Bucs Sign Garcia, Trade for Plummer
By FRED GOODALL
AP Sports Writer
TAMPA, Fla. -- When Chris Simms said he welcomed competition for Tampa Bay's starting quarterback job, he surely didn't envision the Buccaneers going to such great lengths to find challengers.
The Bucs signed free agent Jeff Garcia on Saturday, then announced they had also obtained the rights to Jake Plummer from Denver to potentially give the team an interesting tussle for the reins to coach Jon Gruden's offense.
Garcia, a three-time Pro Bowl selection who nearly signed with the Bucs as a free agent in 2004, agreed to a two-year deal he hopes will give him a chance to finally get to the Super Bowl.
A championship is missing from Plummer's resume, too, but it appears winning one may no longer be a personal goal after losing his starting job with the Broncos last season. The 32-year-old said on the Web site of The Jake Plummer Foundation that he was retiring.
"Football has been awesome to me in many ways. I leave the game with my health and happiness, and look forward to the future," he said on the Web site.
Stepping away from the game couldn't be farther from the 37-year-old Garcia's mind.
"Throw age out the window because that's not how I play. That's not how I focus. That's not how I mentally prepare. That's not who I am," Garcia said during a news conference.
"I'm somebody who is excited about this opportunity, who's excited to be around the guys and bring a good mix of leadership and drive and will and perseverance -- all those things you need in order to turn the corner and get back that winning feeling, that winning tradition."
The Bucs won the Super Bowl four seasons ago, but have had losing records and missed the playoffs three of the past four years.
A tight salary-cap situation has prevented the Bucs from being players in free agency since Gruden took over in 2002. However, the team began this year's signing period with about $25 million in space.
Garcia is intrigued by the prospect of helping Gruden and holdovers from Tampa Bay's championship team such as Derrick Brooks, Ronde Barber and Mike Alstott climb back among the NFL's elite.
"It's not so long ago that those things happened," Garcia said. "And, it's something that can happen again."
Meanwhile, general manager Bruce Allen acknowledged the Bucs traded a conditional pick in the 2008 draft for Plummer, even though they were aware the quarterback was thinking about not playing again.
Plummer, who has three years left on his contract and is due $5.3 million in 2007, led Denver to the AFC championship game two seasons ago but was benched after 11 games last season for rookie Jay Cutler. His .722 winning percentage with the Broncos from 2003-06 is the fourth-best in the NFL behind Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Ben Roethlisberger.
While Allen said he expects Plummer to play again, he would not speculate on whether it would be with Tampa Bay. The GM also said the Bucs did not acquire the quarterback's rights with the idea of trading him.
"I think right now, he's just taking time to think about it, which is fine," Allen said, adding it's not uncommon for players to ponder or even announce their retirement before changing their minds.
Garcia, who last year led Philadelphia to the playoffs filling in for the injured Donovan McNabb, agreed to terms a day after talking with the Oakland Raiders. The Bucs pursued him in free agency three years ago but were unable to match a more lucrative deal Garcia signed with the Cleveland Browns.
"I'm happy for him," McNabb, who watched Garcia win five of six starts to help the Eagles win the NFC East, said during the Syracuse-Villanova basketball game in Philadelphia. "I think it will be a good fit. I think he'll be fine."
As coach of the Oakland Raiders, Gruden also passed on opportunity to sign Garcia when the quarterback was coming out of the Canadian Football League in 1999. Garcia wound up with San Francisco and made the Pro Bowl three of five seasons there.
While playing with the 49ers, Gruden and Garcia became friends.
"It's unfortunate we weren't able to come together three years ago and maybe have created some great bond and great situations on the field," Garcia said of his decision to sign with Cleveland in 2004. "But I think he's getting a more focused, more motivated, more excited player now than he would have gotten at that point."
So you mean to tell me if Chris Simms can't go the Bucs have two(If Plummer doesn't retire!!!) Back up's totalling 69 years of age?? Ok so Jay "Deer in the Heaqdlamps" Feidler from Oceanside NY wasn't going to be the answer, I know,...But Garcia may never get to play a Down of Football again....and he'll get to basque in the warm sun of Central Florida for at least a year or two.....
Monday, March 05, 2007
Patriots Sign Thomas, Brady, and Morris
Patriots Sign Linebacker Adalius Thomas My Comments Below
By JESSE HARLAN ALDERMAN
Associated Press Writer
BOSTON -- Linebacker Adalius Thomas, one of the most sought-after free agents, signed Saturday with the New England Patriots, giving the three-time Super Bowl winners a player in the mold of the departed Willie McGinest.
The 29-year-old Pro Bowler, one of the keys to the Baltimore's defense last season, can play several positions, including outside linebacker and defensive end -- as McGinest did until he left last season for Cleveland.
Thomas, at 6-foot-2-inches and 270 pounds, said he even lined up at cornerback in a defensive package designed to handle Pittsburgh's physical receivers, matching wideouts stride-for-stride.
"I'm a football player. I don't play a position. Whatever is needed for me to do here, I'm going to do," he said. "That's why the Patriots have been so successful here because they don't look at it as position. They look at it as football."
The Patriots also announced the signings of two other veterans: tight end Kyle Brady from Jacksonville and back up running back Sammy Morris from division-rival Miami.
"Personally and professionally, we are very impressed with Adalius Thomas," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. "His playmaking, toughness, intelligence, versatility and character were all factors in our decision to pursue him."
Many professional scouts had considered Thomas the most talented free agent on the market, coming off an 11-sack and 106-tackle season as one of the anchors on Baltimore's stout defense that gave up an NFL-low average of 12.6 points per game.
The signing period for free agents was fewer than 36 hours old when Thomas signed his deal. He said he did not want to test the market after receiving a phone call from New England -- a team he said is primed to compete for its fourth Super Bowl win in seven seasons.
"We don't want to come here and play games," he said. "There's no need to go looking around for the best, when you start with the best. My first offer was here and there was no need to go anywhere else."
Thomas cited a motto that he learned from his father in Alabama -- "Be humble or get humble" -- when reflecting on his steady rise from a sixth-round draft pick out of Southern Mississippi in 2000 to a special teams Pro Bowl pick in 2003 to one of the league's top linebackers.
He has five career defensive touchdowns, 38.5 sacks, six interceptions and six fumble recoveries.
He said Belichick has a penchant for molding a system around versatile linebackers, drawing a comparison to Mike Vrabel, another linebacker known for lining up in other positions, notably as a goal-line tight end.
"I think I fit their pedigree of linebackers -- guys that can run, big strong guys that play different things from Vrabel to Bruschi to Colvin," he said. "You have all these guys that are here that are great players. Again, I just try to come in and add to what they already have because they have a great linebacking corps here."
The signing of veterans at tight end and running back fill offensive needs for the Patriots after the team released running back Corey Dillon on Friday. Tight end Daniel Graham is an unrestricted free agent expected to leave New England.
Brady, 35, played four seasons with the New York Jets and eight with Jacksonville. He has played in 183 games and caught 334 passes for 3,449 yards and 23 touchdowns.
Morris, 29, is a seven-year veteran who has played for both Buffalo and Miami.
WOW!! you can't blame them for making these deals. Thomas is a key piece to their climb back to the top. Plus the additions of two skilled vets like Kyle Brady and Sammy Morris gives them needed depth at two offensive skill positions. The rich just keep getting richer.....
By JESSE HARLAN ALDERMAN
Associated Press Writer
BOSTON -- Linebacker Adalius Thomas, one of the most sought-after free agents, signed Saturday with the New England Patriots, giving the three-time Super Bowl winners a player in the mold of the departed Willie McGinest.
The 29-year-old Pro Bowler, one of the keys to the Baltimore's defense last season, can play several positions, including outside linebacker and defensive end -- as McGinest did until he left last season for Cleveland.
Thomas, at 6-foot-2-inches and 270 pounds, said he even lined up at cornerback in a defensive package designed to handle Pittsburgh's physical receivers, matching wideouts stride-for-stride.
"I'm a football player. I don't play a position. Whatever is needed for me to do here, I'm going to do," he said. "That's why the Patriots have been so successful here because they don't look at it as position. They look at it as football."
The Patriots also announced the signings of two other veterans: tight end Kyle Brady from Jacksonville and back up running back Sammy Morris from division-rival Miami.
"Personally and professionally, we are very impressed with Adalius Thomas," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. "His playmaking, toughness, intelligence, versatility and character were all factors in our decision to pursue him."
Many professional scouts had considered Thomas the most talented free agent on the market, coming off an 11-sack and 106-tackle season as one of the anchors on Baltimore's stout defense that gave up an NFL-low average of 12.6 points per game.
The signing period for free agents was fewer than 36 hours old when Thomas signed his deal. He said he did not want to test the market after receiving a phone call from New England -- a team he said is primed to compete for its fourth Super Bowl win in seven seasons.
"We don't want to come here and play games," he said. "There's no need to go looking around for the best, when you start with the best. My first offer was here and there was no need to go anywhere else."
Thomas cited a motto that he learned from his father in Alabama -- "Be humble or get humble" -- when reflecting on his steady rise from a sixth-round draft pick out of Southern Mississippi in 2000 to a special teams Pro Bowl pick in 2003 to one of the league's top linebackers.
He has five career defensive touchdowns, 38.5 sacks, six interceptions and six fumble recoveries.
He said Belichick has a penchant for molding a system around versatile linebackers, drawing a comparison to Mike Vrabel, another linebacker known for lining up in other positions, notably as a goal-line tight end.
"I think I fit their pedigree of linebackers -- guys that can run, big strong guys that play different things from Vrabel to Bruschi to Colvin," he said. "You have all these guys that are here that are great players. Again, I just try to come in and add to what they already have because they have a great linebacking corps here."
The signing of veterans at tight end and running back fill offensive needs for the Patriots after the team released running back Corey Dillon on Friday. Tight end Daniel Graham is an unrestricted free agent expected to leave New England.
Brady, 35, played four seasons with the New York Jets and eight with Jacksonville. He has played in 183 games and caught 334 passes for 3,449 yards and 23 touchdowns.
Morris, 29, is a seven-year veteran who has played for both Buffalo and Miami.
WOW!! you can't blame them for making these deals. Thomas is a key piece to their climb back to the top. Plus the additions of two skilled vets like Kyle Brady and Sammy Morris gives them needed depth at two offensive skill positions. The rich just keep getting richer.....
Redskins (re)Sign DB Smoot, and LB London Fletcher
Redskins End Relatively Modest Weekend-Ofcourse My Comments Below......
By JOSEPH WHITE
AP Sports Writer
ASHBURN, Va. -- Fred Smoot was in classic form for his Washington Redskins reunion, punching out one-liners while ruing his two-year misadventure with the Minnesota Vikings. It was a good thing he was there, considering little else was happening Sunday at Redskins Park.
A team known for its big-spending ways had -- by its own standards, at least -- a very modest first three days of free agency.
"This year seemed to be a little bit different," coach Joe Gibbs said. "And certainly we were trying to be smart in what we did. Things kind of took off wildly with the money and everything."
Smoot and linebacker London Fletcher are the only signings to date, and Gibbs said no new free agents were scheduled for visits. That's a far cry from last year, when the Redskins acquired six players -- most of them commanding top-tier contracts -- in the first four days.
The Redskins opted not to sign offensive lineman Leonard Davis, who visited on Saturday but was asking for a budget-busting deal. Cornerback Travis Fisher also visited Redskins Park over the weekend, but he was considered superfluous once a deal was reached with Smoot.
Smoot was the self-proclaimed "Mouth of the South" when he played four seasons with the Redskins before leaving for Minnesota in 2005. His two years with the Vikings were marred by injuries, violations of team rules and a disorderly conduct charge for his actions at the infamous "Love Boat" party. Eventually, he lost his starting job and was cut.
"I thought it was a mistake to leave," Smoot said. "Not many people get a second chance to make it right. ... This is my home. I don't have to learn any new coaches. I don't have to learn any new city. It's just like moving back in that old room at my momma's house."
So what went wrong in Minnesota?
"I never really got comfortable there," Smoot said. "I always felt like a stepchild. .. Every time I got going, something happened. My brother died, the boat situation, the car accident. So a lot of stuff happened, and it humbled me in life."
On Saturday -- before Smoot's deal was finalized -- Gibbs said he spoke to Smoot specifically about "the boat situation," a 2005 players' party that devolved into lewd behavior and embarrassed the Vikings organization. Gibbs made it clear such behavior won't be tolerated in Washington.
"I think Fred and I have a good understanding," Gibbs said. "He knows what's expected of him."
Smoot was asked what fans can expect from him as a result of his troubles with the Vikings.
"They're getting a player who's been through a lot," Smoot said. "You can't get glass until it goes through a lot of changes, and then it comes out smooth. I'm that smooth part right now. ... I can promised you this: They're going to get a Fred Smoot who has matured in a lot of ways."
Gibbs said it was a mistake to let Smoot leave two years ago, but the coach didn't lure him back with a promise of a starting job. Smoot will compete with Carlos Rogers and Shawn Springs for playing time, unless Springs is traded or cut because of his resistance to renegotiate his contract to lower a high salary cap number.
"We're counting on him being here," Gibbs said. "We want him to be here. We've had some discussions. We don't know where they'll wind up, but we do know that Shawn's a very valuable part of this football team."
Smoot was so popular among the Redskins that, even after he left, they continued to give the "Fred 'Silky Johnson' Smoot Award" -- also known as the "You're Nothin' Award" -- every week to a defensive player who made a big impact.
Knowing he would be welcome if he returned to Washington made Smoot willing to sign a five-year deal that might have been less than what he could have received had he negotiated with more than one team.
"Money wasn't what I was chasing this time," he said. "It was a chance to be happy and play high-level football."
The Redskins still have two significant holes to fill. They need a right guard to replace Derrick Dockery, who signed Friday with Buffalo, and an impact defensive lineman. They can probably get the defensive lineman with the No. 6 overall pick in next month's draft. The guard could be a late free agent pickup, a late-round draft choice or a young player already on the roster.
"We'll find somebody to win that spot," Gibbs said.
Looks Like Dan Snyder might be learning a Bit From Gibbs. Maybe he's not going to break the bank this time signing too many players. They are going to need that Defensive Lineman before the start of the season, and he's will have to play both the run and pass if he is going to help Washington get back into contender status.
By JOSEPH WHITE
AP Sports Writer
ASHBURN, Va. -- Fred Smoot was in classic form for his Washington Redskins reunion, punching out one-liners while ruing his two-year misadventure with the Minnesota Vikings. It was a good thing he was there, considering little else was happening Sunday at Redskins Park.
A team known for its big-spending ways had -- by its own standards, at least -- a very modest first three days of free agency.
"This year seemed to be a little bit different," coach Joe Gibbs said. "And certainly we were trying to be smart in what we did. Things kind of took off wildly with the money and everything."
Smoot and linebacker London Fletcher are the only signings to date, and Gibbs said no new free agents were scheduled for visits. That's a far cry from last year, when the Redskins acquired six players -- most of them commanding top-tier contracts -- in the first four days.
The Redskins opted not to sign offensive lineman Leonard Davis, who visited on Saturday but was asking for a budget-busting deal. Cornerback Travis Fisher also visited Redskins Park over the weekend, but he was considered superfluous once a deal was reached with Smoot.
Smoot was the self-proclaimed "Mouth of the South" when he played four seasons with the Redskins before leaving for Minnesota in 2005. His two years with the Vikings were marred by injuries, violations of team rules and a disorderly conduct charge for his actions at the infamous "Love Boat" party. Eventually, he lost his starting job and was cut.
"I thought it was a mistake to leave," Smoot said. "Not many people get a second chance to make it right. ... This is my home. I don't have to learn any new coaches. I don't have to learn any new city. It's just like moving back in that old room at my momma's house."
So what went wrong in Minnesota?
"I never really got comfortable there," Smoot said. "I always felt like a stepchild. .. Every time I got going, something happened. My brother died, the boat situation, the car accident. So a lot of stuff happened, and it humbled me in life."
On Saturday -- before Smoot's deal was finalized -- Gibbs said he spoke to Smoot specifically about "the boat situation," a 2005 players' party that devolved into lewd behavior and embarrassed the Vikings organization. Gibbs made it clear such behavior won't be tolerated in Washington.
"I think Fred and I have a good understanding," Gibbs said. "He knows what's expected of him."
Smoot was asked what fans can expect from him as a result of his troubles with the Vikings.
"They're getting a player who's been through a lot," Smoot said. "You can't get glass until it goes through a lot of changes, and then it comes out smooth. I'm that smooth part right now. ... I can promised you this: They're going to get a Fred Smoot who has matured in a lot of ways."
Gibbs said it was a mistake to let Smoot leave two years ago, but the coach didn't lure him back with a promise of a starting job. Smoot will compete with Carlos Rogers and Shawn Springs for playing time, unless Springs is traded or cut because of his resistance to renegotiate his contract to lower a high salary cap number.
"We're counting on him being here," Gibbs said. "We want him to be here. We've had some discussions. We don't know where they'll wind up, but we do know that Shawn's a very valuable part of this football team."
Smoot was so popular among the Redskins that, even after he left, they continued to give the "Fred 'Silky Johnson' Smoot Award" -- also known as the "You're Nothin' Award" -- every week to a defensive player who made a big impact.
Knowing he would be welcome if he returned to Washington made Smoot willing to sign a five-year deal that might have been less than what he could have received had he negotiated with more than one team.
"Money wasn't what I was chasing this time," he said. "It was a chance to be happy and play high-level football."
