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Whispers — league wrap-up
Commanders' Campbell handling uncertainty with class
April 5, 2009
NFC Whispers
From what we hear, Commanders QB Jason Campbell has been about as professional as anyone could expect in recent weeks despite not having a new contract heading into the final year of his deal and also hearing his name in recent trade talk. The team sat down with Campbell on Thursday and explained to him its thinking — ironically, hoping to avoid a situation such as what occurred in Denver with Jay Cutler — and Campbell reportedly handled himself well.
Commanders QB Jason Campbell
WR Reggie Brown, once the 36th pick in the draft, has fallen from starting split end to fifth — or lower — on the Eagles’ depth chart. But it might not stay that way. Team officials have made sure to praise the way Brown handled his demotion after getting hurt last season, and there’s a chance he could re-enter the mix if he bounces back in offseason workouts.
The Vikings recently signed CB Cedric Griffin to a five-year extension and expect to get something done long term with their other starting corner, Antoine Winfield, before the start of the NFL season. Who would be next on their list to get done? We hear it could be Chad Greenway. Adrian Peterson still has three years left on his deal, so there’s no immediate concern. But Greenway, with two years left and having come into his own last season, appears to be a likely candidate to have his contract redone.
We hear the Bears recently put Arizona OT Eben Britton through a private workout. While Britton projects as a right tackle, word is there’s a good possibility he could move inside.
Although the Packers are continuing with a zone base run scheme, we hear more man-on-man plays have been added to the team’s playbook.
Cadillac Williams made a stunning statement at the Buccaneers’ first minicamp of the offseason, which ran from March 30 to April 3, saying he hopes to be ready for training camp after tearing his left patellar tendon in Week 17 of last season. Williams tore his right patellar tendon early in the ’07 campaign, and it took more than a year for him to get back into game action. He would complete his current rehab in about half the time his previous one took should he return for the start of training camp. Having signed Derrick Ward to split carries with Earnest Graham this season, Tampa Bay is not counting on big things from Williams in 2009.
Saints WR Robert Meachem is on the verge of being labeled a full-blown bust after going through two nondescript seasons since being selected in the first round of the 2007 draft. With three receivers firmly entrenched ahead of him on the depth chart, and Adrian Arrington on the mend after missing last season with turf toe, Meachem could find himself in a battle for a roster spot in training camp. Veteran evaluators say Meachem needs to improve his route running and do a better job of staying low while going into and out of his cuts.
Our Cardinals sources tell us that the whispers whistling in the desert wind suggesting that the team is considering the release of 33-year-old Chike Okeafor, who is entering the final year of a contract that’s due to pay him $4.5 million in salary this season, are unfounded. The real party line, we hear, is that Okeafor remains a valuable member of the Cardinals’ OLB rotation who creates matchup problems when healthy.
It’s hardly a surprise that the local media in St. Louis were a bit put off by new head coach Steve Spagnuolo’s decision to limit media access at the team’s first minicamp to only 20 minutes. But it appears that, while the buzz remains mostly positive in Rams Nation, a lot of fans hungering for insights on the new regime are also upset over the limited access. Said one team insider: “(New GM) Billy Devaney has made a big deal out of wanting to reach out more to the fans, and this decision just doesn’t jibe. Sports fans in St. Louis are used to a very open atmosphere; the Blues (St. Louis’ pro hockey team), as an example, are very P.R.-savvy. Spagnuolo is looking like a bit of a micro-manager, and it’s a bit bizarre.”
There are some Niners insiders who questioned the team’s reluctance to re-sign local product Donald Strickland, a very serviceable reserve cornerback who subsequently signed with the Jets. Strickland’s departure, they believe, increases the team’s need at cornerback, particularly at the nickel spot. The top candidates to fill that role currently on the roster — Shawntae Spencer and Tarell Brown — both have issues. Spencer is not considered a great fit physically, while Brown was conspicuously absent from most of the drills during the team’s recent two-day minicamp. We also hear that, while 2008 starting FS Mark Roman has been given permission to seek a trade, he could still conceivably return to the tam in a nickel or dime role.
