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NFC Whispers
Boldin unlikely to be Cardinal in 2010
Posted Nov. 14, 2009 @ 7:31 p.m.
By PFW staff
— We hear it's more likely than ever that Cardinals WR Anquan Boldin will not be back with the team in 2010 after claiming nobody on the team was "man enough" to tell him he would be inactivated for the Week Nine game against the Bears. "Everybody just looks at it as a very sad situation," said one team source. "With the argument he had with (then-offensive coordinator Todd) Haley in the playoffs last year and now this, it just doesn't look good for Anquan."
— How good is Niners ILB Patrick Willis? Just ask Titans head coach Jeff Fisher, who said Titans RB Chris Johnson would have had three more touchdowns in Tennessee's Week Nine win over San Francisco if not for Willis being the only one on the field who could catch him. Said Fisher of Willis: "I have not seen an effort out of a linebacker like I've seen out of him."
— Word is the Seahawks really like recently acquired RB Louis Rankin, who looked instantly impressive returning kickoffs (three for 82 yards) in the Week Nine win over Detroit. "They still want to see him in the run game," said one team insider. "They like his speed and size and feel he has an explosive big-play burst that has been missing from the offense."
— While Paris Lenon appears to be a short-term fix at weak-side linebacker for the Rams, we hear the team doesn't consider that position a major area of need. Said one source: "I sense (head coach Steve) Spagnuolo wants a strong presence at the 'Mike' and feels he can get by with lesser players at the outside positions.
— We hear that Giants WR Hakeem Nicks is pushing Mario Manningham for the No. 2 spot. Manningham had good first-half production, but his drops are becoming an issue. Nicks, meanwhile, has made the most of his ability and is showing more consistency, even with fewer opportunities.
— Don't expect a ton more snaps per game for Cowboys rookie OLB Victor Butler, who has shown some nice pass-rush ability at the ends of games. We hear that the team wants to limit his snaps and use him in this "closer" type of role before they expand his horizons. With another offseason worth of work, though, he could replace Anthony Spencer on third downs next season.
— The injury to Commanders TE Chris Cooley was a tough one, but it allowed Fred Davis to show off his strong receiving skills. The team has been talking about using more two-TE sets to highlight both players' pass-catching ability, and it's likely we'll finally see more of this when Cooley returns.
— With Akeem Jordan out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Chargers, Eagles LB Will Witherspoon will slide over to Jordan's "Will" LB spot, which will move Chris Gocong to the middle. In fact, you could see Witherspoon challenge Jordan for the starting job there next season, assuming MLB Stewart Bradley makes a full recovery.
— The Vikings are getting Tarvaris Jackson ready to play. No, there's no immediate concern about Brett Favre going down, but he has suffered a number of ailments through the first half of the season — a worrisome ankle, bad ribs, an unknown illness that required antibiotics, and now a strained groin that was trouble before the Packers game. Jackson has impressed in limited snaps lately, and the team would like him to get work if the Vikings are in a blowout situation.
— The Lions might be starting to realize that OLT Jeff Backus is not a long-term solution at the position. Backus has been rumored for almost a year perhaps to be moving to left guard, but the problem is that there is no one on the roster to take Backus' OLT spot. Expect finding a top-shelf left tackle to be near the top of priorities for the offseason, which would allow Backus to challenge at left guard — another trouble spot all season.
— Although the Bears have been reporting that backup RB Garrett Wolfe suffered a back injury in the Week Nine loss to Arizona, team insiders say he suffered a kidney injury that required precautionary hospitalization and could keep him sidelined up to a month.
— Packers P Jeremy Kapinos has had his share of problems so far this season. But we hear he has looked like a totally different punter in practice, booming impressive directional punts on a regular basis.
— Our Packers insiders believe one reason behind the team's consistently shaky pass protection has been the absence of WR Ruvell Martin, who was a quality blocker in his time with the team before getting released and picked up by the Rams.
— Falcons QB Matt Ryan has taken a step back in recent weeks, tossing nine picks in his last five games — he only threw 11 all of last season — and we hear he still has trouble when RB Michael Turner struggles and defenses are able to play them without putting extra defenders in the box to try to stop the run.
— If things continue to head south for the Panthers this season, sources say it wouldn't be much of a surprise if second-year OL Mackenzy Bernadeau and rookie Duke Robinson took some snaps at right guard. The current starter at the position, Keydrick Vincent, will be a free agent in the offseason, and he's not expected to be back with Carolina next year.
— Saints WR Robert Meachem delivered in a larger role on offense while Lance Moore sat out with an ankle injury in Week Nine, and the improvement Meachem has made from last season to the current one is impressive. He appears to be ready to take on added responsibilities, and the team is happy with his development. However, sources say he's still fourth on the depth chart when Moore is healthy.
— Maurice Stovall and Sammie Stroughter are both making strong cases to cut into No. 2 WR Michael Clayton's playing time, but the Buccaneers made a large investment in Clayton in the offseason, and sources don't expect him to see his role reduced by much any time soon.
http://profootballweekly.com/2009/11/14/boldin-unlikely-to-be-cardinal-in-2010
Boldin unlikely to be Cardinal in 2010
Posted Nov. 14, 2009 @ 7:31 p.m.