The Redskins still have two significant holes to fill. They need a right guard to replace Derrick Dockery, who signed Friday with Buffalo, and an impact defensive lineman. They can probably get the defensive lineman with the No. 6 overall pick in next month's draft. The guard could be a late free agent pickup, a late-round draft choice or a young player already on the roster.
"We'll find somebody to win that spot," Gibbs said.
Looks Like Dan Snyder might be learning a Bit From Gibbs. Maybe he's not going to break the bank this time signing too many players. They are going to need that Defensive Lineman before the start of the season, and he's will have to play both the run and pass if he is going to help Washington get back into contender status.
Cowboys Sign Leonard Davis, Re-sign WR Terry Glenn
Cowboys Agree to Terms With OL Davis-See my Commentary Below
By Associated Press
IRVING, Texas -- The Dallas Cowboys have agreed to terms with free agent offensive lineman Leonard Davis.
Cowboys spokesman Rich Dalrymple confirmed the deal Sunday, but not the details of the agreement. He said a formal announcement by the team was expected Monday.
According to various reports, including a story posted on the team's Web site, Davis agreed to a seven-year contract worth nearly $50 million, including $18.75 million in guaranteed money.
Davis, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2001 draft out of Texas, spent his first six seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. He played guard for the first four seasons and switched to left tackle in 2004.
He started 91 games for the Cardinals, including all 16 last season, but never became the overpowering Pro Bowl-level player the team envisioned.
Meanwhile, the Cowboys picked up wide receiver Terry Glenn's $5 million roster bonus, virtually assuring he will remain with the team.
"I've talked to Terry and he's very excited," receivers coach Ray Sherman told The Dallas Morning News.
Glenn will earn a base salary of $820,000. He had more than 1,000 yards receiving and six touchdowns last year.
One of the Things Former Cowboys Coach Bill Parcells always wanted was a Big Time BIG Offensive lineman. He never mentioned Davis by name ofcourse, but you can't get much bigger them Him. Surely Davis will return to his former Position, Guard. This move also firms up the Cowboys Line to the point where thye do NOT have to draft a projected starter, but rather just get back-ups now.
By Associated Press
IRVING, Texas -- The Dallas Cowboys have agreed to terms with free agent offensive lineman Leonard Davis.
Cowboys spokesman Rich Dalrymple confirmed the deal Sunday, but not the details of the agreement. He said a formal announcement by the team was expected Monday.
According to various reports, including a story posted on the team's Web site, Davis agreed to a seven-year contract worth nearly $50 million, including $18.75 million in guaranteed money.
Davis, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2001 draft out of Texas, spent his first six seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. He played guard for the first four seasons and switched to left tackle in 2004.
He started 91 games for the Cardinals, including all 16 last season, but never became the overpowering Pro Bowl-level player the team envisioned.
Meanwhile, the Cowboys picked up wide receiver Terry Glenn's $5 million roster bonus, virtually assuring he will remain with the team.
"I've talked to Terry and he's very excited," receivers coach Ray Sherman told The Dallas Morning News.
Glenn will earn a base salary of $820,000. He had more than 1,000 yards receiving and six touchdowns last year.
One of the Things Former Cowboys Coach Bill Parcells always wanted was a Big Time BIG Offensive lineman. He never mentioned Davis by name ofcourse, but you can't get much bigger them Him. Surely Davis will return to his former Position, Guard. This move also firms up the Cowboys Line to the point where thye do NOT have to draft a projected starter, but rather just get back-ups now.
Packers Loose Ahman Green: Texans Sign Runningback.
Texans Agree to Terms With Ahman Green
By KRISTIE RIEKEN
AP Sports Writer
HOUSTON -- The Houston Texans agreed to terms with free agent running back Ahman Green on Sunday. The 30-year-old former Green Bay Packer will likely become the starter for a team that struggled at the position last season after Domanick Williams -- formerly Davis -- missed the year with knee problems.
Green will be introduced at a 1 p.m. news conference in Houston on Monday, said Texans vice president of communications Tony Wyllie. Terms of the contract were not immediately available.
Houston also has a trio of inexperienced running backs in Wali Lundy, Chris Taylor and fellow former Green Bay player Samkon Gado. They also hope to re-sign free agent Ron Dayne, the 1999 Heisman Trophy winner, who excelled late last season after years of struggles.
Green had 266 carries for 1,059 yards last season after returning from a torn right quadriceps in 2005. He missed two games last season because of lingering effects from the injury.
He has 8,491 yards and 54 touchdowns in his nine-year career that began with Seattle. Before the injury two years ago, Green gained more than 1,100 yards in each of the previous five seasons.
Green, who has been with the Packers since the 2000 season, has close ties with former Packers head coach Mike Sherman, who is the Texans' offensive coordinator and assistant head coach. Along with Gado, former Packers teammate Mike Flanagan also plays for the Texans.
Green spent the weekend in Houston, visiting the Texans and taking in a Houston Rockets game on Saturday night.
"I'm just looking for a situation where I feel comfortable around the players and the coaches, where I can be myself," Green said Sunday before the deal was announced. "Come down here and just play football and have fun. That is what I'm looking for."
Green did not immediately return a message left on his cell phone by The Associated Press.
After meeting with Denver and Houston, Green told reporters in Houston earlier on Sunday that he was canceling other scheduled visits to teams and could "possibly" make his decision in the next 24 hours.
"I have gotten to the point where I have seen enough," Green said. "I don't need to venture out anymore. I know a few teams that are disappointed because I did have some visits set up, but from the two teams that I have visited, I don't need to see anymore."
Green said facing the possibility of leaving Green Bay would be difficult.
"That's where the majority of my career is at," Green said. "I think speaking in general with anybody that has been in a situation for a long time, regardless of if it was good or bad, I've been there seven years. Some good, some bad, but regardless of the fact, staying or leaving will be tough. I don't know yet, but, I think for anybody generally speaking it would be tough to do. When you're a kid and you transfer a school, and that school you have all your buddies, regardless of if it was good times or bad times, it's still a tough time to leave."
Going into the offseason, Green had indicated he preferred to stay in Green Bay. He was scheduled to appear at the Packers' annual fan fest next weekend.
With Green out, the Packers are left with Vernand Morency, an inexperienced but quick back who was obtained for Gado in a trade with the Texans last season. Morency gained 434 yards on 96 carries last year.
Green Bay also could look to address their running back needs with the No. 16 pick in the NFL draft next month or obtain another running back through free agency.
And my Take:
So now your going to get to see if Green really has it, or is he just another Fumbler of a runningback. There were at least 4 other teams, including The Giants nad Patriots that were looking forward to Green Visiting with them. I'm not surprised Green wants to be with Mike Sherman....
By KRISTIE RIEKEN
AP Sports Writer
HOUSTON -- The Houston Texans agreed to terms with free agent running back Ahman Green on Sunday. The 30-year-old former Green Bay Packer will likely become the starter for a team that struggled at the position last season after Domanick Williams -- formerly Davis -- missed the year with knee problems.
Green will be introduced at a 1 p.m. news conference in Houston on Monday, said Texans vice president of communications Tony Wyllie. Terms of the contract were not immediately available.
Houston also has a trio of inexperienced running backs in Wali Lundy, Chris Taylor and fellow former Green Bay player Samkon Gado. They also hope to re-sign free agent Ron Dayne, the 1999 Heisman Trophy winner, who excelled late last season after years of struggles.
Green had 266 carries for 1,059 yards last season after returning from a torn right quadriceps in 2005. He missed two games last season because of lingering effects from the injury.
He has 8,491 yards and 54 touchdowns in his nine-year career that began with Seattle. Before the injury two years ago, Green gained more than 1,100 yards in each of the previous five seasons.
Green, who has been with the Packers since the 2000 season, has close ties with former Packers head coach Mike Sherman, who is the Texans' offensive coordinator and assistant head coach. Along with Gado, former Packers teammate Mike Flanagan also plays for the Texans.
Green spent the weekend in Houston, visiting the Texans and taking in a Houston Rockets game on Saturday night.
"I'm just looking for a situation where I feel comfortable around the players and the coaches, where I can be myself," Green said Sunday before the deal was announced. "Come down here and just play football and have fun. That is what I'm looking for."
Green did not immediately return a message left on his cell phone by The Associated Press.
After meeting with Denver and Houston, Green told reporters in Houston earlier on Sunday that he was canceling other scheduled visits to teams and could "possibly" make his decision in the next 24 hours.
"I have gotten to the point where I have seen enough," Green said. "I don't need to venture out anymore. I know a few teams that are disappointed because I did have some visits set up, but from the two teams that I have visited, I don't need to see anymore."
Green said facing the possibility of leaving Green Bay would be difficult.
"That's where the majority of my career is at," Green said. "I think speaking in general with anybody that has been in a situation for a long time, regardless of if it was good or bad, I've been there seven years. Some good, some bad, but regardless of the fact, staying or leaving will be tough. I don't know yet, but, I think for anybody generally speaking it would be tough to do. When you're a kid and you transfer a school, and that school you have all your buddies, regardless of if it was good times or bad times, it's still a tough time to leave."
Going into the offseason, Green had indicated he preferred to stay in Green Bay. He was scheduled to appear at the Packers' annual fan fest next weekend.
With Green out, the Packers are left with Vernand Morency, an inexperienced but quick back who was obtained for Gado in a trade with the Texans last season. Morency gained 434 yards on 96 carries last year.
Green Bay also could look to address their running back needs with the No. 16 pick in the NFL draft next month or obtain another running back through free agency.
And my Take:
So now your going to get to see if Green really has it, or is he just another Fumbler of a runningback. There were at least 4 other teams, including The Giants nad Patriots that were looking forward to Green Visiting with them. I'm not surprised Green wants to be with Mike Sherman....
Bucs Sign B.J Askew
Bucs Sign Free Agent Fullback B.J. Askew
By Associated Press
TAMPA, Fla. -- Free-agent fullback B.J. Askew signed a contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.
Askew, drafted by the Jets in the third round out of Michigan in 2003, has played in 55 games in his four NFL seasons, all with New York. In 2004, he and Jerald Sowell were the lead blockers for running back Curtis Martin, who led the league with 1,697 yards rushing.
Askew has 102 yards rushing on 27 carries and 12 catches for 73 yards in four seasons while being used mainly as a blocker. He was also a standout on special teams.
Askew recently told The Associated Press that he wanted a chance to switch roles on the field, from fullback to halfback -- something he did while rushing for 1,580 yards and 17 touchdowns in college at Michigan. He also caught 83 passes for 777 yards and six TDs with the Wolverines.
"B.J. enjoyed his time with the Jets, but he wanted an opportunity to utilize all of his talents," said Askew's agent, Scott Smith. "He is much more than a traditional blocking fullback, and now he will be playing in a system that has produced one of the most prolific power backs in history in Mike Alstott."
By Associated Press
TAMPA, Fla. -- Free-agent fullback B.J. Askew signed a contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.
Askew, drafted by the Jets in the third round out of Michigan in 2003, has played in 55 games in his four NFL seasons, all with New York. In 2004, he and Jerald Sowell were the lead blockers for running back Curtis Martin, who led the league with 1,697 yards rushing.
Askew has 102 yards rushing on 27 carries and 12 catches for 73 yards in four seasons while being used mainly as a blocker. He was also a standout on special teams.
Askew recently told The Associated Press that he wanted a chance to switch roles on the field, from fullback to halfback -- something he did while rushing for 1,580 yards and 17 touchdowns in college at Michigan. He also caught 83 passes for 777 yards and six TDs with the Wolverines.
"B.J. enjoyed his time with the Jets, but he wanted an opportunity to utilize all of his talents," said Askew's agent, Scott Smith. "He is much more than a traditional blocking fullback, and now he will be playing in a system that has produced one of the most prolific power backs in history in Mike Alstott."
Jags Sign WR Northcutt to a 5 year contract
Jags Agree to 5-Year Deal With Northcutt- see my end comment
By Associated Press
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Jacksonville Jaguars believe they found a legitimate deep threat in free agency, agreeing to a five-year contract with former Cleveland receiver Dennis Northcutt on Sunday.
Northcutt was flying to Jacksonville for a physical Sunday and was expected to sign the deal Monday.
The contract was reportedly worth $17 million and included a $4.5-million signing bonus.
Northcutt had 276 receptions for 3,438 yards and 11 touchdowns in seven years with the Browns. He caught 117 passes for 1,535 yards and four touchdowns during the 2003-04 seasons. His production dipped the last two years with 64 receptions for 669 yards and two scores.
But the Jaguars think he will help spread the field for quarterback Byron Leftwich, receivers Matt Jones and Reggie Williams and the running game.
The 5-foot-11, 170-pound Northcutt also could help the Jaguars on special teams since he ranked fourth in the league last season in punt returns.
Northcutt would be the second free agent signing for the Jaguars. They signed former Baltimore right tackle Tony Pashos to a five-year contract worth $24 million Friday.
So Coach Del Rio is quite serious about putting a winner on the field. Northcutt was wasting away the last two years as his numbers dipped in Cleveland. He was close to being a "phenom" coming out of Northern Arizona University in the 2000 Draft. This gives Jacksonville a legitimate #2 Receiver, as well as a great Punt Returner. it also gives Coach Del Rio some offensive peace of mind.
By Associated Press
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Jacksonville Jaguars believe they found a legitimate deep threat in free agency, agreeing to a five-year contract with former Cleveland receiver Dennis Northcutt on Sunday.
Northcutt was flying to Jacksonville for a physical Sunday and was expected to sign the deal Monday.
The contract was reportedly worth $17 million and included a $4.5-million signing bonus.
Northcutt had 276 receptions for 3,438 yards and 11 touchdowns in seven years with the Browns. He caught 117 passes for 1,535 yards and four touchdowns during the 2003-04 seasons. His production dipped the last two years with 64 receptions for 669 yards and two scores.
But the Jaguars think he will help spread the field for quarterback Byron Leftwich, receivers Matt Jones and Reggie Williams and the running game.
The 5-foot-11, 170-pound Northcutt also could help the Jaguars on special teams since he ranked fourth in the league last season in punt returns.
Northcutt would be the second free agent signing for the Jaguars. They signed former Baltimore right tackle Tony Pashos to a five-year contract worth $24 million Friday.
So Coach Del Rio is quite serious about putting a winner on the field. Northcutt was wasting away the last two years as his numbers dipped in Cleveland. He was close to being a "phenom" coming out of Northern Arizona University in the 2000 Draft. This gives Jacksonville a legitimate #2 Receiver, as well as a great Punt Returner. it also gives Coach Del Rio some offensive peace of mind.
Poll Of Dems And Repub Insiders Favors Clinton and Giuliani, But No Clear Favorite - Watch Out For Obama
An LA Times poll currently has Senator Hillary Clinton and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani as the favorite with party insiders -- whatever the hell that means.
What the poll fails to capture is the rise in support for Barack Obama. Party insiders have ties to current incumbents and are often the last to adjust to the desires of the public at large.
But watch out for Obama. He now has more support amoug Black voters than Senator Clinton and is drawing huge crowds whereever he goes.
What the poll fails to capture is the rise in support for Barack Obama. Party insiders have ties to current incumbents and are often the last to adjust to the desires of the public at large.
But watch out for Obama. He now has more support amoug Black voters than Senator Clinton and is drawing huge crowds whereever he goes.
Sunday, March 04, 2007
Barack Obama and Hilary Clinton In Selma, Alabama - Score One For Obama, But..
Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama appeared in Selma, Alabama today to give speeches recognizing "Bloody Sunday." Bloody Sunday is described in this way:
"On March 7, 1965, 600 marchers gathered outside of Brown Chapel and set out for Montgomery by way of the Edmund Pettus Bridge. Acting on orders from Governor George Wallace, Alabama state troopers stood in their pathway and ordered them to turn around. The marchers were then met with billy clubs, tear gas, and bullwhips and were trampled by horses. The attack was televised, and by the time of the second march two days later, whites and blacks from other parts of the country had joined in their struggle. Restrained by a court order, King led them to the bridge, prayed and turned around."
It led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act by Congress.
Senator Barack Obama was invited to give the keynote speech at a service honoring the march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge, joining Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) and other veterans of the civil rights movement in marking the historic event. But not to be oudone, Senator Clinton arranged to speak at almost the same time as Senator Obama, but at a different church.
Who came out on top? Well, since C-SPAN covered all of Senator Obama's speech and only part of Senator Clinton's speech, you've got to score that round to Obama. But I saw both speeches and while Obama's still the more passionate speaker, Senator Clinton gave the best speech I've heard from her. The one problem is that she reads, where Obama talks, looking down a scant few times and only for a fraction of a second.
He spends more time talking and less time reading. He connects.
"On March 7, 1965, 600 marchers gathered outside of Brown Chapel and set out for Montgomery by way of the Edmund Pettus Bridge. Acting on orders from Governor George Wallace, Alabama state troopers stood in their pathway and ordered them to turn around. The marchers were then met with billy clubs, tear gas, and bullwhips and were trampled by horses. The attack was televised, and by the time of the second march two days later, whites and blacks from other parts of the country had joined in their struggle. Restrained by a court order, King led them to the bridge, prayed and turned around."
It led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act by Congress.
Senator Barack Obama was invited to give the keynote speech at a service honoring the march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge, joining Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) and other veterans of the civil rights movement in marking the historic event. But not to be oudone, Senator Clinton arranged to speak at almost the same time as Senator Obama, but at a different church.
Who came out on top? Well, since C-SPAN covered all of Senator Obama's speech and only part of Senator Clinton's speech, you've got to score that round to Obama. But I saw both speeches and while Obama's still the more passionate speaker, Senator Clinton gave the best speech I've heard from her. The one problem is that she reads, where Obama talks, looking down a scant few times and only for a fraction of a second.
