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Volume 8, Issue 59 (Friday, June 22nd)
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Hi Folks,
Welcome to the weekend. Sit back as we've got the News and Notes you need. But first, the Quote Of The Day: "See, my entourage is real small right now." -- DET CB Ramzee Robinson, the last pick of the NFL Draft this year earning the Mr. Irrelevant title on his trip to the NFL Network set in California where he brought with him just his uncle. Have a great Saturday and let's get to it. JSITE NEWS
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1. MIA - DE Taylor Questioning QB Green's Health2. MIN - Vikings Stadium Could Cost $1 Billion
3. QB George Waiting For Call
4. ATL - K Andersen Hoping To Return
5. SD - TE Manumaleuna Agrees To New Contract
6. OT Kyle Turley Ready To Give Football A Try
7. ARZ - OT Ross Takes 1 Million Dollar Pay Cut
8. ATL - Golf Tournament Featuring Michael Vick Rescheduled
9. CHI - Bears DT Johnson Stopped By Police In Arizona
10. DEF - TEN - Titans CB Jones Surrenders, Released On Bond
11. DEF - S Donavin Darius Contacted By Bucs
MIA - DE Taylor Questioning QB Green's Health
Source: Harvey Fialkov, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Dolphins DE Jason Taylor, reigning NFL defensive player of the year, is quoted in this week's Sports Illustrated as saying he doesn't have confidence in QB Trent Green's ability to take a hit after missing eight games last season from a serious concussion. Taylor is quoted as saying about Green: "This is off the record?oh, what the hell, it's on the record: He'd better not get hit. One big hit, and he could be scrambled eggs."
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Taylor is a veteran. You'd think he'd know better and have a better grasp of the "off the record / on the record" concept. But apparently not. In reality, this is a non issue though. Green is not much different than most any other QB - none of them need to take a hard hit.
Taylor has since said his words were taken out of context.MIN - Vikings Stadium Could Cost $1 Billion
Source: Paul Levy & Mark Brunswick, Minneapolis Star Tribune
The projected cost of a new Vikings stadium is expected to flirt with $1 billion if the Legislature does not approve the project in the 2008 session. The Vikings are hoping to open their new stadium by 2012.
Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller predicted Thursday "there will be a very serious and hopefully fruitful discussion about what would be the public participation" in a new Vikings stadium. But he offered no hint at a timetable. "I think the Vikings are a valuable asset to the state, and I think the general thing is we need a way to get these important projects done," said Pogemiller, DFL-Minneapolis. "I don't know what the possibilities are. No local unit of government by itself would be able to handle this type of project."[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
The stadium would have a retractable roof which could create all sorts of fun possibilities late in the season. I'd love to see this. But one billion dollars is a lot of money. We'll see.
Source: NFL Network
Free agent QB Jeff George was a guest on the NFL Network on Thursday and said that he is still interested in playing football. George is 39 years old and is staying in shape with the hopes that a team will call.
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I'm one of the seven people in the world that like Jeff George. He is no choir boy. But he also possesses a cannon for a right arm. And it's still there. If you watched the Total Access episode, you saw George goofing around in the parking lot, you saw him effortlessly hitting targets up on the 3rd floor about 60 yards out. He was basically petitioning for a job. He specifically talked about how the Raiders could use his abilities as a guy that could help rookie JaMarcus Russell develop. He also made some interesting comments saying that he felt up to 50% of the current QB starters in the league weren't of the quality they should be.
ATL - K Andersen Hoping To Return
Source: John Hollis, Atlanta Journal Constitution
Free agent K Morten Andersen is working out this summer and is wanting to return for another season with the Falcons. "They've got the young guys in there now," Andersen said. "But they know I'm right here and I'm training." Andersen converted 20 of 23 field goal attempts last season for the Falcons. He turns 47 in August.
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Andersen is a pretty amazing guy to be out there at 47 years of age. He says in the article he thinks he can play at age 50. That's unreal. Best of luck to him.
SD - TE Manumaleuna Agrees To New Contract
Source: Michael Lombardo, SDBoltReport.com
The San Diego Chargers have agreed to terms on a new contract with tight end Brandon Manumaleuna, extending his deal by one year and locking him up through the 2009 season. Manumaleuna joined the Chargers in 2006 and finished his first year in San Diego with 14 receptions for 91 yards and three touchdowns.
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The Chargers already have a "pretty" good TE in Antonio Gates so we're not expecting too much from Manumaleuna. But it's a good move for the Chargers and also for the TE.
OT Kyle Turley Ready To Give Football A Try
Source: Len Pasquarelli, ESPN.com
Despite rumors that he might retire for good following his unceremonious release by the Kansas City Chiefs earlier this spring, veteran offensive tackle Kyle Turley is ready to give football another try.
