Brett Favre Elects To Return To Green Bay For One Year - ESPN

I personally believe this could have been handled as a non-issue by the Packers. Moreover, Brett does have the matter of his wife's health to consider. All they had to do was have two plans ready to go: one for if he comes back; one for if he doesn't return. They draft as if he's not going to come back, then they're ready. It made little sense to have this total circus, but we had one. Now, it's over.


From ESPN Wire Service:

Brett Favre informed the Packers on Tuesday that he will definitely play the 2006 season in Green Bay.

The NFL's only three-time MVP shared his decision with general manager Ted Thompson and head coach Mike McCarthy in a telephone conversation on Tuesday morning, the sources told ESPN's Chris Mortensen on Tuesday night. Wednesday, Thompson confirmed the news.

"The Green Bay Packers are very pleased that Brett has come to this decision, and look forward to a successful 2006 season," Thompson said in a statement posted on the team's Web site Wednesday.

Packers president and CEO Bob Harlan said he was delighted that Favre was coming back -- something he expected to happen, despite Favre's four months of public wavering on the decision.

"I always said the calendar was working in our favor,'' Harlan said. "If he was going to [retire], he would have told us in January.''

Neither Favre nor McCarthy was available for immediate comment. Bus Cook, Favre's agent, did not return phone inquiries.

Favre, who had a roster bonus pushed back from March to July while he pondered his decision, has said that if he chose to play in 2006 that it would be his final season.

Favre said repeatedly after the 2005 season ended that he wasn't sure if he would come back to play a 16th season, saying he wasn't sure if he wanted to be part of what he saw as a possible long-term rebuilding effort.


Will Aaron Rodgers be a success as Favre's eventual replacement in Green Bay?
Yes
No

He also claimed he wasn't sure if the team wanted him and his hefty salary to be a part of that effort. He hinted that the team's moves in free agency would play a role in his decision to come back. Favre also questioned his own motivation to continue playing.
Favre, 36, is second to Hall of Famer Dan Marino in passing yards, touchdown passes and completions. Marino is the leader with 61,361 yards, followed by Favre with 53,615 and Hall of Famer John Elway with 51,475.

An eight-time Pro Bowl selection, Favre has made an NFL-record 221 consecutive starts for the Packers. He never had a losing record until last season, when Green Bay went 4-12 and he led the league with 29 interceptions.

But the fans at Lambeau Field did not want to see him go. After Green Bay closed a disappointing campaign with a win over Seattle on Jan. 1, Favre left the game with 46 seconds left after throwing for 259 yards and a touchdown and received a thunderous ovation from the sellout crowd.

Favre saluted the fans with a wave and was surrounded by a swarm of photographers as he ran off the field.

Favre extended his NFL-record streak of seasons with at least 20 touchdown passes to 12 and increased his career total to 396. He also established a career high with 372 completions last season, surpassing his previous high of 363 in 1994.

Marino, the NFL's most prolific quarterback, has 420 career TD passes and 4,967 completions.

Favre led the Packers to six division crowns and a Super Bowl title, restoring success to one of the NFL's most famous franchises.

The Packers fired coach Mike Sherman after the final game of the season and replaced him with McCarthy, who was Favre's quarterbacks coach in Green Bay during the 1999 season. They also re-signed running back Ahman Green, who missed most of last season because of a knee injury.

But Favre continued to waffle in the offseason as the Packers struck out on high-profile free agents.

His apparent decision to return comes despite the Packers' failure to answer the quarterback's call to make a "statement" signing in free agency similar to that of Reggie White in the 1990s.

Sticking to Thompson's stated philosophy of not splurging for the sake of splurging in the free-agent market, the Packers lost veteran kicker Ryan Longwell to the division rival Minnesota Vikings and lost out in the bidding for a potential replacement, free-agent kicker Adam Vinatieri, who signed with the Indianapolis Colts.

The Packers' two most high-profile free-agent signings have been former St. Louis Rams defensive tackle Ryan Pickett and former Seattle Seahawks safety Marquand Manuel. The team has also re-signed fullback William Henderson and wide receiver Rod Gardener.

Seattle Seahawks Get Safety Mike Green From Chicago Bears - AP

Wow. Apparently Chicago believed they had someone better to fill the shoes of Green, who was the second leading tackler on the team in 2004. ..Course, he wasn't in 2005.

