Hostile
The Duke
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Look for Dwight Freeney, the Colts three-time Pro Bowl defensive end, to become the highest-paid defensive player in league history. Preliminary talks have begun between the team and Gary Wichard, Freeney's agent. The key date is July 15, the deadline for a long-term contract to be reached. Failing that, Freeney must play under the one-year, $9.43 million "franchise'' tag for '07. If that happens, he figures to be a no-show throughout the preseason. The absolute earliest Freeney would sign the one-year tender is the week before the start of the regular season. A long-term deal is in the best interest of both sides. It will afford the Colts room under the salary cap and allow them to lock up one of the NFL's most disruptive players (on the field) for the foreseeable future. It would also give Freeney long-term security.
After a brief but heated exchange with coach Eric Mangini on Wednesday night upon his arrival for a mandatory minicamp, disgruntled veteran guard Pete Kendall unleashed an attack on the Jets organization yesterday for refusing to renegotiate his contract and demanded to be traded or released. Kendall, who is due to earn a $1.7 million base salary and is seeking a $1 million raise, called the club "unprofessional" and said Mangini has refused to return his phone calls even though the pair had an amicable meeting following the season regarding a new deal. Kendall, an 11-year veteran, said GM Mike Tannenbaum even told him two weeks ago that his request "isn't unreasonable" and agreed that he was "underpaid." Kendall said Tannenbaum told him club policy is to not revisit deals with three years left. Kendall, though, pointed out that his initial deal had three years left when he was asked to restructure it.
Michael Strahan continues to be paid ($4 million this season) like a star defensive end, but surely the Giants will seek to reduce that financial obligation if he once again breaks down. After playing in every game for five straight seasons (and missing only three games in a 10-year span) Strahan has missed 17 games the past three years.
Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre has missed the last two practices with a sore shoulder, but the veteran entering his 17th season doesn't think the injury is serious. "I probably could practice but it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to go out and make it worse," Favre said Thursday at a news conference inside Lambeau Field. "I found out with my elbow and tendinitis several years back. I kept throwing and it almost cost me the opening-day start. So I will probably take a week off and see how it feels, and start gradually throwing to get back into it." Coach Mike McCarthy was not alarmed, either.
Andy Reid said Eagles general manager Tom Heckert would continue to investigate whether the Eagles could add a player to improve the team. Jacksonville released veteran safety Donovin Darius yesterday. Darius, a product of Woodrow Wilson High in Camden and a college teammate of McNabb's at Syracuse, has been limited to 12 games the last two seasons by injuries.
Look for veteran defensive tackle Corey Simon to get his walking papers, perhaps after a final grievance with the Colts is resolved involving $1.9 million in '06 base salary. The latest sign Simon has played his final game for the Colts: He wasn't invited to Wednesday night's ring ceremony.
The Steelers have removed Dr. Richard Rydze from their medical staff roster, an apparent reaction to the revelation in March that he had purchased $150,000 in testosterone and human growth hormone with his own credit card. Rydze was interviewed by investigators from Albany County, N.Y., in February, but never accused by them of any wrongdoing. Nevertheless, his employers at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center began their own investigation after his name surfaced in the New York case.
Five people have contacted the Green Bay Packers about the position of president of the franchise, team Chairman Bob Harlan said Thursday. Of the five, Harlan said, four of the applicants are involved in professional football. The fifth is from outside the business, he said. "They are waiting to find out what is going to be our next step," said Harlan, who added that he knows all five personally. Among the potential candidates for the job is Mike Reinfeldt, who used to work for the Packers and is now the general manager for the Tennessee Titans. Internally, Andrew Brandt, the Packers' vice president for finance, has been mentioned as a possible candidate. Neither Reinfeldt nor Brandt has commented on the job. Harlan also said he had spoken twice to National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell in the past week, and briefed him on the situation in Green Bay. "I just brought him up to date," Harlan said.