If the price is right, we hear the Seahawks may be interested in bringing back CB Ken Lucas, who was released by the Panthers. Originally drafted by Seattle in 2001, Lucas was a mainstay in the secondary until after the ’04 season, when he opted to sign with Carolina while the Seahawks were in the midst of a front-office makeover. Word is Lucas is tight with new Seahawks DB coach Tim Lewis, his DB coach in Carolina.
AFC Whispers
Among the reasons the Patriots haven’t made much headway in extension negotiations with their top-tier veteran talent scheduled to hit free agency after next season — headlined by NT Vince Wilfork and DE Richard Seymour — is the pulsating uncertainty of how their draft class will shape up. With 11 picks total and nowhere near that many roster spots available, New England may very well be the biggest X-factor in the draft from a wheeling-and-dealing standpoint. Without knowing how much money they’ll be sinking into their draft crop, they currently lack a suitable foundation of knowledge with which to work on extensions. Word out of Foxborough is that the team is spending far more time and resources scouting and hosting the defensive draft prospects than those on the offensive side. In addition to Wilfork and Seymour, top reserve DE Jarvis Green, who’s coming off a subpar 2008 campaign, is also slated to hit free agency in 2010.
Early word out of Orchard Park is that the Bills are a prime candidate to trade down from the No. 11 spot of the first round, particularly in the event a QB-hungry team needs to jump up to grab Matt Stafford, Mark Sanchez or Josh Freeman. With pressing needs at numerous positions including tight end, defensive end and outside linebacker, and with most of the premier talents likely gone, the Bills’ most prudent move could very well be stockpiling picks. The most significant wild card in their draft plans figures to be Pro Bowl OLT Jason Peters. Ongoing extension talks are hitting a bit of a snag, but we hear that trading him is an alternative that team brass desperately wants to avoid. They’d be more inclined to part with him if they were in position to draft a stud OLT prospect such as Jason Smith or Eugene Monroe, but that appears to be a remote possibility outside the top 10.
Before the Bears signed OT Orlando Pace to a three-year, $15 million contract on Thursday, we heard the Ravens were confident that they had a good chance at signing the longtime Rams star. Pace would have played right tackle for the Ravens, but he will play on the left side for Chicago. With Pace off the market, the Ravens could stick with Willie Anderson at right tackle.
Bengals QB Carson Palmer said he watched extensive film of WR Laveranues Coles’ play with the Jets last season and came away impressed. “He does such a good job getting in and out of his breaks, setting up defenders and attacking the ball once it’s in the air,” Palmer said. “Being a quarterback and knowing a guy like that is going to be on your team, that’s exciting.”
It figures to be awfully tempting for the Jaguars to pursue Plaxico Burress fresh off his release from the Giants, given the team’s glaring need at receiver. But don’t expect it to happen. New GM Gene Smith’s character-driven mantra is what led to the release of Matt Jones, and it would make little sense for them to make a play for Burress given the precedent.
Based on the caliber of draftees the Chiefs have hosted recently, there is a real possibility that the team is considering trading out of the third overall slot and picking up additional picks in the late-first or early-second round. Kansas City doesn’t currently own a second-round selection, and during his time with the Patriots, GM Scott Pioli showed a penchant for making Draft Day trades to collect more draft choices.
With holes scattered throughout their defense, sources say the Broncos are likely to take a ‘best defender available’ strategy to this year’s draft as they prepare to use at least one of their two first-round picks on the defensive side of the ball. Linebacker, D-line and quarterback are expected to be the team’s top priorities, but the club has not ruled out selecting a cornerback at No. 12 or 18 and could strike if Ohio State’s Malcolm Jenkins is available. Free-agent acquisition André Goodman, who started every game for the Dolphins last season, is penciled in as a starter at corner opposite Champ Bailey, but the club has very little depth at the position.