Associated Press

CHICAGO - The Seattle Seahawks acquired veteran safety Mike Green from the Chicago Bears for a sixth-round draft pick on Tuesday.

Taken with the and final pick in the 2000 draft from Northwestern State, Green had 437 total tackles (282 solo), six sacks, four interceptions and 27 pass breakups in six seasons with the Bears.

Green was second on the team to linebacker Brian Urlacher with a career-high 138 tackles in 2002 and 132 in 2004.

Six Players Who's Stock Has Fallen - One Of Them Is RB LenDale White

According to Mike Florio at Profootballtalk.com , six players have fallen in their "stock," which is the value placed on that person relative to other players of the almost 400 college football players under consideration for the 2006 NFL Draft

STOCK HAS DROPPED FOR SIX HIGH-PROFILE PLAYERS

Although there have not yet been any final-week disclosures or developments causing one or more of the draft-eligible players with name recognition to plummet this weekend, a broader look at the past several months reveals six guys who have seen their prospects for getting drafted early decline.

This information is based on our discussions with league sources, and thus is subject to the standard possibility that someone is knocking a guy in the hopes of making sure he's available at a lower round. In the end, where the guy is drafted is where the guy is drafted. (How freakin' profound.)

1. Mathias Kiawanuka, DE, Boston College.

Viewed by some as a top-five pick prior to the 2005 season, Kiawanuka will now be lucky to be selected on day one of the draft. The perception is that Kiawanuka had his "ass whupped" at the Senior Bowl, and that he showed no leg strength or intensity. Three teams that we know of have him rated as a fourth-rounder.

2. Jimmy Williams, CB, Virginia Tech.

Williams is regarded by some league insiders as a "very bad dude" -- and not in the good way. We've heard that some teams have removed him completely from their boards.

3. Claude Wroten, DT, LSU.

We reported on Friday, citing three league sources, that Wroten tested positive at the combine. Although the teams know about the result, no one else in the media has made the connection between the positive result and the negative impact on his draft stock.

Wroten also was arrested on marijuana charges earlier this year, but the charges were dropped. To compound the problem, we're told that some teams were not enamored by his interviewing skills.

4. Derek Hagan, WR, Arizona State.

Before the 2005 season, he consistently was viewed as one of the top receivers in the country. His inconsistent hands are putting him in the round three range now.

5. Dominique Byrd, TE, USC.

Byrd was seen as one of the top two tight ends before the 2005 season. But a "brutal" pro day workout and a "lackadaisical attitude" have fueled a fall.

6. LenDale White, RB, USC.

For anyone who has been living under a rock or, even worse, on top of one, White is this year's poster child for how not to handle the run-up to the draft. A hamstring injury was disclosed when he showed up for his pro day workout. He managed a total of 15 reps in the 225-pound bench press.

At one point, White was a possible top-ten pick. Now, he'll be lucky to hear his name called by dinner time on Saturday. White's likely response?

NFL Suspends Miami Dolphins RB Ricky Williams For One Year

I listened to the news on ESPN. I feel sorry for Williams, as it wasn't for smoking anything, and it seems as if someone tried to get him in trouble. It also seems as if there's a kind of vendetta going on against sports agent Leigh Steinberg. First he looses Matt Leinart and after a questionable turn of events that the NFL Players Association seems blind to look into, now this.

NEW YORK Apr 25, 2006 (AP and ABC) -- Miami Dolphins running back Ricky Williams was suspended for the 2006 season by the NFL on Tuesday for violating the league's substance abuse policy for the fourth time.

The league announced the suspension after Williams' appeal of a his latest positive drug test was denied. Williams met with NFL counsel Jeff Pash on April 10 in an attempt to have the league overturn the test.

Previous positive tests were for marijuana, which Williams acknowledged using. The latest test apparently involved a drug other than marijuana.

Williams retired and sat out the 2004 season, but returned last year to play for new Miami coach Nick Saban.

Before being allowed to return, Williams served a four-game suspension at the start of the season for his third violation of the drug program. He ran for 743 yards and averaged 4.4 yards a carry while sharing playing time with rookie Ronnie Brown.

2006 NFL Draft - SBS NFL Business Blog Partnership With The Oakland Tribune

Thanks to ANG Newspapers, Sports Editor Jon Becker, I'm proud to report that I'll be working with the Oakland Tribune in my coverage of the NFL Draft. I'm going to be their "Man On The Scene" at The Draft in NYC.

