MIZZOU GETS ANOTHER QUALITY COMMITMENT, CHIEFS SIGN GILBERRY & A STARTER FROM SD, HOUSTON STILL A NO-SHOW & OTHER NFL SIGNINGS
The Missouri Tigers signed another in-state player for the 2012 recruiting class. Defensive tackle Edmund Ray of St. Louis Ritenour High School gave the Tiger coaching staff his verbal commitment on Sunday. The 6' 5" 290-pound Ray was ranked the best defensive lineman in the state of Missouri & 9th overall at all positions. Mizzou has locked up 5 of the top-9 players in the state according to Rivals.com. He will join fellow 2012 class member, Donald Hopkins from Texas as top defensive line recruits. The 3rd overall rated player from the 2009 class, defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson, transferred from College of the Sequoias & is enrolled at Columbia. With the return of Dominique Hamilton from injury, the Tigers should be well stocked on the defensive line. Mizzou was 7-0 with Hamilton last season, after he was injured near the end of the OU game, the Tigers lost 3 of 6, surrendering big yardage on the ground. His return & Richardsons' presence should make them tough to run on between the tackles.
The Chiefs signed defensive lineman Wallace Gilberry to his restricted free agent tender. This just kicks the can down the road to next season. Gilberry is essentially playing on a 1-year contract with no long term security & he will be come an unrestricted free agent after this season.So will Brandon Flowers as well as Brandon Carr, if he is signed to a tender offer like Gilberry.
Kansas City also agreed to terms with inside linebacker Brandon Siler, formerly a starter with San Diego. Siler must pass a physical before he can sign & then sit out until Thursday when the league allows all free agent signees to begin practice. IMO, Siler is a slight upgrade over Jovan Belcher. He's slightly bigger, but like Belcher he has no pass rush skills, looks somewhat clumsy in his pass drops & like Belcher, is a 2-down player. Siler was a 7th round selection out of Florida in the 2007 draft. On my scale, Belcher is a 4, Siler is a 5, not exactly a major improvement. Two inside backers I really wanted, Tampa's Barrett Ruud & Tennessee's Stephen Tulloch, both 7's on my scale, signed over the weekend. Ruud with Tennessee & Tulloch with Detroit.
I think the subject of Justin Houston's whereabouts is beginning to wear thin up in St. Joe. When asked why the 3rd round draft pick wasn't in camp, Haley refused to talk about him, saying he would only speak of the players on hand. When Houston's agent, Joel Segal, was contacted about his client's absence, Segal refused to discuss anything regarding Houston. What's the big secret? If the kids in trouble again, it's going to come out eventually, why sweep it under the rug?
I'm always amazed when teams sign a player who has disappointed in several locales, but they just know they'll be the one to turn the guy around, make him a productive player. The Seattle Seahawks signed Ryan Sims yesterday. The former 6th overall pick by Kansas City in 2002, later played in Tampa for 4 seasons. Sims Tampa stats were underwhelming to say the least, 48 tackles in 46 games, 3.5 sacks. Signing "coach killers" like Sims was part of the reason Pete Carroll didn't make it in his first NFL head coaching stint. Sims will join another sound Kansas City draft selection in Seattle, DT Junior Siavii. Wow.
In other NFL signings, Buffalo inked ILB Nick Barnett to a new deal. The former Packer was highly thought of by many of you. The reason I wasn't a fan was Barnett is basically a poor-man's Derrick Johnson with injury issues. I wanted Kansas City to pickup a tackling machine to run with Johnson, Barnett isn't that type of linebacker. Cedric Benson signed a 1-year deal with Cincinnati, like he had a lot of options. The running back was arrested for assault & battery just two weeks ago in Austin Texas, his 3rd arrest in less than 2-years, perfect Bengal. Tight end Todd Heap disappointed Jets' coach Rex Ryan by signing with his hometown Arizona Cardinals. Heap also attended Arizona State University, good addition for new quarterback Kevin Kolb. The former Raven has an injury history but has always been productive when he's been healthy. Ryan was able to save some face by resigning Antonio Cromartie to a new 4-year deal. The cornerbacks' return was a top priority after missing out on Nnamdi Asomugha Friday. Baltimore signed the most highly sought after fullback in the league, Vonta Leach. As many as 7 teams were said to be in the running for his services. The former Houston Texan didn't even have a carry last season & only 8 pass receptions, but he is the premiere lead blocker in the NFL. Ray Rice's value in fantasy football just went up a little bit with Leach coming on board. New England did as promised, they resigned left tackle Matt Light. The 10-year veteran was in their sights all along to be resigned. Tho the Pats drafted tackle Nate Solder #1, Light will be protecting Tom Brady's blindside for at least this season, maybe next.
