NFL Insider: News & Notes
NFL Insider: News & Notes
March 30, 2009
NFL Draft
- WR Darrius Heyward-Bey (Maryland) received a call March 28th from Al Davis that supposedly was an introduction saying that the Raiders are very interested in him. Assuming the teams knows DHB won’t last to the Raiders pick in the 2nd round, it would be quite a coup if he went No. 7 overall. Speed has always been Al’s weakness…
- Michigan State’s RB Javon Ringer looks to be climbing up a lot of teams’ draft boards. Ringer absolutely brought his A-game as the 5’9", 203 lb prospect ran a 4.42 40-dash and posted the fourth-fastest short-shuttle time EVER at his Pro Day. Three NFL scouts confirmed those times and one told me it’s the fastest he had ever seen in the drill. His pass-catching and vision has solidified him as a top-100 selection.
- This week, Boston College DT B.J. Raji is set to visit the Bucs, Jets, 49ers, Broncos and Jaguars. Raji is expected to be the top defensive tackle on all 32 draft boards.
- LeSean McCoy was hammered again over the weekend by an NFC East GM,
“The draft is all about measurables, especially this year. The average jumps for the twenty-something backs invited to the combine was 35.5 for the vertical and 9’8” for the broad. McCoy's jumps at Pro Day (29” & 8”10 7/8, respectively) were the worst at his position. Where's the explosion? He should be a second round selection and I am convinced that, had he not attended Pitt, would probably be a Day 2 guy.”
By comparison, McCoy’s main competition for the third RB slot is UCONN’s Donald Brown who had a 41.5” vertical and 10’5” broad jump.
- Sam Houston State QB Rhett Bomar had private workouts with the Patriots and the Jets in Texas and both teams have remained in contact with the QB. The Boston media have reported that Patrick Ramsey and Bomar are two main targets to backup QB Tom Brady.
Around the League
- RB Leon Washington is putting together an initial package to present
to the New York Jets to extend his agreement past the 2012 season. He
is thought of by individuals within the organization to be the key to
their post-Thomas Jones plans and could be approaching Brian Westbrook-like
“everything-man” status.
- HC Josh McDaniels is still waiting for Jay Cutler to come to his office to discuss the QB’s concerns and try to hammer out all problems. The Denver Post is reporting the team will not move the QB until they have some sort of sit-down which must occur before draft day.
- The Chargers have sat down with QB Philip Rivers on more than four occasions this month to try to sign him to a long-term extension. The team is rumored to be offering at least six years right now.
- Bengals WR Chad Ocho Cinco was a no-show to Monday’s offseason workouts and HC Marvin Lewis has not heard from him. “I plan on everyone to be here until I hear that they’re not. I know Chad learned a valuable lesson from last season. Hopefully, he will not have a repeat of that. Chad has to get himself back to where he was.” Thanks to Paul Daugherty from The Cincinnati Enquirer for the heads up on this story.
- Titans QB Vince Young approached HC Jeff Fisher about regaining the starting gig. Fisher told Young that he has to do everything perfectly to get the job back this season and that incumbent Kerry Collins must “hit a wall”, but that the door is open for future opportunity. Young’s salary nearly doubles next season to $7.5 million and $8.55 in 2010 and 2011.
- The San Diego Chargers are sitting down with Darren Sproles again this week about their contract situation. Look for Sproles to sit out minicamp and May sessions to avoid injury if a long-term deal is not met. Regardless of whether Sproles is the franchise player for the team or has a new contract, be confident that he will be ready to go by training camp.
- Ex-Falcons QB Michael Vick has stated that he is expecting to receive
in excess of $10 annually, keeping $750,000 to live off of while giving
the rest to creditors. Vick reportedly has put on ten pounds of solid
muscle and has not ruled out a moved to running back.
March 25, 2009
NFL Draft
- Despite my report earlier this week of the Lions negotiating with several
players for the No. 1 selection, Vic Carucci of NFL.com is reporting Detroit
is willing to shop the pick. I have also heard from contacts in the Detroit
media that GM Martin Mayhew has contacted teams about trading down from
both picks and acquiring as many second through fourth rounders as possible.
Considering how many roster openings the Lions have, that might not be
a bad idea, but don’t expect teams to bite on the No. 1.