Visit the Oakland Tribune's website at www.oaklandtribune.com for our Draft coverage on Saturday, and this blog nflbusinessblog.com for coverage of the Draft on the days leading up to the main event and during it as well. My aim is to make you feel as if you're there and behind the scenes, especially since I'm taking my camcorder.

The Oakland Tribune's website will also be the center for our videos and we'll have links and content from this blog to the Tribune's website and their popular Raiders Blog "Inside The Oakland Raiders" http://www.ibabuzz.com/raidersblog

I'll also feed information to my good friend Oakland Tribune Columnist Monte Poole -- pictured at left -- as well.

It's going to be one big party! Join us!

Santonio Holmes In Miami Dolphins Draft Sights - Palm Beach Post

Holmes could be in Dolphins' plans

By Jeff Darlington
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Tuesday, April 25, 2006

She never wanted her baby to fly so far away.

Yet Patricia Brown never argued. Never told her son he was wrong. Never questioned aloud his dreams, the ones that led Glades Central High School receiver Santonio Holmes to his college football career at Ohio State.

"I just thought it was a far place for him to go," Brown said, recalling her son's decision to leave South Florida four years ago. "But he said it's where he wanted to go. He said there were more opportunities than anywhere else."

As it turns out, those opportunities might earn Holmes a one-way ticket back to his mother's home — as a Dolphins draft pick.

Holmes is one of a several prospects in Saturday's NFL Draft projected to land somewhere in the range of the Dolphins' first-round pick — No. 16.

The Dolphins are looking for cornerbacks, linebackers, offensive linemen and receivers and Holmes certainly fits the description of what coach Nick Saban is looking for in a playmaker.

"Typically, people who can score touchdowns or create big plays, whether they affect the quarterback on defense or make the plays down the field, are guys that have a little bit more impact," said Saban, who has said his picks will be based more on the value of a particular player than on a need for a specific position.

In several recent mock drafts, Holmes has been listed all over the board — sometimes early in the first round and other times late. Todd McShay, an analyst for Scouts, Inc., has Miami selecting Holmes.

That's not a stretch, considering that the Dolphins would like to add a third receiver behind Chris Chambers and Marty Booker.

Holmes — and Florida receiver Chad Jackson — has had a pre-draft meeting with the Dolphins.

"Holmes and Jackson will probably be the only two receivers drafted in the first round," said Frank Coyle, head scout and draft analyst for draftinsiders.com. "You could make a case for three or four clubs taking (Holmes) in the middle of the first."

When Holmes, a junior, declared early for the draft, he was considered the top receiver in the class. But while his top-10 potential has slipped, Jackson's stock has risen after he posted his fastest 40-yard dash times at the scouting combine.

That's not to say Holmes isn't getting some long looks. He finished his three-year Ohio State career with 140 catches, including 25 touchdown receptions.

"Although he is an underclassman, and he still needs to be polished, he's an explosive playmaker," said Chris Landry, a former NFL scout who now serves as a consultant to NFL teams. "He has long arms and he's really strong in the lower body. He also has the speed to consistently beat defenders."

Any recent drops in Holmes' draft projections haven't affected his confidence. At 5-feet-10, 198 pounds, he described himself at the scouting combine as an "all-around playmaker.... One of the best wide receivers possibly in the game right now."

"Looking at all the things I've accomplished — the way I play on the field, the way I block, carry myself, leadership — I have all the ability to be a great wide receiver," Holmes said.

This weekend, Holmes will return to South Florida from Ohio, where he is currently pursuing his degree. Hundreds of family and friends are expected at his mother's home on draft day.

There, they'll watch with Patricia Brown to see if her baby is coming back to South Florida.

"It would probably be too close to home for him," Brown joked. "That means I would have to see him more. It'd be fine with me, but he probably wouldn't like it very much."

BUCS OWNER MALCOLM GLAZER RELEASED FROM HOSPITAL

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 24, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Malcolm Glazer was released today from the Cleveland Clinic after suffering a stroke last Sunday, April 16. The stroke has
impaired Mr. Glazer’s speech and mobility in his right arm and leg.
“On behalf of the entire Glazer family, I want to thank everyone at the Cleveland Clinic for their outstanding care,” said Joel
Glazer. “My father’s spirits are high and doctors expect his condition to improve with rehabilitation.”
Copyright 1999 - 2006 Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

www.buccaneers.com

Matt Leinart's Favorite Things

Ok, now you know everything about SC's Matt Leinart. Well this and the reminder that he did lose to Cal.

