LaDainian Tomlinson has found some suitors!
The most productive and elusive Running Back over the last decade finds himself with some choices as to where he will be playing in 2010. According to multiple reports, Tomlinson was “wow’d” by the Minnesota Vikings during his recent visit. Next up is the New York Jets who also see a spot on their roster for the talented Back. Read more
Who will be the QB of the future in Cleveland
By Gayle Saunders
Follow him on Twitter
Who will be the starting QB for the Cleveland Browns next season? That is the question that Browns’ President Mike Holmgren and GM Tom Heckert must decide. According to ESPN’s Sal Palantonio its been reported that the Philadelphia Eagles’ asking price for young QB Kevin Kolb as well as Donovan McNabb will be nothing short of a first round pick.
At the moment The Cleveland Browns and several other teams, most notably Seattle, have been calling about the availability of Philadelphia’s quarterbacks. Tom Heckert, who spent the last nine years in Philadelphia, had a hand in drafting Kevin Kolb. He has been the vocal cheerleader for Kolb. He’s basically been selling the potential star to the Browns organization as the future for the Browns. But the real question is…Are they willing to give up a first round pick for an unproven player like Kolb?
In 12 career appearances Kolb has a 60.8 Comp PCT, 6.8 Yard AVG, 4 TD, 7 INT, and a 68.9 RAT.
Here is where it gets interesting, Kolb is the only QB in NFL history to throw for over 300 yards in his first two NFL starts, both of which came this past season. He was 1-1 in those starts with a loss to Super bowl champs New Orleans and a win against Kansas City. There can be arguments that the Eagles pass a lot hence those big 300 yard games. No matter what, the talk of the town has been Kevin Kolb potential to be great.
Andy Reid drafted Kolb with the 36th pick overall in the second round in 2007. Even though McNabb is still in the nest, The Eagles are looking for Kolb to be their future QB after McNabb leaves. If they weren’t so high on Kolb they would not be asking for such a high price. Heckert in his years with Philly has seen a lot of Kolb and what his abilities are.
At the moment The Browns quarterback situation is upside down. They traded with Seattle for Seneca Wallace on Monday. On Tuesday they released Derek Anderson. On Wednesday it was made known they are shopping Brady Quinn, and today Thursday, they are bringing in former Carolina Panther Jake Delhomme.
Right now its up in the air what exactly the Browns front office may do. Holmgren and Heckert have their hands full as they look to move forward in the future. Is Kevin Kolb the future, does Brady Quinn somehow get a second shot, Does Seneca Wallace tak over or is Jake Delhomme the band aid for next season
CB Marlin Jackson lands in the Eagle Nest
By Gayle Saunders
Follow him onTwitter
It’s a done deal and Marlin Jackson is a Philadelphia Eagle. The Eagles were not to concerned about his recently surgically repaired knees. It seems that they are very aggresive in finding a replacement for Brian Dawkins this off season. The front office signed Jackson to a two-year contract Wednesday, but didn’t disclose financial terms.
In 2005 Jackson was a first-round draft pick by the Colts, He is coming off two season-ending knee injuries, which resulted in him missing the second half of 2008 with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, where he returned in 2009 and tore his ACL in his left knee during a November practice. Jackson has played cornerback throughout most of his careerr, although he will have an opportunity to win the starting free safety job in Philadelphia.
“Nothing is promised,” Jackson said. “I have to earn it. I played free safety my junior year at college and started eight games there my second year in the NFL. I’m very comfortable in it. I always played a physical corner. Physicality is nothing new to me. I’m very instinctive and aggressive. I can bring a lot of positives.”
The Eagles definitly had issues at free safety this year. Second-year proQuintin Demps, roookie Victor Harris and veteran Sean Jones were exposed throughout the season at that position in 2009.
Jackson had 284 tackles and four interceptions in 56 career games with the Colts. He had a visit with Baltimore Ravens before coming to Philadelphia and was scheduled to meet with the New York Jets.
“The most appealing thing is this is a winning franchise,” Jackson said. “That’s important to me. I came from a winning franchise. The opportunity to play free safety is very appealing. This defense is very aggressive.”
