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Volume 8, Issue 77 (Tuesday, July 10th)
LIMITED TIME OFFERS THIS WEEK ONLY: 5% off of FantasyHeadquarters.com fantasy football league entry fees! Click Here!Hi Folks, Good Wednesday to you. Hope the week's going well for you - we're rocking along here. Lots of good things happening on the website plus we've got the News and Notes you'll want to keep up with. But first, the Quote Of The Day: "Maybe (by) a couple tenths. He looked pretty quick out here." -- Denver QB Jay Cutler on whether WR Javon Walker's new Mohawk haircut made him any faster. Have a great Wednesday and let's get to it. JSITE NEWS A.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1. JAX - WRs Jones And Williams On The Hot Seat2. NE - WR Brown Reportedly Reaches Agreement With Patriots 3. DEN - WR Stokley Returns To Field 4. TEN - Titans Sign Harris To Four Year Contract 5. DEN - WR Marshall Returns To Practice 6. BAL - Case Dismissed Against Ravens QB McNair 7. SF - 49ers OG Allen Not Expected To Retire 8. Eleven NFL Europa Players Assigned To NFL Practice Squads 9. DEN - Broncos RB Sapp Practices With Second Team 10. DEF - OAK - Raiders Sign SS Darius JAX - WRs Jones And Williams On The Hot Seat Source: Footballguys Podcast - The Audible Footballguys' Sigmund Bloom: Vito, another position that has been the subject of a lot of talk this offseason for the Jags is wide receiver. A lot of noise that it's a wide open competition. Let's talk about - is it really a wide open competition, or is that something that Jack Del Rio is doing to motivate the first round draft picks Matt Jones and Reggie Williams to finally live up to their first round billing, and do you think that their starting jobs really are in danger? Florida Times Union's Vito Stellino: Their jobs are in danger of making the team, much less starting. No, it's not a motivational ploy, Del Rio rarely knocks his players publicly. So the fact that he's brought up that Reggie Williams and Matt Jones have to stay healthy and he's asked where they stand - they don't stand at the front of the line - this is a critical year for them. They also have a new wide receiver coach, Todd Monken, who has made it very clear that there's no #1 receiver, and also they've got some alternatives now. Mike Walker, John Broussard - a couple of draft choices. Dennis Northcutt will be the slot receiver. Charles Sharon, an undrafted free agent last year, he was a starter much of the offseason because Jones and Williams were hurt. So, those four guys, and then you've got Ernest Wilford, a fifth, those guys will all be vying for positions. If Jones and Williams don't produce, they might not even be on the team.[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] We've heard rumblings about Jones and Williams over the last few weeks but Stellino's statement that they're not just in danger of losing their starting positions but actually in danger of not making the team are some of the strongest words yet. I'd guess they'll keep their starting spots but it's clear the heat is on and the expectations are high. NE - WR Brown Reportedly Reaches Agreement With Patriots Source: John Tomase, Boston Herald According to league sources, WR Troy Brown has reached agreement on a one-year deal that will bring him back to New England for a 15th season - second in club history only to Steve Grogan’s 16 - and ensure that Mr. Patriot remains in Foxboro. Brown, who turned 36 on July 2, has spent the last six months rehabbing his knee following surgery to repair a torn patellar tendon. Head coach Bill Belichick declared Brown in the team’s plans in March, but Brown first needed to prove to himself he was healthy enough to play.[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] This has been expected but it looks like it's now official. One thing to keep an eye on - this should be a plus for Randy Moss. Brown, a Marshall alum like Moss, should be a calming influence on Moss. A little like Cris Carter was years ago. DEN - WR Stokley Returns To Field Source: Associated Press, ESPN On Monday, Denver Broncos WR Brandon Stokley returned to the field for the first time since rupturing his Achilles tendon last year. Stokley, who was released in the offseason by the Indianapolis Colts, mainly did individual work to test the strength of his surgically repaired tendon. "I feel like I could be doing what they're doing right now, but I'm just easing my way back into it," Stokley said.