The Chargers are taking a wait-and-see approach in with WR Vincent Jackson’s long-term future with the team, he is coming off consecutive career years, yet due to the specter of 2010 being uncapped, he will likely be a restricted free agent, under the club’s control with no multiyear contract yet being discussed between the parties
Cowboys WR Miles Austin, who is an impending restricted free agent, said he wants to re-sign with the team during the offseason but knows that the decision is up to the Cowboys. The Cowboys likely will tender him an offer that would give them a first-round and third-round draft choice if another team signs him and the Cowboys do not match.
Brandon Marshallreiterated he is not happy with theBroncos. He was asked if there were irreconcilable differences with the team. “Unfortunately, sometimes it gets to that point.”
Rumor has it that Vikings new QB Brett Favre has rendered Tarvaris Jackson expendable. Barring an injury to someone else, Jackson is likely to be the odd-man out and the player the Vikings will shop as we get near the 53-man roster cutdown.
Browns Coach Eric Manginideclined again to nameDerek Anderson, whose turn is up, or Brady Quinn, Saturday’s starting quarterback.
What the 49erspass defense did to theRaiders passing offense bordered on criminal Tuesday morning.
NFL owners will lock out the players in 2011, renewing labor strife dormant for two decades and jeopardizing an $8 billion industry, according to players’ union chief DeMaurice Smith.
“He sticks out every day,” Denver coach Josh McDaniels said. “Eddie is a very talented player, a lot of ability, very smart, versatile. We move him all over the field. He’s very unselfish, wants to do what’s best for the team. He’s accepted his role and he’s doing a great job with it so far.”
Kyle Ortoncompleted so many passes toBrandon Stokley during the controlled scrimmage at Invesco Field at Mile High that no one should have trouble learning who will play the Wes Welker role in the Broncos’ new offense this year. But there was also a smattering of boos from the gathering of 13,402 fans after Orton was intercepted twice by cornerback Andre Goodman, who returned one for a touchdown.
“Made some mistakes, did some good things,” Orton said. “Got some things to learn from.”
Broncos WR Brandon Marshall won’t say he’s happy to still be with the Denver Broncos, but he did report for training camp Monday, the mandated day for the team’s rookies and players who had offseason surgeries. Asked Monday if he was happy to be with the team.
“I’m happy to be playing football. That’s what I’ve done since I was a little boy and hopefully that’s what I can continue to do.” Later asked why he elected to show up Monday he said: “Fifteen thousand. I mean, it’s got to stop eventually. I definitely didn’t want to get that fine, so I’m here.” — “I’m under contract, it’s my obligation to be here and I’m here.”
The league rule calls for a $15,888 per day fine for players who do not report.
After practicing on Monday and passing the conditioning test, Marshall did not practice on Tuesday. Why you ask? Because HC Josh Mcdaniels says he was “sore”. Sore? Really? OK, I’ll bite, he did have hip surgery on March 31st. Here’s what coach had to say:
“Precautionary measures, nothing more than that. It was a coaching decision, and when they’re ready and healthy and we feel good about where they’re at they will be out on the practice field.”
It doesn’t appear the Jaguars have much interest in signing linebacker Derrick Brooks, who is still job-hunting after getting cut by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Even if Brooks wanted to play for the veteran minimum, the Jaguars think 2008 draft pick Thomas Williams and rookie free agent Russell Allen will alleviate concerns about depth at the position.
“It’s not going to happen,” White said about putting weight back on. “I am not going to let it all go to waste, not the way I feel. My body feels good — my knees, my ankles, everything feels great out there. And I am trying to keep it that same exact way. So whatever I have to do, I am going to maintain. And when I check into camp (my weight) won’t be nothing over 230.” White weighed in at 229 pounds last week, and admitted that he weighed a whopping 261 last October. “Right now, this is like a perfect situation for me. But I am going to keep pushing myself,” White said. “This is the time where I know what I want to do. We are five weeks away from where I want to be, from what I have been looking forward to, and I’m not going to blow it. I have been playing football all my life so I know how to get ready for camp. I’ll be ready to roll.”
When Raiders quarterback Jeff Garciasigned a free-agent deal with the team, eyebrows raised throughout the league. And the 39-year-old Garcia is doing nothing to dispel the notion that he plans to play.
“Not knocking JaMarcus or anybody else on the team, but I just have a belief in my own abilities,” Garcia tells Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times.
Broncos RB Peyton Hillissaid he is eager to get to training camp to get a better understanding of a new coaching staff that includes first-year coach Josh McDaniels, who was an assistant at New England. McDaniels has brought a Patriots-style air of secrecy to the Broncos, and the secrecy is apparently extending to Hillis and the rest of the running backs. Hillis said he hasn’t heard much more than “hearsay” about what his role in McDaniels’ system will be, but he said the uncertainty is a source of excitement rather than concern.
“I’m a scatback compared to Brandon Jacobs, so that’s what they’re trying to get me into because I can catch the ball real well out of the backfield,” Brown said when asked about his role. “Otherwise they’re just telling me to come in there and work hard, and I’m just going in trying to do what I can do to help the Giants win another Super Bowl.”
