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Volume 8, Issue 66 (Friday, June 29th)
LIMITED TIME OFFERS Hi Folks, Welcome to the weekend. Hope you're set for a great one. We've got the News and Notes you want here plus new site features so let's don't waste any time. Let's get to it. JSITE NEWS A.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1. NE - New England WR Moss Keeping an Eye on Defense2. It's Official: NFL Europa Finished 3. BUF - QB Edwards Aims for Backup Job 4. MIA - QB Culpepper's Hearing Gets Delayed 5. TB - QB Simms May Be 4th On Depth Chart 6. DEF - DET - Lions Sign 'Mr. Irrelevant' 7. DEF - DT Johnson Waiting For Suitors 8. DEF - PIT - Extension Questions Linger For Steelers' S Polamalu NE - New England WR Moss Keeping an Eye on Defense Source: John Tomase, Boston Herald One of New England WR Randy Moss' greatest attributes as a wide receiver may be his ability to read defenses, according to a NFL scout that has followed Moss throughout his career. The skill should help Moss assimilate the Patriots offense quickly and help him regain his status as an elite NFL wideout. "Watch out," the scout said. "If the guy sitting next to him in the locker room is the guy I think it is, then Randy's probably going to get a lot of opportunities and things will be good." "It's kind of interesting, because I hear people say he doesn't know how to run routes and all this other stuff," said the scout, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "But he's one of the few guys I know of in this league who when defenses line up, he knows what coverage it is." Moss honed that skill while working with Cris Carter in Minnesota. "Carter caught a whole lot of footballs by telling the quarterback what the coverage was going to be," the scout said. "So to say the guy doesn't know how to run routes and he's not this and he's not that, those things are totally false. I don't know how many guys you know who can line up and tell the quarterback what the coverage is, but Randy is one of them." "I don't think he has to change his attitude, because I don't think his attitude has ever been what people have made it out to be," he said. "He's one of those intense competitors that whether it's marbles or fishing or anything, he hates to lose. Which is why he wants the ball all the time. "He's also a guy who has kind of a magnetic effect with his teammates. He's always holding the barbecues or saying, 'Let's go here as a group' or 'Let's go watch this high school football game as a group.' Some people say he's going to be this mad malcontent, but that's not the case because that's not what he's all about."[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] The attitude talk here is no news to our regular readers as I've been saying this since the trade to New England. I think we'll find out Moss was about as much of a "cancer" as Corey Dillon was when he came to New England. In other words, he'll be fine. I would like to know who this un named scout is as he doesn't have a lot of company in thinking Moss is a great reader of defenses. It's an interesting viewpoint on it. Let the other guys in your league down grade Moss. But I think he'll be fine.It's Official: NFL Europa Finished Source: AP, International Herald Tribune The NFL's development league in Europe has ended with immediate effect, spokesman Maik Matischak said today. A statement posted on the German-language edition of the NFL's Web site said the National Football League decided to concentrate its "strategies and resources" on regular season games outside the United States in an effort to reach as many people as possible. "We thank our fans for the great support in the past years," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell was quoted as saying in the statement. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] The airwaves Friday were filled with angry and sad NFL Europa fans lamenting the loss of the league. I wonder where these people were for the games. It came down to a simple business decision. The NFL is in the business of making money - something it does exceptionally well. NFL Europa was not in line with that business philosophy.BUF - QB Edwards Aims for Backup Job Source: Chris Brown, BuffaloBills.com Buffalo Bills QB Trent Edwards could end the off-season as the team's backup quarterback behind incumbent starter J.P. Losman. In Edwards way, however, is veteran QB Craig Nall. "Trent is a rookie and unproven while Craig hasn't played much football on Sunday in the National Football League," head coach Dick Jauron said. "I don't know if he'll push Craig for the two. I wouldn't be surprised if he does. They're both very smart guys, they're both very competitive with good arms. It's a good situation for us." [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Nall is entering his 6th year and has only 33 NFL regular season pass attempts under his belt. But that's 33 more than Edwards does. I wouldn't be surprised to see the rookie QB make a strong move for the #2 job. The related story here is that starting QB J.P. Losman continues to look very good. The fact they'd consider a rookie like Edwards backing up Losman is telling about how confident they feel in Losman. MIA - QB Culpepper's Hearing Gets Delayed Source: Jeff Darlington, Miami Herald The arbitration hearing for Miami Dolphins quarterback Daunte Culpepper, which was initially scheduled for Friday, has been postponed until Tuesday, NFL Players Association spokesman Carl Francis said. John Feerick, who is serving as the arbitrator in the case, had flight problems Thursday night and Friday morning because of bad weather. Culpepper's grievance against the Dolphins will be heard on Tuesday morning in Los Angeles. A time and location have not been finalized. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Whether it's wrecking his car or problems with the arbitrator's flight, Culpepper can't catch a break. As we said yesterday, most people feel that it could be a couple of weeks before the arbitrator hands down a decision once he hears the arguments. That's getting awfully close to the timeframe for training camps to open. So every day matters here. TB - QB Simms May Be 4th On Depth Chart Source: Rick Stroud, St. Petersburg Times Bucs QB Chris Simms may enter training camp behind Jeff Garcia, Bruce Gradkowski and perhaps Luke McCown, at least based on reduced reps in the offseason. "It's tough. Of course I want to be out there and taking all the reps, " Simms said. "That's part of being an athlete and being a competitor. But the time will come. I know when July comes, nobody is going to be begging for more reps. I see myself battling for No. 1. Without a doubt. No doubt." [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Simms recently said if they wanted to judge a player by how he played in June, he'd be an All Pro the last few years. In other words, don't read too much into June. But it's also weird to be the #4 QB there. We'll be watching this one closely. Jeff Garcia seems to be loving the #1 spot and looks extremely focused on holding onto it. DEF - DET - Lions Sign 'Mr. Irrelevant' Source: Detroit News Alabama CB Ramzee Robinson, who earned the title "Mr. Irrelevant" as the final player selected in the 2007 NFL draft, has agreed to a three-year contract with the Detroit Lions. Financial terms were not disclosed. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Robinson has been a great sport with all the hoopla surrounding the last pick. He's scored a ton of gifts and received a lot of attention including an appearance on NFL Network's Total Access which he handled like a champ. I'm pulling for him. DEF - DT Johnson Waiting For Suitors Source: Larry Weisman, USA TODAY Free agent DT Tank Johnson is waiting to see which teams might be interested in acquiring his services. Johnson must serve an eight game suspension with any team that might wish to sign him, though it's still possible that two games could be subtracted from his ban if he meets certain guidelines. "We're in a holding pattern," said agent, Bill Heck. "We've got a lot of territory we've got to weave through." [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Johnson can expect to remain in that "holding pattern" until we see what kind of fallout results from his latest brush with the law. If his blood alochol tests come back showing he was impaired, his availability might dramatically change. No team will want to sign him until they know the scoop there. DEF - PIT - Extension Questions Linger For Steelers' S Polamalu Source: John Harris, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polumalu is entering the final year of his current contract, and not much, if anything, has been determined or heard as far as an extension is concerned. Traditionally, the Steelers prefer to re-sign their core players the year before their contract ends. Not signing Polamalu this offseason doesn't mean a new deal won't get done, but it would send the wrong message to players and fans. Agent Marvin Demoff is trying to hammer out a deal for Polamalu this offseason, because the Steelers don't negotiate in season. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Polumalu is a valuable part of the defense and one would think the Steelers would get this one done. Stay tuned. That'll do it for today, Folks. Have a great Saturday and we'll see you tomorrow with the update. J |