WR Torry Holt underwent routine surgery in February for a torn meniscus cartilage in his right knee. It was only the second knee surgery for Holt in eight NFL seasons. The Rams' full-squad minicamp, which concluded Thursday at Rams Park, marked his first extensive work on the practice field since the latest surgery. "For the most part, things are on schedule," Holt said. "I've got one more month to heal up and really strengthen it before we start training camp. So I'm going to try to take full advantage of it." As a result, Holt will spend most of the lull between now and the start of training camp working out in St. Louis. "I still have some soreness on the inside where I had the meniscus cleaned up," Holt said. "But that's going to be there. It's just a matter of me getting more reps and running more, and reintroducing the knee to those types of cuts that I'm used to doing." In part because of the knee surgery, it has been a low-key offseason for Holt. He did no television work. Cut down on his business ventures. Put off until next year a planned vacation to Paris.
Jets RB Curtis Martin still hasn't officially retired, and his status hasn't been determined. "Curtis, he's Curtis," Eric Mangini said of Martin, whose injuries have forced him to the sidelines. "I love the guy. Whatever Curtis wants to do, we're going to talk to him and try to accommodate him."
Browns CB Gary Baxter was promising to make history in his comeback from torn patellar tendons in both knees. Baxter was positively giddy as he talked about his rehab from blowing out both knees last season. ``Things couldn't be better in Gary Baxter's world,'' he said. He also said he's ``feeling great,'' ready to make ``history'' by coming back and is ``pushing science to another level.'' ``The response I get from doctors is, `You did what?' and `You're doing this? Wow!' '' Baxter said. He would not provide details for what he can or can't do, but he walked confidently to the interview, quipped he might be able to run a 40-yard dash right now and said the plan remains to be on the field for opening day against the Pittsburgh Steelers. ``Everything I can do, I'm doing,'' Baxter said. ``And I'm all-chips-in and the results have been spectacular.''
An interesting battle is shaping up for the Jets backup quarterback job between second-year pro Kellen Clemens and free-agent signing Marques Tuiasosopo. Each player threw the ball well in both sessions during the opening of yesterday's no-pads minicamp at Hofstra. Both displayed strong arms. It was an especially good day for Clemens, who had looked sluggish in several organized team activities (OTA) that were open to the media the past two weeks.
QB Jason Campbell enters the Commanders' three-day minicamp, which begins today, as the team's undisputed leader on the field and an in-demand presence on Washington's black-tie circuit, yet remains an unassuming, polite Southerner. Whether playing video games with neighborhood kids in Loudoun County or accompanying his girlfriend -- Miss District of Columbia Mercedes Lindsay -- to an event at the Versace mansion in Miami Beach, Campbell remains modest. He seems incapable of declining any autograph request and is accommodating with the media and the team's community relations department. "Jason is too nice. He really is," said tackle Chris Samuels, who often ventures out with Campbell. "He just can't help it. He doesn't know how to say no."
The Commanders tried to replace second-year man Rocky McIntosh even before giving him a shot to start at outside linebacker opposite Marcus Washington. But talks with the Chicago Bears for Lance Briggs went nowhere, and because Warrick Holdman remains unsigned, the job is McIntosh's to lose. He started the final two games of 2006 and played well. This weekend, he gets to work with the starting defense for three straight days.
As the Ravens wrapped up their final minicamp yesterday, the club asked for two commitments from its players over their six weeks of vacation: Stay in shape and stay out of trouble. Considering NFL commissioner Roger Goodell's crackdown on misbehavior, the Ravens know off-the-field problems could detract from another playoff run. "Nothing good ever happens after midnight," Ravens coach Brian Billick told his players. "I know that isn't going to keep some of you from going, but at the very least, I hope you feel guilty about it."
The days of interchangeable safety positions in the Commanders' secondary apparently are over. Sean Taylor has been designated the free safety and rookie LaRon Landry the strong safety. Those players learning to work together in minicamp and training camp will be important if the Commanders want to improve their No. 31 ranking in yards allowed. Landry needs to be solid against the run, and Taylor has to create more turnovers.
