Terrell Owens said the news media tried to goal him into a controversy after his catch-less performance on Sunday. The Bills receiver’s streak of 185 consecutive games with a catch ended, and after the game he repeatedly refused to criticize his coaches or teammates and Owens maintained that he was “just going with the plays that are called.” Over the years I’ve always kind of spoken openly about whatever is being asked with my answers, so the last four or five years I’ve kind of noticed that and tried taking some steps to prevent some of those things from happening. “But (Sunday) as you saw, it was obviously … (reporters) took some more than initiative to try to get me to kind of go down the wrong path. I know the last two teams that I’ve been on, I felt like I left those teams prematurely due to media interviews that I’ve done and things kind of taken out of context and they created sort of a media whirlwind in the locker room and things kind of went downhill from there. I’m just trying to do the best job I can do as far as answering the questions and trying to be a better teammate and not try to throw people under the bus.”
Eighty-four million bucks just doesn’t go very far these days, that’s how much guaranteed money the Raiders invested in their last three top draft picks. Sunday that investment reaped these dividends: Three points and several thousand heartfelt boos rained down mostly on quarterback JaMarcus Russell. Near the end of Sunday’s 23-3 loss to the Broncos in the Coliseum, a.k.a. the Blacked-Out Hole, Russell trotted onto the field and the boos were louder than they had been all afternoon, even though most of the fans had fled the premises.
The work ethic of Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russellis still being questioned by many who have worked with him in the past and are working with him now. After he issued a call to his teammates to practice and finish the OTA days strong, he then disappeared and was AWOL on the last day. Russell must learn that talent alone is not going to make him successful.
Packers QB Matt Flynnis well ahead of QBBrian Brohm for the backup quarterback position. Flynn has an average arm at best but is a leader and has enough mobility to make some plays when things break down. Brohm is better than last year but still had too many head-scratching moments as well as a surprising number of ducks this summer.
Even though the Packers will dish out at least $16.25 million to receiverGreg Jennings this year, they should have enough room under the salary cap for additional contract extensions. The deal that Jennings signed on Wednesday left the Packers with about $21 million in remaining space under the 2009 salary cap. The Packers will need some of their remaining salary-cap room for their four remaining unsigned draft picks which includes first-round picks B.J. Raji and Clay Matthews as well as extending the contracts of additional veterans like disgruntled safety Nick Collins, starting offensive linemen Daryn Colledge, Jason Spitz and linebacker Aaron Kampman who are entering their final contract years.
The Jets are very much taking a wait-and-see approach withPlaxico Burress. Word out of New York is that they won’t consider bringing him aboard until his legal situation is cleared up, and it’s also unlikely they would make a play for him if Roger Goodell hands down a lengthy suspension. However, should the courts and league decide in the receiver’s favor, expect the Jets to be near the top of the list of suitors.
After multiple discussions about the possibility of the Chicago Bears signing free agent receiverPlaxico Burress, it now seems unlikely. ESPN’s John Clayton reports that Chicago has all but ruled out the possibility of singing Burress. Part of that stance could be based on NFL commissioner Roger Goodell’s decision to review Burress for possible league discipline long before his legal troubles are scheduled to be addressed in court. Clayton also said that the Jets are pretty much in the same boat, and it doesn’t look like anyone will sign Burress before the start of training camp. The Buccaneers reported the same sentiment on Saturday.
Cowboys QB Tony Romo vowed Monday to take better care of the ball after committing 21 turnovers last season, finishing 2009 with 14 interceptions and a career-high seven lost fumbles in 13 games. Asked how he would accomplish his goal, Romo said, “You just don’t turn the ball over. There’s no change other than the fact you hold it with two hands when people are around you. You don’t throw it to the other colored jersey. If it’s questionable, you probably hold on to it, or you run, or you get rid of it out of bounds.” Romo said he doesn’t care if his safety-first campaign results in fewer of his trademark improvised plays.
Chargers LB Shawne Merriman has had perfect attendance at OTAs since missing the first week while traveling abroad. While he hasn’t been cleared to practice, Merriman has spent his time running and cutting on the side as he continues to strengthen his surgically repaired knee. “I’m pushing myself as much as I can,” Merriman said. “Doing that right now will make it easier when it’s time to go.” Merriman guaranteed he will be healthy enough to practice by training camp. But he knows the team may continue to be cautious with him. “It all depends on how much they hold me back or allow me to do,” he said.
Raiders CB Nnamdi Asomugha said during an interview with 790 the Zone in Atlanta that QB Jeff Garcia is eager to be the team’s starting quarterback and that his presence has helped push QB JaMarcus Russell. “You know what, Jamarcus is the starter. He’s the first pick of the draft a few years ago so of course he’s going to be the starter but I don’t see Jeff Garcia backing down,” Asomugha said. “He wants to play, he wants to be on the field. It’s great that JaMarcus has this person behind him that’s as hungry as he is to get on the field and make plays. Now JaMarcus will be holding himself more accountable for a lot of things and develop the mental part, and hopefully develop more of the mental part to his game and be able to lead us that way on the field.”
Broncos WR Brandon Marshall’s agent Kennard McGuire, did confirm Tuesday, June 16, to ESPN’s Michael Smith that Marshall asked team owner Pat Bowlen for a trade during a meeting Friday, June 12. “There was a meeting with Mr. Bowlen and Brandon did ask to be traded. He was told by ownership that the team would do everything in its power to accommodate those wishes. We do feel that a change of scenery is not only important but necessary.” According to a source, Smith reported, Marshall has met with Bowlen more than once in the past week and on both occasions expressed his desire to be dealt.
Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels said the team will continue to talk with WR Brandon Marshall, and he expects Marshall to report for the start of training camp. “We met after [owner Pat Bowlen's] meeting with Brandon and are going to continue our dialogue with Brandon and his representative. We look forward to having Brandon at training camp,” McDaniels said. Marshall has demonstrated his dissatisfaction with his contract by skipping the three-week, voluntary passing camp, then a three-day mandatory minicamp last weekend. If he doesn’t show up by August 12, Marshall could risk forfeiting his fourth year of service time, which would put him another year away from unrestricted free agency.
49ers head coach Mike Singletary has a legitimate quarterback competition. Alex Smith is throwing the ball well and his confidence is as ironclad as it’s been since college. “Well, I think the playing field is level now,” he said of the QB competition. “I think before the offseason began, I wasn’t really sure where Alex was. You know, he’s been through a lot in four years. I think in order for he and Shaun to compete on level ground, he had to get healthy, he had to get his mind focused, I think he had to let go of some of the bitterness that happened to him, some of the bad things, and get the bad taste out of his mouth and be ready to go. I think that has happened.” Singletary did reiterate that if the season were to begin tomorrow, Hill would be the starter but Smith now has a legitimate shot of knocking him out of his perch.
Dolphins LB Joey Porter declared Friday morning that the road to the AFC East title will come through Miami this year, and the Dolphins are the “champions until proven otherwise.” “I don’t understand how you can put somebody in front of us,” Porter said Friday morning. “We won the championship. We were AFC East champions. I just don’t think it’s supposed to happen like that. You’ve got to beat somebody to be the champs. We had to beat somebody to be the champs.”
Bills CBs Terrence McGee (shoulder) and Leodis McKelvin (finger) were again limited in practice with both participating only during individual position work. At this point in the offseason Dick Jauron is erring on the side of caution. Whether either defensive back participates in team work is still a question mark. “I would say maybe,” said Jauron. “Maybe. We won’t take any chances at all. We have to talk to the doctors before we put them back out there.”
The Eagles appear close to extending the contract of quarterback Donovan McNabb. The reworked deal would add two years to his contract, and give him a reported $19 million in guaranteed money. Philadelphia’s offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg believes McNabb still has gas left in the tank. “I think one day he’ll most likely be elected into the Hall of Fame,” Mornhinweg said. “Now, he’s got some more work to do to do that. But I think he has been and will play at a high level for quite some time.”
Colts QB Peyton Manning isn’t entirely comfortable with all the changes the Colts are undergoing, but he is supportive of new coach Jim Caldwell. “I don’t totally understand it all, but I do know that Jim Caldwell has a plan, as he told me, kind of for the either-or scenario and that plan sounds good to me and I’ll be there to support him in whatever direction we go,” Manning said. “No matter how it all plays out, I feel we will be in a good situation, that Coach Caldwell will handle it, make the changes accordingly and then all I can do is focus on my job and try to be the best quarterback I can be.”
