Winslow not returning to Bucs in 2012
Kellen Winslow Jr. will not be playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers any longer, ending his 4 years with the team. In an interview with SiriusXM NFL Radio Winslow said the Bucs have informed him that they are entertaining trades for the veteran Tight End and that he won’t be returning to the team next season.
Tampa Bay has brought in veteran Tight End Dallas Clark recently for a look but as of recent haven’t signed the former the Indianapolis Colt.
As for Winslow, the Bucs reportedly are no longer requiring his services due to the fact that the missed the Voluntary Offseason workouts with the team. It isn’t the first time he missed voluntary workouts, last season he was sidelined with a knee injury but still he appeared in all 16 games while catching 75 passes for 763 yards and two touchdowns.
Traded to the Bucs in 2009 from the Cleveland Browns, the veteran Tight End will now be playing for someone else.
THE SKINNY: Winslow is unique personality and it seems that may be more of the reason for Coach Schiano to move him along than missing workouts. That may be just a cover for the fact the new coach is trying shake up the team up a bit and bring a different mentality to the ball club.
Tebow and NFL order cease and desist
The Tee Shirt maker CubbyTees.com has apparently ruffled the feathers of both Tim Tebow and the NFL and has been ordered by both parties to stop making the tee shirt known as “My Jesus”.
First with Tebow, apparently he was none to happy that the Tee shirt maker used “Mr. Tebow” on their website to promote the Tee shirt and hope to sell more of their product by using Tebow’s name. The company has said that they will not stop the Tee Shirt or take Tebow’s name down due to the fact that the the logo “is positive and innocuous” and the graphic “legally sound” because it doesn’t mention or depict Tebow in any way.
The NFL apparently has also jumped into the fight as the league themselves has ordered a cease and desist letter as well. They feel that the logo has too much a likeness to the New York Jets logo and they do not have permission from the league to depict any of their teams images. The attorneys for the NFL site that their is “apparent infringement of the Jets logo”.
THE SKINNY: It’ll be interesting to see what the CubbyTee.com shirt maker will do with this war over Tee shirt logos and names used. It’s hard to believe that they’ll continue to keep it up now the the League and Tebow have both come after them. Bottom line, you don’t mess with TEBOW!!
Welker talks getting “worse”
The New England Patriots Wide Receiver, Wes Welker, signed his Franchise Tag and it’s believed he has no intentions of holding out. When he signed his tender everyone thought that the contract issues with the team wouldn’t be a distraction and things would move along towards a long-term contract. That may not be the case and perhaps contract talks aren’t getting any better and according to Welker, contract negotiations with the Patriots have actually, “gotten worse”.
According to Welker, the Patriots recent offer was less than the offer that they made him last year, which was reportedly at 2 years and $16 Million.
“If they see me out there at OTAs and minicamps and everything else, and I’m still out there winning and doing what I need to do to help the team win, you know what, the ball’s in their court to make something happen,” he told the Boston Herald. “That’s kind of my mindset, to go out and show them I deserve it.”
THE SKINNY: It sounds like things could be getting a bit chippy between the Patriots and Welker, as the Pats never really like it when players go to the press and discuss contract issues. With that said however there still is plenty of time for the sides to work out a deal and we’d have to believe that the Patriots wouldn’t allow him to go anywhere else.
Cutler has concerns over O-Line
Jay Cutler has a worry, that perhaps his Offensive Line won’t be all that great when the team needs them the most. Specifically speaking, 3rd and long! In a recent interview, Cutler voiced his concerns when the Bears face 3rd and long and a 7 step drop is needed. He said
“You know, the offensive line is definitely going to be a concern and seeing where those guys are going to fit in and seeing what five we go with,” Cutler said to the Chicago Sun Times. “If Gabe [Carimi] comes back, if J’Marcus [Webb] pans out. Where are we going to put Chris Williams? There are some question marks there. Until we really get that resolved and get our front five settled in, we’ve got some work to do on offense.”
When asked about Mike Martz’s departure and Mike Tice’s addition (Tice is now the Offensive Coordinator and has worked an Offensive Lineman coach in his past) Cutler responded:
“It helps some, but it’s not a cure all by any means,” Cutler said. “They’re still going to be asked to protect. There are going to be times it’s third-and-eight, third-and-10 and we’re going to have to take seven-step drops and we’re going to have the longer route and they’re going to have to protect.”
THE SKINNY: Cutler never has been one to shy away from his feelings and in this case we think he has a point. The Bears, if they are going to live up to their Super Bowl aspirations, have to protect the Quarterback, not only keeping him from injury but also due to the fact that the deeper you get in the playoffs the better the Defenses tend to get. If the Bears have to face the New York Giants dynamic Front 7 for example, then protection is going to paramount. They still have time to jell and figure it all out but there is obvious concern on the mind of Chicago’s Franchise QB!
Tebow improving mechanics?