- The Browns are targeting DE/OLB Brian Orakpo (Texas) with their No. 5. It is widely known they desire to improve their pass-rush (had 17 sacks in 2008), and the team loved what he showed at the private workout in Texas last week. Cincinnati and Green Bay are two of the other teams that are very interested in Orakpo’s services.
- WR Darrius Heyward-Bey (Maryland) has all but wrapped up a first round selection going into the draft. The Vikings, Eagles, Buccaneers and Rams all have him timed sub-4.25 and are extremely interested. Heyward-Bey was severely under-utilized as he didn’t even see the ball 2 out of every 5.5 passes at Maryland; RB Da’Rel Scott was averaging over 6 YPC going into the last two games of the season and the QB situation was just plain bad. It is quite possible Heyward-Bey will be the third WR off the board in the draft.
- WR Hakeem Nicks (North Carolina) has reportedly dropped most of the weight he had put on between the combine and his pro day, and he has private workouts with the Ravens, Bears and Dolphins. As one scout said, “He looked like a fat tight end, not a lean receiver. He’s got to have a weight problem. This is the most important few months of his life, and he gains a ton of weight. Many scouts and coaches went away very disappointed.” Most personnel folks I have talked with still have him top 5-7 WR.
- WR Kenny Britt (Rutgers) will have a private workout March 26th with
the Bears after having a nice showing at his March 23rd Pro Day. He showed
up eight pounds lighter than the combine and ran a 4.40 40 (.16 seconds
faster than his combine time). The Bears select at No. 18; most scouts
grade Britt somewhere in the 25-45 range.
Around the League
- Although Chiefs TE Tony Gonzalez has softened his stance on being traded,
the team will make a deal if the right offer is made. The Patriots and
Giants are considered front-runners and could make a very attractive offer
with 11 and 10 draft picks, respectively. GM Scott Pioli would be hard-pressed
to turn down a good mix of picks for the aging TE.
- Time is running short on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement as both the owners and the NFLPA want a complete overhaul. The league extended its exclusive DirecTV deal until February of 2015; the league can count on $1 billion a year and weather any type of lockout.
- More and more sources are telling me that the Broncos are going to hold onto Jay Cutler. Unless someone comes in with an absolutely blockbuster deal (Brady Quinn a first and a third, for example), expect Josh McDaniels to bust his butt to repair the relationship. The Broncos do have some insurance with Chris Simms signed and they have made clear they feel more than comfortable with him taking over in case of injury.
- Julius Peppers to New England is becoming less likely by the day. Karen Guregian from the Boston Herald is reporting the Patriots won’t even respond to Carl Carey, Peppers’ agent, until the player signs his tender. Teams cannot contact the Panthers until that happens, and Peppers is not expected to sign until after the draft. Also, the Patriots only have about $10 million in cap room and Peppers would chew through that unless a back-loaded deal is put together.
- This week, Arizona GM Rod Graves has been talking privately with the Giants and at least four other teams regarding Anquan Boldin. His stance has evidently changed since early March when he wrote a letter to the league informing them that Boldin was not going anywhere and any team contacting Anquan would have tampering complaints filed against them.
- Go out and grab Chad Henne in your fantasy league if you can still get him on the cheap. The Miami Herald is reporting that Henne will take over in 2010 and that GM Bill Parcells has already spoken with Chad Pennington about losing some reps this summer. Parcells said this week at the owners meeting that Henne has “Tony Romo-like qualities about him.” Take that however you want.....
- Expect Brandon Jacobs to tote the rock at least 6 or 7 more times a game now that Derrick Ward has signed with Tampa. He averaged 17 touches per game last year and the Giants are aiming for 20-25 week in and week out.
- NFL Owners have passed the following rules changes for the 2009 season:
- Banning of the kickoff wedge
- Banning of hits to the head or neck area of a defenseless receiver using the forearm or shoulder
- Banning of blindside hits using the helmet, forearm or shoulder delivered to an opposing player’s head
- Spreading the field on onside kicks (three players outside each hashmark)
- Throwback of the Week: The Titans will be sporting the old school Houston
Oilers jerseys three games this season, the first of which is August 9th’s
Hall of Fame Game vs. the Bills. Nothing like the Bum Phillips days…
March 24, 2009
NFL Draft
- The Lions are already knee deep in negotiating with the five prospects
they are considering for the No. 1 overall pick: Baylor OT Jason Smith,
Virginia OT Eugene Monroe, Georgia QB Matthew Stafford, Wake Forest LB
Aaron Curry and Florida State DE Everette Brown. At this point the Lions
have the most leverage and can work the best long-term deal for an offensive
tackle; word is they think both Monroe and Smith are top-flight anchors.