He spends more time talking and less time reading. He connects.
Marriage Becoming An Act Of America's Wealthy and Educated - Blame The Economy
That news comes from the Washington Post , which states...
"Punctuating a fundamental change in American family life, married couples with children now occupy fewer than one in every four households -- a share that has been slashed in half since 1960 and is the lowest ever recorded by the census.
As marriage with children becomes an exception rather than the norm, social scientists say it is also becoming the self-selected province of the college-educated and the affluent. The working class and the poor, meanwhile, increasingly steer away from marriage, while living together and bearing children out of wedlock."
The article also points to the decline in economic prosperty since World War II. But the basic problem is the overall decline in manufacturing jobs, which have fallen from just over 20 million in 1979 to about 14 million in 2004. That's a loss of 6 million jobs. And many of those jobs were taken by people who didn't have masters degrees or college degrees for that matter, but they were good, well-paying gigs. It used to be that one person could make enough money to feed a family, but that's no longer true. It takes two. It's hard to have time to raise a family and work at the same time. Something's got to give.
Marriage, sadly.
"Punctuating a fundamental change in American family life, married couples with children now occupy fewer than one in every four households -- a share that has been slashed in half since 1960 and is the lowest ever recorded by the census.
As marriage with children becomes an exception rather than the norm, social scientists say it is also becoming the self-selected province of the college-educated and the affluent. The working class and the poor, meanwhile, increasingly steer away from marriage, while living together and bearing children out of wedlock."
The article also points to the decline in economic prosperty since World War II. But the basic problem is the overall decline in manufacturing jobs, which have fallen from just over 20 million in 1979 to about 14 million in 2004. That's a loss of 6 million jobs. And many of those jobs were taken by people who didn't have masters degrees or college degrees for that matter, but they were good, well-paying gigs. It used to be that one person could make enough money to feed a family, but that's no longer true. It takes two. It's hard to have time to raise a family and work at the same time. Something's got to give.
Marriage, sadly.
Friday, March 02, 2007
Glenn Beck's Sexually Suggestive TV Remark To Dina Sansing Of US Weekly Example Of Stupidity In Action
If' you've not seen this video clip, take a look. It's TV pundit -- or whatever he is -- Glenn Beck asking Dina Sansing to come over and let him take pictures of her nude. Or..
"Dina, I've got some time and a camera. Why don't you stop by?"
He was trying to be funny, but it didn't come off well at all. In fact, it sounded like he went as far as the edge and decided "what the hell, I'll say it anyway" and came off looking like a total idiot. Much of this because of her "I can't believe he said that" reaction. "To The People" think's Beck's going to be fired over this.
But also -- to Glenn's defense -- it sounds like she was kind of kidding with him, seeing how far he would take it. Well, she got her answer.
Here's the video:
"Dina, I've got some time and a camera. Why don't you stop by?"
He was trying to be funny, but it didn't come off well at all. In fact, it sounded like he went as far as the edge and decided "what the hell, I'll say it anyway" and came off looking like a total idiot. Much of this because of her "I can't believe he said that" reaction. "To The People" think's Beck's going to be fired over this.
But also -- to Glenn's defense -- it sounds like she was kind of kidding with him, seeing how far he would take it. Well, she got her answer.
Here's the video:
Jerricho Cotchery rewarded
Cotchery rewarded-See My end notes
Tom Rock-Newsday
Negotiating a good deal on a car might be more strenuous than the back-and-forth that led to yesterday's announcement that the Jets had signed wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery to a long-term extension.
"It was an easy process," said Cotchery, coming off a breakout season in 2006, his third year in the NFL. "I wasn't expecting them to come to me a year early, but they did and it was very easy. It was a number that I wanted. It had to be fair for both sides and it ended up being [that]."
The deal, a five-year extension believed to be worth about $4 million per season, came on the eve of the free- agency period and a full year before Cotchery would have been able to test the market for his value. Instead, the 24-year-old decided he was comfortable with the Jets and coach Eric Mangini - under whose watch he was given his greatest opportunities as a pro and started all 17 games last season - and wanted to stay put.
"This is the organization that drafted me and I wanted to be loyal to them and I want to finish my career here," Cotchery said. "I feel like the other teams, if they had wanted me when I was coming out for the draft, they would have drafted me. This time around they won't have a second chance to get me.
"I love the Jets and they've shown me tons of love."
Cotchery becomes the second young Jet to flourish under Mangini and be rewarded with a contract extension. Linebacker Bryan Thomas received a five-year extension during the season.
Cotchery made 82 catches for 961 yards and six touchdowns in 2006, but Mangini and general manager Mike Tannenbaum said it wasn't just statistics that led to the long-term commitment. "Jerricho Cotchery is the type of player we are looking for here," Tannenbaum said.
The deal almost certainly means that Justin McCareins, who was bumped from the starting lineup in favor of Cotchery and is due to earn almost $3 million in 2007, will not be with the Jets when the season begins. They will likely look to trade McCareins before training camp.
Watching Jerricho this year was a pretty sight. he was all over the field with great routes and sure hands.
Here's hoping he stays healthy enough to earn every penny of his new Contract!
Tom Rock-Newsday
Negotiating a good deal on a car might be more strenuous than the back-and-forth that led to yesterday's announcement that the Jets had signed wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery to a long-term extension.
"It was an easy process," said Cotchery, coming off a breakout season in 2006, his third year in the NFL. "I wasn't expecting them to come to me a year early, but they did and it was very easy. It was a number that I wanted. It had to be fair for both sides and it ended up being [that]."
The deal, a five-year extension believed to be worth about $4 million per season, came on the eve of the free- agency period and a full year before Cotchery would have been able to test the market for his value. Instead, the 24-year-old decided he was comfortable with the Jets and coach Eric Mangini - under whose watch he was given his greatest opportunities as a pro and started all 17 games last season - and wanted to stay put.
"This is the organization that drafted me and I wanted to be loyal to them and I want to finish my career here," Cotchery said. "I feel like the other teams, if they had wanted me when I was coming out for the draft, they would have drafted me. This time around they won't have a second chance to get me.
"I love the Jets and they've shown me tons of love."
Cotchery becomes the second young Jet to flourish under Mangini and be rewarded with a contract extension. Linebacker Bryan Thomas received a five-year extension during the season.
Cotchery made 82 catches for 961 yards and six touchdowns in 2006, but Mangini and general manager Mike Tannenbaum said it wasn't just statistics that led to the long-term commitment. "Jerricho Cotchery is the type of player we are looking for here," Tannenbaum said.
The deal almost certainly means that Justin McCareins, who was bumped from the starting lineup in favor of Cotchery and is due to earn almost $3 million in 2007, will not be with the Jets when the season begins. They will likely look to trade McCareins before training camp.
Watching Jerricho this year was a pretty sight. he was all over the field with great routes and sure hands.
Here's hoping he stays healthy enough to earn every penny of his new Contract!
Giants Keep C O'Hara
Signing center was no snap-See My End comment
Reese keeps O'Hara after tough negotiation, giving him five-year deal that stabilizes O-line
BY ARTHUR STAPLE-Newsday
The Giants went down to the free-agency period wire but signed center Shaun O'Hara last night. O'Hara's agent, Tony Agnone, had a face-to-face meeting with general manager Jerry Reese yesterday and the two sides inched together to keep O'Hara, signing him to a five-year deal worth $19 million, with $7.5 million guaranteed, according to a person familiar with the negotiations.
O'Hara had been offered a five-year deal worth roughly a million less, but it was a million less guaranteed money. After the Cowboys signed their center, Andre Gurode, to a six-year, $30-million deal with a $10-million signing bonus, O'Hara's demands went up.
Two people familiar with the team's decision-making process said cutting tackle Luke Petitgout last month was solely Reese's idea, and that Tom Coughlin was steadfastly against it. Reese then decided to take a tough stance in negotiations with O'Hara, who'll be 30 June 23.
But the team decided to keep the rest of the offensive line intact. The Giants were believed to have about $20 million in salary-cap room heading into today's start of free agency, but it may be only about half that. If so, O'Hara's contract leaves them with little room to throw big money at the few high-profile free agents available.
The Giants have decided to let kicker Jay Feely go to free agency. He'll have interest from the Dolphins, Cowboys and Falcons and should command a long-term deal. The Giants are interested in giving undrafted free agent Josh Huston, whom they signed in January, a shot at the job.
With O'Hara back, Coughlin needs to do far less shuffling of bodies. David Diehl could be the left tackle next season, or the Giants could pursue Cardinals left tackle Leonard Davis, who will command a big contract. Reese is said to be a fan of Guy Whimper, a fourth-round pick last year who didn't play a down.
The Giants are hosting former Colt Dominic Rhodes today, the first free agent to visit. Rhodes, 28, ran for 113 yards in the Super Bowl, and has expressed a desire to be a complementary rusher instead of a No. 1 back.
This was Probably the Single most important re-signing of the off Season for the Giants. Without O'Hara, Eli Manning would have spent considerable time on his back next season. Now they only need to replace Luke Pettitgout.
Reese keeps O'Hara after tough negotiation, giving him five-year deal that stabilizes O-line
BY ARTHUR STAPLE-Newsday
The Giants went down to the free-agency period wire but signed center Shaun O'Hara last night. O'Hara's agent, Tony Agnone, had a face-to-face meeting with general manager Jerry Reese yesterday and the two sides inched together to keep O'Hara, signing him to a five-year deal worth $19 million, with $7.5 million guaranteed, according to a person familiar with the negotiations.
O'Hara had been offered a five-year deal worth roughly a million less, but it was a million less guaranteed money. After the Cowboys signed their center, Andre Gurode, to a six-year, $30-million deal with a $10-million signing bonus, O'Hara's demands went up.
Two people familiar with the team's decision-making process said cutting tackle Luke Petitgout last month was solely Reese's idea, and that Tom Coughlin was steadfastly against it. Reese then decided to take a tough stance in negotiations with O'Hara, who'll be 30 June 23.
But the team decided to keep the rest of the offensive line intact. The Giants were believed to have about $20 million in salary-cap room heading into today's start of free agency, but it may be only about half that. If so, O'Hara's contract leaves them with little room to throw big money at the few high-profile free agents available.
The Giants have decided to let kicker Jay Feely go to free agency. He'll have interest from the Dolphins, Cowboys and Falcons and should command a long-term deal. The Giants are interested in giving undrafted free agent Josh Huston, whom they signed in January, a shot at the job.
With O'Hara back, Coughlin needs to do far less shuffling of bodies. David Diehl could be the left tackle next season, or the Giants could pursue Cardinals left tackle Leonard Davis, who will command a big contract. Reese is said to be a fan of Guy Whimper, a fourth-round pick last year who didn't play a down.
The Giants are hosting former Colt Dominic Rhodes today, the first free agent to visit. Rhodes, 28, ran for 113 yards in the Super Bowl, and has expressed a desire to be a complementary rusher instead of a No. 1 back.
This was Probably the Single most important re-signing of the off Season for the Giants. Without O'Hara, Eli Manning would have spent considerable time on his back next season. Now they only need to replace Luke Pettitgout.
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Big Apple Bullies Tiny Paul O'Brien, A Blogger Who Posted iPone GUI
Yep. Apple. Never happy with any aspect of its environment it can't control, took its giant foot and stepped on a small blogger this week. Paul O'Brien dared to -- well, he didn't know it was going to be a problem if he posted an image of Apple's iPhone in a converted version for Pocket PC users. All he did..well here's the story:
Apple legal throw their weight around...
Sat, 13/01/2007 - 08:58 — Paul
Can you believe it... yesterday, in this topic, I posted a link to a post on XDA-Developers, where an enterprising member had created a Pocket PC today screen to mimic the Apple iPhone.
It's worth pointing out I just posted a link and a screenshot... NOT the actual files required to DO the installation.
Well, this morning in my mailbox I find a letter from Apple's legal team (O̢۪Melveny & Myers LLP, San Francisco) entitled 'Unauthorized Dissemination of Apple Computer Copyrighted Material by MoDaCo' demanding I remove the said link and the screenshot. Crazy or what? Unfortunately the mail was marked 'NOT FOR POSTING', exactly how bound I am by that i'm not sure.
A bit excessive IMHO... and although I can accept that they can get upset over the screenshot, can they really demand I remove the link too? :-S
Female Gamers Have More Sex - Trendhunter
Again from Trendhunter , this very interesting tidbit about the sex appetites of women who play video games.
A study has proven that women who play video games also have more active sex lives. This is very good news for men who are addicted to gaming. Now they just need to tear themselves away from their XBox systems to meet those ladies and everyone will be happy!
It’s official – women who play video games have sex more often! Gametart, the UK’s largest online games rental company, carried out the survey throughout January to see how the recent influx of the likes of Pink PSPs and DS Lites would affect gamers’ sex lives across the country. Of our sample of 200 women, those who played video games on average had sex 4.3 times a week while those who didn’t play games only had sex just 3.2 times a week. Perhaps even more promising for gamers is the fact that many of the women that we interviewed who have only recently started playing games said that they now have sex more often than before.
Study Shows That Women Feel Empty After Casual Sex
I ran accross this article from the website "Trendhunter" and I do think it rings true just from my personal experience. Many women I meet in the SF Bay Area seem to maintain such a lifestyle, rejecting really good relationships for the thrill of the moment. But then -- as they age -- they find themselves unfulfilled.
Read:
In a world of freedom and choices, naysayers rapping on the dangers of casual sex are not received with open arms. However, studies are showing that casual sex is not all that it’s cracked up to be for young women. In fact, they are often left emotionally and physically empty and they may in fact lead to long term problems that involve an inability to form strong, emotional bonds or to love and trust a life partner.
WHEN Laura Sessions Stepp warned of the potentially damaging effects of “hooking up” in a new book, some people scoffed — particularly those who believe they were unscathed by their own unfettered years of casual sex. In “Unhooked: How Young Women Pursue Sex, Delay Love and Lose at Both” (Riverhead), Ms. Sessions Stepp, a Washington Post reporter, writes about how smart, ambitious young women do emotional damage to themselves by getting physical — making out to having sex — with men they are not dating or may have met for the first time. This culture of sexual aggression, she said, often leaves young women physically and emotionally unsatisfied. It leads them to gamble with their health. And by never taking the time to get to know and care about one man, she said, young women may be rendering themselves incapable of forging stable, loving relationships. (nytimes)
Ellen DeGeneres Gives Martin Scorsese A Script At The Academy Awards
This is absolutely funny. I don't know if it was staged or spontaineous, but it made me laugh out loud.
After Months Of Delays Chicago Bears Give Lovie Smith 4-Year, 22-Million Contract
The very deserving Chicago Bears Head Coach Lovie Smith got a new 4-year, 22-million contract. More details below:
By The Associated Press
Mar 1, 2007 (AP)— The Chicago Bears decided Lovie Smith was the right coach to lead the team into the next decade with hopefully a few more Super Bowl appearances.
A week after Smith's agent said negotiations were so stalled the coach would probably leave after the 2007 season, the Bears signed Smith to a four-year contract extension through 2011 on Wednesday.
The lowest-paid coach in the NFL last season at $1.35 million when he led the Bears to the Super Bowl, Smith's deal will average about $4.7 million per season over five years. He'll make $22 million in new money and the total value of the five years is $23.45 million, the Chicago Tribune reported. Smith was scheduled to make $1.45 million this season in the final year of his initial four-year contract.
The deal was announced by the team Wednesday night, as was an extension through 2013 for general manager Jerry Angelo.
Smith, the 2005 NFL coach of the year, led the Bears to a 15-4 record and their first NFC championship in more than two decades last season before they lost 29-17 to Indianapolis in the Super Bowl.
By The Associated Press
Mar 1, 2007 (AP)— The Chicago Bears decided Lovie Smith was the right coach to lead the team into the next decade with hopefully a few more Super Bowl appearances.
A week after Smith's agent said negotiations were so stalled the coach would probably leave after the 2007 season, the Bears signed Smith to a four-year contract extension through 2011 on Wednesday.
The lowest-paid coach in the NFL last season at $1.35 million when he led the Bears to the Super Bowl, Smith's deal will average about $4.7 million per season over five years. He'll make $22 million in new money and the total value of the five years is $23.45 million, the Chicago Tribune reported. Smith was scheduled to make $1.45 million this season in the final year of his initial four-year contract.
The deal was announced by the team Wednesday night, as was an extension through 2013 for general manager Jerry Angelo.
Smith, the 2005 NFL coach of the year, led the Bears to a 15-4 record and their first NFC championship in more than two decades last season before they lost 29-17 to Indianapolis in the Super Bowl.
Antonetta Barba - American Idol Star-In-Waiting Has An Exhibitionist Side
It's the hot topic on Technorati and yet another example of how sex and sexual images rule the Internet. Antonetta Barba, an American Idol contestant and favorite, is the subject and image of scores of sexy photos all over the Internet, from blogs to main reporting agencies, to Google itself, she's the Topic De Jour.
But will these photos hurt her chances on American Idol. Nope. I'll bet just the oppostite. The Paris Hilton Rules lives on!
Pacman Faces Obstruction Charges
Pacman' Faces Obstruction Charges
By Associated Press
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones is scheduled to appear in court in Georgia later this month on obstruction charges from an incident with police last year, The Tennessean reported Wednesday night.
Jones, who has been staying with family and friends near his hometown of Atlanta, was recently accused of being involved in a fight at a Las Vegas strip club that ended in the shootings of two bouncers and a customer. Police have not named any suspects in the case and no one has been charged.
