- Messages
- 79,278
- Reaction score
- 45,637
- Nothing had been set up yet at this writing, but we hear the Rams would like to at least talk with DE Simeon Rice about possibly bringing in the former Buccaneers sack monster for a visit. We hear there are two major issues clouding Rice’s potential signing with the Rams: Rice’s shoulder, which the Rams believe might not be healthy enough to enable him to play, and Rice’s likely contract demands. Word is Rice is still looking to be paid like a top guy at his position, and our sources tell us there’s no way that will happen in St. Louis.
- Sources say that Giants DE Michael Strahan has been calling around the league to talk with players who either recently retired or those who considered retirement in order to pick their minds, which is a good indication that he’s seriously considering hanging it up rather than having been holding out for different reasons.
- The Eagles have been impressed by rookie QB Kevin Kolb’s arm strength. Coming out of Houston, Kolb’s arm was questioned by some scouts. Because of the offense he played in, Kolb wasn’t asked to throw deep a lot in college, but the Eagles feel he can make every throw on the passing tree.
- The Commanders have been quietly happy with their defensive line, a trouble spot in 2006, to this point. DT Joe Salave’a looks like his old self after a down season, DE Phillip Daniels appears strong enough to handle moving inside on passing downs, and DT Kedric Golston has been good in camp drills.
- The kicking situation has been a problem the past two Cowboys training camps, but the team has a good dilemma this year. Veteran Martin Gramatica and rookie Nick Folk are waging what has become the best battle in San Antonio, each one topping the other. Against Denver, Folk made a 52-yard field goal, while Gramatica was wide on a 51-yard attempt. Sources say Folk might have the slightest edge because of youth and salary and because the team spent a draft pick on him, but both kickers’ kickoff distances have been fine, not great.
- Tyler Thigpen, a little-known seventh-rounder from Coastal Carolina, has been impressive in his bid to win the Vikings’ No. 3 QB job, and as of this writing, sources say he’s ahead of Drew Henson for the job. The Vikings are very likely to keep three quarterbacks.
- The offensive line has been an area of concern in recent years for the Lions, and reports from camp indicate that there is talent, but cohesion is something the team must improve. With OG Damien Woody back and looking solid and fellow OG Edwin Mulitalo on board, the Lions think they can avoid the nine different OL combinations they were forced to use in 2006.
- With Warrick Holdman’s season appearing to be finished due to the spinal concussion he suffered early in camp, it looks like a heads-up competition for the Broncos’ WLB job between D.D. Lewis and Nate Webster.
- Nate Jackson has made a number of impressive catches in camp as the Broncos’ No. 3 tight end behind Daniel Graham and Tony Scheffler, but playing time could be tough to come by when the regular season starts, as Scheffler fills a similar pass-catching role and is getting back up to speed following a broken foot suffered this summer.
- Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan had to push potential No. 2 WR Brandon Marshall onto the practice field after the second-year wideout missed the first 12 days of training camp with an injured quadriceps. Marshall admittedly didn’t think he was ready but listened to his coach after an MRI showed the injury was healing well. Broncos officials are said to be disappointed a bit because they believe Marshall could have practiced through the injury, and it shouldn’t have come to a Shanahan intervention.
- We’re hearing the chances of Priest Holmes landing on the physically-unable-to-perform list to start the season are 60-70 percent. As of this writing, Holmes, who hasn’t played since 2005 while recovering from head and neck trauma, had yet to participate in any contact drills and was merely working on his conditioning. Plus, backups Michael Bennett and Kolby Smith were having good camps and would provide depth behind Larry Johnson once he signs.
- We hear it’s Jimmy Wilkerson, not second-round pick Turk McBride, who has the inside track to start in place of Chiefs DE Jared Allen for the first two weeks of the regular season while Allen serves his suspension.
- Although fourth-year WR Samie Parker is probably one of the fastest players on the Chiefs’ roster, that speed still isn’t apparent when he gets in game situations. Occasional drops and suspect route-running are also holding him back in Kansas City’s offense.
- Although he seemed like a virtual lock for the Raiders’ starting FB job after looking great in blocking drills, former Falcon Justin Griffith is watching Zack Crockett run with the first team.
