motife
04-25-2008, 04:44 PM
Chicago
April 25, 2008
Contract front remains uncomfortably crowded
Heading into the 2008 draft, the Bears were hardly brimming with optimism as far as reaching new contract agreements with star defenders Brian Urlacher and Tommie Harris any time soon. It would hardly be shocking if that outlook changed for the better once this year’s draft smoke clears, particularly in the case of Harris, who remains a bigger contract priority at present than Urlacher, who has ruffled some feathers with his decision to steer clear of the team’s ongoing voluntary walkouts. In the case of Urlacher, the Bears, at least publicly, have drawn a pretty clear line in the sand, reportedly offering the undisputed face of the franchise a one-year extension on his current nine-year, $57 million contract, through 2012, which would include $5 million up front, in addition to an extra $1 million added to each year remaining on his current deal, provided he plays 85 percent of the snaps each of those years. Urlacher, meanwhile, is said to be seeking at least a two-year extension with more money up front. Unlike Urlacher, Harris has chosen to continue participating in voluntary workouts, despite the fact he was hardly happy with the way contract talks were going heading into the final weekend of April. At the root of Harris’ dissatisfaction, we hear, was his desire for his current deal to be ripped up and reworked completely, with the Bears preferring to extend his existing contract. Don’t be surprised if RS-WR Devin Hester, who is also angling for a bigger payday, ends up signing a new deal before either Harris or Urlacher.
Detroit
April 25, 2008
Several reasons why Lions are unlikely to trade Williams
It might have earned them a draft pick or two, and perhaps some good ones, but the Lions say they have decided to hang on to WR Roy Williams. The potential trading chip also happens to be a good and established football player, which the Lions currently have too few of. They are young at several spots, painfully thin at others, and head coach Rod Marinelli knows he needs as much offensive punch — especially in the passing game — with a defense that remains a work in progress. And there might be another, more subtle reason. Though Calvin Johnson should improve in his second year, we hear there is very quiet concern about the Lions thinking he is not quite ready to take the reins as a go-to receiver. That said, they expect bigger things to come out of their second-year wideout.
Green Bay
April 25, 2008
Leadership-by-committee in store for Pack
Not surprisingly, the void Aaron Rodgers is being asked to fill at the QB position following the retirement of Packers legend Brett Favre is a red-hot topic in Green Bay and beyond. At the same time, the Packers’ void in leadership without Favre — as well as fellow retiree and longtime long-snapper Rob Davis, whose strength in the locker room was his greatest quality — hasn’t been discussed nearly as much. It’s important to note that Davis is still likely to provide plenty of valuable leadership in his new role as the Packers’ director of player development. But clearly, new on-the-field leaders are needed. According to team insiders, there are probably three veteran starters for sure — WR Donald Driver, ORT Mark Tauscher and DLE Aaron Kampman — who can be counted on to take on greater leadership roles. Said one team insider: “Driver is a seventh-round pick who came from nowhere. He’s as tough as they come and is very community-oriented. Tauscher is also tough as nails, having overcome a torn ACL. He’s not afraid to speak his mind, and he’s constantly in the weight room. Kampman is another guy who came from dirt. He doesn’t dodge the media and is very religious, which should appeal to that particular sector of the team.” Other Packers players who were mentioned as leaders to a lesser extent: DT Ryan Pickett, MLB Nick Barnett and steady C Scott Wells.
Minnesota
April 23, 2008
Vikings make bold move for Allen but at a steep price
The Vikings and Chiefs completed a deal to send All-Pro DE Jared Allen to Minnesota, and his new contract terms reportedly will make him the highest-paid defender in NFL history based on guaranteed money. Allen will get a signing bonus of a little more than $31 million, believed to be behind only Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger and now-suspended Falcons QB Michael Vick. The Vikings also gave up a ransom of draft picks — they traded their first-round choice, plus both third-round picks, and swapped sixth-rounders, with the Chiefs moving up five spots. The value of the draft-pick bounty is tantamount to a top-10 draft pick. Allen now will start at right end, likely pushing Ray Edwards to the left side. One impetus for the deal was that the Vikings thought there was no way they could get a pass rusher of Allen’s caliber with the 17th pick in the draft. But they also believe that Allen only makes their No. 1 run defense better, too.
