Whispers from around the NFL
Pro Football Weekly
• According to team observers, Lions president Matt Millen has told acquaintances that DE Mario Williams is the kind of player the team wants to build around. Williams, though, is expected to be long gone by the time the Lions pick ninth overall. However, Millen might consider moving up in the draft should Williams drop a few spots.
• Another indication the Giants are leaning toward drafting a linebacker early: Vice president of player evaluation Chris Mara has been at the pro days of four schools with first-round caliber OLBs -- Alabama (DeMeco Ryans), Miami (Fla.) (Rocky McIntosh), Iowa (Chad Greenway) and Florida State (Ernie Sims and Kamerion Wimbley).
• We hear the Niners really have their fingers crossed that C Jeremy Newberry will be able to start alongside newly acquired OLG Larry Allen on the offensive line, but the odds that Newberry's surgically repaired right knee will allow him to do so remain 50-50 at best.
• Sources in Philadelphia say PK David Akers would have been very upset if reserve QB Koy Detmer -- his longtime holder on place kicks -- had been released instead of Mike McMahon, a Marty Mornhinweg favorite.
• When his 2005 season came to an abrupt end after he severely cut his forearm while wrestling with a friend during the Cardinals' bye week, it looked like former first-round pick Calvin Pace would be a long shot to stay with the team. But now we're hearing the team apparently still thinks Pace's upside is great enough to keep him on the roster.
• Sources in Nashville, Tenn., say there's still a chance the Titans could release starting OG Zach Piller, who carries a salary-cap figure of $3.5 million. That would open up a spot, perhaps, for backup Jacob Bell, whom the coaches like but don't want to play at right tackle.
• Could Ty Law end up a Titan? Don't rule it out. Though the money likely would be prohibitive, the team had a meeting scheduled with Law and would love a veteran presence at cornerback to help guide young CBs Pacman Jones and Reynaldo Hill. Plus, Law would be a natural candidate to move to safety in a couple of years -- another need position.
• The way we hear it, Bengals QB Carson Palmer appeared to walk without a limp during a March press conference at Paul Brown Stadium. But Palmer would not predict when he would return to action. We're told the Bengals are still looking for a veteran backup to replace Jon Kitna.
• A source close to the Texans says LB Kailee Wong is healing well from an October knee injury. Wong is likely to start at one of the OLB spots if veteran Sam Cowart starts in the middle.
• The way we hear it, Texans general manager Charley Casserly's future with the club is likely to be determined soon after the draft. Casserly is rumored to be a candidate to replace Raiders head coach Art Shell as the NFL's senior vice president of operations and development.
• After losing Ben Taylor to Green Bay, the Browns are still weighing their options at inside linebacker and are likely to select at least one in the draft as they look for a candidate to play opposite Andra Davis. Veteran Matt Stewart looks to be the top option currently on the roster. The team also could look to add an outside 'backer.
• The Ravens were thrilled to re-sign LB Bart Scott, who emerged as a valuable member of the defense at the end of last season.
• The way we hear it, the Ravens remain interested in QB Kerry Collins, but they clearly are willing to wait to sign Collins (or any other veteran signal caller) only at what they believe to be a reasonable price.
• Sources in Dallas say Cowboys owner Jerry Jones' comments were earnest in regard to cutting OG Larry Allen, that he really struggled to sign off on it, hoping the team could re-sign him a la the Rams and Isaac Bruce, who was released before rejoining the team.
• Expect the Cowboys to add a kickoff specialist in case new PK Mike Vanderjagt's distance and hang time aren't satisfactory for Bill Parcells. The coach is a believer in distance on punts and kicks to make the returner go a longer distance.
• The Giants have shown interest in former Packers NT Grady Jackson but also would like to add a quicker interior D-lineman to the mix.
• Giants reserve LB Chase Blackburn, a top special-teamer and coaches' favorite who has returned from a horrendous injury (five herniated discs, two bulging discs, two pinched nerves), has heeded doctors' advice to prevent such an injury in the future by adding an inch of muscle to his neck.
• The Eagles reportedly have an interest in Browns C Jeff Faine, who was rendered expendable with the addition of LeCharles Bentley. That means the Eagles aren't sold on either handing the center job to young Jamaal Jackson or just giving it back to Hank Fraley.
• Redskins LB Marcus Washington said he plans to step up into more of a vocal role now that LaVar Arrington has moved on. Washington already has earned his teammates' approval and is a favorite of the coaching staff, so his leadership should be well-received.
• Word is most teams around the league didn't believe PK Adam Vinatieri would leave the Patriots. That's why interest in him was so sparse until he spent a day and a half in Green Bay before visiting Indianapolis, where he quickly signed for five years, averaging about $2.5 million per season.
• Word is the flood of money that bolstered each team following the CBA extension likely led to the raiding of the Patriots, with OLB Willie McGinest getting big bucks from Cleveland, WR David Givens getting No. 1 WR money from Tennessee and PK Vinatieri becoming the highest-paid kicker. Each of those deals far surpassed anything the Patriots offered.
• The Jets aren't fretting over the departure of DE John Abraham, who they believe wasn't a good fit for their team in terms of makeup or attention to detail. Rather than relying on a pass rusher who excels in winning one-on-one battles, head coach Eric Mangini will attempt to generate pressure through matchups and deception. During Mangini's six years in New England, the Patriots' sack leader never had more than 9½ sacks.
• According to league sources, the Broncos' decision to part ways with RB Mike Anderson and TE Jeb Putzier, both starters, was not as big a surprise inside the league as it was to fans, as Anderson's skills had begun to decline a bit and Putzier's lack of toughness was becoming an issue.
• Word out of San Diego is that the play of C Nick Hardwick dropped off a bit in his second year and the team had a real interest in LeCharles Bentley, who moved from New Orleans to Cleveland in March as a free agent, to play either center or guard. The Chargers will stand by their philosophy of not spending just to spend, but expect them to keep tabs on the list of available blockers this summer, especially after the initial round of training-camp cuts.
• The Broncos may not have created the most excitement with their moves in free agency, but that's according to plan. Denver's primary goal was to keep the nucleus of the team that reached the AFC championship intact, and it has done so, restructuring or re-signing 13 players, including keeping OT Matt Lepsis, C Tom Nalen and DT Gerard Warren, their top three UFA priorities. "I guess some people think we didn't do anything because there's no big-name players (added)," said general manager Ted Sundquist. "But we were 13-3, not 3-13. You don't dismantle from 13-3. We like where we are and where we're going."
• Though sources close to the Raiders believe the team could use an upgrade at the backup RB spot, Oakland's needs elsewhere may trump any possibility of bringing in competition for Justin Fargas, an Al Davis favorite because of his speed.
• Ohio State LB A.J. Hawk's versatility would fit Oakland's defense well, and there is a very good chance he'll be a Raider if he's available with the seventh overall pick. But we're hearing that with the quality overall depth at the position in the draft this year, the Raiders would not be upset if they had to wait until the second or middle rounds to address their LB corps.
• The Chargers could have a real battle for the two safety spots, which in the past have been a sore spot defensively. They paid former Panthers FS Marlon McCree starter's money to lure him from Carolina in March. That would indicate that Bhawoh Jue, last year's starter at free safety, could move over to the SS role to battle Terrence Kiel for playing time. It's also likely the Chargers will explore options in the draft in hopes of finding a versatile player with range to help an underachieving CB lot.
• How hard the Chiefs go after disposed Lions QB Joey Harrington in the next few months may ultimately hinge on how strongly they feel about former CFL star Casey Printers, who is considered a talented project. The Chiefs also don't have the same wiggle room financially that other clubs do to compete for Harrington's services.
• Sources in Kansas City were surprised to see the Chiefs bring back unrestricted free-agent DT Lional Dalton, whose play had dropped off in '05.
• We hear new Rams CB Fakhir Brown, who played under Jim Haslett in New Orleans, will get every opportunity to grab a starting job away from Travis Fisher, who the team believes is in need of a wake-up call in his contract year. Fisher was hampered much of last season by a groin injury but didn't play very well when healthy.
• Don't be surprised if Rams second-year CB Ronald Bartell moves to safety before long. We hear the Rams believe Bartell's size, closing speed and coverage skills, which got better as his rookie campaign wore on, make him a potentially good fit for the position.
• The Rams still plan on beefing up their personnel department, but we hear they will wait until after the draft before making any moves. The contracts of a lot of personnel types around the league normally expire after May 1.
• Our Cardinals sources tell us that, in order for sixth-year RB Marcel Shipp to be assured of making the final cut, he will have to convince the team he can make an impact on special teams, especially if former Northern Arizona star RB Roger Robinson continues his stellar play for Frankfurt in NFL Europe.
• Although converted DL Fred Wakefield did a surprisingly effective job for the Cardinals as an offensive lineman when given the opportunity last season, we hear he will probably have a tough time making the final cut next season.
• Word is the Niners would much prefer that veteran free-agent addition Walt Harris start the season as the team's nickel back rather than as the starting cornerback opposite Shawntae Spencer. For that to happen, though, either the Niners would have to find a capable starter in the draft or hope that former first-rounder Mike Rumph can bounce back effectively in his second go-around as a corner after unsuccessfully switching to safety.
• It's quite possible, we hear, that Seahawks free-agent addition Nate Burleson will start opposite Darrell Jackson at wide receiver, with veteran Bobby Engram returning to the No. 3 WR role he has filled so ably in the past.
