Leroy Hill and Seattle Seahawks Agree: The Trio Is Back Together

The Seahawks franchise tagged Leroy Hill LB on Feb. 19. On Apr. 26, Seattle rescinded that franchise tag, giving the Seahawks $8.3 million in salary cap space, allowing them to fill two more holes on the roster by signing cornerback Ken Lucas and fullback Justin Griffin.

With Aaron Curry and Lofa Tatupu in the fold, Seattle wanted to add the final piece of the puzzle. Today the Seahawks re-signed linebacker Leroy Hill to a six year, $38 million contract with $15.5 million guaranteed.

So what does this mean for the Seahawks’ defense?

Well, with Curry, Tatupu, and now Hill as the three starting linebackers on defense they have hands down the best linebacking corps in the NFL. Curry is the sideline LB, Tatupu is the shutdown middle man, and Hill is one of the best young OLB.

The Seahawks are now looking long term with Marcus Trufant (six years), Lofa Tatupu (six years), T.J Houshmandzadeh (five years), Leroy Hill (six years), and Aaron Curry (probably six years).

Leroy Hill Re-Signs With the Seahawks!

The headline says it all, we got Hill back under contract. This means that we now have the best and youngest linebacker corps in the NFL. I’m excited to see the young and talented trio dominate the Rams week one!

Hill’s new contract is worth $38 million over six years, $15.5 million in guaranteed money. The problem with this is that there is a part of the contract stating that the Hawks can’t pursue any of the bonus, should Hill be disciplined for the marijuana possession that he has recently been charged for. This is a bit odd, I think it means that Hill and the Hawks realise that it is likely there will be some action(s) taken by the commissioner.

On a side note, the Broncos waived Selvin Young. In my opinion, this is another mistake by McDaniels. Do you think the Seahawks should cash in on another of McDaniels mistakes and sign Young to a short, probably two year, contract to see what he can do in our offense? I’ve always liked Young and was shocked when he didn’t get drafted. He’s got speed and can break some tackles, any thoughts?

Carolina Panthers’ 2006 Draft: Two Picks from Being an Amazing Draft

It’s time to grade the Panthers on their 2006 draft. For grading criteria, if the player made it to the Pro Bowl, he gets an A. If he has started at least 24 games (1.5 seasons), he gets a B. C’s are still on the team. D’s are still in the NFL. F’s are no longer in the NFL. Plus and minuses are subjective.

 

Round One, Pick 27: Deangelo Williams, RB, Memphis

With 2,733 rushing yards, 23 rushing TDs, 609 yds receiving and four receiving TDs, he is a near lock to make the pro bowl in the future- As long as he stays healthy and gets his touches. (Gave a little extra bump here) Grade: A-

 

Round Two, Pick 58: Richard Marshall, CB, Fresno State

Played in all 48 possible games, starting 14 of them. In those games, he has seven interceptions and 246 tackles. It’s quite possible that he starts this year for the Panthers, after being an integral part of their pass defense the last three years. I’m going to give him a little bump too, as he didn’t meet the starting criteria: Grade B

 

Round Three, Pick 89: James Anderson, LB, Virginia Tech

Has played in 34 games, earning three starts. 41 tackles. Nothing special at this point, but a nice quality back up: Grade C.

 

Round Three, Pick 89: Rashad Butler, T, Miami (FL)

Butler is now a member of the Houston Texans. He has appeared in eight games for them with no starts. He will more than likely be a back-up his whole career. Grade: D

 

Round Four, Pick 121: Nate Salley, DB, Ohio State

He has played in 24 games for the Panthers, including all 16 last year. He has made 11 NFL tackles. Could possibly be the nickelback in 2009. Grade C+

 

Round Five, Pick 155: Jeff King, TE, Virginia Tech

Jeff has appeared in 41 games with 31 starts. More of a blocker than receiver, he has accumulated 68 receptions for 602 yards and 4 TDs. All but a one-yard TD catch the last two years. Grade: B+

 

Round Seven, pick 234: Will Montgomery, G, Virginia Tech

He played 13 games, starting six. Those were the first two years he was in the league. He was on the Jets and Redskins’ roster last year. Grade: D

 

Round Seven pick 237: Stanley McClover, DE, Auburn

Stanely was on Houston’s Roster last year. He has played in 14 games, accumulating eight tackles and a sack. Grade: D

 

Adding up all of the grade points, just like you would in college (grade times credits). And we’ll pretend that the first round is a seven-credit class, the second round is six and so forth.The Panthers have 29 credits, with 80.7 grade points.