- Jaguars QB Byron Leftwich does not sound like he has buried the hatchet with head coach Jack Del Rio just yet. Leftwich, who was benched by Del Rio after six games last season reportedly because of an ankle injury, reiterated to reporters at Jaguars camp that he could have played through the pain and postponed surgery until the offseason. “I just think the way things (were) handled in the past, it opens the door for stuff like this to be talked about,” Leftwich said recently. “No matter how we feel in-house, it leaves the door open for these conversations.”
- Word out of Buccaneers camp is head coach Jon Gruden has a new nickname for QB Chris Simms. Gruden has been heard calling Simms “basket case” because something just doesn’t appear right with Simms, who has been slow to recover from a ruptured spleen and is buried on the depth chart. We hear Simms could be placed on the injured-reserve list if he doesn’t make the opening-day roster, but our sources do not believe the Glazer family will allow Gruden to release Simms.
- We’re told Colts PK Adam Vinatieri has not kicked in the preseason because the team is resting his leg. Plus, the team is auditioning backup Shane Andrus, whom they signed last year with the intention of grooming to become their kicker before they decided to sign Vinatieri to a lucrative free-agent contract. Andrus has been impressive in the preseason with his booming right leg and will likely wind up on another team’s roster this fall.
- We hear the Buccaneers are down on rookie DE Gaines Adams’ technique. Defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin has been spotted spending one-on-one time with Adams after practice to rectify the problem. But Adams’ struggles make the release of perennial Pro Bowl DE Simeon Rice even more perplexing.
- Sources tell us WR Lance Moore has been the breakout star of Saints camp. The emergence of Moore, who is set to return kickoffs and is battling for the No. 4 WR job, made longtime return man Michael Lewis expendable.
- Word out of Panthers camp is journeyman Deke Cooper has a slight edge over second-year pro Nate Salley for the starting FS job. Chris Harris, whom the Panthers acquired in a trade with the Bears earlier in training camp, is slated to replace Mike Minter as the starting strong safety.
- Sources close to the Falcons tell us Chris Redman, who hasn’t played in a regular-season game since 2003, had taken a noticeable lead over D.J. Shockley, a seventh-round pick in ’06, for the No. 2 QB job before Shockley suffered a potentially season-ending knee injury in the Falcons’ second preseason game. If Shockley is lost for the season, look for the Falcons to reopen trade talks with the Eagles regarding Kelly Holcomb.
- We’re told Falcons P Michael Koenen has been limited to just punting duties in the preseason because the coaches want to keep his leg fresh for the season. Koenen will handle punts and kickoffs once the regular season begins.
- Team insiders tell us Packers backup QB Aaron Rodgers really looks a lot better this season. Not only does he appear to be in much better shape, his poise, decision-making and throwing on the run appear to be vastly improved.
- Don’t be shocked if the Packers pull the plug on second-year LB Abdul Hodge, whose nagging bout with tendinitis has made him a virtual non-factor so far this offseason.
- Veteran Niners ILB Derek Smith says the eye injury that limited him last season is no longer an issue, but team sources continue to have their doubts. In the preseason opener, we hear the same recognition problems that hindered Smith last year popped up more than a few times. Smith wasn’t the only Niners ’backer who struggled in the preseason opener; ’06 first-round pick Manny Lawson looked flat-out awful, actually chasing the wrong guy on one eminently forgettable play.
- Keep a close eye on Niners fifth-year WR Taylor Jacobs, who has been on the field a lot in three-WR sets and is a real favorite of WR coach Jerry Sullivan. We’re told Jacobs had an outstanding training camp. The former second-round pick of the Commanders has always possessed great athleticism and could end up being a very intriguing late bloomer.
- It would not be a shock, we hear, if the Seahawks decide to cut the cord with injury-prone seventh-year OL Floyd “Pork Chop” Womack. Rumblings from team sources suggest the team might be finally losing patience with a player who just hasn’t been able to stay on the field.
- We hear Seahawks WR Ben Obomanu, who spent last season on the practice squad, has the lead for the team’s fifth spot in the WR corps by a wide margin. Obomanu had a solid camp for the Seahawks, displaying great hands while running routes that couldn’t have been more precise.