On his new website, http://www.mattleinartqb.com he lists his favorite things. There are some interesting matches. For example, his favorite color is green and his city to visit is New York. If that's not a clear signal that he wants to be drafted by the NY Jets, I don't know what is.



Matt Leinart's Favorite Things:

Color - Green
Food - Italian
Movie - Wedding Crashers
Actor - Jim Carey
Car - Chevy Tahoe
Football Team - USC
Basketball Team - Lakers
Baseball Team - Dodgers
City to Visit - NY
Vacation - Houseboating
Football Moment - Holding the Crystal Ball
Class in School - Social Psychology
Book - To Kill a Mockingbird
Animal - Dog
Video Game - Halo
Favorite Activity - Video Games
Restaurant - Wahoos Fish Tacos

NFL Draft - Cowboys Colts Trade? Playmaker88 Thinks So

Playmaker 88 gives a well-reasoned explaination why the Indianapolis Colts may wind up with the Dallas Cowboys 18th pick in the first round the the NFL Draft. Check it out via clicking on the title of this post.

Chilling Effects Clearinghouse

I found this website that shows how bloggers can protect themselves from threats related to their content. Check out
Chilling Effects

Publicity Surrounding Leinart Shines Light On Steve Clarkson's "Air 7 QB Academy"

Who's Steve Clarkson? Well, he's the guy working out USC's Matt Leinart in the photo. This one taken in 2005. He's also worked Leinart out this year, and is a key member of Team Leinart.

This bio I found on his old website reveals all, but before I subject you to a long read let me inform you that he's got a great relationship with former USC and now Tennessee Titans Offensive Coordinator Norm Chow, at least that's what Clarkson reports on his website.

It may be this relationship that caused Leinart to consider the agent switch to begin with. It may be that Matt believed that this relationship -- and not Leigh Steinberg -- was the key to his becoming a Titan.

It also sheds light on why some believed that Ben Rothelisberger might switch to CAA, now that the movie talent giant's football practice is marketing Mr. Clarkson's Air 7.

Whatever the story, it's clear that Mr. Clarkson's relationships -- or more accurately his maintenance of them -- is paying off.

Well, check out this bio on Clarkson:

What separates Steve and Air 7 from the rest is Steve's ability to parlay his relationships into the strongest network of college coaches and contacts among anyone who works in football at the high school level. His success as a quarterback coach, combined with the personal relationships he developed as a player and a coach, have given his students a much greater chance of getting to the next level.

Not only a quarterback coach, Steve excels as an offensive coordinator, having produced city championships (Carson HS), record setting quarterbacks (Perry Klein - Pacific Palisades, David Koral - Palisades, John Walsh - Carson, and Steve Sarkisian - El Camino) and providing fans an exciting glimpse into the future of the passing offense.

Steve is a 1979 graduate of LA Wilson High School. During that time, Steve led his Wilson High team to three LA City Championships with a three year record of 39-1. In addition, he was named to the All-City teams his Junior and Senior seasons and was the All-City Player of the Year in 1978. In that season, he led the state in passing yards and total offense. In the early 80s, Clarkson was a record-setting quarterback at San Jose State where he wore the number seven (hence the name of his company). He was briefly in the NFL and CFL with Denver and Saskatchawan. While at San Jose State, he was a three year starter name to the Academic All-American teams in 1981 and 1982. He played for Jack Elway (John's father) and Dennis Erickson where he went on to coach at the University of Miami and then with the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers in the NFL.

The creation of the CaliFlorida Bowl HS All-Star Football game has allowed Steve to communicate directly and frequently with scores of college football head coaches, most notably Pete Carroll (USC), Karl Dorrell (UCLA), Mark Richt (Georgia) and Phillip Fulmer (Tennessee).

Having spent the last 20 years in the field of football training and coaching, Steve has developed relationships with: Bill Walsh (San Francisco 49ers); Jack Kemp (Current President of USA Football, Former Congressmen and Buffalo Bills Quarterback); Dennis Erickson (Steve’s godfather, former head coach at U of Miami, OSU & SF 49ers); Terry Donohue (Former UCLA head coach & SF 49er GM); John Elway (Hall of Fame QB); Mike Price (UTEP) Bill Walsh; Mike White (Kansas City Chiefs QB Coach) and NFL Rookie of the Year, Ben Roethlisberger (a client of Steve).