Jackson joins an Eagles secondary that includes Pro Bowl cornerback Asante Samuel, Pro Bowl strong safety Quintin Mikell and longtime starting cornerback Sheldon Brown.
Sorry T.O. Bengals go with Bryant!
The Cincinnati Bengals had brought in a few Wide Receivers this offseason in order to boost their pass catching corps. Chad Ochocinco was lobbying hard for Terrell Owens. On Twitter, Chad was making claims that he and T.O would be the next Batman and Robin! While the idea of T.O. and Chad in the same huddle would be dynamic, Marvin Lewis and the Bengals went in a different direction. Read more
Thomas Jones gets a two year deal in Kansas City
By Gayle Saunders
Follow him on Twitter
The Kansas City Chiefs just strengthened their running game with the signing of Thomas Jones. The Chiefs signed the free agent running back, who was a big reason the New York Jets reached the AFC Championship.
People tend to forget that Jones was the NFL’s third-leading rusher last season. Jones had career highs of 1,402 yards and 14 touchdowns last season, a year after being selected for the Pro Bowl following a season in which he ran for 1,312 yards and 13 touchdowns. Even though Jones rushed for 1,000 or more yards for five straight seasons, the Jets cut ties with him when free agency started last Friday. The biggest concern for the Jets was paying his $3.3 million roster bonus on top of a $2.8 million base salary this season. The Jets failed to reach a compromise with Jones on restructuring his contract. The team wanted him to take a pay cut, and Jones was not interested. Last off season, Jones sat out voluntary activities while trying to renegotiate his deal, which was front-loaded over the first two seasons. He made only $900,000 in base salary last season, but didn’t let that affect his play.
The 31-year-old Jones is expected to team up with third-year running back Jamaal Charles in the backfield, who had his best season in Kansas City with 1,120 yards rushing and seven touchdowns.
Thomas Jones was a major reason the New York Jets ranked first in the league with 172.2 yards rushing per game, However he seemed to tire down the stretch as rookie Shonn Greene came alive, which allowed Greene to take more of the carries down the stretch, but Jones is confident that he can play another four or five seasons because of the unbeleivable shape he keeps himself in.
He was drafted seventh overall in 2000 by the Arizona Cardinals and then was traded to Tampa Bay in 2003, went to Chicago the following year as a free agent and was traded to the Jets in 2007. Jones also ranks second only toLaDainian Tomlinson, who is also a free agent, in yards rushing since 2005. Jones ranks 28th on the career list with 9,217 yards, 190 behind Earl Campbell.
Welcome to Miami: Karlos Dansby signs with the Dolphins!
By Gayle Saunders
Follow him on Twitter
Dansby reached an agreement with Miami on a five-year deal after visiting the Dolphins in the opening hours of NFL free agency. Dansby’s contract is worth $43 million, and a league source says that includes $22 million in guaranteed money, which makes him one of the highest paid inside linebackers in the game.
The Dolphins terminated the contracts of disgruntled outside linebacker Joey Porter, inside linebacker Akin Ayodel and free safety Gibril Wiilson.
Dansby became an unrestricted free agent after six seasons with Arizona. He played inside linebacker last season for the NFC West champions and can also play outside linebacker.
Porter, a four-time Pro Bowler chosen in January to the NFL’s All-Decade team, was released last month but reverted to the Miami roster because of a salary cap technicality. He had campaigned to be released while complaining about his reduced role last season and his relationship with coach Tony Sparano.
Wilson was not the right fit in his only season with the Dolphins. He was awarded a $8 million guaranteed when he signed a year ago.
Ayodele was a two-year starter at inside linebacker, but Dansby offers more big-play ability. The former Cardinals star has 25½ career sacks, 10 interceptions, 12 fumbles forced and nine fumbles recovered.
As Friday’s moves made clear, the Bill Parcells regime is eager to improve a defense that last year gave up a franchise-record 140 points in the fourth quarter, most in the NFL. In the final three games, desperate to stay in the playoff race, the Dolphins fell behind 24-6, 27-0 and 27-10.
Miami fired defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni in January and replaced him with Mike Nolan.
Baltimore Ravens make a BOLD move!
By Gayle Saunders
http://twitter.com/GayleESaunders
Starting off the Anquan Boldin news conference, Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said this trade redeemed himself for not drafting Boldin in 2003.
“There’s not too many times that you get a chance to recover from a mistake,” Newsome said. “And I think I made a mistake in that draft, worrying [more] about measurables than worrying about the football player. And Anquan is a football player.”
Anquan Boldin can’t wait to try out his new role as the primary target of Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco. The Ravens introduced their new wide receiver to the media Monday, and Boldin spoke excitedly about being on a team that plays a physical brand of football.
Boldin says Baltimore “is a place that fits me.” He will be called upon to revive a passing game that lacked a big-play wideout in 2009, although Boldin said, “I feel like I add a piece to this offense.”
Baltimore on Friday obtained Boldin and a fifth-round pick in the 2010 draft from the Arizona Cardinals for a third- and fourth-round selection. After passing his physical Monday, Boldin, slated to receive $3 million in 2010, signed a new four-year, $28 million contract that includes a guaranteed $10 million.
Boldin, who will wear No. 81, wanted to go to a team that has a chance to win a championship, plays defense, runs the ball and starts a young quarterback.
“I think Baltimore fits that to a tee,” Boldin said.
Cardinals Trade for Safety to replace Rolle
The Arizona Cardinals have traded a 4th Round pick in the 2010 Draft and a 7th Round selection in the 2011 Draft for New York Jets Safety, Kerry Rhodes. The Cardinals had lost Pro Bowl Safety Antrel Rolle to the New York Giants and were looking to replace him with a Veteran who could come right in and start immediately next to All Pro Adrian Wilson. Read more
Chicago Bears Strike First in Free Agency!
By Gayle Saunders
Follow him on Twitter
The Chicago Bears and Julius Peppers finalized a six-year deal to bring one of the top Defensive ends in 2010 to Chicago.
Peppers was looking for at least $12 million a year in the early part of the contract. The agreement could be worth $40 million over the first three years.
The 6-foot-7, 283-pound Peppers is a five-time Pro Bowler who recorded 10.5 sacks with two interceptions and five forced fumbles last season.
“If we bring in Julius Peppers, that could help us a lot,” Bears defensive end Alex Brown said Thursday on “The Waddle & Silvy Show” on ESPN 1000. “The guy’s a monster, he’s an animal. He’s the biggest guy and fastest guy I think I’ve ever seen.
“He’s as gifted as Urlacher, I think. He’s just about 30 pounds heavier. He’s unbelievable.
The Chicago Bears have also agreed to terms with free agent TE Brandon Manumaleuna.
Manumaleuna is not only known for having one of the most difficult names in the NFL to type and pronounce (perhaps only second to T.J. Houshmandzadeh in Seattle), but also for being one of the premier blocking tight ends in the league.
The 6′2″, 295-lb. 10-year veteran has prior experience in Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz’s system. Manumaleuna played under Martz with the St. Louis Rams.
Financial terms of the deal have not yet been disclosed; however, the deal is reportedly for five years.
Signing Manumaleuna may seal the deal on rumors circulating that the Bears might ship TE Greg Olsen out of town.
Olsen is not the right fit in for a receiving tight end in Martz’s offensive scheme, which primarily calls for tight ends to remain in as blockers, while running backs are called upon to catch the ball more often ( which is basically the main reason for bringing Chester Taylor in for an interview).
The Bears will most likely have to cut (or lose) another TE after signing Manumaleuna. They also have Desmond Clark on the roster, who is slated to make about $1 million in the upcoming season.
The Bears continue to attack this offseason aggressively, going after the free agents they had targeted and getting them locked down fairly quickly.
Running Through the Combine with Fabian Washington!
The NFL Offseason has it’s peaks and valleys of excitement. The first offseason excitement is the NFL Combine held in Indianapolis. Guys train for sprints, drills and weight lifting to prove to NFL scouts and coaches that the are physically superior to their peer at their position.
One man who greatly helped his chances in the Combine some years ago was Fabian Washington who ran the 40 yard dash in the high 4.2 range. We sat down with Fabian on the night before Free Agency started to get an inside look at how it all goes down.
Talking Combine with Fabian Washington!! from Skinnypost on Vimeo.