The biggest knock on Tim Tebow has been narrowed down to one thing, his throwing mechanics. His elongated motion and inaccurate footwork has led him to be erratic when throwing the ball. Proof of this lies no deeper than his 46% completion percentage and the 38 Minutes without a completion in the Broncos vs Dolphins game last season.
Tebow is a proven winner however, shown in his late 4th Quarter heroics otherwise known as “Tebow Time”. The Broncos went and acquired Peyton Manning and then traded Tebow to the Jets for a 4th Round pick. Tebow has been said to have been working extremely hard on his mechanics this offseason and perhaps his efforts are working.
Jets QB Coach, Matt Cavanaugh told the New York press -
“I think he can be very good,” Cavanaugh said “I was pleasantly surprised when I saw him over an extended period of time . . . not just watching him play on film. I think he’s certainly got the arm strength. He has good mechanics. They’re getting better every day.”
THE SKINNY: If Tebow can in fact become a comfortable pocket passer and learn to make all the throws with proper technique and footwork, he could be a very dangerous QB. Big and strong armed, as well as being a powerful runner that you wouldn’t expect from a QB, Tebow might just be making strides to becoming one of the most complete QB’s in the League. If in fact he can learn to throw with accuracy, there won’t be anything he can’t do.
Kenny Britt to have 2nd Knee Surgery?
The Titans are hoping that their star WR doesn’t need to have an additional surgery on his right knee but there is a possibility. Britt, who had his right knee surgically repaired after tearing his ACL and MCL may be facing a scope and possible “clean up” surgery.
Head Coach Mike Munchak told the press in Tennessee,
“I think it always is (possible),” Munchak said. “I don’t know if he will at some point, but I think that’s something that’s common with that injury. Derrick went through it last year. The good thing is that even if you do have it, it’s not a huge setback. It’s not something that sets you way back. But that is obviously part of the process, or could be, if that arises down the road.”
THE SKINNY: While the knee hasn’t required surgery yet and no date has been set to have it scoped or cleaned up, it’s still something the team and Kenny would more than likely hope to avoid. As the Coach said, it is very common for major knee surgeries to have follow up procedures, but the more times you’re under the knife the more likely you will be delayed getting back on the field.
McFadden back to 100%
Oakland Raiders Running Back, Darren McFadden appears to be 100% back from Lisfranc surgery. Raiders running back Coach, Kelly Skipper says that McFadden is out there looking great,
“He didn’t have any major surgeries, so he’s able to come back healthy and he’s playing at a high level right now and it’s offseason … He’s out here. You would never know he got hurt. He’s making cuts at full speed, everything.”
THE SKINNY: McFadden is a huge piece to the Raiders offense and the former 7th overall pick in the NFL is really starting to make strides as being one of the best Running Backs in the NFL. Raiders fans can expect him to be out there and ready to go.
Peters re-injures Achilles!
Philadelphia Eagles Left Tackle, Jason Peters, has re-injured his Achilles and had to have the tendon reattached. The first injury to his Right Achilles tendon occurred during a workout in Texas, he then had surgery and was given a 10 to 12 month recovery time. While using a vehicle to be mobile broke in his kitchen, our guess is a Segway-like machine, Peters fell face first in his kitchen and the right Achilles tore again.
The time table for his return has now been extended by 3 weeks to a month as the new injury required surgery, essentially starting the process over.
THE SKINNY: Peters has made the Pro Bowl every year since 2007, the same season the Eagles acquired him from Buffalo. The setback is obviously not a good thing but at the same time, it’s to believe the Eagles planned on him returning in 2012 anyway.
Browns DT Taylor awaiting MRI on Torn Pectoral
The Cleveland Browns are holding their collective breath as they await the MRI results of Defensive Tackle Phil Taylor’s test results to see if he did in fact tear his Left Pectoral muscle during workouts.
Taylor, a massive Tackle who clogs the middle, played exceptionally well in his first year as a pro an the Browns have high hopes for his future anchoring their Defensive Line.
According to a statement the team released:
“Defensive tackle Phil Taylor injured his left pectoral today lifting weights as part of the club’s off-season program. He will be further evaluated on Monday to determine a course of treatment.”
Hopefully for Phil, the news is a good one and he won’t miss too much time. As of right now it’s a waiting game to see what the exact damage is. We wish him and the Browns organization the best of luck with this tough blow to a young and rising player.
Bowers tears Achilles
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Defensive Line took a big hit today as Da’Quan Bowers tore his Achilles during offseason conditioning drills. Slated to start for the Bucs, the 2nd year Defensive End out of Clemson is now likely shelved for the season.
It’s the second major injury to pass rushers this offseason as Terrell Suggs tore his Achilles earlier this week as well. The expected recovery time for this injury is 10 to 12 months so it’s hard to project that either will be back on the field for the 2012 season.
In his Rookie campaign. Bowers started 6 games and posted 1.5 sack but the team had big plans for him coming into his second season. He was already slated as the starter along a young but talented Defensive Line.
We wish him the best in his recovery from this injury and hopefully he can get back on the field sooner rather than later.
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