets on my furniture, he don't want the ultimate football player on him. I'll tackle everybody.''
The NFL's fastest man could not outrun the NYPD. The New York Jets' fleet-footed cornerback and kick returner Justin Miller was arrested early yesterday after he tried to dash away from a fight outside a Manhattan nightspot, police said. Miller was named the league's fastest man at February's Pro Bowl in Hawaii, where he was Gang Green's only representative on the All-Star squad. But his quick feet were no match for cops in a patrol car. Miller, 23, was grabbed just a block from Chelsea's trendy Maritime Hotel, where a woman says she was punched by the pro ballplayer. He was arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court on third-degree assault charges.
Free agent running back Chris Brown, whose representatives had preliminary discussions with the Patriots last month, is in a holding pattern and might be more inclined to wait until a team suffers an injury at the position before signing. The Bears, Colts, Packers, and Titans have also inquired but Brown, perhaps the top free agent running back available, hasn't made a visit because no team is offering the type of contract that will get him on a plane.
Michael Vick rap sheet:
• The herpes case, which led to lampooning (Ron Mexico) and an out-of-court settlement.
• The picture of Vick possible holding a “blunt” on his girlfriend’s ******* page.
• Flipping off home fans.
• The fake water bottle with alleged marijuana particulates (later cleared) at the Miami airport.
• Subsequent suggestions he might’ve been “framed” by Miami police and claims of his explanation for the water bottle, which were disputed.
• Blowing off Congress, then giving an alibi that even his own endorsement partner (AirTran) stomped on.
• Allegations of a connection to dogfighting. It’s not merely a felony, it’s a pastime for the bottom-feeders of society.
Safety Bob Sanders was an interested spectator during the Indianapolis Colts' three-day minicamp, which ended Sunday evening. He's still recovering from surgery on his left shoulder. Sanders insisted his rehabilitation is ahead of schedule but stopped short of declaring he'd be ready for the start of training camp in late July. The target date is Sept. 6, which is when the Colts open the regular season in the RCA Dome against New Orleans. "My No. 1 goal this year is to make sure I stay healthy and just focus on continuing to get better and not allow this past year to affect the way I play,'' Sanders said.
The Dolphins have shown no interest in free agent Keyshawn Johnson -- whose receptions and yards would have led them last season -- for the same reason they're willing to deal Marty Booker: Neither has the exceptional speed they covet.
Tarik Glenn has been one of the constants for the Colts over the last 10 seasons, starting at left tackle for all but six games, protecting the blind side of quarterback Peyton Manning. Yet in a reflection of the way successful teams operate in today's NFL, the Colts are already planning for his potential departure. Glenn is entering the final year of his contract and is scheduled to make $4.5 million. With that in mind, the Colts traded their 2008 first-round draft choice for a 2007 second-round choice and selected Arkansas's Tony Ugoh. The Colts, who return their top eight linemen this season, will ease Ugoh into the mix this year and use him as leverage if negotiations with Glenn don't head in the direction they want.
Minicamp is over and, knock on wood, Will Blackmon is not only 100% healthy, he's one of a few defensive backs who are the emerging stars of the Packers' off-season program. "Basically right after the season I went home and basically got me a rehabilitation team," Blackmon said Sunday. The fourth-round draft pick hired a soft tissue specialist to further repair his leg, which had to overcompensate for the broken foot as he attempted to play again last season. He also hired a physical trainer and a sprint running coach. He did all this in Boston in the only two months - mid-January to mid-March - that NFL players are technically, really off from work. "Your body is your business. You can't rely on everything being taken care of here" in Green Bay, Blackmon said. "I wasn't going to sit around."
What will the reaction be to the trouble Falcons QB Michael Vick has gotten himself into? “There’s no doubt Vick’s image has taken a huge hit,” said Frank Mahar of Genesco Sports Enterprises, a sports marketing firm in New York. “It’s been one incident on top of another. For some people now, the question isn’t, ‘When is it going to stop?’ but ‘What’s next?" “When Vick came into the league, he had multiple TV spots — Nike, a video game, Powerade. I would guess we’re not going to see him on much this year.” “Blank’s in a hard place,” Mahar said. “If the town is really that split, it almost like no matter what he does he’s going to upset somebody. He wants to sell tickets but he doesn’t want to upset people in the process. It almost comes down to, ‘What’s the lesser of two evils?’ “
The Green Bay Packers may have seen the last of cornerback Charles Woodson until training camp opens in late July. After practicing Friday and Saturday morning, Woodson was absent from the Saturday afternoon workout inside the Don Hutson Center, and a Packers spokesman said Woodson had been excused for "personal reasons." ... Woodson said Friday he was not going to attend the team's technically voluntary 12 organized team activity practices that begin May 31, choosing instead to work out on his own in Houston as he did last year.
One Viking who is optimistic that defensive end Erasmus James, who had knee surgery twice, will return to action this year is linebacker Chad Greenway, who also had knee surgery and has been rehabbing with the No. 1 draft choice from Wisconsin. "After his surgery, we were rehabbing basically the same time every day together," said Greenway. "So, we've been through it, the hard parts together, but he had to go back in and have that little extra surgery which slowed him down a little bit. But I know he's feeling a lot better now, and he's looking forward to getting back for training camp. Absolutely, I think with the will he has and the type of person he is, I have no doubt that he'll be back."
Did You Know? At the end of the 2004 season, Michael Vick was the centerpiece of this city. He was 23-12-1 as a starter, had just led the Falcons to within a win of the Super Bowl and radiated like a 100-watt bulb. Since then, he is 15-16 as a starter and the bulb has been crushed.
Colts coach Tony Dungy was missing Sunday, but it was for a good cause. He and his family traveled to Atlanta to attend graduation ceremonies for oldest daughter Tiara at Spelman College. Assistant head coach Jim Caldwell ran practice in Dungy's absence.
What NFL receiver does 5-11 Dolphins rookie Ted Ginn believe he can become? Ginn said '' Santana Moss,'' a 5-10 Commanders receiver and former Cane. And don't tell Ginn that some scouts view him as a No. 2 or No. 3 receiver. ''I can be a No. 1 [eventually], for sure,'' he said.
As state officials plan to meet today to review evidence of dog fighting against Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, some residents in this town near the James River are eager for the circus surrounding their famous but rarely seen neighbor to die down -- charges filed or not. "It was peaceful until people started making all this noise," said neighbor Ernest Hardy, who lives next to the home Vick owned on Moonlight Road where the purported dogfights occurred. "The Moonlight ain't been right since. Normally you can hear a tractor echoing through the woods."
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