Commanders' Campbell handling uncertainty with class
April 5, 2009
NFC Whispers
From what we hear, Commanders QB Jason Campbell has been about as professional as anyone could expect in recent weeks despite not having a new contract heading into the final year of his deal and also hearing his name in recent trade talk. The team sat down with Campbell on Thursday and explained to him its thinking — ironically, hoping to avoid a situation such as what occurred in Denver with Jay Cutler — and Campbell reportedly handled himself well.
Commanders QB Jason Campbell
WR Reggie Brown, once the 36th pick in the draft, has fallen from starting split end to fifth — or lower — on the Eagles’ depth chart. But it might not stay that way. Team officials have made sure to praise the way Brown handled his demotion after getting hurt last season, and there’s a chance he could re-enter the mix if he bounces back in offseason workouts.
The Vikings recently signed CB Cedric Griffin to a five-year extension and expect to get something done long term with their other starting corner, Antoine Winfield, before the start of the NFL season. Who would be next on their list to get done? We hear it could be Chad Greenway. Adrian Peterson still has three years left on his deal, so there’s no immediate concern. But Greenway, with two years left and having come into his own last season, appears to be a likely candidate to have his contract redone.
We hear the Bears recently put Arizona OT Eben Britton through a private workout. While Britton projects as a right tackle, word is there’s a good possibility he could move inside.
Although the Packers are continuing with a zone base run scheme, we hear more man-on-man plays have been added to the team’s playbook.
Cadillac Williams made a stunning statement at the Buccaneers’ first minicamp of the offseason, which ran from March 30 to April 3, saying he hopes to be ready for training camp after tearing his left patellar tendon in Week 17 of last season. Williams tore his right patellar tendon early in the ’07 campaign, and it took more than a year for him to get back into game action. He would complete his current rehab in about half the time his previous one took should he return for the start of training camp. Having signed Derrick Ward to split carries with Earnest Graham this season, Tampa Bay is not counting on big things from Williams in 2009.
Saints WR Robert Meachem is on the verge of being labeled a full-blown bust after going through two nondescript seasons since being selected in the first round of the 2007 draft. With three receivers firmly entrenched ahead of him on the depth chart, and Adrian Arrington on the mend after missing last season with turf toe, Meachem could find himself in a battle for a roster spot in training camp. Veteran evaluators say Meachem needs to improve his route running and do a better job of staying low while going into and out of his cuts.
Our Cardinals sources tell us that the whispers whistling in the desert wind suggesting that the team is considering the release of 33-year-old Chike Okeafor, who is entering the final year of a contract that’s due to pay him $4.5 million in salary this season, are unfounded. The real party line, we hear, is that Okeafor remains a valuable member of the Cardinals’ OLB rotation who creates matchup problems when healthy.
It’s hardly a surprise that the local media in St. Louis were a bit put off by new head coach Steve Spagnuolo’s decision to limit media access at the team’s first minicamp to only 20 minutes. But it appears that, while the buzz remains mostly positive in Rams Nation, a lot of fans hungering for insights on the new regime are also upset over the limited access. Said one team insider: “(New GM) Billy Devaney has made a big deal out of wanting to reach out more to the fans, and this decision just doesn’t jibe. Sports fans in St. Louis are used to a very open atmosphere; the Blues (St. Louis’ pro hockey team), as an example, are very P.R.-savvy. Spagnuolo is looking like a bit of a micro-manager, and it’s a bit bizarre.”
There are some Niners insiders who questioned the team’s reluctance to re-sign local product Donald Strickland, a very serviceable reserve cornerback who subsequently signed with the Jets. Strickland’s departure, they believe, increases the team’s need at cornerback, particularly at the nickel spot. The top candidates to fill that role currently on the roster — Shawntae Spencer and Tarell Brown — both have issues. Spencer is not considered a great fit physically, while Brown was conspicuously absent from most of the drills during the team’s recent two-day minicamp. We also hear that, while 2008 starting FS Mark Roman has been given permission to seek a trade, he could still conceivably return to the tam in a nickel or dime role.