Now Jones is scheduled to appear in Superior Court in Fayetteville, Ga., on subpoenas for felony and misdemeanor obstruction of justice charges for an incident outside a home in February 2006, The Tennessean reported on its Web site Wednesday night. Jones owns a home in Fayetteville.
"One of our officers was involved in a traffic stop with him, and after Pacman and others ran into a home, there was a physical altercation between him and the officer, and he was involved in that. He was arrested for that," Police Chief Steve Heaton told the newspaper.
It wasn't immediately known why the charges weren't filed earlier.
The Tennessean also reported that Jones was arrested and charged with marijuana possession in the same county a month later, but the charges were later dismissed.
Worrick Robinson, one of Jones' attorneys, declined comment to the newspaper Wednesday night. Phone messages left late Wednesday night at the offices of Robinson and Atlanta attorney Manny Arora weren't immediately returned.
Mike Pruitt of the Georgia county's Drug Task Force said marijuana was found in two rooms of a home belonging to Jones by officers executing a search warrant. When Jones drove up to the home, Pruitt said he smelled marijuana coming from Jones' car.
"I asked him why his (Corvette) smelled so bad and he said, `We were smoking it on the way down here from Nashville,'" Pruitt told the newspaper. "Personally, I think the NFL needs to change its drug policy because (players) basically know they are going to get drug tested.
"I asked him, `Why do you want to throw your career away for a bunch of marijuana junk?' He said, `I know when I am going to get drug tested, so I quit doing it.' It's just crazy."
Pruitt said he did not know the marijuana charges were dismissed.
The alleged obstruction occurred one night in February when Jones and friends were sitting in a car outside a house around 1 a.m., Heaton said. Police had been monitoring the area for burglaries and when they approached the car there was a verbal confrontation. Jones wasn't suspected of being involved in any burglaries.
"The verbal altercation led to a physical confrontation and they ran into a home they were sitting outside of. We had to run in and get them and there was a physical confrontation with Pacman and he was charged with the felony obstruction," Heaton said. "We had to get physical with him and he got physical with us."
Including the most recently reported Georgia incidents, there have been 10 times Jones has been in trouble and the police have been involved. He has been arrested four times. Charges from a Nashville nightclub incident in July 2005 were dismissed in March 2006. A judge dismissed a simple assault charge for spitting on a woman on Feb. 1.
The Titans have said they are monitoring Jones' legal troubles, but have refused to comment on any of the allegations.
By Associated Press
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones is scheduled to appear in court in Georgia later this month on obstruction charges from an incident with police last year, The Tennessean reported Wednesday night.
Jones, who has been staying with family and friends near his hometown of Atlanta, was recently accused of being involved in a fight at a Las Vegas strip club that ended in the shootings of two bouncers and a customer. Police have not named any suspects in the case and no one has been charged.
Now Jones is scheduled to appear in Superior Court in Fayetteville, Ga., on subpoenas for felony and misdemeanor obstruction of justice charges for an incident outside a home in February 2006, The Tennessean reported on its Web site Wednesday night. Jones owns a home in Fayetteville.
"One of our officers was involved in a traffic stop with him, and after Pacman and others ran into a home, there was a physical altercation between him and the officer, and he was involved in that. He was arrested for that," Police Chief Steve Heaton told the newspaper.
It wasn't immediately known why the charges weren't filed earlier.
The Tennessean also reported that Jones was arrested and charged with marijuana possession in the same county a month later, but the charges were later dismissed.
Worrick Robinson, one of Jones' attorneys, declined comment to the newspaper Wednesday night. Phone messages left late Wednesday night at the offices of Robinson and Atlanta attorney Manny Arora weren't immediately returned.
Mike Pruitt of the Georgia county's Drug Task Force said marijuana was found in two rooms of a home belonging to Jones by officers executing a search warrant. When Jones drove up to the home, Pruitt said he smelled marijuana coming from Jones' car.
"I asked him why his (Corvette) smelled so bad and he said, `We were smoking it on the way down here from Nashville,'" Pruitt told the newspaper. "Personally, I think the NFL needs to change its drug policy because (players) basically know they are going to get drug tested.
"I asked him, `Why do you want to throw your career away for a bunch of marijuana junk?' He said, `I know when I am going to get drug tested, so I quit doing it.' It's just crazy."
Pruitt said he did not know the marijuana charges were dismissed.
The alleged obstruction occurred one night in February when Jones and friends were sitting in a car outside a house around 1 a.m., Heaton said. Police had been monitoring the area for burglaries and when they approached the car there was a verbal confrontation. Jones wasn't suspected of being involved in any burglaries.
"The verbal altercation led to a physical confrontation and they ran into a home they were sitting outside of. We had to run in and get them and there was a physical confrontation with Pacman and he was charged with the felony obstruction," Heaton said. "We had to get physical with him and he got physical with us."
Including the most recently reported Georgia incidents, there have been 10 times Jones has been in trouble and the police have been involved. He has been arrested four times. Charges from a Nashville nightclub incident in July 2005 were dismissed in March 2006. A judge dismissed a simple assault charge for spitting on a woman on Feb. 1.
The Titans have said they are monitoring Jones' legal troubles, but have refused to comment on any of the allegations.
CNN's Paul La Monica Says YouTube Not The Ememy
CNN's Paul La Monica , he's got the right idea, but the "controllers" -- i.e. the big media companies -- will not get it until it's too late. We're in an era where media content can't be controlled. People will get what they want and if they can't, then they will make it themselves.
Kennedy Insider Arthur Schlesinger Dies at 89 - AP
John Kenneth Galbraith, Arthur Schlesinger, representatives of a grand era when Government worked.
Kennedy Insider Arthur Schlesinger Dies at 89
HILLEL ITALIE | AP | March 1, 2007 10:31 AM EST
Schlesinger was dining with family members in Manhattan on Wednesday when he suffered a heart attack, his son Stephen said. He died at New York Downtown Hospital.
Schlesinger was among the most prominent historians of his time, widely respected as learned and readable, with a panoramic vision of American culture and politics. He received a National Book Award for "Robert Kennedy and His Times" and a National Book Award and a Pulitzer for "A Thousand Days," his memoir/chronicle of President Kennedy's administration. He also won a Pulitzer, in 1946, for "The Age of Jackson," his landmark chronicle of Andrew Jackson's administration.
"(He had) enormous stamina and a kind of energy and drive which most people don't have, and it kept him going, all the way through his final hours," Stephen Schlesinger said early Thursday. "He never stopped writing, he never stopped participating in public affairs, he never stopped having his views about politics and his love of this nation."
With his bow ties and horn-rimmed glasses, Schlesinger seemed the very image of a reserved, tweedy scholar. But he was an assured member of the so-called Eastern elite, friendly with everyone from Mary McCarthy to Katharine Graham and enough of a sport to swim fully clothed in the pool of then-Attorney General Robert Kennedy.
He was a longtime confidant of the Kennedys, a fellow Harvard man who served in President Kennedy's administration and was often criticized for idealizing the family, especially for not mentioning the president's extramarital affairs.
"At no point in my experience did his preoccupation with women _ apart from Caroline crawling around the Oval Office _ interfere with his conduct of the public business," Schlesinger later wrote.
Liberalism declined in his lifetime to the point where politicians feared using the word, but Schlesinger's opinions remained liberal, and influential, whether old ones on the "imperial presidency," or newer ones on the Iraq war. For both historians and Democratic officials, he was a kind of professor emeritus, valued for his professional knowledge and for his personal past.
"Arthur was a trusted friend and loyal advisor to President Kennedy, and a wonderful friend to me and to all of us in the Kennedy family," Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., said in a statement. "I will miss him terribly, but his contributions to this country will live on."
A native of Columbus, Ohio, and the son of a prominent historian, he was born Arthur Bancroft Schlesinger Jr., but later gave himself his father's middle name, Meier. Family friends included James Thurber, historian Charles A. Beard and future Supreme Court justice Felix Frankfurter.
Schlesinger attended Phillips Exeter Academy and in 1938 graduated summa cum laude from Harvard University. During World War II, Schlesinger drafted some statements for President Roosevelt and served as an intelligence analyst for the Office of Strategic Services, forerunner to the CIA.
Schlesinger emerged as a historian with "The Age of Jackson." Published in 1945, when he was just 27, the book offered a new, class-based interpretation of the Jackson administration, destroying the old myth that the country was once an egalitarian paradise. The book remained influential despite eventual criticism _ even by Schlesinger _ for overlooking Jackson's appeasement of slavery and his harsh treatment of Indians.
Schlesinger was deeply involved with the Democratic Party, and even when writing about the past he minded the present. "The Age of Jackson," for instance, was completed during the presidency of Franklin Roosevelt and its characterization of President Jackson as a great 19th century populist was an acknowledged defense of Roosevelt and the New Deal.
Like many liberals of the 1940s, Schlesinger was also trying to reconcile support of the New Deal to the start of the Cold War. He responded by condemning both the far right and the far left, any system that denied the "perpetual tension" of a dynamic democracy. "World without conflict is the world of fantasy," he wrote in "The Age of Jackson."
In 1946, Schlesinger helped found Americans for Democratic Action, a leading organization of anti-communist liberals. Three years later, he published the influential "The Vital Center," which advocated a liberal domestic policy and anti-communist foreign policy. The book's title became a common political phrase, still in use decades later, and Schlesinger's call for defending American ideals abroad was endlessly revived as Democrats debated U.S. involvement in countries from Bosnia to Iraq.
In the 1950s, Schlesinger became increasingly involved in electoral politics, supporting Adlai Stevenson, the erudite Illinois governor and two-time loser to Dwight Eisenhower for the presidency. In 1960, the historian switched his loyalty to Kennedy, even as he acknowledged that Stevenson was a "much richer, more thoughtful, more creative person."
Liberals were wary of Kennedy, but Schlesinger, tired of Stevenson's dreamy detachment, was drawn to Kennedy's "cool, measured, intelligent concern." Over time, he came to embody Schlesinger's ideal for a head of state: charismatic but not dogmatic; progressive yet practical; a realist, he once observed, brilliantly disguised as a romantic.
Kennedy appointed the Schlesinger a special assistant, an unofficial "court philosopher" of symbolic, if not practical power. The high-minded historian was soon trapped in the tangle of superpower politics: the Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961, the disastrous attempt to overthrow Cuban leader Fidel Castro.
Schlesinger was opposed to the plan, he later wrote, but acknowledged helping the administration suppress a pre-invasion story by The New Republic that correctly reported the U.S. was training Cuban mercenaries. Had the press not cooperated, it might "have spared the country a disaster," a regretful Schlesinger recalled.
His time in government was brief. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963, and the historian soon left the administration of his successor, Lyndon Johnson. ("With Kennedy gone, it was no longer exhilarating," Schlesinger explained). Schlesinger then supported Robert Kennedy's brief, tragic 1968 campaign.
Being a liberal, Schlesinger once observed, means regarding man as "neither brute nor angel." Whether discussing the Kennedys, Vietnam or the power of the presidency, Schlesinger sought moderation, the middle course. He blamed the Vietnam War on the moral extremism of the right and left and worried that the executive branch had become "imperial," calling for a "strong presidency within the Constitution." He saw American history itself as a continuing "cycle" between liberal and conservative power.
In 1998, Schlesinger opposed Republican-led attempts to have President Clinton removed from office, and he later criticized President George W. Bush for his doctrine of "preventive war," saying "I think the whole notion of America as the world's judge, jury and executioner is a tragically mistaken notion."
His works included "The Age of Roosevelt," an acclaimed series about FDR that he abandoned after joining the Kennedy administration but attempted to revive late in life; and "The Disuniting of America," a controversial text which warned a "cult of ethnicity" could reduce the country to isolated factions. To the amusement of President Kennedy, Schlesinger also wrote film criticism for Vogue and other publications.
Schlesinger had six children _ four from his first marriage, to the author Marian Cannon, and two from his second, to Alexandra Emmet.
Texas Chippendales Eight Free From Court - What's The Fuss?
I can't figure out what the fuss is over this matter. Who made the call to report them? The sports bar hired them to begin with.
Weird.
From the Smoking Gun...
FEBRUARY 26--Free the Chippendales Eight! A Texas prosecutor has decided not to press charges against a cadre of male adult dancers who were busted earlier this month at a Lubbock sports bar for dancing suggestively in front of 1100 female fans. The dancers, wearing tight leather pants and boxer shorts, were popped after they began gyrating and thrusting pelvises in a manner meant to cause "sexual gratification," according to police, whose Special Operations Unit shut down the performance at Jake's Sports Café.
But while cops booked the dancers on a misdemeanor charge of violating the state's adult cabaret law, the Lubbock County District Attorney's office declined to prosecute the eight perfomers. Three other men--a Chippendales manager, a show promoter, and the bar manager--were also arrested after the abbreviated February 16 performance. They, too, will not be prosecuted. On the following pages you'll find Lubbock Police Department mug shots of the unjustly accused beefcake and the management trio. The dancers are reportedly considering whether to sue Lubbock authorities over the dirty dancing arrests.
Paris Hilton Smoking Crack? - ParisExposed Website Is Shut Down?
This summary is not available. Please
click here to view the post.
Scott Storch Calls Timbaland The N Word
What's interesting to me is that a White rapper is calling a Black performer the N-word in a music clip. Fascinating. Stupid, too. What's equally so is Paris Hilton using the word, as reported here. Here MediaTakeOut's view and explanation of all of this followed by the video itself and the song:
February 27, 2007. In today's hip hop, diss songs are commonplace. But even a hip hop diss song has boundaries that aren't supposed to be crossed. And MediaTakeOut.com has learned that hip hop producer Scott Storch may have just crossed that boundary.
Storch, who is Caucasian, has been publicly feuding with fellow producer Timbaland for months. And in a recent diss track, the Caucasian producer put all of his harsh feelings on wax.
In the new song, entitled Built Like Dat, Storch blasts Timbaland with some scathing lyrics. The Caucasian producer uses the track to make some explosive allegations against his rival. For example, Storch claims that Timbaland is on steroids, and implies that the hit producer is a homosexual. But that's not the controversial part of the song.
Near the end of the track, Storch uttered the verse, "Don't apologize [N Word], you can't even get your label to work right." And that verse, which was clearly aimed at Timbaland, is sending shockwaves throughout the hip hop community.
MediaTakeOut.com spoke with a prominent New York DJ who offered his take on the controversial track. The DJ, who asked to remain anonymous, told us the following, "I know Scott [Storch], and he always talks reckless like that ... I don't know if he's a racist or not. I do know that no matter how many beats you make, you don't have the right to call a Black man a [N Word]."
And there may be another reason to question Storch's use of the 'N word' against rival Timbaland. The Caucasian producer is very close friends with socialite Paris Hilton - who was caught on tape using the 'N Word' to refer to Black people.
MediaTakeOut.com has repeatedly tried to contact Timbaland for comment. So far, he hasn't responded to our requests.
We've included audio of the song below. Storch uses the 'N word' when there's :40 left:
February 27, 2007. In today's hip hop, diss songs are commonplace. But even a hip hop diss song has boundaries that aren't supposed to be crossed. And MediaTakeOut.com has learned that hip hop producer Scott Storch may have just crossed that boundary.
Storch, who is Caucasian, has been publicly feuding with fellow producer Timbaland for months. And in a recent diss track, the Caucasian producer put all of his harsh feelings on wax.
In the new song, entitled Built Like Dat, Storch blasts Timbaland with some scathing lyrics. The Caucasian producer uses the track to make some explosive allegations against his rival. For example, Storch claims that Timbaland is on steroids, and implies that the hit producer is a homosexual. But that's not the controversial part of the song.
Near the end of the track, Storch uttered the verse, "Don't apologize [N Word], you can't even get your label to work right." And that verse, which was clearly aimed at Timbaland, is sending shockwaves throughout the hip hop community.
MediaTakeOut.com spoke with a prominent New York DJ who offered his take on the controversial track. The DJ, who asked to remain anonymous, told us the following, "I know Scott [Storch], and he always talks reckless like that ... I don't know if he's a racist or not. I do know that no matter how many beats you make, you don't have the right to call a Black man a [N Word]."
And there may be another reason to question Storch's use of the 'N word' against rival Timbaland. The Caucasian producer is very close friends with socialite Paris Hilton - who was caught on tape using the 'N Word' to refer to Black people.
MediaTakeOut.com has repeatedly tried to contact Timbaland for comment. So far, he hasn't responded to our requests.
We've included audio of the song below. Storch uses the 'N word' when there's :40 left:
Ellen DeGeneres Show - Oscars - Behind The Scenes
This is a video of Ellen's presentation of her behind the scenes video at the Academy Awards.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
NFL Team Needs in Free Agency
AFC SOUTH
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: LBs Rocky Boiman, Cato June and Rob Morris; CB Nick Harper; DT Dan Klecko; S Mike Doss; WRs Aaron Moorehead, Ricky Proehl and Terrence Wilkins; RBs Dominic Rhodes and James Mungro.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: CB Jason David; LB Gilbert Gardner; Gs Jake Scott and Ryan Lilja; DEs Josh Thomas and Bo Schobel; QB Jim Sorgi; TE Ben Utecht.
NEEDS: DE Dwight Freeney was made a franchise player. The Colts, as usual, are not expected to be a big player in free agency. But they're looking to solidify several spots. Both starting cornerbacks, David and Harper, and both starting guards, Lilja and Scott, could be signed away, although only Harper is unrestricted. Biggest need will be upgrade at outside linebacker, and they may need more than one OLB if former Pro Bowler June leaves. Also look for another running back if Rhodes gets a chance to start somewhere else.
