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Volume 8, Issue 57 (Wednesday, June 20th)
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Hi Folks,
Good Thursday to you. Glad you're with us as we hit some News and Notes. But first, the Quote Of The Day: "I wouldn't say they was all that fascinating." -- Washington QB Jason Campbell when asked how TE Chris Cooley looked wearing what Campbell described as "Joe Gibbs 1983 coaching shorts". Have a great day and let's get to it. JSITE NEWS
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1. TB - Bucs WR Stovall Challenging WR Clayton For Starting Job2. KC - Chiefs QB Croyle Making Statement
3. TEN - Titans RB Job Up For Grabs
4. Mike & Mike To Head 2nd Monday Night Football Team
5. KC - KR Randolph First In line For PR Duties
6. TEN - Titans RB White Returns To Practice
7. CAR - Panthers Offense Keeps Defense Guessing
8. TEN - Titans QB Young Misses Practice With Tight Calf
9. DEF - BUF - DT Walker Prepared For Free Agency
10. DEF - TEN - Titans CB Jones Charged In Las Vegas Shooting
11. DEF - TEN - Titans CB Herndon Joins Practice
12. DEF - LB Arrington Recovering Well
13. BUF - CB Webster Leading Candidate In Buffalo
TB - Bucs WR Stovall Challenging WR Clayton For Starting Job
Source: Jim Flynn, PewterReport.com
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Maurice Stovall is apparently challenging wide receiver Michael Clayton for the starting Z (flanker) job with the team. "Maurice Stovall isn't here to sign autographs on the sideline. He's here to play and he's going to get a great look here in the offseason," head coach Jon Gruden said. "David Boston hasn't caught a pass, I don't think, in the NFL in three seasons. If there are two guys that have really worked their butts off, it's those two guys. Mike Clayton, I think, sees that, realized that, and it will make for a very competitive situation here in training camp."
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What has happened to Michael Clayton? In his rookie year of 2004, he was the #13 RB in the league. But he's been in a free fall ever since. In 2005 he finished as #94. Last year he wrapped up the year at # 86. And now he's in danger of losing his starting job.
KC - Chiefs QB Croyle Making Statement
Source: Adam Teicher, Kansas City Star
The quarterback competition in Kansas City is by definition "open", but the momentum is swinging heavily in second year QB Brodie Croyle's favor. Croyle got nearly all of the first team snaps during yesterday's practice and he's been increasingly impressing HC Herm Edwards with his precision and decision making. Edwards remained diplomatic, however. "He's progressing," Edwards said. "We've put him in a lot of situations in practice — blitz periods, red zone, third downs. Now he's going to have to do that in competition with Damon."
"I'm feeling more and more comfortable and more and more confident and getting used to where my receivers are going to be," Croyle said. "I've gotten a lot better since day one."[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Don't get too excited as Tuesday's practice was geared more to the younger players but still, it's obvious that Croyle is making progress. This will be an interesting camp battle. My gut feel right now is that Huard opens as the starter but Croyle takes over fairly soon.
TEN - Titans RB Job Up For Grabs
Source: Terry McCormick, Nashville City Paper
While Tennessee Titans HC Jeff Fisher said newly signed and former Titan RB Chris Brown would have every opportunity to win his starting job back, the underlying theme is that it is not Brown's yet. Brown will compete with second year back LenDale White and rookie Chris Henry for the bulk of the carries in 2007. Brown may have an inside track, having a good relationship with Fisher and already knowing the offense, but he'll have to earn it like everyone else in training camp.
"I've just got to go out there and keep my mind right, work hard and compete for the starting job. I'll do what I have to do to take care of business. I have a chip on my shoulder. I think I have something to prove still," Brown said. "The last couple of months, they started coming back. They said they needed another running back. So we started talking a little bit. It went slow at first, but it started to speed up the last couple of weeks," Brown said. "I don't have to learn a new offense," Brown said. "I just have to do a couple of refresher courses and I'll be all right. I know basically the concepts of the whole thing, so I'm basically ahead of the game." Titans coach Jeff Fisher indicated that Brown will have every opportunity to compete and reclaim the starting job he once held. "He's in good shape and he understands the offense," Fisher said. "He'll fit in like he's been here the whole offseason. It's good to see him in the locker room with a smile on his face and happy about his opportunity to compete." One of Brown's primary competitors for the job, White, was back to full duty on Tuesday after missing most of the team's May organized team activities with a hamstring problem. "I think it's a great addition. You've got another veteran running back coming in," White said. "He already knows [the system]. He doesn't have to line up from scratch and he's kind of proven in this league. Hopefully, we'll get some great competition going and we'll all get better." "I come here to be the best. I want to be the best. I want to play every down," White said. "I'm sure these other guys feel the same thing. I'm going to do everything in my power to go out there and be that guy."[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
I am leaning toward Brown winning this job as I just can't put my faith in LenDale White. That's basically the same problem the Titans had.