If the price is right, we hear the Seahawks may be interested in bringing back CB Ken Lucas, who was released by the Panthers. Originally drafted by Seattle in 2001, Lucas was a mainstay in the secondary until after the ’04 season, when he opted to sign with Carolina while the Seahawks were in the midst of a front-office makeover. Word is Lucas is tight with new Seahawks DB coach Tim Lewis, his DB coach in Carolina.
AFC Whispers
Among the reasons the Patriots haven’t made much headway in extension negotiations with their top-tier veteran talent scheduled to hit free agency after next season — headlined by NT Vince Wilfork and DE Richard Seymour — is the pulsating uncertainty of how their draft class will shape up. With 11 picks total and nowhere near that many roster spots available, New England may very well be the biggest X-factor in the draft from a wheeling-and-dealing standpoint. Without knowing how much money they’ll be sinking into their draft crop, they currently lack a suitable foundation of knowledge with which to work on extensions. Word out of Foxborough is that the team is spending far more time and resources scouting and hosting the defensive draft prospects than those on the offensive side. In addition to Wilfork and Seymour, top reserve DE Jarvis Green, who’s coming off a subpar 2008 campaign, is also slated to hit free agency in 2010.
Early word out of Orchard Park is that the Bills are a prime candidate to trade down from the No. 11 spot of the first round, particularly in the event a QB-hungry team needs to jump up to grab Matt Stafford, Mark Sanchez or Josh Freeman. With pressing needs at numerous positions including tight end, defensive end and outside linebacker, and with most of the premier talents likely gone, the Bills’ most prudent move could very well be stockpiling picks. The most significant wild card in their draft plans figures to be Pro Bowl OLT Jason Peters. Ongoing extension talks are hitting a bit of a snag, but we hear that trading him is an alternative that team brass desperately wants to avoid. They’d be more inclined to part with him if they were in position to draft a stud OLT prospect such as Jason Smith or Eugene Monroe, but that appears to be a remote possibility outside the top 10.
Before the Bears signed OT Orlando Pace to a three-year, $15 million contract on Thursday, we heard the Ravens were confident that they had a good chance at signing the longtime Rams star. Pace would have played right tackle for the Ravens, but he will play on the left side for Chicago. With Pace off the market, the Ravens could stick with Willie Anderson at right tackle.
Bengals QB Carson Palmer said he watched extensive film of WR Laveranues Coles’ play with the Jets last season and came away impressed. “He does such a good job getting in and out of his breaks, setting up defenders and attacking the ball once it’s in the air,” Palmer said. “Being a quarterback and knowing a guy like that is going to be on your team, that’s exciting.”
It figures to be awfully tempting for the Jaguars to pursue Plaxico Burress fresh off his release from the Giants, given the team’s glaring need at receiver. But don’t expect it to happen. New GM Gene Smith’s character-driven mantra is what led to the release of Matt Jones, and it would make little sense for them to make a play for Burress given the precedent.
Based on the caliber of draftees the Chiefs have hosted recently, there is a real possibility that the team is considering trading out of the third overall slot and picking up additional picks in the late-first or early-second round. Kansas City doesn’t currently own a second-round selection, and during his time with the Patriots, GM Scott Pioli showed a penchant for making Draft Day trades to collect more draft choices.
With holes scattered throughout their defense, sources say the Broncos are likely to take a ‘best defender available’ strategy to this year’s draft as they prepare to use at least one of their two first-round picks on the defensive side of the ball. Linebacker, D-line and quarterback are expected to be the team’s top priorities, but the club has not ruled out selecting a cornerback at No. 12 or 18 and could strike if Ohio State’s Malcolm Jenkins is available. Free-agent acquisition André Goodman, who started every game for the Dolphins last season, is penciled in as a starter at corner opposite Champ Bailey, but the club has very little depth at the position.