TENNESSEE TITANS
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: WRs Drew Bennett and Bobby Wade; DTs Robaire Smith and Rien Long; QB Kerry Collins; S Donnie Nickey; RB Chris Brown; OT Seth Wand; LB Peter Sirmon.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: G Jacob Bell; Cs Justin Geisinger and Eugene Amano; LBs Robert Reynolds and Colby Bockwoldt; TEs Ben Hartsock and Casey Cramer; DTs Randy Starks and Tony Brown.
NEEDS: Cornerback already was high on the list before Adam "Pacman" Jones' recent involvement in a Las Vegas melee that resulted in a triple shooting. Now the Titans may have to overspend -- a lot -- to grab a top cornerback in case Jones isn't available or they finally lose patience and release or trade him. A defensive end to ease pressure on Kyle Vanden Bosch would help, and they need to re-sign Smith. Receiver is the other top focus. Bennett is ready to see how much money a once undrafted free agent can earn, and David Givens, a free agent signee last March, is recovering from a serious knee injury.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: TE Kyle Brady; LB Tony Gilbert; FS Deon Grant; WR Cortez Hankton; RB LaBrandon Toefield; DE Marcellus Wiley; DT Tony Williams.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: CB Ahmad Carroll; LB Jorge Cordova; QB Quinn Gray; TE Brian Jones; DEs Bobby McCray and Elton Patterson; PK Josh Scobee; WR Ernest Wilford.
NEEDS: Biggest need is at safety because Grant is a free agent and Donovin Darius is recovering from a leg injury. Jaguars could look at Ken Hamlin of Seattle, Tony Parrish of Dallas or Shaun Williams of Carolina, but they probably won't move as quickly as they did the last two years, when they signed DE Reggie Hayward (2005) and CB Brian Williams (2006) in the opening days of free agency. Team probably will try to retain Gray, McCray, Scobee and Wilford. Also look for Jags to sign a speedy receiver.
HOUSTON TEXANS
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: TE Mark Bruener; DEs Antwan Peek and N.D. Kalu; CBs Dexter McCleon and Lewis Sanders; OL Ephraim Salaam; DL Lional Dalton; RBs Ron Dayne and Wali Rainer; P Chad Stanley; T Brad Bedell; LBs Troy Evans and DaShon Polk; DT Cedric Killings; S Michael Stone.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: WR Charlie Adams, LBs Shantee Orr and Charlie Anderson; CBs Von Hutchins and Roc Alexander; S Glenn Earl; FB Vonta Leach.
NEEDS: Entering their sixth season, Texans have yet to find a solid left tackle to protect David Carr, who has been sacked 249 times. Coach Gary Kubiak thought Charles Spencer could fill that role, but the rookie's future is in question because of a broken leg. After passing on Reggie Bush and losing Domanick Williams (formerly Davis) to injury, running game sputtered. With the health of Williams in question, Texans need to address that area. Houston could also use a receiver to take pressure off Pro Bowler Andre Johnson. Last year's No. 1 pick Mario Williams could be helped by addition of another big defensive end to play opposite him.
AFC NORTH
BALTIMORE RAVENS
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: LBs Adalius Thomas and Tim Johnson; RBs Musa Smith, Ovie Mughelli and Nick Luchey; WR Alex Bannister; DT Aubrayo Franklin: DE Jarret Johnson; OT Tony Pashos; DB Gerome Sapp.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: WRs Devard Darling and Clarence Moore; KR B.J. Sams.
NEEDS: If Ravens lose Thomas, they'll need a linebacker to fill his place on the league's top-ranked defense. Baltimore could also find itself short of offensive tackles if Pashos leaves, especially if perennial Pro Bowler Jonathan Ogden retires. Other positions on offensive line need attention after guards Keydrick Vincent and Edwin Mulitalo missed significant time with injuries. Ravens also are looking for a running back with release of Jamal Lewis, although they could re-sign Lewis for less money.
CINCINNATI BENGALS
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: CBs Tory James and Rashad Bauman; TEs Reggie Kelly and Tony Stewart; QB Anthony Wright; RB Kenny Watson; Ss Anthony Mitchell and Kevin Kaesviharn; LB Marcus Wilkins; WR Kelley Washington; G Eric Steinbach; OL Scott Kooistra; DE Justin Smith.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: DT Shaun Smith; CB Greg Brooks; LBs Caleb Miller and Landon Johnson; OL Stacy Andrews; P Kyle Larson.
NEEDS: Cornerback, where James played poorly last season and is a free agent, while Deltha O'Neal also struggled, is a priority. Linebacker after David Pollack's career has been threatened by neck injury and Odell Thurman is still suspended by NFL. Plus safety, defensive line depth (DT Sam Adams had knee/weight problems), offensive line depth (C Rich Braham has retired, Steinbach is a free agent), and backup quarterback. DE Smith was given team's franchise tag.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: Ss Mike Logan and Tyrone Carter; RB Najeh Davenport; WR Sean Morey; DB Chidi Iwuoma; DE Rodney Bailey; T Barrett Brooks.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: RT Max Starks.
NEEDS: With Mike Tomlin replacing Bill Cowher, Steelers' priorities might change. Watch to see if they sign a player or two who fits a 4-3 defense (Tomlin's preferred scheme) rather than 3-4 Steelers have played since early 1980s. Steelers don't have much cap room because every key player is already signed. However, G Alan Faneca, S Troy Polamalu, DE Aaron Smith and LBs Joey Porter and Clark Haggans are in final year of their contracts; all won't return in 2008. C Jeff Hartings' retirement frees up $3.6 million in cap room Steelers could use for replacements for some longtime fixtures. Immediate needs are a new punter to replace Chris Gardocki, a backup RB and another WR.
CLEVELAND BROWNS
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: S Brian Russell; C Hank Fraley; CB Ralph Brown; DEs Nick Eason and Alvin McKinley; Gs Cosey Coleman and Lennie Friedman; WR/KR Dennis Northcutt.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: DT Ethan Kelly; LB Mason Unck; OL Nat Dorsey.
NEEDS: A bunch, with offensive linemen and a shutdown cornerback top priorities. Center LeCharles Bentley will likely miss his second straight season with a knee injury, making it critical the club find someone to anchor its weakest unit. Versatile guard Eric Steinbach is expected to be an early target for the Browns, who will have approximately $30 million to spend. DB Gary Baxter's uncertain future following two torn patellar tendons forces the club to look for alternatives, giving Cleveland native Nate Clements -- the best cornerback on the market -- another bargaining chip. Bringing in a veteran quarterback either through free agency, the draft or a trade, to compete with Charlie Frye and Derek Anderson is a strong possibility.
AFC WEST
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: G Kris Dielman; LB Randall Godfrey; WR Az-Zahir Hakim; OLs Cory Withrow and Leander Jordan; LB Carlos Polk.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: RB Michael Turner; TE Ryan Krause.
NEEDS: It looks like Dielman will test the market, and if he leaves, it will be a big blow to a line that helped spring LaDainian Tomlinson to his MVP season. It wasn't just coincidence that Tomlinson ran a lot to the left side, where Dielman helped open big holes. Bolts have locked up a lot of young talent to long-term deals, though. Chargers also could be in market for a wide receiver, safety and linebackers.
KANSAS CITY
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: OL Jordan Black; RB Dee Brown; DTs Ron Edwards, Jimmy Wilkerson and James Reed; LS Kendall Gammon; LB Kawika Mitchell; CB Lenny Walls.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: DT Jared Allen; LB Keyaron Fox; WR Sammie Parker; OL Kevin Sampson; CB Benny Sapp; LB Rich Scanlon; PK Lawrence Tynes.
NEEDS: Push up the middle, both on offense and defense. The Chiefs want to play Cover 2 defense, but suffered for lack of any pressure from middle of the line. Left tackle Jordan Black improved in 2006, but is still not good enough to start at the position in the NFL. Right tackle also was a problem.
Both starting cornerbacks are well into their 30s. Wide receiver was a weakness when anybody but Eddie Kennison was the target, and Kennison, too, is past 30.
DENVER BRONCOS
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: G Cooper Carlisle; DT Michael Myers; LB Keith Burns; DE Patrick Chukwurah; DL Kenny Peterson; KR-WR Quincy Morgan
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: LB Louis Green; FB Kyle Johnson; RB Cecil Sapp.
NEEDS: The Broncos need line help on both sides. They lost former No. 1 overall draft pick Courtney Brown to a knee injury in training camp and the pass rush never measured up. They also need to start thinking about safety, where John Lynch and Nick Ferguson are approaching old-timer status in the NFL. And the tragic death of Darrent Williams means they might have to look at cornerback for backups, with Domonique Foxworth moving up to take the starter's job. They also need help at running back, where the duo of Mike Bell and Tatum Bell never clicked, and at wide receiver, where age quickly caught up to Rod Smith, their career receptions leader.
OAKLAND RAIDERS
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: QBs Aaron Brooks and Marques Tuiasosopo; OLs Langston Walker, Corey Hulsey and Chad Slaughter; DBs Derrick Gibson and Duane Starks; WR Alvis Whitted; LB Grant Irons.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: RBs ReShard Lee and Adimchinobe Echemandu; DL Tommy Kelly.
NEEDS: After scoring only 12 offensive TDs last season, Raiders need plenty of help on that side of ball. Even though team is likely to take a QB with the No. 1 pick in draft, Raiders still plan to target a veteran in free agency; Andrew Walter is the only QB on the roster. The most help will be needed on an offensive line that allowed 72 sacks last season and also struggled in the running game. Oakland also could have interest in a RB to share the load with LaMont Jordan and a WR in case the team trades Randy Moss.
AFC EAST
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: WR Troy Brown; TE Daniel Graham; LBs Junior Seau, Tully Banta-Cain, Larry Izzo and Don Davis; FB Heath Evans; RB Patrick Pass; OL Gene Mruczkowski; CB Ray Mickens; QB Vinny Testaverde; Ps Todd Sauerbrun and Ken Walter.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: CB Randall Gay; OL Billy Yates; S Rashad Baker.
NEEDS: Patriots already needed wide receivers last year, and if Brown retires they will need to replace the longtime favorite target of Tom Brady. Also, WR Chad Jackson tore his ACL and might not be back for the opener. Other than Banta-Cain, the three other starting LBs are in their 30s. CB Asante Samuel was designated as franchise player. RB Corey Dillon, 32, who has been increasingly supplanted by Laurence Maroney, said he wants to be elsewhere next season.
NEW YORK JETS
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: FBs B.J. Askew and James Hodgins; DT Monsanto Pope; OL Wade Smith; RT Anthony Clement.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: DE Dave Ball; DT Rashad Moore; TE Sean Ryan; LB Cody Spencer.
NEEDS: A dominant, shutdown cornerback. Veteran Andre Dyson provided stability on left side, but Justin Miller, David Barrett, Drew Coleman and recently re-signed Hank Poteat all took turns at right cornerback. Miller's skills as Pro Bowl kick returner makes him invaluable, but he still struggles in pass coverage. Buffalo free agent Nate Clements could make sense. Jets also looking for big right tackle to replace the veteran Clement, who probably won't be re-signed. Despite having Leon Washington and Cedric Houston at running back, Jets will likely look to add another back who can carry the load after releasing disappointing Kevan Barlow. Could also focus on depth at wide receiver, tight end and defensive line.
BUFFALO BILLS
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: CBs Nate Clements and Kiwaukee Thomas; LB London Fletcher; RBs Anthony Thomas and Daimon Shelton; OL Mike Gandy; WR Andre' Davis.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: CB Jabari Greer.
NEEDS: Team with modest budget and major needs must creatively fill some potentially gaping holes to build off 7-9 finish. Unable to afford Clements' high asking price, Bills must find capable starting cornerback and hope Ashton Youboty develops after 2006 third-round draft pick appeared in just three games. Linebacker might become another big need for defense that finished 28th against the run. Fletcher is expected to test market, while Bills haven't yet determined whether to keep Takeo Spikes, who struggled while coming back from torn Achilles' tendon. RB could suddenly become an issue as Buffalo considers trade offers for Willis McGahee. Expect Bills to continue perennial search on offensive line, particularly guards.
MIAMI DOLPHINS
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: DTs Keith Traylor and Jeff Zgonina; DE David Bowens; LBs Donnie Spragan and Keith Adams; S Travares Tillman; OLs Damion McIntosh, OL Toniu Fonoti and Kendul Jacox; RBs Sammy Morris and Travis Minor; FB Darian Barnes; CB Michael Lehan; QB Shane Matthews.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: QB Cleo Lemon; S Yeremiah Bell; WR Wes Welker; CB Eddie Jackson; P Donnie Jones.
NEEDS: New coach Cam Cameron says he hasn't decided whether his 2007 quarterback is on the current roster, but he's unlikely to seek help in free agency. Instead, Miami will shop to shore up the offensive line and an aging defense, especially linebacker and the secondary. However, the Dolphins are in the lower half of the NFL in cap space, which will limit their options.
NFC
NFC SOUTH
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: OLs Jon Stinchcomb and Montrae Holland; Ss Omar Stoutmire and Jay Bellamy; TE Billy Miller; LBs Danny Clark, James Allen and Tommy Polley; DT Antwan Lake; K Billy Cundiff, CB DeJuan Groce; RB Fred McAfee.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: LB Terrance Melton; DT Rodney Leisle; WR Terrance Copper; CB Curtis Deloatch.
NEEDS: New Orleans has put the franchise tag on DE Charles Grant and likely will retain him. The Saints could be looking for a new cornerback following Fred Thomas' struggles late in season and playoffs. Their workmanlike linebacker corps last season was solid, but not dominant. The starters are all expected back with the recent re-signing of Scott Shanle, but Saints may aim for another LB to add depth and strengthen 23rd-ranked run defense.
CAROLINA PANTHERS
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: Ss Shaun Williams and Colin Branch; LBs Chris Draft, Na'il Diggs and Vinny Ciurciu; Ts Todd Fordham and Dave Kadela; DE Kindal Moorehead; TE Mike Seidman.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: WR Drew Carter; TE Michael Gaines; DT Jordan Carstens.
NEEDS: Linebacker, with Draft and Diggs free agents and uncertainty surrounding Dan Morgan, who hopes to return after multiple concussions limited him to one game last season. New offensive coordinator Jeff Davidson wants to run, and Carolina may need upgrades at tight end and on offensive line, which was devastated by injuries last season. Coach John Fox likes to rotate DLs, but Mike Rucker is recovering from a torn ACL and Al Wallace was released. S Williams had a subpar year and Mike Minter turned 33 in January. While No. 1 QB Jake Delhomme is likely safe, backup Chris Weinke could be replaced.
ATLANTA FALCONS
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: FBs Justin Griffith and Fred McCrary; CB Chris Cash; PK Morten Andersen; DE Patrick Kerney; WR Ashley Lelie.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: TE Dwayne Blakley; QB Matt Schaub; LB Demorrio Williams; C Austin King.
NEEDS: End of the Jim Mora era is also end of the Alex Gibbs era as mastermind of the blocking philosophy, so bigger offensive linemen will be needed for more conventional scheme. Veteran tackles Todd Weiner and Wayne Gandy have played in such schemes, but line needs better pass-blockers. Even with return of a healthy Brian Finneran, the Falcons need help at receiver, especially if Lelie is not re-signed. The team finished the season with only four receivers; more depth will be needed as new coach Bobby Petrino adds balance to the league's worst passing attack.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: FBs Mike Alstott and Jerald Sowell; CBs Phillip Buchanon and CB Torrie Cox; T Cornell Green; TEs Keith Heinrich and Doug Jolley; G Sean Mahan; LB Wesly Mallard; LS Dave Moore; QB Tim Rattay; DE Dewayne White.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: CB Blue Adams; G Jeb Terry; S Kalvin Pearson.
NEEDS: With about $24 million in salary cap space, Bucs expect to be major players in free agency for the first time since winning the Super Bowl four years ago. Landing a starting defensive end, a playmaking receiver or upgrading the offensive line, especially at left tackle, likely will impact coach Jon Gruden's approach to the draft, where Tampa Bay picks fourth. Could also use help at safety, where starters Jermaine Phillips and Will Allen have struggled, and linebacker. And don't be surprised to see Gruden bring in a veteran quarterback to compete with Chris Simms, who missed most of 2006 because of injury.
NFC NORTH
CHICAGO BEARS
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: G Ruben Brown; DTs Ian Scott and Alfonso Boone; Ss Todd Johnson and Cameron Worrell; WR Justin Gage
RESTRICTED FREE AGENT: TE Gabe Reid
NEEDS: Star LB Lance Briggs was made franchise player and could be a training camp holdout. Bears could use free agency to shore up aging offensive line, but are not expected to make a big splash. Secondary also could use some depth after injuries to Mike Brown the last several years. They are not going after a quarterback like Jeff Garcia despite Rex Grossman's inconsistent play because Brian Griese is quality backup. They are interested in re-signing Brown.
DETROIT LIONS
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: WR Corey Bradford; RBs Arlen Harris and Aveion Cason; G Rick DeMulling; CB Jamar Fletcher; Ss Terrence Holt and Jon McGraw; FB Cory Schlesinger; DE Corey Smith.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: LB Alex Lewis; LS Don Muhlbach; DT Cleveland Pinkney; CB Keith Smith.