That gives a GPA of  2.78.

That’s definitely passing. Maybe I should give them a little extra credit for Jeff King? But than again, if they would have hit those two third rounders, this would have been an AMAZING class.

I’m slowly working may way around the NFL, grading all of the teams draft. Stop by later to see how they all stacked up!

Ian Johnson: Minnesota Vikings’ Next All—Purpose Running Back

Ian Johnson knows what he wants and is bound and determined to achieve his goals.

People know when they watch Ian play that he is much more than a great athlete. He is extremely intelligent.

Ian looks at the whole picture and then acts on the situation. He would be the first to say he gets those smarts from his mother. Ian’s mother is a social worker, which requires much patience and constant analysis.

It is in analysis that Ian Johnson chose the Minnesota Vikings to potentially begin a NFL career. His decision for the Vikings was based on the fact that Minnesota does not have a “stable” of backs.

According to Johnson, the Vikings have Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor. Yet, Minnesota is looking for a third back for screens, third downs and passing plays.

If anyone knows him, that is exactly what he gave to Boise State Bronco football…and more. The Vikings have a third back in Albert Young who has no game experience.

Another thing he gives to his team is consistency. Ian is not a guy you can knock down and goes to the sideline to stay. He is a guy who knows how to play with pain—giving his all 100 percent of the time.

Sure, Ian probably would have liked to have gone to the New York Giants, New England Patriots, or Dallas. But he knew the odds of hooking up with those teams were too great. So when he was through weighing his options, his choice was simple—the Vikings were his team.

Johnson fans expect him to win the third back spot while also seeing a lot of time on special teams.

Another great quality is his desire to learn. Ian knows that Adrian Peterson is likely the best running back in the league (at least in the top five for sure). Ian calls Peterson “the Beast” and looks forward to learning from him.

Johnson’s fans know that he and his wife will most likely stay in Minnesota, as he is a selfless individual and consistently true to his team. However, Boisians look forward to Ian coming back to his Boise home when his NFL days are over.

When Minnesota signs Johnson, they will be getting a guy that is solely devoted to his team.

When players at Boise State would complain about getting jerked around by the BCS for not even being considered for a national championship game, Ian did not join in. He felt that the Broncos were compensated with a great bowl game in the Fiesta Bowl.

The Broncos beat Oklahoma 43-42 in that game.

Ian, no doubt, looks forward to being recognized for more than the WAC’s touchdown king, beating Oklahoma, and proposing to his lady, Chrissy.

Ian for sure will be recognized. But that’s another story

Dallas Draft Gives Hope In Numbers

Imagine the pain of waiting.

It is a pain like no other because it is not a physical pain, but a mental one.

The pain of waiting to get her alone so you can ask her out.

The pain of waiting for your 16th birthday so you can get your car.

Whoever said “patience is a virtue,” should have had their jaw wired.

However, no pain can compare to what this writer went through last Saturday. It was a pain that is agonizing, tormenting, deadlier than an angry woman, and happens once a year.

I was waiting for the draft results.

Except this time instead of being in front of a computer or a television, I was stuck in a van, going to a football game in Round Rock, Texas, listening to rap music (how can we comprehend people whol talk that fast!?), trying to remember the draft order in my head, and waiting.

I was waiting for the words, “the Dallas Cowboys are on the clock.”

Unfortunately, they never came.

I heard about Cleveland trading the No. 5 pick. I heard the news about Mark Sanchez being drafted by the Jets. I heard Aaron Curry was passed over by the Chiefs and went to the Seahawks instead.

My wonderful father was texting me the results as they came to him, but he had no news about the Dallas Cowboys. I came home at four o’clock in the morning (it is a very long trip), and I still had no news.

Apparently the Cowboys had traded their second round pick away because Max Unger, center from the University of Oregon, had been drafted two selections earlier by the Seattle Seahawks.

The “duck” that they targeted had gone to the city of rain. Life is just full of irony isn’t it?

However, the Cowboys were busy bees the next day, collecting plenty of nectar with 12 draft choices.

The main question is whether or not they will produce any honey?

Lets go over every draft pick from the first guy to the last guy.

With the 69th Pick, the Cowboys Selected Outside Linebacker, Jason Williams, From Western Illinois.

