Calais Campbell signs 5 year $55 Million Dollar Deal
Gayle Saunders
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Cardinals have finally agreed to a new contract for franchise player Calais Campbell. His new deal is worth $55 million and he’s signed for the next 5 years.
Campbell was previously in line to make $10.6 million under the franchise tag, but now he’s guaranteed $36 million for the next three years. At the age of 25 Campbell is viewed as the Cardinals premiere playmaker along the defensive line. Last season he put up great numbers and definitely showed what he’s capable of.
The Skinny: The Cardinals have a nice foundation building with second year player in Patrick Peterson and Calais Campbell. Both young players can now try and help Adrian Wilson and Darnell Dockett hold down the fort in 2012.
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.
Drayton Florence agrees to terms with Broncos
It didn’t take Drayton Florence very long to find a new team, as he’s switching out the Blue and Red from his Buffalo days to Orange and Blue, now with the Denver Broncos.
Florence has agreed to terms with the Broncos this afternoon, the two sides are finalizing a contract now. Florence is coming off a very good year with the Bills where he hauled in 3 interceptions and had over 50 tackles for the Bills.
In Denver he will join Champ Bailey and newcomer Tracy Porter, giving the Broncos a good veteran core of ball hawks and cover guys, a big part of the plan to get the ball back into Peyton Manning’s hands as much as possible.
Jerry Jones Has No Plans to Trade Mike Jenkins
Gayle Saunders
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On Wednesday, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said that he has no plans to trade CB Mike Jenkins.
Mike Jenkins will continue to rehab his shoulder which has been surgically repaired. So at the moment, he’s entering training camp as the #4 CB for the cowboys. Its interesting to see that their number 1 CB from last season is now battling for a spot on the field. Jerry Jones still considers Jenkins to be a long-term player for the Cowboys.
The Skinny: Jenkins could still be on the trading block as you can never quite believe what Jerry Jones says, as he’s been known to say one thing and do another. To me his statement reads that Jenkins is the insurance cb for now, and they will wait till another team loses a valuable CB to wait for the best offer. For the time being the Cowboys secondary went from being shaky to very good on paper. As we all know the game is played on the field, but if this unit stays together the Cowboys secondary got a whole lot better in 2012.
Rhonde Barber likely Moved to Safety
Gayle Saunders
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Bucs’s GM Mark Dominik has made it know that longtime Bucs CB Rhonde Barber will most likely play safety in 2012.
Although once a tackling machine, Barber is getting up there in age, and isn’t the guy he used to be. Don’t get that confused with the thought that he can’t play anymore, because he definitely still can. At the age of 37, Barber can still make plays out there and with the idea of him moving to safety it will allow him to play centerfield and use his abilities to continue to make plays.
The Skinny: Since the Bucs drafted rookie Mark Barron, expect him to player closer to the line of scrimmage and Barber can still perhaps play in nickel packages, and cover slot receivers as well.
State of the Game
By Steve O’Reilly
Sadly, tragedy brings to light some of the issues that we all face on an everyday basis. In the 1980′s Drunk Driving was causing many accidents and deaths and we the people responded with M.A.D.D, the crash test dummy commercials and other preventative measures to ensure that these issues didn’t continue. Now the NFL has seen one of it’s greatest ambassadors, a man many held in the highest regard, Junior Seau, commit suicide bringing questions to light about head trauma that many NFL players face throughout the duration of their careers. Tragedy brings change, from Terrorist attacks that have altered the landscape of the way we travel at Airports to High Schools that implement metal detectors to avoid the next Columbine. The NFL now finds itself in a state of shock over the recent tragedy, a state of action in that something needs to be done to protect players and a state of defense as multiple former players have joined a lawsuit vs the NFL in an effort to have their voices heard and receive the benefits to ensure their health as they grow old. The question is, what can be done? Read more
Tannehill familiar with 85 percent of Offense
Gayle Saunders
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Who says Tannehill isn’t ready to start for the Miami Dolphins? Well just about 90 percent of NFL analysts these days.
The big knock on Ryan Tannehill is because they believe he’s not an NFL ready quarterback. People tend to forget that this offense, he’s moving into will be tailor made for his strengths. Mike Sherman, Tannehill’s former coach at Texas A & M has implemented 85 percent of what Tannehill is already familiar with.
Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland
“going to look like he’s ready pretty quick.” The rookie benefits from the presence of offensive coordinator Mike Sherman, Tannehill’s former coach at Texas A&M, who imported a playbook with which Tannehill is 80 to 85 percent familiar.
Many believe that Matt Moore deserves the job outright for last years gutsy performance in the second half of the season. Some think David Garrard may come in and win the job with his experience. The reality is that Tannehill is starting on the same even playing field, since the offense is new for both Moore and Garrard. It will be a learning process for the veteran qb’s whether they like it or not.
The Skinny: Tannehill has the slight upper hand, in the fact that he knows how all the wide receiver routes should be run,and the timing associated with most of the plays from a receivers and quarterbacks perspective in this system. Miami Dolphin fans don’t expect Tannehill to sit for very long, the Dolphins didn’t make him a top 10 pick for nothing. He’s the so called “future” so expect him to get a ton of reps with the first team from day 1. The Dolphins are hopefully ready to forget about the past.
The Great John Riggins is Back with New Show
Gayle Saunders
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Riggo is back. Sportsman Channel is launching a new series with HOF Running Back John Riggins. Riggo on the Range, which will begin airing January 2013 on the cable network. Show segments will follow Riggins around the world in pursuit of “extraordinary hunting, outdoor and cooking adventures.”
Jets & Bengals Show Interest in Braylon Edwards Services
Gayle Saunders
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Adam Schefter reported the Bengals and Jets have shown some interest in WR Braylon Edwards.
It does make sense that the Jets have interest in Edwards due to his chemistry with Sanchez,and at this point in Sanchez’s career he needs a WR that is familiar with him asap. With the Bengals looking to solidify the WR corps signing Edwards could give them another deep threat and open things up for A.J. Green, especially now that Jerome Simpson is gone. The Bengals have put high hopes in draft picks on Mohamed Sanu and Marvin Jones to mature fast.
The Skinny: Edwards past injuries could play a part in his effectiveness in 2012. If fully healed, he can provide another weapon in the pass game for the red rifle. Don’t forget that Edwards is a good run blocker. Edwards underwent surgery late last season, and the word was he was still rehabbing early this spring. Don’t be surprised if the Texans take a flyer on Edwards with Jacoby Jones gone too.
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