bubba9497
June-10th-2005, 10:10 PM
NFL: June 10, 2005
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/scorecard/06/10/truth.rumors.nfl/index.html
In his first public comments since Onterrio Smith's suspension, Vikings coach Mike Tice said he would welcome the player back next season but added the team might add a veteran running back in the meantime. The Vikings could pick from a handful of veterans, including Eddie George, Dorsey Levens, Garrison Hearst and Amos Zereoue.
-- St. Paul Pioneer Press
Three-time Pro Bowl defensive end Richard Seymour was a no-show for the first day of the Patriots mandatory, three-day minicamp at Gillette Stadium. Seymour's yearly average of $3.3 million is well below market for a player widely considered to be the best young defensive lineman in the NFL. The franchise salary for the position (average of the top five contracts) is $6.6 million. And it's not unreasonable to assume that Seymour is pointing to the eight-year, $66 million contract ($16 million signing bonus) inked by Phildelphia's Jevon Kearse last year.
-- Boston Herald
Eagles coach Andy Reid said. "Either [Terrell Owens] is going to show up or he is not going to show up. He is going to play or he is not going to play. I said this before: Would we like to have T.O.? Sure. Can we plug someone else in there and still win Super Bowls? Yeah, absolutely." The coach did not discount trying to add another wide receiver either, but the Eagles aren't in hot pursuit of someone to replace Owens.
-- Philadelphia Inquirer
Eagles running back Brian Westbrook deserves a long-term contract commensurate with his value to this football team. When Westbrook plays, the Eagles are better. Their offense is more dynamic and tougher to defend against. And this isn't a case of merely rewarding a player for past performance. Just 25, Westbrook figures to be in his prime through the life of a five- or six-year contract.
-- Philadelphia Inquirer
Left tackle Ross Verba walked into the Browns' facility on Thursday morning, returned a bonus check for $465,000, said goodbye to his teammates and was promptly released. "I'm interested mostly in the teams that need tackles," he said. "I'd like to play for San Diego, Houston, Buffalo, Chicago, Kansas City, San Francisco, someone like that."
-- Cleveland Plain Dealer
The Chiefs took a step closer to landing a free-agent receiver and it appears as if Freddie Mitchell isn't a part of their plans. Coach Dick Vermeil said the Chiefs are communicating with Az-Zahir Hakim's agent, and "when they're talking, you're going in the right direction."
-- Kansas City Star
The NFL stripped the Redskins of three workout days for violating league rules governing the intensity of offseason training, costing the team valuable practice time just before its June 17-19 minicamp, Coach Joe Gibbs said.
-- Washington Post
Free agent cornerback R.W. McQuarters, who is believed to be close to signing a contract elsewhere, has not informed the Redskins of which contract offer he will choose.
-- Washington Post
Wide receiver Rod Gardner, still on the trading block, is not scheduled to attend minicamp or training camp. Interest in Gardner among other teams has been minimal, with clubs expecting that the Redskins will cut him.
-- Washington Post
With mini-camp over, the Lions will resume their off-season conditioning program. President Matt Millen also will stay in touch with free-agent cornerbacks R.W. McQuarters and Ty Law. Both have visited the Lions. Nothing is imminent with either player.
-- Detroit News
The Lions might be growing impatient with the negotiating tactics of agent Drew Rosenhaus, who is representing three-year veteran kick returner Eddie Drummond. Drummond said that he wants to sign a three-year contract so there will be no distraction of becoming an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. The Lions say they are willing to talk about a long-term contract, but they want him first to sign the one-year tender offer. Drummond can no longer shop himself as a restricted free agent, and if he hasn't signed the Lions' tender offer by June 15 they can reduce the offer.
-- Detroit Free Press
The Falcons fired VP of player personnel Ron Hill, cutting ties with the one-time top decision-maker who helped land quarterback Michael Vick and who traded a first-round pick to Buffalo in 2003 for wide receiver Peerless Price.