This guy was a pure beast in college. He had 14 forced fumbles with 42.5 stops from behind the line of scrimmage. Very underrated, very physical, has a lot of potential.

To me, a defensive player can be molded out of any round. He just needs good coaching, a brain, and a want to get better. If this guy pays attention to Wade Phillips, he could contend for a spot against Anthony Spencer whenever Greg Ellis decides to retire or leave.

Williams was chosen because he was the best available, and the Cowboys want depth at all positions in case something happens during the season.

With the 75th Pick, the Cowboys Selected Offensive Tackle, Robert Brewster, From Ball State.

Ball State was very good last year, especially with their quarterback, and for a quarterback to succeed, he needs linemen—plain and simple.

Brewster has no chance of starting because the Cowboys already have a good offensive line. His main purpose will be depth and injury replacement, which was the Cowboys’ downfall last year.

Starting left guard Kyle Kosier was hurt for the majority of the year, and Cory Proctor could only do so much. The Cowboys need effective linemen that can come in if injuries happen.

With the Top Pick in the Fourth Round, 101st Overall, the Cowboys Select Quarterback Stephen McGee From Texas A&M.

Aggie fans rejoice! Your quarterback is staying home in Texas.

McGee is a good player. In fact, Mike Sherman (A&M’s head coach and former coach to Brett Favre) says that he has potential to be a player in this league.

This pick puzzled me because the Cowboys already traded for Jon Kitna to be the backup quarterback, and a third quarterback is just going to take a roster spot away.

My thinking tells me that Jerry Jones wants a young guy who can come in if Romo gets hurt, and if Kitna is not up to par. Insurance for the insurance to put it bluntly.

This kid was just at the wrong school. A&M was battling three teams that could have gone to the National Championship, how much can you expect from him?

That’s like asking a high school team to beat the Arizona Cardinals. It can’t be done.

I’ve got my fingers crossed and a bible set aside for this young man.

With the 110th and the 120th picks in the Draft, the Cowboys Selected Defensive Ends, Victor Butler and Brandon Williams, From Oregon State and Texas Tech.

Both sack specialists for their teams. Butler was a major part of the Oregon State upset of USC.

These guys are probably going to convert to outside linebackers to add further depth since they are only around 250 pounds.

With the 143rd Pick, the Cowboys Selected Cornerback, DeAngelo Smith, From Cincinnati.

I like this guy. I really like this guy. I think with a lot of work and coaching, he can be a star in this league. Cornerbacks are like receivers, a dime a dozen, so him being selected in the fifth round means nothing.

He has trouble with mental decisions, takes a few risks, and is not the most physical player, but those flaws can be trained.

He may not be the fastest guy (4.57 forty time), but he can double as a return guy or free safety and is very good in a zone defense (another slight problem since he is only so-so in other defenses), but what I like most about this guy is his dedication.

I would rather have a guy with dedication than a guy who is slightly better, but lacks that hunger. This guy wants to improve and talks with his actions, because he works hard.

I think he has a lot of potential with Dallas since they are low on cornerbacks and Jones’ philosophy is “you can never have too many cornerbacks.”

With the 166th Pick, the Cowboys Selected Free Safety, Michael Hamlin (No Relation to Ken Hamlin), Out of Clemson.

I think this guy can develop into a good player and hopefully will light a fire under Ken Hamlin, who only had one interception last year.

The guy is a great tackler, blocker if necessary, has natural hands, and great timing with his jump.

So why was he selected in the fifth round?

He runs a 4.62 forty time and has had problems with injuries. The lack of blazing safety speed and the unknown of whether or not he’ll be able to play hurt his stock severely.

However, it is a fifth round pick and he has talent, so why not roll the dice?

With the 172nd Pick, the Cowboys Selected David Buehler, Placekicker, from the University of Southern California.

I cannot stand Pete Carroll, but he makes some of the best players in football. This guy was a steal.

Yes, we have Nick Folk, but how many times do you remember him getting a touchback last year?

If you remember one, then you are either mistaken or a liar because Nick Folk did not have one touchback last year.

The Cowboys are weakest on special teams, so the easiest way to fix that problem is to keep them off the field with touchbacks.

“On 180 kickoffs, 105 of them (58.3 percent) have pinned opponents within the 20-yard line, with 69 resulting in touchbacks (38.3 percent).” Source: NFL.com.

1/3 of his kicks go into the endzone? That’s amazing! The only thing more amazing is the guy himself. He ran a 4.62 forty time and had 25 bench reps of 225 pounds.

