trickblue
Not Old School...Old Testament...
- Messages
- 31,439
- Reaction score
- 3,961
Keyshawn Johnson is scheduled to fly into the area this morning and visit with the Giants, according to a close friend and former teammate with knowledge of the talks between Johnson and the Giants. The friend said the Giants are expected to make a strong bid to sign Johnson and may strike a deal as early as this week. Johnson is said to be excited about the opportunity to return to the New York area, a place he never wanted to leave. "If the numbers are right, he could sign with the Giants (today)," the friend said. "Keyshawn thinks the Giants have a really good team and could contend for the Super Bowl. Besides, he loves the New York stage." Carolina, Seattle, Philadelphia, New England, Kansas City and Dallas, which would like to re-sign Johnson, also have shown interest.
‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗
Joey Harrington is on his way out of Detroit, and Kansas City appears smack-dab in the middle of the hunt for his services. Chiefs GM Carl Peterson wouldn’t say as much Monday, shortly after new Lions coach Rod Marinelli told reporters that Detroit was moving on without Harrington, even though the Lions haven’t officially made a move to get rid of him. Just back from a scouting trip, Peterson was in no mood to chat about the Harrington buzz. But the Chiefs are in serious need of a backup for Green, and Harrington’s name undoubtedly will be tossed around in the coming days as Detroit president Matt Millen waits to meet with his quarterback, who’s in Thailand.
‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗
The Packers are in the thick of the race to sign Adam Vinatieri, who’s the NFL’s premier kicker. But all appearances suggest Vinatieri is waiting out the market rather than trying to strike a quick deal to return to the Patriots or join the Packers. The Packers and Patriots appear to be the only teams in the bidding, which is sure to conclude with the best contract ever signed by a kicker. There’s always the chance another team steps in if talks drag on, but with only two bidders, the Packers have to think they have a legitimate shot at signing Vinatieri.
‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗
The Eagles have spoken to Jon Runyan, but it's the New York Jets who will get a Long Island visit from the imposing right tackle today. Runyan, an unrestricted free agent, seemed only mildly encouraged about his conversations with the Eagles. "We're talking a little bit," he said yesterday after returning from a vacation in the Cayman Islands. "We just started the process." What exactly does that mean? "They returned my phone call," said Runyan, who is represented by agent Ben Dogra. "I guess something is better than nothing."
‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗
Seattle might not be done. Still in place is a contingent deal for defensive end John Abraham, whom the Seahawks have the exclusive negotiating rights for from the New York Jets in exchange for Seattle's first-round pick.
‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗
Now the spotlight has moved toward Aaron Brooks as the Raiders continue their search for a replacement for deposed Kerry Collins. Brooks, who turns 30 on Friday, was released by the New Orleans Saints on Wednesday after they signed free agent Drew Brees. He met with the TampaBay Buccaneers on Friday. He's expected to visit the Raiders in the coming days, a person in the front office said Monday. That meeting could occur as soon as today, though nothing had been finalized as of Monday night.
‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗
Falcons owner Arthur Blank said team officials continued to work on compensation to land New York Jets defensive end John Abraham, the pass-rushing specialist who has been their main offseason target. "I know we're trying hard to satisfy all parties concerned," Blank said Monday. "I think John Abraham is satisfied, at this point. It's just a matter of us working something out with the Jets." That could mean the Falcons offering more in a trade than the second-round pick in the April draft that the Jets rebuffed last week after Seattle offered its first round pick, 31st overall.
‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗
The Bears' courtship of Brian Griese continued in earnest Monday, to the point of contract discussions late into the day, even as competition intensified from other suitors for the veteran starting quarterback. "We are in discussions, and there is serious interest on both sides," said Ralph Cindrich, Griese's agent. "We are talking to other teams as well, and we've made sure that everyone is aware of the situation." Bears offensive coordinator Ron Turner met with Griese on Monday in Tampa to discuss the Bears' offense in depth. The Bears were satisfied enough with results of a medical evaluation performed on Griese's left knee to initiate contract discussions. Griese tore ligaments Oct. 16 against Miami, but Cindrich said Griese is expected to be fully ready for mini-camps and training camp. Besides the Bears, TampaBay, Miami and Cincinnati are attempting to secure Griese as an alternative to their starters.
‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗
Nose tackle Grady Jackson did not sign with another team Monday, in part because he drew interest from another club. According to Jackson, the St. Louis Rams called and are interested in meeting with him to fill a defensive line position.
‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗
One logical option for the Packers still available is former New Orleans quarterback Aaron Brooks, who was a Pro Bowl selection when Mike McCarthy was his offensive coordinator with the Saints. Brooks, who was released last week after the Saints signed Drew Brees, is slated to visit the Oakland Raiders today. "Aaron's obviously on the list. He's somebody we've talked about," McCarthy said. "Obviously, we have a past together and it was pretty positive. That's something we want to evaluate."
‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗
There's no urgency on the Green Bay Packers' part to add to their wide receiver corps, but the opportunity to examine a speedster the size of Kansas City free agent Marc Boerigter was too hard to pass up. Coach Mike McCarthy invited the 6-foot-3, 220-pound Boerigter in for a visit Monday, and although it might be too early to predict a match, it was an intriguing meeting for both sides.
‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗
Candidates to replace Paul Tagliabue, several owners said, will include Roger Goodell, the league's chief operating officer; league counsel Jeff Pash; Eric Grubman, the league's executive vice president of finance and business transactions; Atlanta Falcons President Rich McKay; and Baltimore Ravens President Dick Cass. One owner said that Goodell would be the front-runner at this point but that it was far too early in the process to make any reliable predictions.
‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗
The Commanders also contacted free agent cornerback Jamar Fletcher, a 2001 first-round pick from Wisconsin who spent the last two seasons in San Diego. Fletcher, however, has not visited the Commanders and has drawn interest from other teams.
‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗
The Bucs are expected to visit today with former 49ers fullback Fred Beasley. Though they've re-signed projected starter Mike Alstott, the Bucs need a backup to replace Jameel Cook. Beasley is an eight-year veteran who is considered one of the best blocking fullbacks in the game.
‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗
Baltimore is another possible destination for Jon Runyan if the 6-foot-7, 330-pound tackle wants to stay close to home. The Ravens released Orlando Brown last week.
‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗
Veteran fullback Tony Richardson appeared to be leaning strongly toward accepting a contract offer from the Vikings, a decision he planned to sleep on Monday night and settle on today. Richardson, 34, is the second fullback to visit during free agency. William Henderson spurned the team's offer and returned to Green Bay, and Richardson also is mulling the interest level of his former team, Kansas City.
‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗
Former Packers QB Craig Nall didn't hesitate to weigh in on his thoughts about Brett Favre's future in an interview with radio station WSSP-AM (1250). "I can only speculate that the longer he waits the more inclined he will be to come back," Nall said. "That’s just my own opinion."
‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗
For two weeks, middle linebacker Antonio Pierce has been privately lobbying the Giants to sign free-agent outside linebacker LaVar Arrington -- his teammate for four years with the Commanders. Yesterday, on the first day of the Giants' off-season workouts, Pierce finally made his thoughts public. "I feel that we need another player here that brings the attitude (and) the mentality this defense back in the '80s and even back in the '50s and the '60s had -- that aggressive, nasty mentality," Pierce said when asked about Arrington on a conference call with local reporters. "I know he's that kind of player."
‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗
The Dolphins are trying to finalize a visit for free-agent quarterback Tommy Maddox, a source said. Maddox, who was released in March by Pittsburgh, played under new Dolphins offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey with the Steelers in 2002 and 2003. If signed, Maddox would compete with Cleo Lemon for a backup role behind Daunte Culpepper.
‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗
The Browns have given center Jeff Faine's agent permission to seek a trade for the 2003 first-round pick, an NFL source said Monday. Faine (6-3, 291) became expendable last week when the Browns signed former Saints center/guard LeCharles Bentley as a free agent.
‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗
Tampa Bay free agent Kenyatta Walker will meet with team officials at the Flowery Branch complex today, the Falcons confirmed. The Falcons are looking to replace Kevin Shaffer, who departed to Cleveland via free agency. Walker (6 feet 5, 302) is a former first-round draft pick from Florida who has started most of his five seasons with the Buccaneers.
‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗
Who Knew? The Cowboys have seen their Super Bowl odds improve from 20-1 to 11-1 since acquiring Terrell Owens and they have also improved their odds to clinch the NFC Championship, their odds improving from 7-1 to 4-1, behind the Seahawks at 7-2.
‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗
Browns WR Joe Jurevicius asked by Chris Myers and Ben Maller on Fox Sports Radio about Terrell Owens signing with the Cowboys: "Its a great thing for the Dallas Cowboys. You arguabbly have the best reciever in football in Terrell Owens. You've got a great quarterback. The Dallas organizataion already made some moves in the past couple of years bringing in an unbelievable defense and making the moves on offense. I think they'll be team to be reconded with. Terrell Owens, I think its a positive thing."
‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗
The Raiders had in tight end Chris Baker and linebacker James Allen for visits in recent days. Neither was offered a contract.
‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗
Bucs GM Bruce Allen spent a good portion of the weekend trying to fill the hole in his lineup with Patriots free-agent tackle Tom Ashworth. Those contract talks proved fruitless, however, and there is now a likelihood Ashworth will sign elsewhere. "Bruce and I spent a lot of time talking over the weekend but their offer, quite frankly, was not very compelling," said Ashworth's agent, Tom Mills. "Bruce is not offering Tom a chance to be paid like a starter, and until that changes we have to continue to look around." Mills' comments were made as Ashworth was jetting to Seattle to visit with the Seahawks. New Orleans and Houston may be next on a tour that already has included a stop in Miami and a visit with the Jets.
‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗
The Lions apparently haven't come close to making a trade. Joey Harrington's agent, David Dunn, told one team that the Lions had not approached him about restructuring Harrington's contract so he could be dealt, an NFL source said. Harrington is expected to return from vacation and talk to Millen late this week, two other sources said. The Lions have almost three months to make a move. Harrington is due a $4-million roster bonus June 15.
‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗
Lions DT Dan Wilkinson did not report for conditioning. Rod Marinelli said Wilkinson was still part of the team. Asked if Wilkinson had indicated he would be back or if he were still mulling retirement, Marinelli said: "I've not had a chance to really talk to him about that yet." Wilkinson, 33, said late last season he wasn't sure he wanted to start over with a new coaching staff.
‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗
The Texans also brought in middle linebacker Sam Cowart and fullback Paul Smith for visits.
‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗
The Texans signed their fifth free agent — former Denver tight end Jeb Putzier. Signing Putzier, who received a four-year, $7.5 million contract that included a $1.85 million signing bonus, was not a surprise. He played his first four seasons in Denver, with Kubiak as offensive coordinator. Putzier, 6-4, 256, is a solid receiver who'll share time with returning starter Mark Bruener.
‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗
Former Miami center/guard Seth McKinney, younger brother of guard Steve McKinney, visits the Texans today. They're bringing in New England guard Stephen Neal on Wednesday after Kubiak returns from the University of Texas pro day in Austin.
‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗
The Bengals seek a veteran backup quarterback. Brian Griese and Jamie Martin are the front-runners. Griese visited Chicago after checking out Cincinnati. The Bengals confirmed a visit from defensive tackle Lionel Dalton, a younger (31) and less-expensive alternative to Sam Adams (32).
‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗
