Hi Folks,
Good Tuesday to you. Hope your week's starting off well. We're rolling along here with the news and notes you need so let's get to it. JoeINSIDE THIS ISSUE
1. KC - OLB Mike Vrabel announces retirement2. SF - Rookie QB Kaepernick impressing teammates with strong arm
3. DEN - GM Xanders 'we'll do what's best for the team' at QB
4. ARZ - QB Warner denies 'lowballing' led to retirement
5. KC - RB Thomas Jones unhappy with conditioning of some players
6. HOU - RB Derrick Ward might enter camp ahead of RB Ben Tate
7. PIT - Police say WR Ward failed sobriety tests
8. GB - RB Grant still leader in the backfield
9. WAS - Rookie RB Helu in the perfect system?
10. CHI - WR Rashied Davis believes team may offer contract
11. SF - WR Kevin Jurovich could be impact in slot
12. OAK - Expected to pursue WR Plaxico Burress
13. CAR - Cam Newton wants to be great
14. DEN - GM Xanders 'Moreno must perform like a 1st round back'
15. NFL - Family says QB Brett Favre retired
KC - OLB Mike Vrabel announces retirement
Source: NationalFootballPost.com - Aaron Wilson
Updating a previous item, Kansas City Chiefs impending free-agent LB Mike Vrabel announced his retirement Monday, July 11. Vrabel is joining the Ohio State coaching staff as linebackers coach.
"I have decided to retire and accept the position of Linebackers Coach at The Ohio State University," Vrabel said in a statement. "I am extremely appreciative of the teammates, coaches, and great fans who surrounded me during my NFL career, and am honored to have been a part of three tremendous organizations in the Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots, and Kansas City Chiefs." "I am especially grateful to Bill Belichick and Scott Pioli, who not only gave me the opportunity to play for a team that won three Super Bowl championships and an NFL record 21 games in a row, but also taught me invaluable lessons on creating the ultimate team approach."[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Best wishes to Vrabel. He seems to me like he has all the right things needed to be a great college coach. Bill Belichick said the same thing today and he certainly would know. Hats off.
SF - Rookie QB Kaepernick impressing teammates with strong arm
Source: Pro Football Weekly Staff
According to ProFootballWeekly.com 49ers rookie Colin Kaepernick has wasted no time in impressing teammates at players only workouts. He's wowed his new squad with his rocket arm. "He's got a gun," one close observer said of Kaepernick. "He's got a much stronger arm than Alex Smith. As a sophomore pitcher in high school, he was throwing a baseball 93 mph."
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Kaepernick is the team's QB of the future and has an intriguing skill set. He has a rocket arm, and can keep plays alive with his feet while keeping his eyes downfield.
DEN - GM Xanders 'we'll do what's best for the team' at QB
Source: Cecil Lammey - FRSN & Footballguys.com
Cecil Lammey, NFL Insider for FRSN and senior writer at Footballguys.com, reports via Twitter that in a recent interview on 102.3 The Ticket Broncos GM Brian Xanders stated there would be competition for their starting QB job. 'We'll do what's best for the team.' Xanders said.
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The million dollar question in Denver is at the QB position. Some feel Kyle Orton will be traded once the lockout is over to a team like Arizona or Washington. That would open the door for Tim Tebow to prove himself as the team's franchise QB. However, if Orton is not dealt we expect him to compete with Tebow for the starting job.
ARZ - QB Warner denies 'lowballing' led to retirement
Source: Kurt Warner
Kurt Warner today refuted claims that the reason he retired was because the Cardinals "lowballed" him to return. From Warner's Twitter feed: "2set record straight: I did NOT retire due 2 anything $$$ related! I retired bec I sacrificed enuf 4 the game & didn't want 2 do it anymore!"
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Fair enough.
KC - RB Thomas Jones unhappy with conditioning of some players
Source: ProFootballWeekly.com
Kansas City Chiefs RB Thomas Jones was unhappy with the conditioning of some of the players during player-organized workouts and said some players were fat and out of shape.
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Jones has been one of the most physically fit players in the entire NFL for years and is known as a workout warrior. It's not surprising he's upset at the sight of unfit teammates.
HOU - RB Derrick Ward might enter camp ahead of RB Ben Tate
Source: HoustonTexans.com - Nick Scurfield
After averaging 6.3 yards per carry with four touchdowns in 2010, Houston Texans RB Derrick Ward might enter training camp well ahead of RB Ben Tate (ankle) in the battle for the primary backup job to starter RB Arian Foster.
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Ward is a savvy veteran who seems rejuvenated after joining the Texans last year. Tate is trying to come back from an injury that cost him his entire rookie season and will have to beat the veteran in training camp if he wants to be the primary backup. This situation is important for fantasy owners to monitor. The handcuff to Arian Foster will be extremely important. Foster is very gifted, but has been troubled by injuries in the past.
PIT - Police say WR Ward failed sobriety tests
Source: AP / ESPN.com
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward had glassy, bloodshot eyes and failed field sobriety tests during a traffic stop in Atlanta that landed him a drunken driving charge, according to a police report released Monday.