-- Atlanta Journal Constitution
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/scorecard/06/10/truth.rumors.nfl/index.html
In his first public comments since Onterrio Smith's suspension, Vikings coach Mike Tice said he would welcome the player back next season but added the team might add a veteran running back in the meantime. The Vikings could pick from a handful of veterans, including Eddie George, Dorsey Levens, Garrison Hearst and Amos Zereoue.
-- St. Paul Pioneer Press
Three-time Pro Bowl defensive end Richard Seymour was a no-show for the first day of the Patriots mandatory, three-day minicamp at Gillette Stadium. Seymour's yearly average of $3.3 million is well below market for a player widely considered to be the best young defensive lineman in the NFL. The franchise salary for the position (average of the top five contracts) is $6.6 million. And it's not unreasonable to assume that Seymour is pointing to the eight-year, $66 million contract ($16 million signing bonus) inked by Phildelphia's Jevon Kearse last year.
-- Boston Herald
Eagles coach Andy Reid said. "Either [Terrell Owens] is going to show up or he is not going to show up. He is going to play or he is not going to play. I said this before: Would we like to have T.O.? Sure. Can we plug someone else in there and still win Super Bowls? Yeah, absolutely." The coach did not discount trying to add another wide receiver either, but the Eagles aren't in hot pursuit of someone to replace Owens.
-- Philadelphia Inquirer
Eagles running back Brian Westbrook deserves a long-term contract commensurate with his value to this football team. When Westbrook plays, the Eagles are better. Their offense is more dynamic and tougher to defend against. And this isn't a case of merely rewarding a player for past performance. Just 25, Westbrook figures to be in his prime through the life of a five- or six-year contract.
-- Philadelphia Inquirer
Left tackle Ross Verba walked into the Browns' facility on Thursday morning, returned a bonus check for $465,000, said goodbye to his teammates and was promptly released. "I'm interested mostly in the teams that need tackles," he said. "I'd like to play for San Diego, Houston, Buffalo, Chicago, Kansas City, San Francisco, someone like that."
-- Cleveland Plain Dealer
The Chiefs took a step closer to landing a free-agent receiver and it appears as if Freddie Mitchell isn't a part of their plans. Coach Dick Vermeil said the Chiefs are communicating with Az-Zahir Hakim's agent, and "when they're talking, you're going in the right direction."
-- Kansas City Star
The NFL stripped the Redskins of three workout days for violating league rules governing the intensity of offseason training, costing the team valuable practice time just before its June 17-19 minicamp, Coach Joe Gibbs said.
-- Washington Post
Free agent cornerback R.W. McQuarters, who is believed to be close to signing a contract elsewhere, has not informed the Redskins of which contract offer he will choose.
-- Washington Post
Wide receiver Rod Gardner, still on the trading block, is not scheduled to attend minicamp or training camp. Interest in Gardner among other teams has been minimal, with clubs expecting that the Redskins will cut him.
-- Washington Post
With mini-camp over, the Lions will resume their off-season conditioning program. President Matt Millen also will stay in touch with free-agent cornerbacks R.W. McQuarters and Ty Law. Both have visited the Lions. Nothing is imminent with either player.
-- Detroit News
The Lions might be growing impatient with the negotiating tactics of agent Drew Rosenhaus, who is representing three-year veteran kick returner Eddie Drummond. Drummond said that he wants to sign a three-year contract so there will be no distraction of becoming an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. The Lions say they are willing to talk about a long-term contract, but they want him first to sign the one-year tender offer. Drummond can no longer shop himself as a restricted free agent, and if he hasn't signed the Lions' tender offer by June 15 they can reduce the offer.
-- Detroit Free Press
The Falcons fired VP of player personnel Ron Hill, cutting ties with the one-time top decision-maker who helped land quarterback Michael Vick and who traded a first-round pick to Buffalo in 2003 for wide receiver Peerless Price.
-- Atlanta Journal Constitution