Among Steve’s closest professional relationships, is the one he has with Norm Chow. Norm and Steve have a strong relationship dating back to the early 80’s. Initially, the relationship began when Norm had great success at BYU, utilizing quarterbacks who had trained under Clarkson (John Walsh & Steve Sarkisian). Since those days, the two have become good friends as well. Most recently, the common bond has been Matt Leinart, a pupil of Steve’s, who became Norm’s most recent Heisman Trophy winning quarterback.

Matt Leinart Meets Raiders Owner Al Davis At Raiders Headquarters

I found this at Matt Leinart's new website mattleinartqb.com . He writes that he went to dinner in the Marina, which is really funny because that Thursday nigh of last week, I thought I saw a guy who looked just like Matt at The Balboa Cafe, which is in the Marina District of San Francisco.

Hmmm.....


QB meets with Raiders, Saints

It's been a long few days. I'm excited to be back home in L.A. It's been fun to meet everybody and go to the different places, but I'm definitely ready to get this over with.

As I'm writing this entry, I'm at my agent Chuck Price's house. I'm watching his two daughters dance to some Disney show. They're like the little sisters I never had. I'm kind of like their big brother.

I've been so busy traveling this week I haven't had a chance to talk to anybody.

Wednesday, I woke up at 4 a.m, and went to the airport to get on a flight to New Orleans. I had a layover in Houston. I got there and talked to the Saints' coaches. I met with the head coach Sean Payton, quarterbacks' coach Pete Carmichael, Jr. and general manager Mickey Loomis.

Coach Payton is a great guy. He'll be calling the plays in New Orleans. All the coaches I've met have been great, but coach Payton was really cool. I got along with him well.

Even though it was hot and humid in New Orleans, it was a good experience. What the city and people went through was horrible. I'm not one of those guys who would say I don't want to be with the Saints because of what happened to the city. It would be great to play for the Saints. To be there, to feel it, and talk about the community with the coaches was a very cool thing.

We had a nice BBQ dinner at my hotel after I got a tour of the Saints' facilities. It was really informal. I was there with coach Payton, offensive coordinator Doug Marrone, coach Carmichael and Mikey Loomis. We just kind of hung out and shot the breeze.

Thursday, I had an 8 a.m flight to Oakland to meet with the Raiders. After I arrived, I took a nap. I finally had a chance to catch up on some sleep.

I went out to dinner Thursday night with the quarterbacks' coach Jim McElwain. Everyone calls him "coach Mac." We went to dinner in the marina. We were right on the water. We had an awesome talk. This is his first year in the NFL. He's coming from college at Michigan State where he coached quarterbacks. He's a younger coach and very laid back.

The Raiders' facilities are right by the airport. It was really convenient. Everything was in silver and black.

After meeting with coach Shell, and watching film with offensive coordinator Tom Walsh and coach Mac, I met with Mr. Al Davis.

Mr. Davis and I met for 15 or 20 minutes in his office. I've never met him before. I told him that I've been a Raiders' fan for a long time. My brother and dad are also big fans of the Raiders.

Mr. Davis is so highly respected. He coached at USC a while ago. We talked about everything from my career to players he coached. I asked him about his quarterback situation. At USC, I was called "The Snake", which is Kenny Stabler's nickname. Stabler was his quarterback a long time ago, so it was pretty cool. Stabler was a lefty too. Mr. Davis actually said when he was watching film I reminded him of Stabler!

It was a cool experience. Mr. Davis is a legend. He's extremely smart. He's really the guy that started the NFL.

I got back to L.A on Friday. The plan for this weekend is to relax.

I played golf on Saturday with my brother Ryan, Chuck and a couple buddies. I still haven't gotten my golf clubs that I was fitted for. I had to borrow them from my attorney. As you know, I have the tendency to throw my clubs so I'm almost glad they haven't arrived. Once I start practicing, I'll be decent. I just haven't had the time.

I plan on packing this weekend for New York. I leave on Tuesday. I thought I would have more of an idea about who is going to draft me, but I still don't know. I probably won't know until draft day. It's a toss-up. That's the scary and cool part about it.

It will be great to go anywhere.

I'm excited and can't wait to get it over.