A transit police officer pulled Ward over just before 2:30 a.m. Saturday after he left his lane and at one point hit a curb in his gray Aston Martin, the report says. The transit police officer called a DeKalb County police officer, who wrote in the report that the former Super Bowl MVP and reigning "Dancing With the Stars" champ smelled strongly of alcohol.[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Ward's agent continues to say that Ward was not intoxicated and will be found innocent.
GB - RB Grant still leader in the backfield
Source: Sports Radio Interviews
SportsRadioInterviews.com reports that in a recent radio interview Packers RB Ryan Grant said he believed he was still the leading back on the roster. "I would think so. I don't know. From what I've heard, that's the conversation that was told to me." Grant said, " … I was told that by [former running backs coach Edgar Bennett], initially. Jerry [Fontenot, the new position coach] didn't tell me that anything changed. Jerry told me that as of right now I'm still the leader of the backfield and the expectations won't change. … I do believe there will be competition, which is fine. I'm all for that."
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Grant should step back into the starting role this year after missing last season with an ankle injury. Second-year RB James Starks will be his primary backup and the team could mix in rookie Alex Green as a change of pace back.
WAS - Rookie RB Helu in the perfect system?
Source: Mike Jones - Washington Post
Mike Jones, from the Washington Post, believes Redskins rookie RB Roy Helu is a perfect fit for the zone blocking system the team employs.
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Helu is a big back who is fast in a straight line and difficult to bring down when he builds a head of steam. However, he was more effective running out of the I-formation with a fullback in front of him at Nebraska. Helu isn't a quick twitch athlete and loses too much momentum when trying to change direction. He'll face plenty of competition for touches in training camp, and we wouldn't be surprised if the Redskins added a veteran RB in free agency.
CHI - WR Rashied Davis believes team may offer contract
Source: Chicago Tribune - Brad Biggs
Chicago Bears impending free-agent WR Rashied Davis said he believes the team will be offering him a contract once the lockout is over. "I got a feeling from them that they will be offering me something," Davis said. "Everything is talk until it is actually offered. It sounds good until it actually happens. I am hoping. Hopefully, I don't have to pick my family up and move somewhere else."
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Davis is a quality reserve receiver for the Bears but he's failed to produce much during his career. The Bears could be in the market to add a big name free agent WR like Braylon Edwards, which could push Davis off the radar.
SF - WR Kevin Jurovich could be impact in slot
Source: ProFootballWeekly.com
San Francisco 49ers WR Kevin Jurovich could make an impact as a slot receiver for the team because he has shown a good understanding of the offense during player-organized workouts this offseason.
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Jurovich is certainly a long shot to make an impact, but he's been impressing his teammates during players only workouts. He'll compete with Kyle Williams and Ted Ginn to be the team's slot receiver.
OAK - Expected to pursue WR Plaxico Burress
Source: ProFootballWeekly.com
The Oakland Raiders are expected to show interest in free-agent WR Plaxico Burress once free agency begins and could make him of their top targets if they were able to fit him under the salary cap.
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Adding Burress sounds like something the Raiders might do. The team has a good group of young receivers like Jacoby Ford, Louis Murphy, and rookie Denarius Moore. However, adding a player like Burress would help give them veteran leadership at the position.
CAR - Cam Newton wants to be great
Source: The Charlotte Observer - Joseph Person
Despite a summer filled with endorsements and interviews as the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft, Carolina Panthers QB Cam Newton said excelling at football is his first priority. 'It was brought to my attention that if you take care of your number one goal, two, three, four, five - they will be taken care of,' Newton said. 'My number one goal is to be a great football player.'
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Newton has the right mindset and we could see him under center as the starting QB in week one of the regular season. Rookie QBs are mostly unwise picks in re-draft leagues, but Newton is a high upside pick in dynast leagues.
DEN - GM Xanders 'Moreno must perform like a 1st round back'
Source: Cecil Lammey - FRSN & Footballguys.com
Cecil Lammey, NFL Insider for FRSN and senior writer at Footballguys.com, reports via Twitter that in a recent interview on 102.3 The Ticket Broncos GM Brian Xanders commented that RB Knowshon Moreno 'must perform like a first-round back.'
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The pressure is on for Moreno this season. Injuries and inconsistencies have held him back the first two years in the league and he's running out of time to make an impact for the Broncos. With John Fox running the show the team will once again be a run heavy team. Most expect the Broncos to add a free agent RB like DeAngelo Williams once the lockout is over. The caliber of RB the Broncos add in free agency will give a clear indication as to what their intentions are with Moreno.
NFL - Family says QB Brett Favre retired
Source: Biloxi Sun Herald
Retrired QB Brett Favre's mother and brother said that Favre will remain retired. 'I would say there's less than a 1 percent chance,' Scott Favre, Favre's brother, said. 'He is retired.' Bonita Favre, Brett's mother, added, 'I would hope he would not do it. He is crazy if he does.'
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Favre is crazy enough to come back (again) if the situation was right. NFL.com's Gil Brandt commented a week ago how he felt Favre could make a return to the league in 2011. As of right now FavreWatch is not on, but that could change - especially after the season starts and Favre gets the itch to play again.
That'll do it for today, Folks. Have a great Tuesday and thanks for reading. We'll see you tomorrow with the update.
Peace, J