Turley, who missed the entire 2004 and 2005 seasons because of a herniated disc and related back woes, but then signed with Kansas City and actually opened the 2006 campaign as the starting left tackle, quietly worked out for Chiefs officials this week, ESPN.com has learned. And he is ready to audition for other teams, too, if they are interested.[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Turley is a guy with a lot of well documented passion but his body just seems like it hasn't been cooperating. He'll give it a shot this summer and we wish him the best.
ARZ - OT Ross Takes 1 Million Dollar Pay Cut
Source: Len Pasquarelli, ESPN.com
Offensive tackle Oliver Ross, who has struggled with injuries during his two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals but is projected as a starter in 2007, has taken a $1 million reduction in his scheduled base salary for this season.
Ross agreed to trim his base salary from $2.8 million to $1.8 million. He can earn back the $1 million cut with incentives tied to playing time and performance. The final two seasons of the five-year deal Ross signed with the Cardinals as an unrestricted free agent in 2005, were not affected by the restructuring, so his salaries stayed at $2.8 million each for 2008-2009. The adjustment of Ross' contract is in line with moves the Cardinals have made throughout the offseason, as they have attempted to rework deals to more accurately reflect a player's status with the team. Earlier this month, Arizona released three players -- defensive tackle Kendrick Clancy, guard Milford Brown and fullback Obafemi Ayanbadejo -- because they were no longer viewed as starters by the new coaching staff.[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
The Cardinals seem serious about "trimming the fat" among some players either reworking deals or in some cases, releasing players. It's a no nonsense attitude. Is it being cheap? That's a reputation the Cardinals are trying to shake. Or is it being hardnosed like a team such as New England? The proof will be in how the team performs.
ATL - Golf Tournament Featuring Michael Vick Rescheduled
Source: CBS Sportsline.com
A charity golf tournament featuring Michael Vick, intended in part to raise scholarships in memory of Virginia Tech's shooting victims, was rescheduled for September.
The tournament at Kingsmill Resort & Spa had been set to begin Friday, and a reason for the change was not announced. A telephone call by the Associated Press to a charitable foundation affiliated with the Atlanta Falcons quarterback was not immediately returned Friday. The tournament is the latest in a series of Virginia appearances either canceled or delayed since Vick's name surfaced in a dogfighting investigation.[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Another event delayed with Vick. It's important to note that the article doesn't specifically say this was because of Vick. But it does fit a pattern of late.
CHI - Bears DT Johnson Stopped By Police In Arizona
Source: David Haugh, Chicago Tribune
Gilbert, Ariz., police pulled Chicago Bears DT Tank Johnson over at 3:30 a.m. Friday and cited him for "being impaired to the slightest degree," according to Sgt. Andrew Duncan, a police spokesman. Police initially stopped Johnson for going 40 m.p.h. in a 25 m.p.h. zone when the officer on the scene "made observations that led him to believe Johnson was impaired," according to Duncan. Johnson was taken to the Gilbert Police station where blood was drawn to determine his blood-alcohol content. Results of those tests aren't expected for up to two weeks.
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If you'll remember, Johnson has a "good behavior" carrot hanging out for him. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said earlier this month that Johnson's eight-game suspension could be reduced to six if he had "no further adverse involvement with law enforcement." I'm not sure how Mr. Goodell defines "adverse involvement" but I'd lean toward thinking being pulled over at 3:30 am on the suspicion he was driving while impaired is pretty close to it.
DEF - TEN - Titans CB Jones Surrenders, Released On Bond
Source: Associated Press, via LowellSun.com
Suspended NFL player Adam "Pacman" Jones surrendered to authorities in Nevada early Friday and was released after posting $20,000 bond on felony charges in a strip club melee that preceded a triple shooting. Jones was booked into the Clark County Detention Center early Friday and released about an hour later, a jail operator said. The Tennessean reported Jones posted $10,000 bond for each charge of felony coercion.
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The latest on Adam Jones. And because I know you guys need to know everything, Jones shaved his trademark dreadlocks.
DEF - S Donavin Darius Contacted By Bucs
Source: Rick Stroud, TampaBay.com
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have contacted safety Donavin Darius, who was released by the Jaguars last week. Darius, 31, has visited Oakland and received interest from Carolina and Buffalo. He has played just 12 games in the past two seasons because of injuries. "We've checked into Donavin Darius, " Bucs GM Bruce Allen said. "But we like where we're at right now."
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Darius Donavin has received a good bit of interest from teams. The fact he's talking to different teams but doesn't seem to be very serious with any of them tells me he might be over valuing himself a little. The Jaguars obviously thought he wasn't worth as much as Darius did. He could wait to see which teams have issues in their defensive backfield when training camp opens.
That'll do it for today, Folks. Have a great weekend and we'll see you tomorrow with the update.
J