NEEDS: Entering his second season, coach Rod Marinelli desperately wants to add speed, especially on defense. Team has encouraged some players, such as CB Dre' Bly, to explore trade possibilities. Detroit doesn't know when RB Kevin Jones (foot) will be back, so adding insurance at RB makes sense. Adding a No. 3 receiver, perhaps Kevin Curtis, who has ties to offensive coordinator Mike Martz, also a priority. An OT and OG would help a lackluster line, too, though Lions might wait to fill one of those needs with Wisconsin OT Joe Thomas with the No. 2 pick overall in draft.
GREEN BAY PACKERS
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: RB Ahman Green; TE David Martin; LBs Ben Taylor and Tracy White; DT Kenderick Allen; QB Todd Bouman; OL Tyson Walter.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.
NEEDS: Playmakers in the passing game. The Packers didn't get productivity they were looking for out of tight ends last year -- particularly in the red zone -- and need another productive WR to take some defensive focus off Donald Driver. Team must decide whether to give Green a multiyear deal or move forward with backup RB Vernand Morency and possibly address the position in the draft.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: LB Napoleon Harris; WRs Travis Taylor and Bethel Johnson; G Jason Whittle; DT Ross Kolodziej.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: DE Darrion Scott; LB Rod Davis; G Anthony Herrera; TE Richard Owens; RB Artose Pinner; DT Spencer Johnson.
NEEDS: Some juice on the outside; mediocre receivers made life miserable for quarterbacks Brad Johnson and Tarvaris Jackson. Some heat by putting pressure on opposing QBs, a constant problem last season; DBs routinely had to cover opposing receivers for too long. A rush end should be a priority. Perhaps even a QB. Veteran Johnson was released, meaning second-year pro Jackson and backup Brooks Bollinger are only QBs on team.
NFC WEST
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: TEs Jerramy Stevens and Will Heller; WR Bobby Engram; G Chris Gray; Ss Jimmy Williams, John Howell and Ken Hamlin; LS J.P. Darche; OL Floyd Womack; LB D.D. Lewis; DEs Kemp Rasmussen and Joe Tafoya; CB Pete Hunter; RB Josh Scobey.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: OT Sean Locklear; WR D.J. Hackett; CB Jordan Babineaux; LB Niko Koutouvides; Ss Guss Scott and Oliver Celestin; DT Craig Terrill; RB Josh Parry; OL Thatcher Szalay.
NEEDS: Letting Stevens go means coach Mike Holmgren foremost needs a pass-catching TE for his West Coast offense, plus a run-blocking tight end. Primary defensive needs are two bigger safeties capable of starting immediately, plus more size along DL and depth at LB. WR is not a need, even with Engram likely leaving and Darrell Jackson being shopped for a trade, because of additions of Deion Branch and Nate Burleson last year.
ST. LOUIS RAMS
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: WRs Kevin Curtis and Shaun McDonald; CB Travis Fisher; LBs Isaiah Kacyvenski, Raonall Smith and Jamal Brooks; RBs Stephen Davis and Tony Fisher; DT Jason Fisk; DE Brandon Green; KR Willie Ponder; FB Paul Smith; OL Todd Steussie; P Matt Turk.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: LB Brandon Chillar; TE Aaron Walker; OL Adam Goldberg; S Dwaine Carpenter; OL Larry Turner.
NEEDS: Defensive line, wide receiver, running back. Leonard Little was the only proven pass rusher last year. Depth may be an issue at WR behind veterans Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce if Curtis, the No. 3 at his position last year, leaves. Steven Jackson had a breakout year at running back, but there's little depth at the position. Rams addressed two areas of need during season, signing Little and LB Pisa Tinoisamoa to extensions.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: DL Bryant Young; TE Eric Johnson; WR Bryan Gilmore; C Jeremy Newberry; DT Anthony Adams; FB Chris Hetherington; LBs Jay Foreman, Hannibal Navies and T.J. Slaughter; Ss Chad Williams and Deke Cooper.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: P Andy Lee; OL Tony Wragge; RB Maurice Hicks; S Mike Adams.
NEEDS: With more than $30 million in cap room, 49ers are expected to make a play for several top free agents to supplement a roster still fairly thin on talent despite 7-9 finish. Coach Mike Nolan would love to land LB Adalius Thomas, who played for him in Baltimore, while 49ers also need talented pass-rusher and depth in secondary. On offense, they'll bid for OT Leonard Davis and WR Donte' Stallworth before going after lesser targets. Young is expected back if he doesn't retire, while Johnson will search for a starting job before considering a return as Vernon Davis' backup.
ARIZONA CARDINALS
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: T Leonard Davis; RB Marcel Shipp; LBs Orlando Huff, Monty Beisel and James Darling; Ss Robert Griffith, Jack Brewer and Hanik Milligan; CBs David Macklin and Robert Tate; WR Troy Walters; OL Fred Wakefield; DE Chris Cooper; OL Chris Liewienski.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: Cs Nick Leckey and Alex Stepanovich; QB John Navarre.
NEEDS: Everything but QB and WR. New coach Ken Whisenhunt was unimpressed with Davis, but team might re-sign him if no one offers big contract he desires. Regardless, Cardinals will go after offensive linemen. CB also was a weakness, with Tate and Macklin unlikely to be re-signed. The team needs LBs and could use a run-stuffing DT. There's also a need at FB and TE, and for a safety to play alongside Pro Bowler Adrian Wilson.
NFC EAST
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: QBs Jeff Garcia and Koy Detmer; WR Donte' Stallworth; RBs Correll Buckhalter and Reno Mahe; LB Shawn Barber; CBs Roderick Hood and William James; S Michael Lewis; DE Juqua Thomas.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.
NEEDS: Garcia was willing to return as a backup to Donovan McNabb, but he likely will get better offers from other teams. Eagles are comfortable with re-signed .J. Feeley as backup. They will try to re-sign Stallworth, but won't overpay because he's been prone to injuries. If Stallworth doesn't return, adding a playmaking receiver becomes a priority. Also need at least one starting linebacker, a power running back to complement Brian Westbrook, more depth on the defensive line, a nickel cornerback, a safety and a returner with game-breaking skills.
DALLAS COWBOYS
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: G Marc Colombo; C Al Johnson; LB Al Singleton; DE Kenyon Coleman; K Martin Gramatica; S Tony Parrish.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: WR Patrick Crayton; CBs Jacques Reeves and Nate Jones; LBs Ryan Fowler and Junior Glymph; TE Brett Pierce.
NEEDS: Wade Phillips sure could use what predecessor Bill Parcells called "catalytic players" at the front of 3-4 defense, primarily a quarterback-crunching end. He also could use help in the secondary, primarily at safety but possibly at cornerback if starter Anthony Henry is moved to safety. OL a never-ending concern, even after giving center Andre Gurode a $10 million signing bonus. The Cowboys also will be after veteran quarterback to back up Tony Romo. Maybe the new backup can hold, too.
NEW YORK GIANTS
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: PK Jay Feely; C Shaun O'Hara; G Grey Ruegamer; LB Brandon Short; OLs Steve Edwards and Lewis Kelly; TE Visanthe Shiancoe; CB Frank Walker.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: S Gibril Wilson; LB Reggie Torbor; RB Derrick Ward.
NEEDS: Making playoffs with an 8-8 record, having Tiki Barber retire and then releasing OT Luke Petitgout and LBs LaVar Arrington and Carlos Emmons mean Giants need help in all those areas. Season-ending knee injury to WR Amani Toomer and inconsistent play of Plaxico Burress showed the team needs another wideout. CBs Sam Madison and Corey Webster need improvement, and there was no depth at DT behind Fred Robbins and Barry Cofield. If Feely and O'Hara take free agency road, two more positions have to be filled. New GM Jerry Reese is going to earn his pay this year.
WASHINGTON REDSKINS
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: G Derrick Dockery; LB Warrick Holdman; RB T.J. Duckett; CBs Kenny Wright and Ade Jimoh; S Vernon Fox; TEs Brian Kozlowski and Todd Yoder; T Todd Wade.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: P Derrick Frost; T Jim Molinaro; DT Ryan Boschetti.
NEEDS: Defense, defense, defense. Always aggressive in free agency, expect Redskins to quickly pursue and overpay for a cornerback, a linebacker, and perhaps a safety and a defensive lineman to help rebuild a defense that ranked 31st last season. CB Nate Clements and LB London Fletcher are among expected targets. Offense looks OK except (again) at the No. 2 receiver spot -- 2006 free agent signing Brandon Lloyd has so far been a bust.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: LBs Rocky Boiman, Cato June and Rob Morris; CB Nick Harper; DT Dan Klecko; S Mike Doss; WRs Aaron Moorehead, Ricky Proehl and Terrence Wilkins; RBs Dominic Rhodes and James Mungro.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: CB Jason David; LB Gilbert Gardner; Gs Jake Scott and Ryan Lilja; DEs Josh Thomas and Bo Schobel; QB Jim Sorgi; TE Ben Utecht.
NEEDS: DE Dwight Freeney was made a franchise player. The Colts, as usual, are not expected to be a big player in free agency. But they're looking to solidify several spots. Both starting cornerbacks, David and Harper, and both starting guards, Lilja and Scott, could be signed away, although only Harper is unrestricted. Biggest need will be upgrade at outside linebacker, and they may need more than one OLB if former Pro Bowler June leaves. Also look for another running back if Rhodes gets a chance to start somewhere else.
TENNESSEE TITANS
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: WRs Drew Bennett and Bobby Wade; DTs Robaire Smith and Rien Long; QB Kerry Collins; S Donnie Nickey; RB Chris Brown; OT Seth Wand; LB Peter Sirmon.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: G Jacob Bell; Cs Justin Geisinger and Eugene Amano; LBs Robert Reynolds and Colby Bockwoldt; TEs Ben Hartsock and Casey Cramer; DTs Randy Starks and Tony Brown.
NEEDS: Cornerback already was high on the list before Adam "Pacman" Jones' recent involvement in a Las Vegas melee that resulted in a triple shooting. Now the Titans may have to overspend -- a lot -- to grab a top cornerback in case Jones isn't available or they finally lose patience and release or trade him. A defensive end to ease pressure on Kyle Vanden Bosch would help, and they need to re-sign Smith. Receiver is the other top focus. Bennett is ready to see how much money a once undrafted free agent can earn, and David Givens, a free agent signee last March, is recovering from a serious knee injury.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: TE Kyle Brady; LB Tony Gilbert; FS Deon Grant; WR Cortez Hankton; RB LaBrandon Toefield; DE Marcellus Wiley; DT Tony Williams.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: CB Ahmad Carroll; LB Jorge Cordova; QB Quinn Gray; TE Brian Jones; DEs Bobby McCray and Elton Patterson; PK Josh Scobee; WR Ernest Wilford.
NEEDS: Biggest need is at safety because Grant is a free agent and Donovin Darius is recovering from a leg injury. Jaguars could look at Ken Hamlin of Seattle, Tony Parrish of Dallas or Shaun Williams of Carolina, but they probably won't move as quickly as they did the last two years, when they signed DE Reggie Hayward (2005) and CB Brian Williams (2006) in the opening days of free agency. Team probably will try to retain Gray, McCray, Scobee and Wilford. Also look for Jags to sign a speedy receiver.
HOUSTON TEXANS
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: TE Mark Bruener; DEs Antwan Peek and N.D. Kalu; CBs Dexter McCleon and Lewis Sanders; OL Ephraim Salaam; DL Lional Dalton; RBs Ron Dayne and Wali Rainer; P Chad Stanley; T Brad Bedell; LBs Troy Evans and DaShon Polk; DT Cedric Killings; S Michael Stone.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: WR Charlie Adams, LBs Shantee Orr and Charlie Anderson; CBs Von Hutchins and Roc Alexander; S Glenn Earl; FB Vonta Leach.
NEEDS: Entering their sixth season, Texans have yet to find a solid left tackle to protect David Carr, who has been sacked 249 times. Coach Gary Kubiak thought Charles Spencer could fill that role, but the rookie's future is in question because of a broken leg. After passing on Reggie Bush and losing Domanick Williams (formerly Davis) to injury, running game sputtered. With the health of Williams in question, Texans need to address that area. Houston could also use a receiver to take pressure off Pro Bowler Andre Johnson. Last year's No. 1 pick Mario Williams could be helped by addition of another big defensive end to play opposite him.
AFC NORTH
BALTIMORE RAVENS
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: LBs Adalius Thomas and Tim Johnson; RBs Musa Smith, Ovie Mughelli and Nick Luchey; WR Alex Bannister; DT Aubrayo Franklin: DE Jarret Johnson; OT Tony Pashos; DB Gerome Sapp.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: WRs Devard Darling and Clarence Moore; KR B.J. Sams.
NEEDS: If Ravens lose Thomas, they'll need a linebacker to fill his place on the league's top-ranked defense. Baltimore could also find itself short of offensive tackles if Pashos leaves, especially if perennial Pro Bowler Jonathan Ogden retires. Other positions on offensive line need attention after guards Keydrick Vincent and Edwin Mulitalo missed significant time with injuries. Ravens also are looking for a running back with release of Jamal Lewis, although they could re-sign Lewis for less money.
CINCINNATI BENGALS
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: CBs Tory James and Rashad Bauman; TEs Reggie Kelly and Tony Stewart; QB Anthony Wright; RB Kenny Watson; Ss Anthony Mitchell and Kevin Kaesviharn; LB Marcus Wilkins; WR Kelley Washington; G Eric Steinbach; OL Scott Kooistra; DE Justin Smith.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: DT Shaun Smith; CB Greg Brooks; LBs Caleb Miller and Landon Johnson; OL Stacy Andrews; P Kyle Larson.
NEEDS: Cornerback, where James played poorly last season and is a free agent, while Deltha O'Neal also struggled, is a priority. Linebacker after David Pollack's career has been threatened by neck injury and Odell Thurman is still suspended by NFL. Plus safety, defensive line depth (DT Sam Adams had knee/weight problems), offensive line depth (C Rich Braham has retired, Steinbach is a free agent), and backup quarterback. DE Smith was given team's franchise tag.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: Ss Mike Logan and Tyrone Carter; RB Najeh Davenport; WR Sean Morey; DB Chidi Iwuoma; DE Rodney Bailey; T Barrett Brooks.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: RT Max Starks.
NEEDS: With Mike Tomlin replacing Bill Cowher, Steelers' priorities might change. Watch to see if they sign a player or two who fits a 4-3 defense (Tomlin's preferred scheme) rather than 3-4 Steelers have played since early 1980s. Steelers don't have much cap room because every key player is already signed. However, G Alan Faneca, S Troy Polamalu, DE Aaron Smith and LBs Joey Porter and Clark Haggans are in final year of their contracts; all won't return in 2008. C Jeff Hartings' retirement frees up $3.6 million in cap room Steelers could use for replacements for some longtime fixtures. Immediate needs are a new punter to replace Chris Gardocki, a backup RB and another WR.
CLEVELAND BROWNS
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: S Brian Russell; C Hank Fraley; CB Ralph Brown; DEs Nick Eason and Alvin McKinley; Gs Cosey Coleman and Lennie Friedman; WR/KR Dennis Northcutt.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: DT Ethan Kelly; LB Mason Unck; OL Nat Dorsey.
NEEDS: A bunch, with offensive linemen and a shutdown cornerback top priorities. Center LeCharles Bentley will likely miss his second straight season with a knee injury, making it critical the club find someone to anchor its weakest unit. Versatile guard Eric Steinbach is expected to be an early target for the Browns, who will have approximately $30 million to spend. DB Gary Baxter's uncertain future following two torn patellar tendons forces the club to look for alternatives, giving Cleveland native Nate Clements -- the best cornerback on the market -- another bargaining chip. Bringing in a veteran quarterback either through free agency, the draft or a trade, to compete with Charlie Frye and Derek Anderson is a strong possibility.
AFC WEST
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: G Kris Dielman; LB Randall Godfrey; WR Az-Zahir Hakim; OLs Cory Withrow and Leander Jordan; LB Carlos Polk.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: RB Michael Turner; TE Ryan Krause.
NEEDS: It looks like Dielman will test the market, and if he leaves, it will be a big blow to a line that helped spring LaDainian Tomlinson to his MVP season. It wasn't just coincidence that Tomlinson ran a lot to the left side, where Dielman helped open big holes. Bolts have locked up a lot of young talent to long-term deals, though. Chargers also could be in market for a wide receiver, safety and linebackers.
KANSAS CITY
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: OL Jordan Black; RB Dee Brown; DTs Ron Edwards, Jimmy Wilkerson and James Reed; LS Kendall Gammon; LB Kawika Mitchell; CB Lenny Walls.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: DT Jared Allen; LB Keyaron Fox; WR Sammie Parker; OL Kevin Sampson; CB Benny Sapp; LB Rich Scanlon; PK Lawrence Tynes.
NEEDS: Push up the middle, both on offense and defense. The Chiefs want to play Cover 2 defense, but suffered for lack of any pressure from middle of the line. Left tackle Jordan Black improved in 2006, but is still not good enough to start at the position in the NFL. Right tackle also was a problem.
Both starting cornerbacks are well into their 30s. Wide receiver was a weakness when anybody but Eddie Kennison was the target, and Kennison, too, is past 30.
DENVER BRONCOS
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: G Cooper Carlisle; DT Michael Myers; LB Keith Burns; DE Patrick Chukwurah; DL Kenny Peterson; KR-WR Quincy Morgan
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: LB Louis Green; FB Kyle Johnson; RB Cecil Sapp.