- We hear third-year pro Aaron Francisco’s insertion on the Cardinals’ depth chart as the starting free safety over free-agent addition Terrence Holt is a bit misleading. Word is, Francisco’s tenure with the team was the main reason he was listed as the starter and that Holt will still receive a solid opportunity to fill the starting role in the coming weeks.
- Word is, the Cardinals have been very impressed with undrafted rookie OL Lyle Sendlein, who has been serving as the backup center behind newly acquired Al Johnson while Nick Leckey is sidelined with a knee injury. Sendlein’s understanding of the game and ability to avoid mistakes figure to keep him on the roster in what could develop into a fairly significant backup role.
- The arrow definitely appears to be pointing up for Bears seventh-round CB Trumaine McBride, who has quickly worked his way into the backup spot behind Charles Tillman. McBride always seems to be around the ball and looks like he could have a promising future, despite a toe injury that has slowed him recently.
- Memo to offensive lines around the league who will be facing the Bears this season: We hear second-year DE Mark Anderson, who set the league on its ear with an eye-popping 12 sacks last season, developed a whole new array of moves during the offseason while working with teammate Adewale Ogunleye and Giants DE Osi Umenyiora.
- One of the Titans’ more intriguing receivers may be undrafted rookie Biren Ealy, a University of Houston product who is a friend of QB Vince Young’s. Ealy has played well in training camp, and if he doesn’t make the final roster, the Titans are likely to consider him for the practice squad.
- The way we hear it, there is concern Titans ORG Benji Olson will be battling back pain for much of the season.
- Word from Houston is Matt Turk appears to have an edge on Chad Stanley in the battle to win the Texans’ punting job.
- Texans DE Jason Babin could garner more playing time this season as Houston tries to muster more of a pass rush.
- With Charlie Anderson and Danny Clark competing for the Texans’ starting SLB job, Shantee Orr is battling to stay on the roster. Orr, last season’s starter on the strong side, missed playing time early in camp with a back injury, and he’s fallen behind.
- Undrafted RB Gary Russell has been one of the surprises of Steelers camp, and we’re hearing he’s going to get a longer look in the weeks to come as the coaching staff assesses how he fares against better competition.
- To date, Stacy Andrews has been up to the task of replacing the departed Eric Steinbach as the Bengals’ starting left guard, with a source close to the team saying he looks like a natural at his new position.
- The Bengals may have found an end-of-the-draft steal in Notre Dame S Chinedum Ndukwe, who’s had a strong training camp and could help on both special teams and defense.
- The Browns have been pleased with the progress of rookie OLT Joe Thomas, who’s all but assured of being the opening-day starter. Also having a solid camp is veteran ORG Seth McKinney, who did not play last season because of a neck injury.
- The Ravens will give QB Troy Smith every chance to make the roster, but his poor play in Baltimore’s preseason opener, coupled with Drew Olson’s 7-of-9 performance in that same game, puts him under pressure to improve in the final weeks of camp.
- Ravens observers have been struck by the team’s focused, businesslike approach throughout training camp and the preseason. This was evidenced by the team committing only three penalties in the preseason opener.
- Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga primarily hired Cam Cameron as head coach to help resuscitate a flat offense, and thus far Cameron’s footprint has been seen almost exclusively on that side of the ball. Cameron hasn’t even been sitting in on the defensive meetings, leading some to say that it’s as if the Dolphins have two head coaches: Cameron for the offense and Dom Capers for the defense.
- With four of the Patriots’ O-line spots cemented, the battle for the starting ORT spot stands as the line’s lone competitive position. Incumbent Nick Kaczur continues to hold a minimal advantage over the massive Ryan O’Callaghan, in no small part because the quicker Kaczur better fits the zone-blocking schemes the Pats will employ more of this season.
- The Bills spent a lot of money this offseason upgrading their offensive line, and GM Marv Levy’s three major additions have now all reached the top of the depth chart. While ORT Langston Walker and OLG Derrick Dockery have been starters since camp began, Jason Whittle just claimed the ORG spot, bumping Duke Preston over to center ahead of Melvin Fowler.