Despite 10-year veteran Charles Woodson's grousing about being in Green Bay in June for a voluntary workout, he was here all week. He didn't attend these practices last year. Coaches have noticed that he's in excellent off-season shape: Woodson works out every day for 2 to 2½ hours. He'd prefer to work alone this time of year but decided to keep a promise. "I just told the coaches I would be here. I'm here, that's that," Woodson said. He joked that he and fellow cornerback Al Harris conferred beforehand and worked out their schedules so that at least one of them would be here to appease the coaching staff. Harris wasn't at practice Thursday.
Jets rookie DB Darrelle Revis hasn't signed and he is represented by Pete Kendall's agent, Neil Schwartz. GM Mike Tannenbaum doesn't anticipate that being a problem, despite Kendall's status as unhappy. "[Revis] was the 14th pick of the draft and I have been negotiating contracts long enough to know that he is going to get less than the 13th pick and more than the 15th pick," Tannebaum said.
Jeremy Shockey was hobbled by an ankle injury late last season, and he has missed at least one game every year in his five seasons with the Giants. Shockey reported to camp with more muscle mass, and avoiding injury has become a top priority. “I’d like to stay healthy all year, something I haven’t been able to do,” Shockey said. “That’s a goal for the season.”
Jets linebacker Jonathan Vilma yesterday attempted to clarify the statements he made regarding dog fighting during a radio interview Wednesday, when he associated the activity with horse racing. Vilma wasn't exactly contrite about his remarks. "I wasn't really for or against dog fighting," Vilma said yesterday. "I wasn't for or against M ichael Vick (the Falcons quarterback allegedly involved in dog fighting). It's an unfortunate situation whether he's involved or not." Vilma said yesterday his comments were "misinterpreted" during his interview on WFAN. "I wasn't comparing the two," Vilma said. "I was just saying that you're going to have activists that are against both of them because they are harmful to animals, both put stress on animals." He went on to say he understood the difference between the two.
The Steelers current depth chart features Chukky Okobi as the starting center, Ike Taylor and Deshea Townsend starting at cornerback and Ryan Clark lining up as the starting free safety. But the current depth chart, Tomlin emphasized, is "in pencil." "People want to establish depth charts at this time of year, so be it," Tomlin said. "They change. There are known position battles that will be talked about, but there are also unknown position battles that are going to develop because we're going to go into this thing with no preconceived notions. No jobs are secure. This is not a security business. They gotta play and perform." The known battles include Okobi and free-agent addition Sean Mahan vying to become Jeff Hartings' replacement at center, Kendall Simmons attempting to hold off Chris Kemoeatu at right guard, Clark and second-year pro Anthony Smith fighting it out at free safety, and the threesome of Taylor, Townsend and Bryant McFadden competing for two starting spots at corner.
Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger has performed well. "He is a tremendous competitor and he's a very talented guy. He communicated well with all of the other players. He's kind of a ball junkie. I didn't know that about him, but he is talking about football on a day-to-day basis. He is really into it and I was very pleased with him," Tomlin said.
Who Knew? The Seahawks have not finished among the top 10 in defense since 1997, and have done it only three times in the past 15 seasons. They were 19th last season -- down from No. 16 during their Super Bowl run in 2005
With Tiki Barber gone, the top two running backs on the depth chart are Brandon Jacobs and Reuben Droughns, a veteran acquired by the Giants in a trade with the Cleveland Browns. Jacobs is determined to be the starter, a role he intends to earn during minicamp and training camp. “I’ve worked hard in previous years to get here,” said Jacobs, who rushed for 423 yards and 9 touchdowns last season in 96 carries. “I want it so much more than everybody else. Reuben is great. We’ve got a good group, and it won’t be easy to maintain, but I will.”