Bears WR Brandon Rideau has gotten some reps with the first team offense during the team’s OTAs this summer. It seems unlikely that Rideau will have a major impact on the team this season, but apparently he is impressing some people at camp. He is by far the biggest of the Bears’ receivers at 6-3, so it is possible he could be used in some goal line situations.
49ers WR Michael Crabtree (foot surgery) shoud be ready to go at the start of training camp in late July. If healthy, Crabtree is expected to battle Josh Morgan for the starting role at receiver opposite veteran Isaac Bruce. Receiver was a top area of need for San Francisco, and it should not take Crabtree long to emerge as the top target in their aerial attack.
49ers QB Alex Smith took snaps with the first-team offense today, but 49ers coach Mike Singletary said it “doesn’t mean anything” – other than the coaches just want to make his competition against Shaun Hill as fair as possible. Hill had been taking the first-team snaps through the offseason program up to this point.
Raiders QB JaMarcus Russell’s shaky offseason performances hatched speculation that Jeff Garcia could snatch the starter’s job. Not so, according to Cable. “Our decision’s made. JaMarcus is our quarterback,” Cable said. “There’s no issue there, no decisions to make there. What we have to do is get to camp and have that competition. This is a learning time. The competition will really get rolling when we get to Napa.”
Just win at least 4 games, baby! That is going to be about it for the Oakland Raiders in 2009. Tom Cable is a good coach. Unfortunately the team built for him is brutal. Darrius Heyward-Bey at 7? Nothing against Bey, and I’m sure he will turn out fine, but Michael Crabtree should have been taken. Either way it will not be easy getting whoever they took the ball anyway. JaMarcus Russell is not as good a QB as Al Davis seems to think he is. New QB Jeff Garcia should start if the Raiders want any chance to be competitive. The offensive line is decent at best, and that may be a reach statement.
It’s a shame that line is a bad as it is, because the lone bright spot on offense is the trio of RBs the Raiders have. Justin Fargas, Michael Bush, and Darren McFadden are all good backs.
Oakland has a good secondary headed by Nnamdi Asomugha. NA is one of the best CBs in the NFL. Chris Johnson played well after DeAngelo Hall was cut during the season. Let’s see what Derrick Burgess comes up with this year being that he is in a contract year.
Offense
Picking up T Khalif Barnes through free agency will be an upgrade from Kwame Harris. But the rest of the line is a huge problem. But Robert Gallery sucks. So it’s going to be tough for Fargas, McFadden, and Bush to find many holes to run through. This of course will force the Raiders to pass the ball. Which isn’t good because the Raiders have no WRs. Sure they drafted the kid at 7, he is crazy fast, but has a problem holding on to the rock. Johnnie Lee-Higgins may have potential but still is too much of an unknown. The most consistent receiving option will be TE Zach Miller. Miller is a damn good TE, and which ever QB is playing, he needs to know where he is at all times.
Defense
Oakland’s defense ranked 31st in the league against the run in 2008. They made little or no effort to correct this as all 3 players in the middle of the line are returning. Tommy Kelly, Gerard Warren, and Terdell Sands are all back. These guys gave up over 150 yards a game on the ground last year. And Derrick Burgess’ play has been less than stellar as of late. They do have a solid LB corps with Kirk Morrison and Thomas Howard roaming the middle, but the guys up front are providing no support. We know about the starting CBs, but the safeties are a bit unknown. Tyvon Branch missed most of the year with injuries, and the Raiders surprise everyone yet again by taking S Mike Mitchell in the second round of the draft. Justin Miller is a good KR but on defense, not so good.
What does this all mean
Another long season for Raider Nation. Sorry Raiders fans, the offense is in flux, and with a tough 6 game opening stretch, they may dig themselves into a ditch they can’t climb out of. Opening with 3 straight division games, hosting San Diego on Monday Night Football, at Kansas City, and back home for Denver, the run defense will be tested early. Then they head out on a two game road trip starting in Houston (Steve Slaton), finishing with a game against the Giants (Brandon Jacobs). The six game stretch ends finally in week 6 with Oakland hosting Brian Westbrook and the Eagles. That will not be easy.
Thanks for stopping by, come back tomorrow for team # 30…