• It wouldn't stun Bears backers to see general manager Jerry Angelo add a cornerback in the draft. But we're told by sources at Halas Hall that the team has renewed confidence in CB Charles Tillman. Tillman struggled and was inconsistent in 2005, but sources say the issue affecting his performance was health. We're told that, two days after the season, Tillman had surgery to repair a shoulder injury after having knee surgery at the end of the '04 season. The team doesn't think it's a stretch that Tillman could come back much-improved.
• We hear that, even if Seahawks head coach Mike Holmgren adds a veteran quarterback to the mix, Seneca Wallace will remain the No. 2 behind Matt Hasselbeck, which would put an end to rumors that the athletic Wallace will be moved to wide receiver.
• Bears management continues to sidestep the issue of extending the contract of head coach Lovie Smith. After an 11-5 season and NFC North title, club president Ted Phillips said he wants to see more before raising Smith's salary. At $1.35 million per season, Smith is the lowest-paid coach in the NFL after Mike Tice was fired by the Vikings and the Jaguars gave Jack Del Rio -- on the heels of a 12-4 campaign resulting in a playoff berth -- a new deal that more than doubled his salary. In addition, Marvin Lewis and John Fox were rewarded for playoff berths with significant raises, and Falcons head coach Jim Mora, who went 8-8 last season, received an extension. Smith is signed through the 2007 season.
• The issues between Vikings head coach Brad Childress and Daunte Culpepper came down to commitment and respect. Culpepper didn't feel the team showed him either, and Childress openly questioned Culpepper's willingness to lead and put his own issues on the back burner for the good of the team. Childress was miffed by Culpepper's choice to work out at a HealthSouth facility in suburban Orlando, Fla., rather than participate in the Vikings' offseason training program, which would have allowed his rehab to remain under the watchful eye of the coaches and training staff.
• Privately, the Jaguars have already voiced some buyer's remorse about the deal it has with backup OT Stockar McDougle. McDougle's conditioning and effort have always been a question despite his size and potential. We're told he's way overweight after being benched in Miami in 2005. That said, the Jaguars guaranteed less than $250,000 of McDougle's deal.
• Colts RB Dominic Rhodes has been told he'll have the first shot at replacing RB Edgerrin James in the offense. But team observers say concern exists about his ability to adequately fill the void. Rhodes has chronic knee and shoulder problems and hasn't been consistent, with 529 rushing yards in 40 games since running for 1,104 yards as a rookie in 2001. Rhodes, who is 5-foot-9, is a lesser pure runner, pass catcher and blocker than James.
• If LB Rocky Calmus, acquired in a trade from the Titans last season, receives a clean bill of health, the Colts would like to re-sign him as a possible replacement for David Thornton. Thornton left Indianapolis for more money from the Titans.
• We're told Joey Harrington sealed his own fate when he came to the Lions' QB school disgruntled and unenthusiastic about his future with the team. Harrington, we hear, gave a half-hearted effort on the field and in initial sitdowns with new offensive coordinator Mike Martz.
• Word out of Charlotte has Thomas Davis on the move. Davis, the Panthers' first-round pick last year, spent most of his rookie season in the secondary as a backup safety. With the departure of WLB Will Witherspoon in free agency, Davis is in contention to replace Witherspoon or SLB Brandon Short, who was released, in the starting lineup. Davis played a hybrid linebacker-safety position in college at Georgia.
• We hear Buccaneers head coach Jon Gruden was disappointed that the team couldn't re-sign QB Brian Griese, who signed with the Bears. Gruden wanted Griese back to push southpaw starter Chris Simms, because current backups Luke McCown and Tim Rattay won't pose much of a challenge to Simms.
• Our sources in Tampa tell us that FB Mike Alstott postponed his retirement for a year and signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract to remain with the Bucs because he was pleased with how much he was involved in the offense last season. Alstott scored seven touchdowns.
• We hear the free-agent signings of former Ravens DT Maake Kemoeatu and former Rams DT Damione Lewis by the Panthers is a clear indication of their concern about DT Kris Jenkins' injury history. While the Panthers are hopeful Jenkins will be healthy by the start of the season, we hear they aren't confident he can stay that way. So the Panthers approached the tackle position this offseason, we're told, as if they needed two starters, adding Kemoeatu and Lewis after cutting 34-year-old DT Brentson Buckner.
• While details about WR Donté Stallworth's late March arrest in Miami for an expired tag on his car and nonviolently resisting arrest were embarrassing for the 25-year-old wide receiver, we hear Stallworth is not a bad-character guy and that the arrest shouldn't hurt his standing with the new coaching staff in New Orleans.