The Minnesota Vikings have tentatively agreed to buy four city blocks for $45 million from Avista Capital Partners, owners of the Star Tribune, as part of a broader plan to build a football stadium and develop surrounding land in downtown Minneapolis, sources close to the sale confirmed Thursday. The Vikings, as part of the transaction, would also have a right of first refusal to later buy the newspaper's longtime main office building, though that block is not included in the sale. Sources close to the negotiations said the sale could be finalized within days but cautioned it could still unravel.
After a brief but heated exchange with coach Eric Mangini on Wednesday night upon his arrival for a mandatory minicamp, disgruntled veteran guard Pete Kendall unleashed an attack on the Jets organization yesterday for refusing to renegotiate his contract and demanded to be traded or released. Kendall, who is due to earn a $1.7 million base salary and is seeking a $1 million raise, called the club "unprofessional" and said Mangini has refused to return his phone calls even though the pair had an amicable meeting following the season regarding a new deal. Kendall, an 11-year veteran, said GM Mike Tannenbaum even told him two weeks ago that his request "isn't unreasonable" and agreed that he was "underpaid." Kendall said Tannenbaum told him club policy is to not revisit deals with three years left. Kendall, though, pointed out that his initial deal had three years left when he was asked to restructure it.
Michael Strahan continues to be paid ($4 million this season) like a star defensive end, but surely the Giants will seek to reduce that financial obligation if he once again breaks down. After playing in every game for five straight seasons (and missing only three games in a 10-year span) Strahan has missed 17 games the past three years.
Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre has missed the last two practices with a sore shoulder, but the veteran entering his 17th season doesn't think the injury is serious. "I probably could practice but it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to go out and make it worse," Favre said Thursday at a news conference inside Lambeau Field. "I found out with my elbow and tendinitis several years back. I kept throwing and it almost cost me the opening-day start. So I will probably take a week off and see how it feels, and start gradually throwing to get back into it." Coach Mike McCarthy was not alarmed, either.
Andy Reid said Eagles general manager Tom Heckert would continue to investigate whether the Eagles could add a player to improve the team. Jacksonville released veteran safety Donovin Darius yesterday. Darius, a product of Woodrow Wilson High in Camden and a college teammate of McNabb's at Syracuse, has been limited to 12 games the last two seasons by injuries.
Look for veteran defensive tackle Corey Simon to get his walking papers, perhaps after a final grievance with the Colts is resolved involving $1.9 million in '06 base salary. The latest sign Simon has played his final game for the Colts: He wasn't invited to Wednesday night's ring ceremony.
The Steelers have removed Dr. Richard Rydze from their medical staff roster, an apparent reaction to the revelation in March that he had purchased $150,000 in testosterone and human growth hormone with his own credit card. Rydze was interviewed by investigators from Albany County, N.Y., in February, but never accused by them of any wrongdoing. Nevertheless, his employers at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center began their own investigation after his name surfaced in the New York case.
Five people have contacted the Green Bay Packers about the position of president of the franchise, team Chairman Bob Harlan said Thursday. Of the five, Harlan said, four of the applicants are involved in professional football. The fifth is from outside the business, he said. "They are waiting to find out what is going to be our next step," said Harlan, who added that he knows all five personally. Among the potential candidates for the job is Mike Reinfeldt, who used to work for the Packers and is now the general manager for the Tennessee Titans. Internally, Andrew Brandt, the Packers' vice president for finance, has been mentioned as a possible candidate. Neither Reinfeldt nor Brandt has commented on the job. Harlan also said he had spoken twice to National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell in the past week, and briefed him on the situation in Green Bay. "I just brought him up to date," Harlan said.
