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Whispers
April 12, 2008
A source close to the Dolphins said new head coach Tony Sparano can’t stop gushing about Lorenzo Booker. Although Booker is slightly built (5-10, 191), Sparano said the second-year running back jumps off the screen in game tape, with a burst that’s comparable to that of ultra-quick WR Ted Ginn Jr.
Word out of Buffalo is that QB Trent Edwards has spent the offseason adding bulk. Edwards played at around 210 pounds during the season and now has gained about 15 pounds. New offensive coordinator Turk Schonert wants Edwards — who has supplanted J.P. Losman as the starter — at around 225 pounds to withstand the physical rigors of the game.
Victor Hobson, who recently signed a one-year contract with the Patriots, has spent his career playing on the outside but will likely shift inside in New England. A thickly muscled 252 pounds, Hobson should be able to withstand the every-down grind of playing in the middle, thereby allowing the Patriots to keep Adalius Thomas on the outside. Thomas started out 2007 inside but was more effective after shifting outside around midseason.
Count S Kerry Rhodes, who recently signed a five-year, $33.5 million extension with the Jets, among the players who was upset to see MLB Jonathan Vilma traded to the Saints. “Everybody knows (Vilma’s) my main man, that’s my ace,” Rhodes said on a conference call with New York reporters. But, at the same time, Rhodes understood that the Jets’ 3-4 defensive scheme hampered Vilma’s potential. “He’s a 4-3 guy, that’s what he is,” Rhodes said. “He can go to New Orleans and have that chance again.”
The controversy caused by Jay Cutler’s criticism of teammate Brandon Marshall has yet to subside. This week former Broncos great John Elway got involved, when he told reporters he was surprised by the normally tame Cutler’s outburst, which came at a press conference after Marshall seriously injured his arm while wrestling with his brother.
Word out of Kansas City is that the Chiefs could be looking to draft a placekicker for the second consecutive season. The Chiefs selected UCLA’s Justin Medlock in the fifth round of 2007’s draft, but he failed to pan out.
The way we hear it, the Ravens are likely to draft a wide receiver, and probably one on the tall side, as they look to both upgrade the talent at that position and find fits for offensive coordinator Cam Cameron’s scheme.
The way we hear it, Ravens PK Matt Stover has never been the type of player to draw attention to himself publicly. That’s why a leaked e-mail from him suggesting the NFL Players Association start the process of finding a successor for executive director Gene Upshaw by March 2009 was something of a surprise. Stover backtracked somewhat the day after the note became public, telling ESPN via a letter that “(it) is not, and has never been, my intention to ‘oust’ Gene Upshaw.” Stover further noted: “(The) inevitability of the end of Gene's tenure is approaching this generation of players, which may create some uncomfortable issues to deal with. This suggested process was originally supposed to aid in dealing with those issues by taking some of the pride, emotion and ego out of all parties involved, and empowers the [NFLPA] Executive Committee to follow guidelines with benchmarks and aid in producing a majority backed consensus.” Upshaw’s future with the NFLPA has become a hot-button topic after he indicated to the Sports Business Journal that he intended to stay on as director until a successor could be found, even if that occurred past the NFLPA’s mandatory retirement age of 65.
Word is the Browns were pleased with the way FS Brodney Pool finished out the ’07 season after struggling early. SS Sean Jones is the headliner in the secondary after a pair of back-to-back five-interception seasons, but Pool also has some upside.
Don’t expect the Titans to draft a challenger for P Craig Hentrich this year, the way we hear it. Word is the team is confident that Hentrich, 36, will be able to handle the punting at least through ’08 and perhaps beyond.
The Jaguars are looking to sell naming rights for Jacksonville Municipal Stadium but are having trouble doing so. Word we’re hearing is that the poor national economy is largely to blame, and the Jags are unable to attract a company to pony up the $5 million per year they’re looking for. Their contract with former sponsor Alltel expired Feb. 1, 2007.
Our Cardinals sources don’t expect the team to have much sympathy for DL Darnell Dockett, who plans on boycotting the team’s offseason workouts because he’s unhappy with a contract that runs through 2011. The word is Dockett is considered far less a contract priority than a host of other Cardinals at the moment (Karlos Dansby, Anquan Boldin, Adrian Wilson and Antonio Smith, among others). Smith had been mentioned along with Dockett in a widely circulated Internet report as also being upset with his contract situation. But the restricted free-agent defensive end recently signed his one-year qualifying offer and told team insiders that he never seriously considered holding out.