That is more than Michael Oher, Max Unger (the duck that got away), and Eugene Monroe. Three of the top offensive linemen in the draft lift less than this guy.

He is an incredible athlete with football in his blood; his uncle won a Super Bowl with the Raiders as a guard.

He has played fullback, linebacker, and strong safety. He is not some half-pint kicker like Nate Kaeding—he is a football player.

If Folk stays with Dallas, this guy will handle kickoffs and Folk will work field goals. That does mean giving up another roster spot for a second kicker, but I think he is worth it.

He is the most likely guy to start this year without question.

With the 197th Pick, the Cowboys Selected Strong Safety, Stephen Hodge, From Texas Christian University.

He’s a puzzle to me because he reminds me of Roy Williams too much. He is a safety, but he played linebacker, mainly on blitzes while in college. The guy does not look like a great cover guy, and makes mental mistakes.

I think this guy is only a special teams player if he even makes the team.

With the 208th Pick in the Draft, the Cowboys Selected Tight End, John Phillips, From Virginia.

For those of you who are confused, I will make it simple; he is not going to catch passes. Our third string tight end, Tony Curtis, just signed with the Chiefs a few weeks ago, so there was a hole for a blocking tight end on the goal line.

This is a very good blocker and that is it.

With the 227th Pick, the Cowboys Selected Cornerback, Mike Mickens, Out of Cincinnati.

This guy is either a bust or a star. He pulled out of the Senior Bowl and combine because of a hurt knee.

He has very few flaws like a stiff body in backpedaling, so he should have been a high draft pick. The injury is what really hurt him, both figuratively and literally.

He is the perfect seventh round pick because it is a throw away pick, so better to gamble than to waste.

With the 229th pick, the Cowboys selected wide receiver, Manuel Johnson, from Oklahoma.

Good football player, but a medium athlete. Not very tall, elusive, or fast. He could improve or not. It is the seventh round, so it is up to him on whether or not he does well. Teams cut seventh rounders every other day.

All in all, the Cowboys looked toward depth and special teams. If these guys make the team, they will be on special teams.

The Cowboys hired Joe DeCamillis as the new special team coach and he should be able to take these guys far hopefully.

 

The Cowboys have made a successful draft at getting what they needed.

Now it is up to the team to make Dallas winners again.

Wrapping Up The Carolina Panthers’ NFL Draft Day Two

With their third round pick, No. 93 overall, the Carolina Panthers selected defensive lineman Corvey Irvin out of SEC powerhouse Georgia. 

The Panthers likely drafted Irvin, who is 6’3″ 301 pounds, to fill their need for depth at tackle. Irvin, pictured in the article photo, has second-round strength, as his 24 repetitions of 225 pounds at the NFL Combine showed, and above-average balance, and lower-body strength. The Augusta, GA native also possesses very good balance. Irvin had the fourth best 20-yard shuttle, which is an indicator of an athlete’s side-to-side quickness and burst in small areas, time of any tackle in the draft. 

Irvin’s NFL readiness could be in question however, as the only two notable defensive linemen Georgia has produced in the past ten years are New England Patriots defensive end Richard Seymour and Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Marcus Stroud.

The Panthers used their first fourth round selection, No. 111 overall, acquired in a trade with the 49ers, to take RB Mike Goodson out of Texas A&M.

Goodson could be a real steal. He has superb speed, tremendous lower-body strength, outstanding quickness, and explosion off of the line. He sounds like a Brian Westbrook,  with “Double Trouble”—DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart—mentoring him, who knows how good Goodson could be.

Texas A&M hasn’t had many running backs drafted into the NFL in the last ten years. The only two are Goodson and Dante Hall, who played professionally for Kansas City Chiefs and St. Louis Rams from 2000-2008 and is now an unrestricted free agent after the Rams did not re-sign him.

Fullback Tony Fiammetta was the Panthers’ second fourth round pick, drafted at No 128 overall. Considered the best fullback in the draft, Fiammetta was drafted to learn his position within the Panthers’ offense under veteran Brad Hoover so he can take over the starting job when Hoover, 33, retires.

Fiammetta runs a 4.6-second 40-yard dash, which is as fast as some of the better running backs in the draft, and bench-presses 30 repetitions of 225 pounds, the best workout of any back in the draft. The Syracuse graduate also has nice lower-body strength and explosion.