WR Torry Holt underwent routine surgery in February for a torn meniscus cartilage in his right knee. It was only the second knee surgery for Holt in eight NFL seasons. The Rams' full-squad minicamp, which concluded Thursday at Rams Park, marked his first extensive work on the practice field since the latest surgery. "For the most part, things are on schedule," Holt said. "I've got one more month to heal up and really strengthen it before we start training camp. So I'm going to try to take full advantage of it." As a result, Holt will spend most of the lull between now and the start of training camp working out in St. Louis. "I still have some soreness on the inside where I had the meniscus cleaned up," Holt said. "But that's going to be there. It's just a matter of me getting more reps and running more, and reintroducing the knee to those types of cuts that I'm used to doing." In part because of the knee surgery, it has been a low-key offseason for Holt. He did no television work. Cut down on his business ventures. Put off until next year a planned vacation to Paris.
Jets RB Curtis Martin still hasn't officially retired, and his status hasn't been determined. "Curtis, he's Curtis," Eric Mangini said of Martin, whose injuries have forced him to the sidelines. "I love the guy. Whatever Curtis wants to do, we're going to talk to him and try to accommodate him."
Browns CB Gary Baxter was promising to make history in his comeback from torn patellar tendons in both knees. Baxter was positively giddy as he talked about his rehab from blowing out both knees last season. ``Things couldn't be better in Gary Baxter's world,'' he said. He also said he's ``feeling great,'' ready to make ``history'' by coming back and is ``pushing science to another level.'' ``The response I get from doctors is, `You did what?' and `You're doing this? Wow!' '' Baxter said. He would not provide details for what he can or can't do, but he walked confidently to the interview, quipped he might be able to run a 40-yard dash right now and said the plan remains to be on the field for opening day against the Pittsburgh Steelers. ``Everything I can do, I'm doing,'' Baxter said. ``And I'm all-chips-in and the results have been spectacular.''
An interesting battle is shaping up for the Jets backup quarterback job between second-year pro Kellen Clemens and free-agent signing Marques Tuiasosopo. Each player threw the ball well in both sessions during the opening of yesterday's no-pads minicamp at Hofstra. Both displayed strong arms. It was an especially good day for Clemens, who had looked sluggish in several organized team activities (OTA) that were open to the media the past two weeks.
QB Jason Campbell enters the Commanders' three-day minicamp, which begins today, as the team's undisputed leader on the field and an in-demand presence on Washington's black-tie circuit, yet remains an unassuming, polite Southerner. Whether playing video games with neighborhood kids in Loudoun County or accompanying his girlfriend -- Miss District of Columbia Mercedes Lindsay -- to an event at the Versace mansion in Miami Beach, Campbell remains modest. He seems incapable of declining any autograph request and is accommodating with the media and the team's community relations department. "Jason is too nice. He really is," said tackle Chris Samuels, who often ventures out with Campbell. "He just can't help it. He doesn't know how to say no."
The Commanders tried to replace second-year man Rocky McIntosh even before giving him a shot to start at outside linebacker opposite Marcus Washington. But talks with the Chicago Bears for Lance Briggs went nowhere, and because Warrick Holdman remains unsigned, the job is McIntosh's to lose. He started the final two games of 2006 and played well. This weekend, he gets to work with the starting defense for three straight days.
As the Ravens wrapped up their final minicamp yesterday, the club asked for two commitments from its players over their six weeks of vacation: Stay in shape and stay out of trouble. Considering NFL commissioner Roger Goodell's crackdown on misbehavior, the Ravens know off-the-field problems could detract from another playoff run. "Nothing good ever happens after midnight," Ravens coach Brian Billick told his players. "I know that isn't going to keep some of you from going, but at the very least, I hope you feel guilty about it."
The days of interchangeable safety positions in the Commanders' secondary apparently are over. Sean Taylor has been designated the free safety and rookie LaRon Landry the strong safety. Those players learning to work together in minicamp and training camp will be important if the Commanders want to improve their No. 31 ranking in yards allowed. Landry needs to be solid against the run, and Taylor has to create more turnovers.
