BIG-10 MEDIA DAY, KNEE BRACES FOR BILLS, 4 REMAIN UNSIGNED & REVIS "WANTS 50 CENTS MORE"
The BIG-10 Commissioner Jim Delaney gave his "state of the conference" speech this morning & there were a few very interesting components to it. Delaney said, with the blessing of the athletic directors, the league would play nine conference games each season beginning in 2011 when Nebraska makes their move into the league. I was surprised Delaney was able to get the A.D.'s on board with this scheduling idea. My concern was playing 4 home games & 5 road games every other year. The 9-game conference slate also would knock one cream puff off the schedule, one that pads the won/loss record, another home game that raises big revenue & makes the alumni happy. I really don't understand how they will work a 2-division, 9-game schedule & Delaney didn't elaborate on his plans. The subject of a conference championship was broached & he said nothing had been decided about a permanent sight, rotating the game between 3-4 sights, so most likely the conference would select a venue for the 2011 game fairly soon, then worry about future games later on down the road. He was asked about the Ohio State/Michigan rivalry. Would they be in the same division & if not, how would their traditional rivalry game be guaranteed? He made it clear these two teams would play each other every year, that will not change. He also said because of the 9-game conference schedule, Notre Dame was no longer remotely interested in the BIG-10, it would reduce the number of their traditional games & that wasn't an option.
For all the Chiefs' fans who were clamoring for a trade with the Ravens for offensive tackle Jared Gaither last spring, I have one thing to say: "sometimes the best trade is the one you don't make." Gaither has mysteriously lost 29 pounds in the past 6 weeks, going from 340 to 311. He can't explain the loss & Raven coaches were surprised to see his weigh-in before camp started. Last Friday, on the first day of practice, he was carted off the field with a back problem & hasn't practiced since. He was moved from the left side to allow Michael Oher to play there. Moving to the right side, Gaither's weight loss was a concern for the Ravens.
Louis Murphy, the Raiders leading receiver amongst their wideouts, sustained a concussion on Saturday in a collision with cornerback Nmandi Asomugha. He continues to have headaches & is light sensitive. Oakland head coach Tom Cable said with the league's new guidelines regarding head injuries, Murphy would have to pass several neurological exams before he can return to practice. You're going to see a lot more care taken by clubs when a player suffers from a concussion or concussion-related symptoms. No more "shake it off."
Another vision of the future can be seen in Buffalo where Chan Gailey has required all of his linemen to wear knee braces in training camp practices. Most of the guys forced to wear them, have complained loudly, but Gailey isn't going to change his mind. "I've seen bent-up knee braces thrown in the trash, but the player was walking fine, it's just a fact, they can prevent a lot of knee injuries" Gailey said yesterday. I think this is going to catch on around the league, maybe not this year, but soon & with Roger Goodell discussing a league mandate to require players to wear more pads, will knee braces for lineman be a part of his new policies? Considering how many lineman are injured after getting their legs tangled up, using them in training camp & maybe during regular season practices just makes sense. Buffalo center Eric Wood said "they weigh 2 pounds & you have to get used to wearing them, I don't like them." This is from the same guy who received a broken femur last season, not that a brace would have prevented such a fracture. But missing most of his rookie season should have been a lesson to Wood & others. Anytime a major injury can reasonably be prevented, isn't that a step worth consideration?
Some good news out of the Pittsburgh Steelers' camp is that all-world safety Troy Polamalu has participated fully in every drill & practice so far. The Steeler defense wasn't the same after he was injured opening night & only played in two other games last season. His return is vital to the Steelers surviving the first four weeks while quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is serving his suspension. Mizzou fans will be happy to hear about former Tiger Ziggy Hood's progress with Pittsburgh. Fellow defensive end Aaron Smith said yesterday "Ziggy can be a very special player, I've been very impressed with his dedication. He's bigger, much stronger & he's refined his spin move to the point some linemen simply can't block him, he just needs reps to learn what it is we're supposed to do on every play." Defensive line coach John Mitchell said Hood could become the number one backup at both DE's before camp concludes.
Three more first round draft picks signed on Monday, Jerry Hughes with Indy, Dan Williams in Arizona & Tyson Alualu with Jacksonville. That leaves only 4 draft picks unsigned, Detroit's Ndamakong Suh, Seattle's Russell Okung, Cincy's Jermaine Gresham & Baltimore's 2nd round pick, Sergio Kindle. Word out of Detroit is Suh's agent, Eugene Parker, is trying to bust the rookie salary slotting plan that's been used for years. Okung & the Seahawks are said to be polar opposites regarding a contract. There shouldn't be any question regarding Okung's salary slot, he was the 6th player selected & #5, Eric berry & #7, Joe Haden have both signed their rookie contracts. Okung's deal is supposed to be the average of these two deals. I think both players can miss a little camp & still find their way into the starting lineup on opening day. Both have started over 40 consecutive games in major programs. Gresham hasn't played in a live game in over 18-months, he needs to get into camp. Kindle suffered a skull fracture 10-days ago & the league's management council hasn't given the Ravens an answer as to their options regarding Kindle's injury.