His lead blocking is what Fiammetta is famous for. He’s incredibly strong, and at just six feet tall, he has a low center of gravity that will allow him to keep his balance more easily. His blocking is what really makes him an ideal fit for the Panthers’ run-first offensive scheme.

The only true downside to Fiammetta is that Syracuse generally doesn’t turn out NFL-ready running backs and fullbacks. Only one guy who can run or block in the backfield has come out of Syracuse in recent memory, but only for washing out of the NFL or making little impact on the league. 

That man is Joe Morris, who was drafted by the New York Giants in 1989 and went on to rush for 1000-plus yards three times, including a 1,500-yard season in 1986.

Even though he plays a not-as-publicized position, Fiammetta was a real steal.     

The Panthers drafted offensive tackle Duke Robinson late in the fifth round. Robinson, a behemoth at 6’5” and 329 pounds, has the size to be the kind of interior offensive lineman the Panthers covet. The versatile former Oklahoma Sooner has strong hands that allow him to keep outside rushers in front of him. He also disengages from blocks as well as he picks up pass rushers and run stoppers alike.

Plus, his experience playing left guard in college should provide extra depth on the offensive line—and at a low cost. 

Robinson is sluggish on his feet however, which could make him struggle against quick, fleet outside rushers. In addition, his alma mater, Oklahoma, has done a poor job turning out serviceable NFL offensive tackles. Just two tackles have been drafted out of Oklahoma in the past ten years—Jammal Brown, a starter on the New Orleans Saints’ line, and Stockar McDougle, whose pro career lasted six years where he started 56 out of a possible 81 games.

It’s good to see the Panthers building on their formula for future success by bringing in Robinson.

With their final pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, the Panthers selected cornerback Captain Munnerlyn, whose speed, he runs a 4.51 40-yard dash, and vertical leaping ability should help him make up for his lack of size, 5’9” and 182 pounds. The former South Carolina Gamecock also possesses nice strength. 

Munnerlyn has decent speed on the outside pass rush, and is a solid special-teams player. His return skills are excellent, and he even blocked a kick or two in his college career. 

Munnerlyn’s downside includes; below-average explosion and poor lateral quickness. A solid line of recent South Carolina cornerbacks proceeds Munnerlyn, including such players as Houston’s Dunta Robinson and Philadelphia’s Sheldon Brown. Munnerlyn looks like a quality backup to either Chris Gamble or Richard Marshall.

There isn’t much to dislike about the Panthers’ 2009 draft class.  Carolina’s player scouts did a tremendous job of finding quality talent. 

A Redzone Nightmare: Detroit Lions Receivers

WR – Bryant Johnson – 6”3 – 211 lbs

WR – Calvin Johnson – 6”5 – 239 lbs

WR – Ronald Curry – 6”2 – 210 lbs

WR – Travis Taylor – 6”1 – 210

WR – D.J. Boldin – 6”1 – 220 lbs

WR – John Standeford – 6”4 – 206 lbs

WR – Steve Sanders – 6”3 – 205 lbs

WR – Chris Hannon – 6”3 – 205 lbs

TE – Brandon Pettigrew – 6”5 – 263 lbs

As of now those are the targets Lions Quarterbacks will be throwing too. Along with William Franklin (6’0″), Derrick Williams (5’11”), Adam Jennings (5’9″), and the rest of the Lions TEs with the shortest one being Jake Nordin at 6’3″.

If the Lions get into the endzone there is no reason the quarterbacks can’t throw the ball up to Pettigrew or one of the Johnsons and let them just go up and get it. If that fails, hey, give the ball to the 300 pound FB we have and let him steam roll somebody.

There is a lot of potential in the Lions receiving and tight end corps, but until they step on the field and prove something its just potential. We all know that Calvin Johnson is a freak and will be the number-one option for the Detroit Lions but after that it’s pretty much an open race.

Bryant Johnson could prove to be the perfect compliment for Calvin Johnson. Bryant hasn’t exactly set the world on fire however he hasn’t been an absolute failure either.

I’ll put it this way, Roy Williams has 281 Rec, 4,082 Yds, 14.5 YPC, 30 TD. Bryant Johnson has 255 Rec, 3,221 Yds, 12.6 YPC, 12 TD. Johnson also comes with  a much cheaper price tag than Roy Williams. I’d go as far as to saying Johnson would have been the more productive of the two, had he not been in Arizona battling with Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald.

Other than Johnson, the next person on the roster that excites me is D.J. Boldin, the brother of Anquan. The scouts say that he has the same freakish skill set as his brother.