Despite 10-year veteran Charles Woodson's grousing about being in Green Bay in June for a voluntary workout, he was here all week. He didn't attend these practices last year. Coaches have noticed that he's in excellent off-season shape: Woodson works out every day for 2 to 2½ hours. He'd prefer to work alone this time of year but decided to keep a promise. "I just told the coaches I would be here. I'm here, that's that," Woodson said. He joked that he and fellow cornerback Al Harris conferred beforehand and worked out their schedules so that at least one of them would be here to appease the coaching staff. Harris wasn't at practice Thursday.
Jets rookie DB Darrelle Revis hasn't signed and he is represented by Pete Kendall's agent, Neil Schwartz. GM Mike Tannenbaum doesn't anticipate that being a problem, despite Kendall's status as unhappy. "[Revis] was the 14th pick of the draft and I have been negotiating contracts long enough to know that he is going to get less than the 13th pick and more than the 15th pick," Tannebaum said.
Jeremy Shockey was hobbled by an ankle injury late last season, and he has missed at least one game every year in his five seasons with the Giants. Shockey reported to camp with more muscle mass, and avoiding injury has become a top priority. “I’d like to stay healthy all year, something I haven’t been able to do,” Shockey said. “That’s a goal for the season.”
Jets linebacker Jonathan Vilma yesterday attempted to clarify the statements he made regarding dog fighting during a radio interview Wednesday, when he associated the activity with horse racing. Vilma wasn't exactly contrite about his remarks. "I wasn't really for or against dog fighting," Vilma said yesterday. "I wasn't for or against M ichael Vick (the Falcons quarterback allegedly involved in dog fighting). It's an unfortunate situation whether he's involved or not." Vilma said yesterday his comments were "misinterpreted" during his interview on WFAN. "I wasn't comparing the two," Vilma said. "I was just saying that you're going to have activists that are against both of them because they are harmful to animals, both put stress on animals." He went on to say he understood the difference between the two.
The Steelers current depth chart features Chukky Okobi as the starting center, Ike Taylor and Deshea Townsend starting at cornerback and Ryan Clark lining up as the starting free safety. But the current depth chart, Tomlin emphasized, is "in pencil." "People want to establish depth charts at this time of year, so be it," Tomlin said. "They change. There are known position battles that will be talked about, but there are also unknown position battles that are going to develop because we're going to go into this thing with no preconceived notions. No jobs are secure. This is not a security business. They gotta play and perform." The known battles include Okobi and free-agent addition Sean Mahan vying to become Jeff Hartings' replacement at center, Kendall Simmons attempting to hold off Chris Kemoeatu at right guard, Clark and second-year pro Anthony Smith fighting it out at free safety, and the threesome of Taylor, Townsend and Bryant McFadden competing for two starting spots at corner.
Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger has performed well. "He is a tremendous competitor and he's a very talented guy. He communicated well with all of the other players. He's kind of a ball junkie. I didn't know that about him, but he is talking about football on a day-to-day basis. He is really into it and I was very pleased with him," Tomlin said.
Who Knew? The Seahawks have not finished among the top 10 in defense since 1997, and have done it only three times in the past 15 seasons. They were 19th last season -- down from No. 16 during their Super Bowl run in 2005
With Tiki Barber gone, the top two running backs on the depth chart are Brandon Jacobs and Reuben Droughns, a veteran acquired by the Giants in a trade with the Cleveland Browns. Jacobs is determined to be the starter, a role he intends to earn during minicamp and training camp. “I’ve worked hard in previous years to get here,” said Jacobs, who rushed for 423 yards and 9 touchdowns last season in 96 carries. “I want it so much more than everybody else. Reuben is great. We’ve got a good group, and it won’t be easy to maintain, but I will.”
The Minnesota Vikings have tentatively agreed to buy four city blocks for $45 million from Avista Capital Partners, owners of the Star Tribune, as part of a broader plan to build a football stadium and develop surrounding land in downtown Minneapolis, sources close to the sale confirmed Thursday. The Vikings, as part of the transaction, would also have a right of first refusal to later buy the newspaper's longtime main office building, though that block is not included in the sale. Sources close to the negotiations said the sale could be finalized within days but cautioned it could still unravel.