UPDATE@ 4:04PM CDT--The Bengals & Jermaine Gresham came to terms this afternoon & he is expected to sign his contract in time to practice tomorrow.
The Charger holdouts, starting left tackle Marcus McNeill & leading wide receiver Vincent Jackson, are looking less & less likely to be a part of San Diego's future plans. General Manager A.J. Smith said today "disappointment lurks around every corner. You'd love to see everyone on your roster happy, but that's not the world of the NFL. It is disappointing, but I have to run the team & build the roster the way I see fit." He has reduced both players' restricted free agency tender offers from $3.2 million to $600,000. This is an often used scare tactic but Smith's history shows he doesn't blink, but many of the agents he has dealt with do. I don't see the advantage to angering two of your best players, but I'm not running the Chargers, Smith is. Another item out of Charger camp is the number of veteran players who are sorta dumping on former teammate LaDainian Tomlinson. Antonio Gates made no bones about Tomlinson "he was a great player, he always demanded the best from himself as well as others, but too often L.T. was quick to show his disappointment in teammates & sometimes it really wasn't warranted. A lot of guys walked on egg shells around him & that's not the way things ought to be." This from a 6-time Pro Bowl tight end. I've heard quarterback Phillip Rivers feels somewhat the same. If the Chargers can get Jackson, McNeill & Shawne Merriman, the estranged linebacker, back into the fold, this is a solid Super Bowl contender. Without that trio, I think they could be one & done in the playoffs.
Also holding out is the Jets' all-pro corner Darrelle Revis. I told you Revis wants a lot more money, make that a helluva lot more money. He's already under contract from an extension he signed in 2008. He has three years left on this deal & over $20 million still on the table. I told you he wants Nmandi Asomugha money, some $15.1 million this year. I was wrong, Revis said today he wants 50-cents more than Asomugha makes. Asomugha signed this lucrative deal as a free agent, not a player looking for a re-negotiated extension. Revis is a great cornerback, possibly the best in the entire league, but he's beginning to look a little childish. When he wasn't happy with his rookie deal, the Jets pumped him up with a new deal, now that's not good enough. If Al Davis decides to give Asomugha $8 more than Revis, will Revis demand another new contract? Jets' owner Woody Johnson said recently the team wouldn't negotiate any contract extensions with players who aren't in their contract year & as I said, Revis still has three years left on his current deal. Revis does have a reasonable argument, he's concerned if he gets hurt, the $20 million remaining on his deal will get flushed. A new extension with a sizable signing bonus, would give him the insurance he wants, a valid point. I think Revis is in this for the long haul, I don't expect him to give in & return to the team any time soon. This will become a major distraction to a team full of inflated egos & the results could be very negative.
For all the Chiefs' fans who were clamoring for a trade with the Ravens for offensive tackle Jared Gaither last spring, I have one thing to say: "sometimes the best trade is the one you don't make." Gaither has mysteriously lost 29 pounds in the past 6 weeks, going from 340 to 311. He can't explain the loss & Raven coaches were surprised to see his weigh-in before camp started. Last Friday, on the first day of practice, he was carted off the field with a back problem & hasn't practiced since. He was moved from the left side to allow Michael Oher to play there. Moving to the right side, Gaither's weight loss was a concern for the Ravens.
Louis Murphy, the Raiders leading receiver amongst their wideouts, sustained a concussion on Saturday in a collision with cornerback Nmandi Asomugha. He continues to have headaches & is light sensitive. Oakland head coach Tom Cable said with the league's new guidelines regarding head injuries, Murphy would have to pass several neurological exams before he can return to practice. You're going to see a lot more care taken by clubs when a player suffers from a concussion or concussion-related symptoms. No more "shake it off."
Another vision of the future can be seen in Buffalo where Chan Gailey has required all of his linemen to wear knee braces in training camp practices. Most of the guys forced to wear them, have complained loudly, but Gailey isn't going to change his mind. "I've seen bent-up knee braces thrown in the trash, but the player was walking fine, it's just a fact, they can prevent a lot of knee injuries" Gailey said yesterday. I think this is going to catch on around the league, maybe not this year, but soon & with Roger Goodell discussing a league mandate to require players to wear more pads, will knee braces for lineman be a part of his new policies? Considering how many lineman are injured after getting their legs tangled up, using them in training camp & maybe during regular season practices just makes sense. Buffalo center Eric Wood said "they weigh 2 pounds & you have to get used to wearing them, I don't like them." This is from the same guy who received a broken femur last season, not that a brace would have prevented such a fracture. But missing most of his rookie season should have been a lesson to Wood & others. Anytime a major injury can reasonably be prevented, isn't that a step worth consideration?