He was redshirted his freshman year, didn’t do much as a sophmore, sat out due to academics the next year, and didn’t didn’t do much as a junior. However, as a Senior everything finally clicked for him, though it wasn’t enough to get him drafted.

Curry, Taylor, and Williams all could end up holding down the second, third, or fourth options at receiver. At TE Brandon Pettigrew is a lock to start. With his blocking ability Kevin Smith should love him and with his size he should be a frequent option in the redzone.

I, for one, can’t wait to see these guys get on the field, preseason should be fun because thats when were will see which one of these guys wants it more.

Bradford, Tebow, McCoy: Where Might They End Up in 2010?

I had the privilege of being in New York in early December last year, and I learned a lot about college football. Most of this was over a lot of Magic Hat No. 9’s with the regulars at Duke’s bar on 3rd Ave. and 37th St.

My brother and I had come over from England for a week’s holiday, mainly to experience American sports and do your stereotypical tourist activities.

While we were at Duke’s Bar, we watched hours of coverage on the awarding of the Heisman trophy, for which all three were main contenders. Reflecting on that night now, and looking ahead to next year, I wondered to myself recently where will they end up?

Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford appears to be an early contender for the No. 1 overall pick next year, but I decided to include Florida QB Tim Tebow of Florida and QB Colt McCoy of Texas for variety’s sake.

Here are my suggestions for teams that might be requiring a potential franchise quarterback in the 2010 NFL Draft, in no particular order:

1. St. Louis Rams (2008: 2-14)

As talk of St. Louis possibly targeting USC’s Mark Sanchez in this year’s draft began to permeate the NFL community, there were obviously questions being asked of current QB Marc Bulger. He has the talent, and when he has the talent working around him, has proved he can put up impressive numbers. But recently he has been too injury-prone to do so consistently. But it is clear that the rut the Rams have found themselves in for the past two or three years have coincided with Bulger’s drop in numbers. It’s possible that by the time next year’s draft comes by the Rams might not be able to resist a change of direction at the QB position.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars (2008: 5-11)

Again, this depends on how the Jags progress this year. With a rejuvenated offensive line and a more than capable halfback in Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville’s success requires David Garrard to bind these components together. As with the Rams, if they have another under-par season, the Jags might consider a fresh start with a fresh face under center.

3. San Francisco 49ers (2008: 7-9)

It might be that the 49ers feel that they can get by this season with Shaun Hill and Alex Smith without drafting another quarterback, or perhaps they didn’t feel that quarterback was their most pressing need this year. Either way, Michael Crabtree was an incredible pickup at No. 10 overall. With an ever-improving defense headlines by Patrick Willis, the 49ers are in need of a fully productive offense to become a playoff contender. Whether they can do that with the conservative Shaun Hill and the underwhelming Alex Smith remains to be seen. If they can’t get the 49ers scoring this season, Coach Singletary could well be eyeing up one of these three in the draft next year.

4. Minnesota Vikings (2008: 10-6)

Persistently touted as a quarterback away from a Super Bowl run, the Vikings might perform well enough this year with their stable of QBs to dispel concerns. However if Sage Rosenfels doesn’t work out, and the Tavaris Jackson experiment is again fruitless, Minnesota might want to work themselves into a position to draft one of these three next year. They were involved in the Jay Cutler talks and the Brett Favre discussions last year. Perhaps it’s just a matter of time before another big move at QB is thought about.

5. Washington Redskins (2008: 8-8)

Jason Campbell’s wish of wanting a trade should the ‘Skins have drafted a QB last weekend indicates that the management was possibly considering operating a trade for Sanchez, or even Freeman. Jay Cutler was another possible target, and Campbell’s insecurity is even further evidence that Washington might not be content with having Campbell as it’s offensive general much longer.

As with all these teams their performances this upcoming season will massively effect these predictions, but this is just an early pooling of thoughts, don’t quote me on any of this when 2010 rolls by unless, obviously, I’m right.

– Charlie Lindlar, charlie_lindlar@hotmail.com

Julius Peppers To Sit Out Panthers’ Mandatory Three-Day Minicamp

On Friday, the Carolina Panthers will start their three-day minicamp with all but one player on the roster. Who?

You guessed it, disgruntled defensive end Julius Peppers has made it perfectly clear that he will sit out the mandatory three-day minicamp, as he is still not set on returning to the Panthers in 2009.