April 25, 2008
Contract front remains uncomfortably crowded
Heading into the 2008 draft, the Bears were hardly brimming with optimism as far as reaching new contract agreements with star defenders Brian Urlacher and Tommie Harris any time soon. It would hardly be shocking if that outlook changed for the better once this year’s draft smoke clears, particularly in the case of Harris, who remains a bigger contract priority at present than Urlacher, who has ruffled some feathers with his decision to steer clear of the team’s ongoing voluntary walkouts. In the case of Urlacher, the Bears, at least publicly, have drawn a pretty clear line in the sand, reportedly offering the undisputed face of the franchise a one-year extension on his current nine-year, $57 million contract, through 2012, which would include $5 million up front, in addition to an extra $1 million added to each year remaining on his current deal, provided he plays 85 percent of the snaps each of those years. Urlacher, meanwhile, is said to be seeking at least a two-year extension with more money up front. Unlike Urlacher, Harris has chosen to continue participating in voluntary workouts, despite the fact he was hardly happy with the way contract talks were going heading into the final weekend of April. At the root of Harris’ dissatisfaction, we hear, was his desire for his current deal to be ripped up and reworked completely, with the Bears preferring to extend his existing contract. Don’t be surprised if RS-WR Devin Hester, who is also angling for a bigger payday, ends up signing a new deal before either Harris or Urlacher.
Detroit
April 25, 2008
Several reasons why Lions are unlikely to trade Williams
It might have earned them a draft pick or two, and perhaps some good ones, but the Lions say they have decided to hang on to WR Roy Williams. The potential trading chip also happens to be a good and established football player, which the Lions currently have too few of. They are young at several spots, painfully thin at others, and head coach Rod Marinelli knows he needs as much offensive punch — especially in the passing game — with a defense that remains a work in progress. And there might be another, more subtle reason. Though Calvin Johnson should improve in his second year, we hear there is very quiet concern about the Lions thinking he is not quite ready to take the reins as a go-to receiver. That said, they expect bigger things to come out of their second-year wideout.
Green Bay
April 25, 2008
Leadership-by-committee in store for Pack
Not surprisingly, the void Aaron Rodgers is being asked to fill at the QB position following the retirement of Packers legend Brett Favre is a red-hot topic in Green Bay and beyond. At the same time, the Packers’ void in leadership without Favre — as well as fellow retiree and longtime long-snapper Rob Davis, whose strength in the locker room was his greatest quality — hasn’t been discussed nearly as much. It’s important to note that Davis is still likely to provide plenty of valuable leadership in his new role as the Packers’ director of player development. But clearly, new on-the-field leaders are needed. According to team insiders, there are probably three veteran starters for sure — WR Donald Driver, ORT Mark Tauscher and DLE Aaron Kampman — who can be counted on to take on greater leadership roles. Said one team insider: “Driver is a seventh-round pick who came from nowhere. He’s as tough as they come and is very community-oriented. Tauscher is also tough as nails, having overcome a torn ACL. He’s not afraid to speak his mind, and he’s constantly in the weight room. Kampman is another guy who came from dirt. He doesn’t dodge the media and is very religious, which should appeal to that particular sector of the team.” Other Packers players who were mentioned as leaders to a lesser extent: DT Ryan Pickett, MLB Nick Barnett and steady C Scott Wells.
Minnesota
April 23, 2008
Vikings make bold move for Allen but at a steep price
The Vikings and Chiefs completed a deal to send All-Pro DE Jared Allen to Minnesota, and his new contract terms reportedly will make him the highest-paid defender in NFL history based on guaranteed money. Allen will get a signing bonus of a little more than $31 million, believed to be behind only Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger and now-suspended Falcons QB Michael Vick. The Vikings also gave up a ransom of draft picks — they traded their first-round choice, plus both third-round picks, and swapped sixth-rounders, with the Chiefs moving up five spots. The value of the draft-pick bounty is tantamount to a top-10 draft pick. Allen now will start at right end, likely pushing Ray Edwards to the left side. One impetus for the deal was that the Vikings thought there was no way they could get a pass rusher of Allen’s caliber with the 17th pick in the draft. But they also believe that Allen only makes their No. 1 run defense better, too.