Some good news out of the Pittsburgh Steelers' camp is that all-world safety Troy Polamalu has participated fully in every drill & practice so far. The Steeler defense wasn't the same after he was injured opening night & only played in two other games last season. His return is vital to the Steelers surviving the first four weeks while quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is serving his suspension. Mizzou fans will be happy to hear about former Tiger Ziggy Hood's progress with Pittsburgh. Fellow defensive end Aaron Smith said yesterday "Ziggy can be a very special player, I've been very impressed with his dedication. He's bigger, much stronger & he's refined his spin move to the point some linemen simply can't block him, he just needs reps to learn what it is we're supposed to do on every play." Defensive line coach John Mitchell said Hood could become the number one backup at both DE's before camp concludes.
Three more first round draft picks signed on Monday, Jerry Hughes with Indy, Dan Williams in Arizona & Tyson Alualu with Jacksonville. That leaves only 4 draft picks unsigned, Detroit's Ndamakong Suh, Seattle's Russell Okung, Cincy's Jermaine Gresham & Baltimore's 2nd round pick, Sergio Kindle. Word out of Detroit is Suh's agent, Eugene Parker, is trying to bust the rookie salary slotting plan that's been used for years. Okung & the Seahawks are said to be polar opposites regarding a contract. There shouldn't be any question regarding Okung's salary slot, he was the 6th player selected & #5, Eric berry & #7, Joe Haden have both signed their rookie contracts. Okung's deal is supposed to be the average of these two deals. I think both players can miss a little camp & still find their way into the starting lineup on opening day. Both have started over 40 consecutive games in major programs. Gresham hasn't played in a live game in over 18-months, he needs to get into camp. Kindle suffered a skull fracture 10-days ago & the league's management council hasn't given the Ravens an answer as to their options regarding Kindle's injury.
UPDATE@ 4:04PM CDT--The Bengals & Jermaine Gresham came to terms this afternoon & he is expected to sign his contract in time to practice tomorrow.
The Charger holdouts, starting left tackle Marcus McNeill & leading wide receiver Vincent Jackson, are looking less & less likely to be a part of San Diego's future plans. General Manager A.J. Smith said today "disappointment lurks around every corner. You'd love to see everyone on your roster happy, but that's not the world of the NFL. It is disappointing, but I have to run the team & build the roster the way I see fit." He has reduced both players' restricted free agency tender offers from $3.2 million to $600,000. This is an often used scare tactic but Smith's history shows he doesn't blink, but many of the agents he has dealt with do. I don't see the advantage to angering two of your best players, but I'm not running the Chargers, Smith is. Another item out of Charger camp is the number of veteran players who are sorta dumping on former teammate LaDainian Tomlinson. Antonio Gates made no bones about Tomlinson "he was a great player, he always demanded the best from himself as well as others, but too often L.T. was quick to show his disappointment in teammates & sometimes it really wasn't warranted. A lot of guys walked on egg shells around him & that's not the way things ought to be." This from a 6-time Pro Bowl tight end. I've heard quarterback Phillip Rivers feels somewhat the same. If the Chargers can get Jackson, McNeill & Shawne Merriman, the estranged linebacker, back into the fold, this is a solid Super Bowl contender. Without that trio, I think they could be one & done in the playoffs.
Also holding out is the Jets' all-pro corner Darrelle Revis. I told you Revis wants a lot more money, make that a helluva lot more money. He's already under contract from an extension he signed in 2008. He has three years left on this deal & over $20 million still on the table. I told you he wants Nmandi Asomugha money, some $15.1 million this year. I was wrong, Revis said today he wants 50-cents more than Asomugha makes. Asomugha signed this lucrative deal as a free agent, not a player looking for a re-negotiated extension. Revis is a great cornerback, possibly the best in the entire league, but he's beginning to look a little childish. When he wasn't happy with his rookie deal, the Jets pumped him up with a new deal, now that's not good enough. If Al Davis decides to give Asomugha $8 more than Revis, will Revis demand another new contract? Jets' owner Woody Johnson said recently the team wouldn't negotiate any contract extensions with players who aren't in their contract year & as I said, Revis still has three years left on his current deal. Revis does have a reasonable argument, he's concerned if he gets hurt, the $20 million remaining on his deal will get flushed. A new extension with a sizable signing bonus, would give him the insurance he wants, a valid point. I think Revis is in this for the long haul, I don't expect him to give in & return to the team any time soon. This will become a major distraction to a team full of inflated egos & the results could be very negative.
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