The Chiefs signed defensive lineman Wallace Gilberry to his restricted free agent tender. This just kicks the can down the road to next season. Gilberry is essentially playing on a 1-year contract with no long term security & he will be come an unrestricted free agent after this season.So will Brandon Flowers as well as Brandon Carr, if he is signed to a tender offer like Gilberry.
Kansas City also agreed to terms with inside linebacker Brandon Siler, formerly a starter with San Diego. Siler must pass a physical before he can sign & then sit out until Thursday when the league allows all free agent signees to begin practice. IMO, Siler is a slight upgrade over Jovan Belcher. He's slightly bigger, but like Belcher he has no pass rush skills, looks somewhat clumsy in his pass drops & like Belcher, is a 2-down player. Siler was a 7th round selection out of Florida in the 2007 draft. On my scale, Belcher is a 4, Siler is a 5, not exactly a major improvement. Two inside backers I really wanted, Tampa's Barrett Ruud & Tennessee's Stephen Tulloch, both 7's on my scale, signed over the weekend. Ruud with Tennessee & Tulloch with Detroit.
I think the subject of Justin Houston's whereabouts is beginning to wear thin up in St. Joe. When asked why the 3rd round draft pick wasn't in camp, Haley refused to talk about him, saying he would only speak of the players on hand. When Houston's agent, Joel Segal, was contacted about his client's absence, Segal refused to discuss anything regarding Houston. What's the big secret? If the kids in trouble again, it's going to come out eventually, why sweep it under the rug?
I'm always amazed when teams sign a player who has disappointed in several locales, but they just know they'll be the one to turn the guy around, make him a productive player. The Seattle Seahawks signed Ryan Sims yesterday. The former 6th overall pick by Kansas City in 2002, later played in Tampa for 4 seasons. Sims Tampa stats were underwhelming to say the least, 48 tackles in 46 games, 3.5 sacks. Signing "coach killers" like Sims was part of the reason Pete Carroll didn't make it in his first NFL head coaching stint. Sims will join another sound Kansas City draft selection in Seattle, DT Junior Siavii. Wow.
In other NFL signings, Buffalo inked ILB Nick Barnett to a new deal. The former Packer was highly thought of by many of you. The reason I wasn't a fan was Barnett is basically a poor-man's Derrick Johnson with injury issues. I wanted Kansas City to pickup a tackling machine to run with Johnson, Barnett isn't that type of linebacker. Cedric Benson signed a 1-year deal with Cincinnati, like he had a lot of options. The running back was arrested for assault & battery just two weeks ago in Austin Texas, his 3rd arrest in less than 2-years, perfect Bengal. Tight end Todd Heap disappointed Jets' coach Rex Ryan by signing with his hometown Arizona Cardinals. Heap also attended Arizona State University, good addition for new quarterback Kevin Kolb. The former Raven has an injury history but has always been productive when he's been healthy. Ryan was able to save some face by resigning Antonio Cromartie to a new 4-year deal. The cornerbacks' return was a top priority after missing out on Nnamdi Asomugha Friday. Baltimore signed the most highly sought after fullback in the league, Vonta Leach. As many as 7 teams were said to be in the running for his services. The former Houston Texan didn't even have a carry last season & only 8 pass receptions, but he is the premiere lead blocker in the NFL. Ray Rice's value in fantasy football just went up a little bit with Leach coming on board. New England did as promised, they resigned left tackle Matt Light. The 10-year veteran was in their sights all along to be resigned. Tho the Pats drafted tackle Nate Solder #1, Light will be protecting Tom Brady's blindside for at least this season, maybe next.
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