By PFW staff
— We hear it's more likely than ever that Cardinals WR Anquan Boldin will not be back with the team in 2010 after claiming nobody on the team was "man enough" to tell him he would be inactivated for the Week Nine game against the Bears. "Everybody just looks at it as a very sad situation," said one team source. "With the argument he had with (then-offensive coordinator Todd) Haley in the playoffs last year and now this, it just doesn't look good for Anquan."
— How good is Niners ILB Patrick Willis? Just ask Titans head coach Jeff Fisher, who said Titans RB Chris Johnson would have had three more touchdowns in Tennessee's Week Nine win over San Francisco if not for Willis being the only one on the field who could catch him. Said Fisher of Willis: "I have not seen an effort out of a linebacker like I've seen out of him."
— Word is the Seahawks really like recently acquired RB Louis Rankin, who looked instantly impressive returning kickoffs (three for 82 yards) in the Week Nine win over Detroit. "They still want to see him in the run game," said one team insider. "They like his speed and size and feel he has an explosive big-play burst that has been missing from the offense."
— While Paris Lenon appears to be a short-term fix at weak-side linebacker for the Rams, we hear the team doesn't consider that position a major area of need. Said one source: "I sense (head coach Steve) Spagnuolo wants a strong presence at the 'Mike' and feels he can get by with lesser players at the outside positions.
— We hear that Giants WR Hakeem Nicks is pushing Mario Manningham for the No. 2 spot. Manningham had good first-half production, but his drops are becoming an issue. Nicks, meanwhile, has made the most of his ability and is showing more consistency, even with fewer opportunities.
— Don't expect a ton more snaps per game for Cowboys rookie OLB Victor Butler, who has shown some nice pass-rush ability at the ends of games. We hear that the team wants to limit his snaps and use him in this "closer" type of role before they expand his horizons. With another offseason worth of work, though, he could replace Anthony Spencer on third downs next season.
— The injury to Commanders TE Chris Cooley was a tough one, but it allowed Fred Davis to show off his strong receiving skills. The team has been talking about using more two-TE sets to highlight both players' pass-catching ability, and it's likely we'll finally see more of this when Cooley returns.
— With Akeem Jordan out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Chargers, Eagles LB Will Witherspoon will slide over to Jordan's "Will" LB spot, which will move Chris Gocong to the middle. In fact, you could see Witherspoon challenge Jordan for the starting job there next season, assuming MLB Stewart Bradley makes a full recovery.
— The Vikings are getting Tarvaris Jackson ready to play. No, there's no immediate concern about Brett Favre going down, but he has suffered a number of ailments through the first half of the season — a worrisome ankle, bad ribs, an unknown illness that required antibiotics, and now a strained groin that was trouble before the Packers game. Jackson has impressed in limited snaps lately, and the team would like him to get work if the Vikings are in a blowout situation.
— The Lions might be starting to realize that OLT Jeff Backus is not a long-term solution at the position. Backus has been rumored for almost a year perhaps to be moving to left guard, but the problem is that there is no one on the roster to take Backus' OLT spot. Expect finding a top-shelf left tackle to be near the top of priorities for the offseason, which would allow Backus to challenge at left guard — another trouble spot all season.
— Although the Bears have been reporting that backup RB Garrett Wolfe suffered a back injury in the Week Nine loss to Arizona, team insiders say he suffered a kidney injury that required precautionary hospitalization and could keep him sidelined up to a month.
— Packers P Jeremy Kapinos has had his share of problems so far this season. But we hear he has looked like a totally different punter in practice, booming impressive directional punts on a regular basis.
— Our Packers insiders believe one reason behind the team's consistently shaky pass protection has been the absence of WR Ruvell Martin, who was a quality blocker in his time with the team before getting released and picked up by the Rams.
— Falcons QB Matt Ryan has taken a step back in recent weeks, tossing nine picks in his last five games — he only threw 11 all of last season — and we hear he still has trouble when RB Michael Turner struggles and defenses are able to play them without putting extra defenders in the box to try to stop the run.
— If things continue to head south for the Panthers this season, sources say it wouldn't be much of a surprise if second-year OL Mackenzy Bernadeau and rookie Duke Robinson took some snaps at right guard. The current starter at the position, Keydrick Vincent, will be a free agent in the offseason, and he's not expected to be back with Carolina next year.
— Saints WR Robert Meachem delivered in a larger role on offense while Lance Moore sat out with an ankle injury in Week Nine, and the improvement Meachem has made from last season to the current one is impressive. He appears to be ready to take on added responsibilities, and the team is happy with his development. However, sources say he's still fourth on the depth chart when Moore is healthy.
— Maurice Stovall and Sammie Stroughter are both making strong cases to cut into No. 2 WR Michael Clayton's playing time, but the Buccaneers made a large investment in Clayton in the offseason, and sources don't expect him to see his role reduced by much any time soon.
http://profootballweekly.com/2009/11/14/boldin-unlikely-to-be-cardinal-in-2010