Mike & Mike To Head 2nd Monday Night Football Team
Source: Michael McCarthy, USA Today
ESPN is set to unveil a second Monday Night Football announcing team today: play-by-play Mike Greenberg, analysts Mike Golic and Mike Ditka and sideline reporter Bonnie Bernstein.
The new team will make their MNF debut during the Arizona Cardinals vs. San Francisco 49ers game on Sept. 10, says ESPN's Norby Williamson, executive vice president for remote and studio production. The game will be the nightcap in a national NFL doubleheader on ESPN and will kick off at 10:15 p.m. ET. ESPN's main MNF team of play-by-play Mike Tirico, analysts Tony Kornheiser and Ron Jaworski and sideline reporters Suzy Kolber and Michele Tafoya will do the first game, the Baltimore Ravens vs. Cincinnati Bengals, at 7 p.m. ET. ESPN says the second team will only work the one regular-season game while the main team will work all 16 regular-season and four preseason games.[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
If you're a regular listener of Mike & Mike's ESPN radio show, you know Greenberg has been very open about coveting the play by play job on the first team MNF crew. At least as open as he can be while maintaining his position with Kornheiser as the most non confrontational human on the planet. If you're a regular listener, you also know that he's exceptionally talented.
I personally think they'll both be fantastic. I'm not an Arena Football guy but I was very interested to see how they'd handle their role as lead broadcasters for the ESPN. This smacked a little of the "bosses sons" being handed the job but the fact is they were excellent. I have every reason to believe they'll be outstanding as the backup team on Monday Night Football and they'll put even more pressure (if that's possible) on the #1 team. I would not be at all surprised to see Greenberg realize his lifelong goal of following his boyhood idol, Howard Cosell, onto the prime time Monday Night Football stage in the near future.KC - KR Randolph First In line For PR Duties
Source: KCChiefs.com
After the final offseason workout before training camp, Kansas City Chiefs HC Herman Edwards talked about how his views of the return unit. "The kid we've got from South Florida, Ean Randolph, is a guy that we like. I think he can be a good punt returner...We've got kickoff return guys. I don't worry about that too much. I think you put Jeff Webb back there with some other candidates we'll be fine," Edwards said, "But the punt return we're looking at. We signed a free agent [Randolph] who we liked what he could do in college and we're hopeful he can do it on this level." When asked if Randolph would get the first crack, Edwards said, "Absolutely, absolutely."
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Edwards sounds pretty clear there - Randolph will get first shot at the punt returning duties.
TEN - Titans RB White Returns To Practice
Source: Jessica Hopp, Nashville Tennessean
RB LenDale White appeared to be fully recovered from his hamstring injury as he participated in all of the team's practice drills yesterday. He also seemed to have shed some of the extra weight he had been carrying earlier in the spring. White said he's still about 10 pounds from his playing-weight.
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Nothing like a newly signed proven RB to heal that hamstring. I've dogged White for a while now but the reality is this will be a tough battle in training camp between White and Chris Brown. Chris Henry will also factor into the mix.
CAR - Panthers Offense Keeps Defense Guessing
Source: Pat Yasinskas, Charlotte Observer
No longer will opposing defenses know when the snap count will end in Carolina. According to Panthers' defenders, the snap count was always on "one" and in general the offense was as predictable to them as it was to its opponents. "They've definitely got us off guard right now, and (offensive players) like it." DE Mike Rucker said. "We jumped offside at least 10 times a day," S Mike Minter said. Snap counts aren't the only changes OC Jeff Davidson has made. Most notably, the Panthers switched to a zone-blocking scheme. "I see an offense that attacks a defense, as opposed to just having a scheme and saying, `That's it,' " Minter said.
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Jeff Davidson has folks excited. Most notably WR Steve Smith who has repeatedly stated that he's liking the new wrinkles in the offense and the attacking style. And when Steve Smith is happy, I'm happy.
TEN - Titans QB Young Misses Practice With Tight Calf
Source: Jessica Hopp, Nashville Tennessean
Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young missed the team's afternoon practice session with what is being called a mild tightening of his calf muscle. The injury is not considered serious. "Coach kicked me (out)," Young said. "He told me to chill out for the rest of the day."