NEEDS: The Broncos need line help on both sides. They lost former No. 1 overall draft pick Courtney Brown to a knee injury in training camp and the pass rush never measured up. They also need to start thinking about safety, where John Lynch and Nick Ferguson are approaching old-timer status in the NFL. And the tragic death of Darrent Williams means they might have to look at cornerback for backups, with Domonique Foxworth moving up to take the starter's job. They also need help at running back, where the duo of Mike Bell and Tatum Bell never clicked, and at wide receiver, where age quickly caught up to Rod Smith, their career receptions leader.
OAKLAND RAIDERS
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: QBs Aaron Brooks and Marques Tuiasosopo; OLs Langston Walker, Corey Hulsey and Chad Slaughter; DBs Derrick Gibson and Duane Starks; WR Alvis Whitted; LB Grant Irons.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: RBs ReShard Lee and Adimchinobe Echemandu; DL Tommy Kelly.
NEEDS: After scoring only 12 offensive TDs last season, Raiders need plenty of help on that side of ball. Even though team is likely to take a QB with the No. 1 pick in draft, Raiders still plan to target a veteran in free agency; Andrew Walter is the only QB on the roster. The most help will be needed on an offensive line that allowed 72 sacks last season and also struggled in the running game. Oakland also could have interest in a RB to share the load with LaMont Jordan and a WR in case the team trades Randy Moss.
AFC EAST
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: WR Troy Brown; TE Daniel Graham; LBs Junior Seau, Tully Banta-Cain, Larry Izzo and Don Davis; FB Heath Evans; RB Patrick Pass; OL Gene Mruczkowski; CB Ray Mickens; QB Vinny Testaverde; Ps Todd Sauerbrun and Ken Walter.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: CB Randall Gay; OL Billy Yates; S Rashad Baker.
NEEDS: Patriots already needed wide receivers last year, and if Brown retires they will need to replace the longtime favorite target of Tom Brady. Also, WR Chad Jackson tore his ACL and might not be back for the opener. Other than Banta-Cain, the three other starting LBs are in their 30s. CB Asante Samuel was designated as franchise player. RB Corey Dillon, 32, who has been increasingly supplanted by Laurence Maroney, said he wants to be elsewhere next season.
NEW YORK JETS
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: FBs B.J. Askew and James Hodgins; DT Monsanto Pope; OL Wade Smith; RT Anthony Clement.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: DE Dave Ball; DT Rashad Moore; TE Sean Ryan; LB Cody Spencer.
NEEDS: A dominant, shutdown cornerback. Veteran Andre Dyson provided stability on left side, but Justin Miller, David Barrett, Drew Coleman and recently re-signed Hank Poteat all took turns at right cornerback. Miller's skills as Pro Bowl kick returner makes him invaluable, but he still struggles in pass coverage. Buffalo free agent Nate Clements could make sense. Jets also looking for big right tackle to replace the veteran Clement, who probably won't be re-signed. Despite having Leon Washington and Cedric Houston at running back, Jets will likely look to add another back who can carry the load after releasing disappointing Kevan Barlow. Could also focus on depth at wide receiver, tight end and defensive line.
BUFFALO BILLS
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: CBs Nate Clements and Kiwaukee Thomas; LB London Fletcher; RBs Anthony Thomas and Daimon Shelton; OL Mike Gandy; WR Andre' Davis.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: CB Jabari Greer.
NEEDS: Team with modest budget and major needs must creatively fill some potentially gaping holes to build off 7-9 finish. Unable to afford Clements' high asking price, Bills must find capable starting cornerback and hope Ashton Youboty develops after 2006 third-round draft pick appeared in just three games. Linebacker might become another big need for defense that finished 28th against the run. Fletcher is expected to test market, while Bills haven't yet determined whether to keep Takeo Spikes, who struggled while coming back from torn Achilles' tendon. RB could suddenly become an issue as Buffalo considers trade offers for Willis McGahee. Expect Bills to continue perennial search on offensive line, particularly guards.
MIAMI DOLPHINS
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: DTs Keith Traylor and Jeff Zgonina; DE David Bowens; LBs Donnie Spragan and Keith Adams; S Travares Tillman; OLs Damion McIntosh, OL Toniu Fonoti and Kendul Jacox; RBs Sammy Morris and Travis Minor; FB Darian Barnes; CB Michael Lehan; QB Shane Matthews.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: QB Cleo Lemon; S Yeremiah Bell; WR Wes Welker; CB Eddie Jackson; P Donnie Jones.
NEEDS: New coach Cam Cameron says he hasn't decided whether his 2007 quarterback is on the current roster, but he's unlikely to seek help in free agency. Instead, Miami will shop to shore up the offensive line and an aging defense, especially linebacker and the secondary. However, the Dolphins are in the lower half of the NFL in cap space, which will limit their options.
NFC
NFC SOUTH
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: OLs Jon Stinchcomb and Montrae Holland; Ss Omar Stoutmire and Jay Bellamy; TE Billy Miller; LBs Danny Clark, James Allen and Tommy Polley; DT Antwan Lake; K Billy Cundiff, CB DeJuan Groce; RB Fred McAfee.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: LB Terrance Melton; DT Rodney Leisle; WR Terrance Copper; CB Curtis Deloatch.
NEEDS: New Orleans has put the franchise tag on DE Charles Grant and likely will retain him. The Saints could be looking for a new cornerback following Fred Thomas' struggles late in season and playoffs. Their workmanlike linebacker corps last season was solid, but not dominant. The starters are all expected back with the recent re-signing of Scott Shanle, but Saints may aim for another LB to add depth and strengthen 23rd-ranked run defense.
CAROLINA PANTHERS
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: Ss Shaun Williams and Colin Branch; LBs Chris Draft, Na'il Diggs and Vinny Ciurciu; Ts Todd Fordham and Dave Kadela; DE Kindal Moorehead; TE Mike Seidman.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: WR Drew Carter; TE Michael Gaines; DT Jordan Carstens.
NEEDS: Linebacker, with Draft and Diggs free agents and uncertainty surrounding Dan Morgan, who hopes to return after multiple concussions limited him to one game last season. New offensive coordinator Jeff Davidson wants to run, and Carolina may need upgrades at tight end and on offensive line, which was devastated by injuries last season. Coach John Fox likes to rotate DLs, but Mike Rucker is recovering from a torn ACL and Al Wallace was released. S Williams had a subpar year and Mike Minter turned 33 in January. While No. 1 QB Jake Delhomme is likely safe, backup Chris Weinke could be replaced.
ATLANTA FALCONS
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: FBs Justin Griffith and Fred McCrary; CB Chris Cash; PK Morten Andersen; DE Patrick Kerney; WR Ashley Lelie.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: TE Dwayne Blakley; QB Matt Schaub; LB Demorrio Williams; C Austin King.
NEEDS: End of the Jim Mora era is also end of the Alex Gibbs era as mastermind of the blocking philosophy, so bigger offensive linemen will be needed for more conventional scheme. Veteran tackles Todd Weiner and Wayne Gandy have played in such schemes, but line needs better pass-blockers. Even with return of a healthy Brian Finneran, the Falcons need help at receiver, especially if Lelie is not re-signed. The team finished the season with only four receivers; more depth will be needed as new coach Bobby Petrino adds balance to the league's worst passing attack.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: FBs Mike Alstott and Jerald Sowell; CBs Phillip Buchanon and CB Torrie Cox; T Cornell Green; TEs Keith Heinrich and Doug Jolley; G Sean Mahan; LB Wesly Mallard; LS Dave Moore; QB Tim Rattay; DE Dewayne White.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: CB Blue Adams; G Jeb Terry; S Kalvin Pearson.
NEEDS: With about $24 million in salary cap space, Bucs expect to be major players in free agency for the first time since winning the Super Bowl four years ago. Landing a starting defensive end, a playmaking receiver or upgrading the offensive line, especially at left tackle, likely will impact coach Jon Gruden's approach to the draft, where Tampa Bay picks fourth. Could also use help at safety, where starters Jermaine Phillips and Will Allen have struggled, and linebacker. And don't be surprised to see Gruden bring in a veteran quarterback to compete with Chris Simms, who missed most of 2006 because of injury.
NFC NORTH
CHICAGO BEARS
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: G Ruben Brown; DTs Ian Scott and Alfonso Boone; Ss Todd Johnson and Cameron Worrell; WR Justin Gage
RESTRICTED FREE AGENT: TE Gabe Reid
NEEDS: Star LB Lance Briggs was made franchise player and could be a training camp holdout. Bears could use free agency to shore up aging offensive line, but are not expected to make a big splash. Secondary also could use some depth after injuries to Mike Brown the last several years. They are not going after a quarterback like Jeff Garcia despite Rex Grossman's inconsistent play because Brian Griese is quality backup. They are interested in re-signing Brown.
DETROIT LIONS
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: WR Corey Bradford; RBs Arlen Harris and Aveion Cason; G Rick DeMulling; CB Jamar Fletcher; Ss Terrence Holt and Jon McGraw; FB Cory Schlesinger; DE Corey Smith.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: LB Alex Lewis; LS Don Muhlbach; DT Cleveland Pinkney; CB Keith Smith.
NEEDS: Entering his second season, coach Rod Marinelli desperately wants to add speed, especially on defense. Team has encouraged some players, such as CB Dre' Bly, to explore trade possibilities. Detroit doesn't know when RB Kevin Jones (foot) will be back, so adding insurance at RB makes sense. Adding a No. 3 receiver, perhaps Kevin Curtis, who has ties to offensive coordinator Mike Martz, also a priority. An OT and OG would help a lackluster line, too, though Lions might wait to fill one of those needs with Wisconsin OT Joe Thomas with the No. 2 pick overall in draft.
GREEN BAY PACKERS
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: RB Ahman Green; TE David Martin; LBs Ben Taylor and Tracy White; DT Kenderick Allen; QB Todd Bouman; OL Tyson Walter.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.
NEEDS: Playmakers in the passing game. The Packers didn't get productivity they were looking for out of tight ends last year -- particularly in the red zone -- and need another productive WR to take some defensive focus off Donald Driver. Team must decide whether to give Green a multiyear deal or move forward with backup RB Vernand Morency and possibly address the position in the draft.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: LB Napoleon Harris; WRs Travis Taylor and Bethel Johnson; G Jason Whittle; DT Ross Kolodziej.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: DE Darrion Scott; LB Rod Davis; G Anthony Herrera; TE Richard Owens; RB Artose Pinner; DT Spencer Johnson.
NEEDS: Some juice on the outside; mediocre receivers made life miserable for quarterbacks Brad Johnson and Tarvaris Jackson. Some heat by putting pressure on opposing QBs, a constant problem last season; DBs routinely had to cover opposing receivers for too long. A rush end should be a priority. Perhaps even a QB. Veteran Johnson was released, meaning second-year pro Jackson and backup Brooks Bollinger are only QBs on team.
NFC WEST
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: TEs Jerramy Stevens and Will Heller; WR Bobby Engram; G Chris Gray; Ss Jimmy Williams, John Howell and Ken Hamlin; LS J.P. Darche; OL Floyd Womack; LB D.D. Lewis; DEs Kemp Rasmussen and Joe Tafoya; CB Pete Hunter; RB Josh Scobey.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: OT Sean Locklear; WR D.J. Hackett; CB Jordan Babineaux; LB Niko Koutouvides; Ss Guss Scott and Oliver Celestin; DT Craig Terrill; RB Josh Parry; OL Thatcher Szalay.
NEEDS: Letting Stevens go means coach Mike Holmgren foremost needs a pass-catching TE for his West Coast offense, plus a run-blocking tight end. Primary defensive needs are two bigger safeties capable of starting immediately, plus more size along DL and depth at LB. WR is not a need, even with Engram likely leaving and Darrell Jackson being shopped for a trade, because of additions of Deion Branch and Nate Burleson last year.
ST. LOUIS RAMS
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: WRs Kevin Curtis and Shaun McDonald; CB Travis Fisher; LBs Isaiah Kacyvenski, Raonall Smith and Jamal Brooks; RBs Stephen Davis and Tony Fisher; DT Jason Fisk; DE Brandon Green; KR Willie Ponder; FB Paul Smith; OL Todd Steussie; P Matt Turk.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: LB Brandon Chillar; TE Aaron Walker; OL Adam Goldberg; S Dwaine Carpenter; OL Larry Turner.
NEEDS: Defensive line, wide receiver, running back. Leonard Little was the only proven pass rusher last year. Depth may be an issue at WR behind veterans Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce if Curtis, the No. 3 at his position last year, leaves. Steven Jackson had a breakout year at running back, but there's little depth at the position. Rams addressed two areas of need during season, signing Little and LB Pisa Tinoisamoa to extensions.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: DL Bryant Young; TE Eric Johnson; WR Bryan Gilmore; C Jeremy Newberry; DT Anthony Adams; FB Chris Hetherington; LBs Jay Foreman, Hannibal Navies and T.J. Slaughter; Ss Chad Williams and Deke Cooper.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: P Andy Lee; OL Tony Wragge; RB Maurice Hicks; S Mike Adams.
NEEDS: With more than $30 million in cap room, 49ers are expected to make a play for several top free agents to supplement a roster still fairly thin on talent despite 7-9 finish. Coach Mike Nolan would love to land LB Adalius Thomas, who played for him in Baltimore, while 49ers also need talented pass-rusher and depth in secondary. On offense, they'll bid for OT Leonard Davis and WR Donte' Stallworth before going after lesser targets. Young is expected back if he doesn't retire, while Johnson will search for a starting job before considering a return as Vernon Davis' backup.
ARIZONA CARDINALS
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: T Leonard Davis; RB Marcel Shipp; LBs Orlando Huff, Monty Beisel and James Darling; Ss Robert Griffith, Jack Brewer and Hanik Milligan; CBs David Macklin and Robert Tate; WR Troy Walters; OL Fred Wakefield; DE Chris Cooper; OL Chris Liewienski.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: Cs Nick Leckey and Alex Stepanovich; QB John Navarre.
NEEDS: Everything but QB and WR. New coach Ken Whisenhunt was unimpressed with Davis, but team might re-sign him if no one offers big contract he desires. Regardless, Cardinals will go after offensive linemen. CB also was a weakness, with Tate and Macklin unlikely to be re-signed. The team needs LBs and could use a run-stuffing DT. There's also a need at FB and TE, and for a safety to play alongside Pro Bowler Adrian Wilson.
NFC EAST
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: QBs Jeff Garcia and Koy Detmer; WR Donte' Stallworth; RBs Correll Buckhalter and Reno Mahe; LB Shawn Barber; CBs Roderick Hood and William James; S Michael Lewis; DE Juqua Thomas.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.
NEEDS: Garcia was willing to return as a backup to Donovan McNabb, but he likely will get better offers from other teams. Eagles are comfortable with re-signed .J. Feeley as backup. They will try to re-sign Stallworth, but won't overpay because he's been prone to injuries. If Stallworth doesn't return, adding a playmaking receiver becomes a priority. Also need at least one starting linebacker, a power running back to complement Brian Westbrook, more depth on the defensive line, a nickel cornerback, a safety and a returner with game-breaking skills.
DALLAS COWBOYS
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: G Marc Colombo; C Al Johnson; LB Al Singleton; DE Kenyon Coleman; K Martin Gramatica; S Tony Parrish.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: WR Patrick Crayton; CBs Jacques Reeves and Nate Jones; LBs Ryan Fowler and Junior Glymph; TE Brett Pierce.
NEEDS: Wade Phillips sure could use what predecessor Bill Parcells called "catalytic players" at the front of 3-4 defense, primarily a quarterback-crunching end. He also could use help in the secondary, primarily at safety but possibly at cornerback if starter Anthony Henry is moved to safety. OL a never-ending concern, even after giving center Andre Gurode a $10 million signing bonus. The Cowboys also will be after veteran quarterback to back up Tony Romo. Maybe the new backup can hold, too.
NEW YORK GIANTS
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: PK Jay Feely; C Shaun O'Hara; G Grey Ruegamer; LB Brandon Short; OLs Steve Edwards and Lewis Kelly; TE Visanthe Shiancoe; CB Frank Walker.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: S Gibril Wilson; LB Reggie Torbor; RB Derrick Ward.
NEEDS: Making playoffs with an 8-8 record, having Tiki Barber retire and then releasing OT Luke Petitgout and LBs LaVar Arrington and Carlos Emmons mean Giants need help in all those areas. Season-ending knee injury to WR Amani Toomer and inconsistent play of Plaxico Burress showed the team needs another wideout. CBs Sam Madison and Corey Webster need improvement, and there was no depth at DT behind Fred Robbins and Barry Cofield. If Feely and O'Hara take free agency road, two more positions have to be filled. New GM Jerry Reese is going to earn his pay this year.
WASHINGTON REDSKINS
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: G Derrick Dockery; LB Warrick Holdman; RB T.J. Duckett; CBs Kenny Wright and Ade Jimoh; S Vernon Fox; TEs Brian Kozlowski and Todd Yoder; T Todd Wade.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: P Derrick Frost; T Jim Molinaro; DT Ryan Boschetti.
NEEDS: Defense, defense, defense. Always aggressive in free agency, expect Redskins to quickly pursue and overpay for a cornerback, a linebacker, and perhaps a safety and a defensive lineman to help rebuild a defense that ranked 31st last season. CB Nate Clements and LB London Fletcher are among expected targets. Offense looks OK except (again) at the No. 2 receiver spot -- 2006 free agent signing Brandon Lloyd has so far been a bust.
Hybrid Limo? - Bauer's Worldwide Transportation Offers Lexus 400h
Not one to be outdone or to escape the latest trend, Bauer's Worldwide Transportation has annouced they are offering Lexus 400h hybrid cars for rent as limousines.
