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Volume 8, Issue 71 (Wednesday, July 4th)Hi Folks, I trust you had a nice 4th. We did but we're ready to jump back to it here. But first, the Quote Of The Day: "I did not try to go out and hire Bill Jr. Not that you could have if you wanted to." -- Cowboys' owner Jerry Jones on hiring Wade Phillips. Have a great Thursday and let's get to it. JSITE NEWS A.
New Footballguys.com Podcast - The Audible - Ready
B.
Rearview SOS - QBs Article - By Footballguys' Chase Stuart
C.
Value and ADP for QBs By Footballguys' David Yudkin
D.
Footballguys Releases RSS Feeds
INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1. OAK - Raiders RB Rhodes Suspended Four Games By NFL2. CHI - Bears Sign TE Olsen 3. MIN - PHI - Eagles QB Holcomb Interested In Vikings 4. DEF - CHI - Contract Talks Commence Between Bears & Briggs 5. DEF - TB - Bucs CB Cox Suspended Four Games 6. DEF - GB - Packers DTs To Rotate 7. DEF - STL - DT Wooten Could Face League Scrutiny OAK - Raiders RB Rhodes Suspended Four Games By NFL Source: Jason Jones, Sacramento Bee Oakland Raiders running back Dominic Rhodes has reportedly been suspended for the first four games of the 2007 season for violating the league's substance abuse policy. The suspension will begin on August 31, with Rhodes being eligible to return to the active roster on October 1. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Bad news here for the Raiders and Rhodes. Prior to this news, we'd expected Rhodes to fill the #2 RB role behind LaMont Jordan. With Rhodes missing time, guys like Justin Fargas, Justin Griffith and Michael Bush will have an opportunity. To see how we projected the entire team prior to this news, click here As we always do with our projections, we'll be updating these now with new numbers based upon the latest news. Source: John Mullin, Chicago Tribune On Tuesday the Chicago Bears signed their 1st round pick TE Greg Olsen to a 5 year deal. With this signing, it makes Olsen the first player who was drafted in either the 1st or 2nd round this year to sign. The contract can be worth up to $10.69 million and includes incentives as well as a creative bonus package on base salaries of $285,000 for 2007, $460,000 for 2008 and 2009, $550,000 in 2010 and $650,000 in 2001. Olsen receives a signing bonus of $250,000 plus a roster bonus of $720,000 this year. He has incentives that will pay him an additional $575,700 in 2007 if he participates in 35 percent of the snaps. In subsequent years the incentive is triggered if he plays in 45 percent of the snaps. Rosenhaus and Stein also spread out the traditional second-year option bonus in a structure that gives the team latitude in later years rather than loading the entire bonus into the second year. Olsen receives a bonus of $3.545 million in 2008, with roster/reporting bonuses of $100,000 in 2009, $140,000 in 2010 and $125,000 in 2011. "I was very confident this would be a smooth process," Rosenhaus said. "We worked well with the Bears and got to a point and a number where both sides were satisfied, which is the sign of a good deal."[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Big news for Olsen and the Bears. I'm starting to get excited about his prospects with Chicago. He's been outstanding in camps so far and ensuring he'll have a full regular training camp to further learn the offense is a nice boost. MIN - PHI - Eagles QB Holcomb Interested In Vikings Source: Adam Schein, FoxSports.com Current Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Kelly Holcomb said during a recent interview that he has taken a keen interest in the quarterback situation with the Minnesota Vikings. "You do think about situations like that," Holcomb said. "Every now and again, you hear some rumblings and rumors about that. I think it makes sense. [Minnesota Vikings head] Coach Childress was a coordinator in Philadelphia. It is the same offense. Obviously the Eagles just drafted Kevin (Kolb) to go with Donovan (McNabb) and AJ (Feeley). I love the guys in Philadelphia and love the professionalism and Andy Reid and the staff and I'd like to stay. But there is a logjam here and that situation you are describing, with the young talented quarterback in Minnesota, is one I've thought about." [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Holcomb in Minnesota would be interesting. Something to keep an eye on although bad things would have to happen to Tarvaris Jackson for Holcomb to have any real impact. DEF - CHI - Contract Talks Commence Between Bears & Briggs Source: John Mullin, Chicago Tribune In between contract negotiations between the Bears and their No. 1 draft pick TE Greg Olson, agent Drew Rosenhaus also brought with him ideas for LB Lance Briggs. The proposals are the first contact between the two sides after a tense offseason in which the Bears placed the franchise tag on Briggs in March. Briggs will make $7.2 million this season without a new deal, provided he does not hold out as he's threatened to do. The two sides have until July 16 to reach a new agreement. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] There was a lot of tough talk early on. But I'd be semi surprised if both sides can't get together on this. The Bears need Briggs. And that's an awful lot of money he's talking about leaving on the table. He may well make good on what he's saying and holdout, but it seems like there are lots of good reasons for both sides to agree here. We'll see. DEF - TB - Bucs CB Cox Suspended Four Games Source: TBO.com Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Torrie Cox has been suspended without pay for the first four regular-season games of the 2007 season for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy. Cox is eligible to return to the active roster on Mon., Oct. 1, following the team's Sept. 30 game against Carolina. He is eligible to participate in all preseason practices and games as well. "We are hopeful that Torrie Cox can overcome this personal setback," Bucs general manager Bruce Allen said in a statement. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Cox was a backup corner but was a solid contributor on special teams. Let's hope he gets things straightened out. DEF - GB - Packers DTs To Rotate Source: Tom Pelissero, Green Bay Press Gazette Defensive Tackles coach Robert Nunn said he'll utilize his linemen in a rotation to take full advantage of extra depth this season. "We've told them all along if they suit up, they play. We'll get them in the game. And we'll probably keep the same rotation. We'll rotate a lot, and if somebody gets hot, they play," he said. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] A note for you IDP guys. Looks like the Packers could have a lot of different tackles seeing action. DEF - STL - DT Wooten Could Face League Scrutiny Source: Len Pasquarelli, ESPN.com Second-year defensive tackle Claude Wroten, expected to assume a significant role with the St. Louis Rams this season, faces misdemeanor charges in Louisiana and possible league scrutiny as well, following an alleged incident last week on the LSU campus. A spokesman for the LSU police department confirmed Wroten was arrested late last week and charged with criminal damage to property after an alleged argument with a girlfriend who had told him she was ending their relationship. Rams coach Scott Linehan told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch he is aware of the incident but has not yet spoken to Wroten, and declined further comment. Wroten did not return messages left on his cell phone. Depending on its resolution, the incident could subject Wroten to review under the NFL's personal conduct policy and possible league sanctions.[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Another player that could be hearing from Mr. Goodell. As Len Pasquarelli writes, this isn't the first time Wroten's been in trouble. He was arrested in 2006 and cited for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute but the charge was later dropped. Stay tuned here. That'll do it for today, Folks. Have a great Thursday and we'll see you tomorrow with the update. 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