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We'll watch this one for you but it's not something that seems like an issue.
DEF - BUF - DT Walker Prepared For Free Agency
Source: John Wawrow, AP
From Philadelphia to Buffalo and potentially back again: Defensive tackle Darwin Walker is prepared for anything -- even becoming a free agent in August -- after contract talks with the Bills reached an impasse Wednesday.
"Whether we're done talking, I don't want to go that far," Walker's agent, Albert Irby, told The Associated Press after talks broke down. "I've got to hope they change their mind, because I can tell you we're not changing ours." And that could mean Walker's tenure with the Bills might be a short one in what is quickly becoming one of the team's most convoluted and unusual acquisitions. Walker has two years left on his contract, but has yet to report to the Bills after stipulating Buffalo negotiate a new deal. The Bills, however, included a clause in the trade in which they would receive a sixth-round draft pick and return Walker to Philadelphia if the player didn't report by Aug. 5. Barring a breakthrough, Irby believes the Bills will have no choice but to send Walker back to the Eagles, at which point he expects Philadelphia to release his client.[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
It's been a weird spring and summer so far for Walker. He thought he was getting a more favorable deal with Buffalo than the Eagles would give him but it turns out to be not that different. So it's looking like he might wind up back as the property of Philadelphia and then be released where he'll test the waters of free agency. There's always the chance he comes around with Buffalo but he appears fairly well dug in with his position.
DEF - TEN - Titans CB Jones Charged In Las Vegas Shooting
Source: Yahoo - Ticker
According to KLAS-TV in Las Vegas, charges have been filed against three people, including Tennessee Titans cornerback Pacman Jones, in a February shooting at a Las Vegas strip club. Jones is charged with two counts of felony coercion.
Jones faces up to 12 years in prison and a $10,000 fine if convicted of each charge. According to police, the incident at Minxx started when two dancers - one allegedly a friend of Jones - were showered with hundreds of dollars in bills. Jones allegedly grabbed the hair of one of the dancers and punched her two or three times in the face, police said. Aaron Cudworth, a bouncer at the club, interceded and attempted to escort Jones out the door. But Jones jumped back onto the stage and allegedly threatened to kill the bouncer. "Matter of fact, all yous are gonna get it," Jones said, according to the police report. Jones then allegedly took a swing at Cudworth, who put him in an arm bar. Jones responded by allegedly biting the bouncer on the ankle.[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Allegedly punching a woman in the face and biting guys on the ankle. I only wish I were making this up.
The league has dangled the possibility that Jones' 16 game suspension might be reduced to 10 games. Between these official charges and the more recent incident in Atlanta, I'd say the chances of seeing a reduced suspension are pretty slim.DEF - TEN - Titans CB Herndon Joins Practice
Source: Jessica Hopp, Nashville Tennessean
Just six months removed from having surgery to repair a broken ankle in Week 17 of the 2006 season, Titans CB Kelly Herndon participated in individual drills yesterday. He said he will stay in Nashville after minicamp to complete his rehab.
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Best wishes to Herndon as he returns to action. With the Adam Jones business, the Titans can obviously use help at corner.
DEF - LB Arrington Recovering Well
Source: Jason La Canfora, Washington Post
Former Redskins and Giants LB LaVar Arrington remains under observation at Prince George's Hospital Center, but is in stable condition and appears to be in good spirits despite a broken forearm and severely lacerated leg. "He has some bruises, but his head is fine," agent Carl Poston said. "He's up there cracking jokes and being himself. He's doing great, all of his vital signs are good."
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Great news for Arrington. And for all you Footballguys motorcyclists out there - please be careful.
BUF - CB Webster Leading Candidate In Buffalo
Source: Chris Brown, BuffaloBills.com
Bills CB Jason Webster is the front runner to earn the starting spot on the right side over Jabari Greer, Ashton Youboty, Kiwaukee Thomas, who have a combined 17 starts between the three of them. Webster, who has 73 career starts, has given HC Dick Jauron a reason to exhale after his signing. "To get a guy that has started more than 60 games in the NFL that has the quality, performance level and character level of Jason, I couldn't be happier with how it fits us. It was big," he said.
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Looks like the Bills have found themselves a corner. Coach Jauron is right - it's big to be able to fill a hole with a guy that has starting experience. The bad news is that Nate Clements left a pretty big hole.
That'll do it for today, Folks. Hope you have a great Thursday and we'll see you tomorrow with the update.
J