As far as I know, Bauer's is the first limo company to offer hybrid cars. You can find our more about their service by clicking on Hybrid Cars
Chicago Bears Offer Coach Lovie Smith Less Because He's Black - Chicago Sun-Times
Carol hit it right on the head. It serves as a reminder of the stupidity of racism.
Smith talks make you wonder
Race appears to be factor in contract negotiations
February 27, 2007
BY CAROL SLEZAK Sun-Times Columnist
Is it business as usual for the Bears, or something more? We know that chants of ''cheapskate'' won't shame Ted Phillips or his McCaskey superiors into coming to terms with Lovie Smith on a contract extension. When it comes to lowballing their employees, the Bears really have no shame.
But -- funny thing -- every so often they surprise us by opening up their checkbook. Like in 2003, when they approached middle linebacker Brian Urlacher to talk about a new deal while he still had two years remaining on his original contract. Quicker than you could say, ''He's a Bear for life,'' they locked up Urlacher through 2011. The $56.65 million deal included a $13 million signing bonus, an additional $6 million in roster bonuses and an 18-person suite at Soldier Field. The model for the deal was the $49 million contract that Baltimore Ravens middle linebacker Ray Lewis had signed the year before.
''We're very, very comfortable with these numbers,'' general manager Jerry Angelo said at the time about Urlacher's contract.
So why is it so difficult to find a comfort level with Smith? Last year, Phillips said he needed to see more of Smith. Funny, all it took for the Bears to extend Dick Jauron's contract was one winning season. Based on the team's success in 2001, when it went 13-3, Jauron got a new four-year deal in 2002 reportedly worth more than $2 million a season, or more than double his original contract that had paid him $1 million a season.
''It's a fair deal,'' Phillips said. ''Tearing up Dick's last year was the smart thing to do in recognition of the job he did.''
A proven commodity
It turned out to be a bad decision. But then, Smith is not Jauron. I wonder, has Phillips seen enough of Smith yet? Because everyone else knows what Smith has accomplished in the last two seasons, beginning with two division titles and ending with an NFC championship. And everyone else knows what other head coaches are being paid. First-year head coaches Bobby Petrino ($4.8 million a season) and Cam Cameron ($2.5 million), for instance. Career underachievers Norv Turner (in excess of $3 million) and Wade Phillips (between $2M and $3M). And other recent Super Bowl coaches, such as Tony Dungy ($5M), Jeff Fisher ($5.4M), Brian Billick ($5.7M) and Mike Holmgren ($8M).
Smith, who is scheduled to make a league-low $1.45 million next season, has coached his way into the $5 million range. The Bears had no problem ripping up Urlacher's contract to pay him Ray Lewis money. Why are they having such a problem committing Jeff Fisher or Brian Billick money to Smith? He's the best coach the Bears have had since Mike Ditka, and he might be better than Ditka in the long run. Yet, as Smith reminded us last week, he has ''been trying to get a contract done since the start of last year.''
The picture that has emerged, while still blurry, gives rise to a legitimate question: Is Smith's race a factor in the Bears' hesitancy to pay him? If Smith, an African American, were white, would the deal have been done long ago? I'm sure the Bears would rather be called cheap than prejudiced. But they've opened themselves up to this scrutiny by their mishandling of Smith's negotiations.
Ordinarily a coach's contract would not give rise to concern in February, especially when the coach has a year left on his original deal, as Smith does. But Smith's situation is hardly ordinary. He was the NFL coach of the year in 2005, and he brought his team to the Super Bowl in 2006. The Bears have said they want to keep him around, yet they seem to be doing their best to alienate him. At last report, they had offered Smith less than $3.5 million a year. The entire league is wondering what's wrong in Chicago. Damage already has been done.
Smith isn't the only one feeling disenfranchised these days. Instead of an Urlacher-type deal, linebacker Lance Briggs got slapped with the franchise tag. Meaning the Bears want Briggs, who made the Pro Bowl the last two seasons, but they don't want to pay him what he's worth. A reminder, perhaps, that there can be only one face of the Bears, and the Bears have chosen Urlacher.
Lovie's got it coming
The Bears have the right to make their own decisions. But they must know that those decisions will be viewed in a broader context, as they should be. Sports have become a measuring stick for many societal issues. Just last week, for instance, Wimbledon finally recognized that women deserved the same prize money as men. The actual differential between the women's and men's prizes had been shrinking over the years; the paycheck for the women's champ -- $1.117 million -- was about 95 percent of the $1.17 million won by the men's champ last year. But it was still important, if only symbolically, to equalize the prizes.
It's just as important for the Bears to give Smith his due.
Fortunately for the Bears, the organization's long history of penny-pinching has many describing their treatment of Smith as business as usual. But is that really all that's going on here? I'm not so sure.
Smith talks make you wonder
Race appears to be factor in contract negotiations
February 27, 2007
BY CAROL SLEZAK Sun-Times Columnist
Is it business as usual for the Bears, or something more? We know that chants of ''cheapskate'' won't shame Ted Phillips or his McCaskey superiors into coming to terms with Lovie Smith on a contract extension. When it comes to lowballing their employees, the Bears really have no shame.
But -- funny thing -- every so often they surprise us by opening up their checkbook. Like in 2003, when they approached middle linebacker Brian Urlacher to talk about a new deal while he still had two years remaining on his original contract. Quicker than you could say, ''He's a Bear for life,'' they locked up Urlacher through 2011. The $56.65 million deal included a $13 million signing bonus, an additional $6 million in roster bonuses and an 18-person suite at Soldier Field. The model for the deal was the $49 million contract that Baltimore Ravens middle linebacker Ray Lewis had signed the year before.
''We're very, very comfortable with these numbers,'' general manager Jerry Angelo said at the time about Urlacher's contract.
So why is it so difficult to find a comfort level with Smith? Last year, Phillips said he needed to see more of Smith. Funny, all it took for the Bears to extend Dick Jauron's contract was one winning season. Based on the team's success in 2001, when it went 13-3, Jauron got a new four-year deal in 2002 reportedly worth more than $2 million a season, or more than double his original contract that had paid him $1 million a season.
''It's a fair deal,'' Phillips said. ''Tearing up Dick's last year was the smart thing to do in recognition of the job he did.''
A proven commodity
It turned out to be a bad decision. But then, Smith is not Jauron. I wonder, has Phillips seen enough of Smith yet? Because everyone else knows what Smith has accomplished in the last two seasons, beginning with two division titles and ending with an NFC championship. And everyone else knows what other head coaches are being paid. First-year head coaches Bobby Petrino ($4.8 million a season) and Cam Cameron ($2.5 million), for instance. Career underachievers Norv Turner (in excess of $3 million) and Wade Phillips (between $2M and $3M). And other recent Super Bowl coaches, such as Tony Dungy ($5M), Jeff Fisher ($5.4M), Brian Billick ($5.7M) and Mike Holmgren ($8M).
Smith, who is scheduled to make a league-low $1.45 million next season, has coached his way into the $5 million range. The Bears had no problem ripping up Urlacher's contract to pay him Ray Lewis money. Why are they having such a problem committing Jeff Fisher or Brian Billick money to Smith? He's the best coach the Bears have had since Mike Ditka, and he might be better than Ditka in the long run. Yet, as Smith reminded us last week, he has ''been trying to get a contract done since the start of last year.''
The picture that has emerged, while still blurry, gives rise to a legitimate question: Is Smith's race a factor in the Bears' hesitancy to pay him? If Smith, an African American, were white, would the deal have been done long ago? I'm sure the Bears would rather be called cheap than prejudiced. But they've opened themselves up to this scrutiny by their mishandling of Smith's negotiations.
Ordinarily a coach's contract would not give rise to concern in February, especially when the coach has a year left on his original deal, as Smith does. But Smith's situation is hardly ordinary. He was the NFL coach of the year in 2005, and he brought his team to the Super Bowl in 2006. The Bears have said they want to keep him around, yet they seem to be doing their best to alienate him. At last report, they had offered Smith less than $3.5 million a year. The entire league is wondering what's wrong in Chicago. Damage already has been done.
Smith isn't the only one feeling disenfranchised these days. Instead of an Urlacher-type deal, linebacker Lance Briggs got slapped with the franchise tag. Meaning the Bears want Briggs, who made the Pro Bowl the last two seasons, but they don't want to pay him what he's worth. A reminder, perhaps, that there can be only one face of the Bears, and the Bears have chosen Urlacher.
Lovie's got it coming
The Bears have the right to make their own decisions. But they must know that those decisions will be viewed in a broader context, as they should be. Sports have become a measuring stick for many societal issues. Just last week, for instance, Wimbledon finally recognized that women deserved the same prize money as men. The actual differential between the women's and men's prizes had been shrinking over the years; the paycheck for the women's champ -- $1.117 million -- was about 95 percent of the $1.17 million won by the men's champ last year. But it was still important, if only symbolically, to equalize the prizes.
It's just as important for the Bears to give Smith his due.
Fortunately for the Bears, the organization's long history of penny-pinching has many describing their treatment of Smith as business as usual. But is that really all that's going on here? I'm not so sure.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Willis McGahee Wants To Be Traded - Bills Coach Dick Jauron Will Seek Trade
Bills Would Listen to Offers for McGahee-See my Ending....
By JOHN WAWROW
AP Sports Writer
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Calling no player "untouchable," Buffalo Bills coach Dick Jauron said the team would consider trade offers for starting running back Willis McGahee.
"It's in our best interest to listen to everybody, and no people are untouchable," Jauron told The Associated Press at the NFL's annual scouting combine at Indianapolis on Monday. "He's a good back. He's our starting running back right now. It's no surprise to me at all that people are interested."
Asked specifically if McGahee is on the trading block, Jauron said: "Well, people talk. People talk in the league all the time."
It's unusual for trade discussions to be made public, or for a coach to acknowledge any talk that involves players -- particularly a player of McGahee's caliber. The three-year starter has one year left on his contract and had expressed interest in seeking an extension with Buffalo.
News that the Bills would shop McGahee first came up last weekend, when New York Giants general manager Jerry Reese expressed interest in the player as a potential replacement for Tiki Barber, who retired after last season.
"There is some Willis McGahee talk," Reese had said. "We'll investigate Willis, we'll investigate everybody with trade talk. We'll leave no stone unturned."
Reese's comments created a stir in Buffalo, where the Bills had previously sidestepped questions about McGahee's long-term status with the team.
McGahee was unavailable for comment and his phone number is not listed. His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, did not immediately return calls.
Buffalo's first-round pick out of Miami in 2003, McGahee is coming off a down season in which he finished with a career-low 990 yards rushing, but led the team with six touchdowns rushing in 14 starts.
In 2005, he had 1,247 yards rushing and five touchdowns in 15 starts. He established himself as the Bills starter in 2004 with 1,128 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns in 11 starts. That performance led the team to trade former starter Travis Henry to Tennessee the following summer.
McGahee sat out his rookie season recovering from major knee surgery.
The Bills have been disappointed in McGahee for conducting most of his offseason workouts in his native Miami, rather than traveling to the team's Orchard Park headquarters. McGahee also created a stir last month, when he was quoted in a magazine article suggesting the NFL consider moving the Bills to Toronto.
McGahee later released a statement saying his comments were taken out of context and that he would never suggest such a move.
Willis don't talk like that.......
We know you need to take the High road here or your current team will fine the Bejesus outta you.....but hey...if you can make more Money downstate? Why not. but what people don't remember is the Knee Injury you suffered at the end of your college career, or how your Slimebag of an agent Rosenhaus duped everyone in the NFL into thinking you were Really talking to other teams on the phone while you were on ESPN Supposedly waiting for a call...when it was Drew himself hanging dead air on your cell phone.
The question is will that Knee take another hit?? or were these last few years the Peak of your Playing performance.....are you On the decline Willis?? Or could you Put out another 4 or 5 years(the average life span of a NFL runningback at peak player performance is 4.6 years).......
By JOHN WAWROW
AP Sports Writer
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Calling no player "untouchable," Buffalo Bills coach Dick Jauron said the team would consider trade offers for starting running back Willis McGahee.
"It's in our best interest to listen to everybody, and no people are untouchable," Jauron told The Associated Press at the NFL's annual scouting combine at Indianapolis on Monday. "He's a good back. He's our starting running back right now. It's no surprise to me at all that people are interested."
Asked specifically if McGahee is on the trading block, Jauron said: "Well, people talk. People talk in the league all the time."
It's unusual for trade discussions to be made public, or for a coach to acknowledge any talk that involves players -- particularly a player of McGahee's caliber. The three-year starter has one year left on his contract and had expressed interest in seeking an extension with Buffalo.
News that the Bills would shop McGahee first came up last weekend, when New York Giants general manager Jerry Reese expressed interest in the player as a potential replacement for Tiki Barber, who retired after last season.
"There is some Willis McGahee talk," Reese had said. "We'll investigate Willis, we'll investigate everybody with trade talk. We'll leave no stone unturned."
Reese's comments created a stir in Buffalo, where the Bills had previously sidestepped questions about McGahee's long-term status with the team.
McGahee was unavailable for comment and his phone number is not listed. His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, did not immediately return calls.
Buffalo's first-round pick out of Miami in 2003, McGahee is coming off a down season in which he finished with a career-low 990 yards rushing, but led the team with six touchdowns rushing in 14 starts.
In 2005, he had 1,247 yards rushing and five touchdowns in 15 starts. He established himself as the Bills starter in 2004 with 1,128 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns in 11 starts. That performance led the team to trade former starter Travis Henry to Tennessee the following summer.
McGahee sat out his rookie season recovering from major knee surgery.
The Bills have been disappointed in McGahee for conducting most of his offseason workouts in his native Miami, rather than traveling to the team's Orchard Park headquarters. McGahee also created a stir last month, when he was quoted in a magazine article suggesting the NFL consider moving the Bills to Toronto.
McGahee later released a statement saying his comments were taken out of context and that he would never suggest such a move.
Willis don't talk like that.......
We know you need to take the High road here or your current team will fine the Bejesus outta you.....but hey...if you can make more Money downstate? Why not. but what people don't remember is the Knee Injury you suffered at the end of your college career, or how your Slimebag of an agent Rosenhaus duped everyone in the NFL into thinking you were Really talking to other teams on the phone while you were on ESPN Supposedly waiting for a call...when it was Drew himself hanging dead air on your cell phone.
The question is will that Knee take another hit?? or were these last few years the Peak of your Playing performance.....are you On the decline Willis?? Or could you Put out another 4 or 5 years(the average life span of a NFL runningback at peak player performance is 4.6 years).......
St. Louis Rams Release Veteran G Adam Timmerman
Rams Release Veteran G Adam Timmerman See my ending.....
By R.B. FALLSTROM
AP Sports Writer
ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Rams have released veteran guard Adam Timmerman, a team stalwart who played in two Super Bowls for the team.
Timmerman was informed by Rams coach Scott Linehan on Monday that he was being released from the club, his agent, Mark Bartelstein, said. Timmerman, 35, has no plans to retire.
"I think they just wanted to make a change," Bartelstein said. "It's a difficult thing for Adam. He feels great and he's looking forward to having a great season.
"His body feels great and he's ready to go. This is a tough part of the business."
The Rams were expected to announce the release on Wednesday, though Bartelstein said it could happen as early as Tuesday. Linehan was at the NFL's annual scouting combine in Indianapolis.
Timmerman ended this season with a rib injury.
The Rams signed Timmerman as a free agent from Green Bay after the 1998 season. He became part of the starting lineup at right guard and stayed there the next eight seasons, earning two Pro Bowl selections and appearing in 10 playoff games and two Super Bowls for the Rams.
Timmerman had a streak of 204 consecutive games, including the playoffs, since his rookie season in 1995 with the Packers. However, he missed the Rams' last three games last season due to cracked ribs.
The Rams brought in a young offensive line that included Richie Incognito at Timmerman's right guard spot. Incognito will have that spot at the start of training camp.
Rams offensive coordinator Greg Olson said in January that the team has some "aging veterans up front who have done a tremendous job for the team," but who eventually would be replaced.
So another team is cutting veteran depth and veteran salary to get Young....too Bad because Timmerman still had some fuel left to burn.....
By R.B. FALLSTROM
AP Sports Writer
ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Rams have released veteran guard Adam Timmerman, a team stalwart who played in two Super Bowls for the team.
Timmerman was informed by Rams coach Scott Linehan on Monday that he was being released from the club, his agent, Mark Bartelstein, said. Timmerman, 35, has no plans to retire.
"I think they just wanted to make a change," Bartelstein said. "It's a difficult thing for Adam. He feels great and he's looking forward to having a great season.
"His body feels great and he's ready to go. This is a tough part of the business."
The Rams were expected to announce the release on Wednesday, though Bartelstein said it could happen as early as Tuesday. Linehan was at the NFL's annual scouting combine in Indianapolis.
Timmerman ended this season with a rib injury.
The Rams signed Timmerman as a free agent from Green Bay after the 1998 season. He became part of the starting lineup at right guard and stayed there the next eight seasons, earning two Pro Bowl selections and appearing in 10 playoff games and two Super Bowls for the Rams.
Timmerman had a streak of 204 consecutive games, including the playoffs, since his rookie season in 1995 with the Packers. However, he missed the Rams' last three games last season due to cracked ribs.
The Rams brought in a young offensive line that included Richie Incognito at Timmerman's right guard spot. Incognito will have that spot at the start of training camp.
Rams offensive coordinator Greg Olson said in January that the team has some "aging veterans up front who have done a tremendous job for the team," but who eventually would be replaced.
So another team is cutting veteran depth and veteran salary to get Young....too Bad because Timmerman still had some fuel left to burn.....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)