[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] A healthy Stokley will be a nice boost for QB Jay Cutler. Cutler is already talking about the experience Stokley brings to the team and what he can learn from the WR who spent years with Peyton Manning. TEN - Titans Sign Harris To Four Year Contract Source: Len Pasquarelli, ESPN.com On Tuesday the Tennessee Titans signed their 4th round pick center Leroy Harris of North Carolina State. Harris agreed to a 4 year deal which is expected to worth $2.11 million. Harris is the 1st rookie to sign so far out of the 10 players selected by the Titans. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Maybe Harris will break the ice for Tennessee as they start inking their picks. Harris is a versatile player having worked at guard and center. The likely scenario is for Harris to one day replace veteran Kevin Mawae, 36, who is entering his 14th season. DEN - WR Marshall Returns To Practice Source: Andrew Mason, DenverBroncos.com Denver Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall was eager to get back to a normal day's worth of on-field work at minicamp Monday after sitting out the June practice sessions. "I would say (I'm) 100 percent," he said. "I didn't feel (any pain) at all in my thigh, so I'd have to say I'm healthy and ready to go." Marshall did acknowledged he had some work to do. "It's a difference between conditioning and football shape," he said."It's going to take a little bit just to get back into that football shape, get my mind going and listening to that play in the huddle." [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] I like Brandon Marshall to make an impact in Denver this year. Rod Smith is an aging player returning from injury. I can see Marshall taking over the #2 spot. To see how we project the entire team, click here BAL - Case Dismissed Against Ravens QB McNair Source: Jamison Hensley, Baltimore Sun Baltimore Ravens QB Steve McNair had his drunken driving-related charge dropped today, which should eliminate him from any discipline from the NFL. McNair's charge of "driving under the influence by consent", was dismissed in Nashville criminal court after his brother-in-law, Jamie Cartwright, had his DUI charge reduced to reckless driving. Once Cartwright reached the settlement, assistant district attorney Michel Claire Bottoms announced that the state had to dismiss McNair's charge because there was no longer any DUI. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Good news for McNair. He can get back to focusing on preparing for training camp. SF - 49ers OG Allen Not Expected To Retire Source: Kevin Lynch, San Francisco Chronicle San Francisco 49ers guard Larry Allen will report to Training Camp with the team, according to team officials. Rumors had been circulating during the off-season that Allen might be planning to retire. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Speculation started swirling around Allen when he missed several weeks of OTA practices last month. He's battled weight issues but it looks like he'll be back for another year. He's clearly not the player he once was but he'll still be an asset to the 49er offense. Eleven NFL Europa Players Assigned To NFL Practice Squads Source: NFL.com Eleven players from NFL Europa were assigned to NFL practice squads on Monday, as a part of the league's International Development Practice Squad Program. Players assigned to NFL teams included: RB Jermaine Allen (Bears), WR Marvin Allen (Dolphins), LB Carl-Johan Bjork (Packers), LB Eduardo Castaneda (Texans), OT Seppo Ewvaraye (Vikings), OT Samuel Gutekunst (Jaguars), DE Ben Ishola (Colts), WR Iiro Luoto (Jets), DT Salomon Solano (Lions), DE Daniel Watts (Bills), and DE Ulrich Winkler (Titans). [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Good luck to all these guys. They've all got a tough road ahead this summer but I'll be pulling for all of them. DEN - Broncos RB Sapp Practices With Second Team Source: Andrew Mason, DenverBroncos.com Denver Broncos running back Cecil Sapp practiced with the second team on Monday during the team's mini-camp practices. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Will Sapp see more time at running back or fullback? We'll soon see. But for now, he's working at the RB position behind Travis Henry. DEF - OAK - Raiders Sign SS Darius Source: Len Pasquarelli, ESPN.com Free-agent strong safety Donovin Darius, released by the Jacksonville Jaguars last month, signed with the Oakland Raiders on Tuesday. "He will bring us immediate competition in the secondary," head coach Lane Kiffin said. "Donovin exemplifies hard work and dedication to the game...He will be a great fit in our team's philosophy." [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] NFL Network's Adam Schefter reports that it was a 3 year deal worth $7.1 million. The Raiders were already very good on the defensive side of the ball and this move makes them even better. That'll do it for today, Folks. Have a great Wednesday and we'll see you tomorrow with the update. J |