Realizing he has reached a now-or-never stage with the Rams, DT Claude Wroten — a third-round draft pick in 2006 who up to now has played nowhere near his potential, in addition to having his share of off-the-field issues — has been a workout regular at Rams Park and appears determined to make his presence felt in a positive manner.
We hear longtime Niners DE Bryant Young might be having second thoughts about retiring and continues to spend time at the team facility and engage in numerous team activities.
Word is there is a concern among some close to the Niners that the team might be putting too much stock in former first-round pick Manny Lawson, who missed most of his second season with a knee injury, to the detriment of other players on the roster. Lawson has plenty of raw talent, but his development as a pass rusher has been disappointing.
The latest word on Seahawks RB Shaun Alexander’s surgically repaired wrist is that he is out of a cast but is still wearing a splint. The rumor remains strong that once the former league MVP is deemed fully healthy, Alexander will be given his walking papers.
We hear that talks about a contract extension for Seahawks LB Leroy Hill have been put on hold because Hill recently switched agents.
With the Lions adopting a zone-blocking scheme, don’t be shocked if RB Tatum Bell — who was an absolute wash in his first year in Detroit — has a decent season. We hear that the Lions are less likely to draft a back in Round One than other positions, such as a right tackle or a defensive end.
Look for Bears RFA WR Rashied Davis to go right up to the April 18 deadline to sign an offer sheet before he considers re-upping with his current team. One team that was said to be hot on Davis’ trail, the Chiefs, no longer appears to be a likely suitor after having signed free agent B.J. Sams instead to fill the return-specialist/receiver role they had in mind for Davis.
At the most recent league owners’ meetings, Packers head coach Mike McCarthy told team insiders that veteran CB Charles Woodson, whose left knee bothered him down the stretch last season, had spent most of the offseason in Green Bay working on the knee and that he didn’t think any surgery would be necessary. McCarthy said Woodson’s time spent in Green Bay the previous two offseasons was minimal.
Panthers WR Dwayne Jarrett pleaded not guilty on Friday to charges of driving while impaired, which stemmed from a March 11 arrest when officers in Mecklenburg County (N.C.) pulled him over after he ran a red light, according to reports. Panthers head coach John Fox told reporters last week that he takes the charges against his young player very seriously and that the team takes steps to make sure incidents like that one don’t happen.
We hear Bucs free-agent signee Eugene Wilson impressed coaches in this week’s first round of OTAs so much that he’s being considered for the starting job at left cornerback. Last year’s starter Phillip Buchanon was largely considered a favorite to keep his spot, but Wilson, who was a backup safety for the Patriots last season, is putting up a fight.
Our source in New Orleans said there’s a battle brewing between WRs Robert Meachem and Devery Henderson to become the Saints’ No. 3 receiver and that the loser of the bout could find himself out of a job after training camp.
Falcons SLB Michael Boley, a restricted free agent, signed his one-year tender this week and could begin negotiating a long-term deal with the team. Chances are Boley, a Pro Bowl-caliber player in the estimation of many league observers, will be seeking a deal similar to the one the Bears gave WLB Lance Briggs this offseason, which was for six years and $36 million.
Not only do the Cowboys have to concern themselves with Marion Barber and Chris Canty, restricted free agents this year, but also with CB Terence Newman, who is entering the final year of his deal. Newman says he wants to be paid like a top corner, and considering the deals given to Asante Samuel and Nate Clements the past few seasons, that could put the Cowboys in a tricky spot.
While many outlets have the Giants selecting a defensive back or a linebacker with their first-round pick, we hear the team would be very happy if one of the top offensive linemen remained on the board. And that lineman could be Boston College OT Gosder Cherilus, who is unlikely to last beyond the Giants’ pick but could be gone before then. The team has had good luck with selecting B.C. players in recent years.
If Jerome Mathis can stick with the Commanders as a kick returner, we hear the team might experiment with Rock Cartwright at punt returner over Antwaan Randle El, who has been disappointing in that role.
April 12, 2008
Dolphins RB Lorenzo Booker
A source close to the Dolphins said new head coach Tony Sparano can’t stop gushing about Lorenzo Booker. Although Booker is slightly built (5-10, 191), Sparano said the second-year running back jumps off the screen in game tape, with a burst that’s comparable to that of ultra-quick WR Ted Ginn Jr.