After the 2008 season, Peppers had publicly stated that he had no desire to return in 2009 as a Carolina Panther and has since refused to sign his franchise tender, while also making it known that if a trade to a team he specifies is not worked out, he will also sit out the entire 2009 campaign.

While there were some stirrings and rumors that the New England Patriots might be among the teams interested in trading for Peppers, no team has officially expressed genuine interest in the disgruntled defensive end.

Panthers GM Marty Hurney wouldn’t comment on the Peppers’ situation other than to say he has had ongoing “positive conversations” with Peppers’ agent Carl Carey and he still believes the four-time Pro Bowler will play for the Panthers in 2009. Should Peppers decide to play, he will make well over $1 million per game.

“We feel like Julius had done everything he can do for us over the past seven years and we feel confident that he will do that again,” Hurney said. “But it’s all part of the process.”

Carey has not returned any text or voice messages.

Aside from Julius Peppers sitting out, defensive tackle Damione Lewis and linebacker Jon Beason are also among the handful of veteran players who will not participate in all drills, as they are returning from off-season surgery.

Quotes cited from Carolinagrowl.com

Fleur-De-Lis-Fever | New Orleans Saints Offseason Recap

A quick review of last season would reveal the obvious: the Saints’ defensive depth chart lacked quality, versatile players. 

Yes, New Orleans was hit with a lot of injuries in 2008, especially on the defensive side, but great teams have the depth combat injuries. The defense, which was not very good to begin with, suffers even more when the starters come out.

Jonathan Vilma played every down for the Saints last season. Yes, Vilma is a great player and earned all of that playing time, but he probably could have been better utilized had the Saints’ coaching staff felt comfortable enough to substitute for him for a series or two per game. 

Middle linebacker is a very demanding position, and he would have been a fresher player in the final minutes of games had he been able to get rest.

Great teams, like the New England Patriots, have many versatile players. Bill Belichick places special emphasis on acquiring players who can play multiple positions and in multiple situations.

The Saints have very few versatile players. Offensively, Reggie Bush can be used as a receiver, runner, and returner. Pierre Thomas is valuable in both the passing and running game, and also has a couple of good kick returns.

Defensively, Vilma is the only linebacker who is good versus the run and the pass.

The Saints seem to be following the Patriots model this offseason. They have signed and drafted a lot of quality depth along the defensive line and in the secondary, as well as in the offensive backfield.

The Saints had very little quality depth at defensive end last season, outside of Bobby McCray, and no defensive tackle played in more than 14 games. 

Goodbye, injury-riddled tackles Brian Young and Hollis Thomas. Hello, Paul Spicer, who has appeared in at least 15 games in each of the past four seasons, and pro-bowler Rod Coleman.

The Saints cut ties with fan favorites Deuce McAllister and Mike Karney. McAllister was cut for injury concerns, and Karney was replaced by Heath Evans for versatility reasons. 

Evans should fit better into the offense than Karney, who is a good run blocker but doesn’t have much use carrying or receiving the ball. Evans can block as well as catch the ball out the backfield and pick up tough yardage between the tackles.

The Saints signed undrafted rookie Herb Donaldson out of Western Illinois. Donaldson will have an opportunity to earn a roster spot if he can prove to be consistent in picking up tough yardage.

New Orleans made their most drastic changes in the secondary. In just over a month, they have cut ties with safeties Josh Bullocks and Kevin Kaesviharn, and acquired Darren Sharper, Pierson Prioleau, Chip Vaughn, and Malcolm Jenkins. 

Sharper and Proileau are savvy vets and draft picks Vaughn and Jenkins appear to have the ability to play multiple positions.

The Saints also replaced Mike McKenzie with Jabari Greer to complete the defensive makeover. 

Roman Harper, who was the best safety last season, is going to have to fight just to be the second or third best safety this season. Suddenly, it seems that the secondary may have quickly become a strength for the Saints. 

Keep your fingers crossed, Who Dats. The New Orleans Saints just may finally have enough quality depth to make a serious playoff and Super Bowl run.

Next Page »

NFL Sport Channel Latest

• Just How Far Would You Go?
• Sorry Rex, But It Isn’t Happening
• Super Bowl Predictions: Five Stat-Free Reasons Why the Eagles Will Reach The Super Bowl
• Seahawks Attempt to Turn Corner With Heavy Pursuit of Pete Carroll
• Bill Cowher Unlikely to Coach in 2010