Sources within the organization are also saying that the Lions are leaning
against Stafford now as he will most likely lose millions of dollars and
drop out of the top-8 to 10 picks if he isn’t drafted first overall.
- D.J. Moore (CB, Vanderbilt) turned in two more disappointing forty times at Pro Day last Friday and looked a tad slow turning his hips in coverage. There have been a number of teams including the Ravens and Giants that see Moore as a wide receiver because of his sheer athleticism and extraordinary hand-eye coordination. He has slipped on many boards, but he is still a top- 40 talent.
- The Jets have set up a private workout with Mark Sanchez this week that will include more than a few hours of workouts and tape before his workout Tuesday. The Jets like him best in the draft and think his attitude will fit well in the NY scene. Look for them to bring in Josh Freeman to sit with Brian Schottenheimer as well.
- Although the team has renegotiated with LT and tendered Darren Sproles, the Chargers are still seriously considering Chris Wells or Knowshon Moreno in the first round. I see them taking Rey Maualuga (LB, USC) if he is available at 16, but this indicates to me that the team is still not sold on Sproles as any type of answer long-term.
Stock Up/Down
Up
1. Evander Hood, DT, Mizzou – Really brought his A-game at the Missouri
Pro Day. Put up 35 reps of 225 on the bench and jumped out of the gym
(34.7 7/8”). He will go in the first 35 picks.
2. Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas St. – Turning into a solid first round
selection. Top of the line physical tools, remarkably durable.
3. Steven McGee, QB, Texas A&M — Adequately sized QB that was
completely underutilized in college. One of the toughest QBs I have ever
seen; very good speed and overall mobility at Pro Day. He has a chance
to be top-5 QB in this draft and a real sleeper.
Down
1. Andre Smith, OT, Alabama – Absolutely undeniable production in
college, but suspension and recent Pro Day are having him free-fall off
some draft boards.
2. Shonn Greene, RB, Iowa – Has prototypical size but his top-end
speed is atrocious. More and more questions have arisen about his work
ethic off of the field and in the gym. Scouts are really focusing on his
false-steps in the backfield.
3. LeSean McCoy, RB, Pitt – A lackluster Pro Day 40 and awful vertical
jump has almost certainly knocked McCoy out of the first round of the
draft. Scouts are very concerned about his undersized top half and think
he will have a hard time being even a two-down back in the NFL.
4. Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State – Horrible combine performance
and no Pro Day to make up for it. He is still the best in the class, but
he’s no longer an absolutely mid-first round lock.
Around the League
- The Browns have come out and communicated to teams this week that only
LB D’Qwell Jackson and OT Joe Thomas are considered untouchable.
Every other player on the squad is considered on the block. Understandably,
George Kokinis’ phone has been ringing off the hook, most notably
the Giants inquiring about a Braylon Edwards for Steve Smith and a few
draft picks. This could most certainly indicate that the Kellen Winslow
trade was just the tip of the iceberg of what we could see before draft
day.
- My favorite Julius Peppers rumor right now is Peppers to Denver for Jay Cutler. The deal would allow Peppers to move into the 3-4 scheme he’s been looking at and would open the door for Chris Simms in Denver. Peppers has to sign his tender before anything can happen.
- Personally, I think the Jets have to go after Cutler at this point. QB is by far their biggest need, but without a QB to send back to the Broncos, they would most likely have to get the Browns involved in a deal that includes Brady Quinn as a centerpiece.
- There may be light at the end of the tunnel for Fantasy Football owners: Denver has been shopping RBs Selvin Young, Ryan Torain and Peyton Hillis for the last ten days to about fifteen NFL teams. Because of the bevy of backs on the roster, the Broncos will most certainly receive less than market value on any of the three players.
- The Bengals are very close to signing Roy Williams this week to add
some physicality to an awful defense. There is talk of the team moving
him down into the box on at least 60% of the teams’ plays and blitzing
on many of those occasions.
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