by Joe Tailgate on February 5, 2010
in NFL News
Titans head coach Jeff Fisher, speaking from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., site of Sunday’s Super Bowl, told WGFX-FM 104.5 The Zone that running back Chris Johnson would likely have to wait regarding any extension, especially with a contract that contains three more seasons currently. “We’ve done things prior to players going into the last year of their contract. For me to come out right now, it’s way too premature to say we have any intention of doing anything for CJ.” Fisher said.
New England Patriots linebacker Adalius Thomas made it pretty clear that he doesn’t anticipate being in a Patriots uniform in 2010. “I want to come somewhere where I’m wanted and where I’m gonna have fun, if I’m not gonna do that, that’s not where I’m gonna be.” Thomas said.
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by Joe Tailgate on February 1, 2010
in NFL News
A Colts‘ spokesman said Dwight Freeney suffered “a third-degree, low basketball ankle sprain” in their Jan. 24 AFC Championship Game victory over the New York Jets, which is basically a torn ligament. “We expect him to be questionable for the Super Bowl.” Craig Kelley said Sunday night.
Jets center Nick Mangold told the Daily News that he’s hoping to sign a long-term extension before the start of the 2010 season. “I know and I hope they’ll do the right thing, but I’m not too worried about it right now.” Mangold said after the Pro Bowl. Mangold is entering his fifth season and, thanks to an esclator in his contract, he’s due to make $3.3 million.
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by Joe Tailgate on June 30, 2009
in NFL News
- Raiders WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, said the hamstring that he injured during offseason workouts is at about “80” percent strength. He expects to be at 100 percent by the start of training camp. Heyward-Bey said he went through a lot of offseason drills despite not being at full strength to show coaches and teammates he could play through pain.
- Vikings WR PercyHarvin reported for the start of the symposium Sunday afternoon but after notifying the medical staff that he was not feeling well, it was recommended that he return home. This is the second time Harvin has become ill after traveling this offseason. He missed the Vikings initial rookie minicamp in May when he was hospitalized for a virus and severe dehydration after vomiting on a flight from Florida to Atlanta on his way to Minnesota.
- NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is leaning toward indefinitely suspending former New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress and continuing to sideline quarterback Michael Vick, three sources with knowledge of the situations have indicated. Such moves would be the latest examples of Goodell’s tough stance on players embroiled in off-field issues as evidenced with the suspension of Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte’ Stallworth earlier this month. Stallworth has been ruled out indefinitely by the league after pleading guilty to DUI manslaughter in the death of a Miami man in March.
- Chiefs fans, take heart. The team may not be quite ready, but your new stadium is progressing toward completion, officials heard Monday. Jim Rowland, executive director of the Jackson County Sports Complex Authority, told the Jackson County Legislature that the stadium should be 70 percent complete for the Kansas City Chiefs’ opener, as planned. “Arrowhead is a flurry of activity, trying to get ready for the Aug. 15 opening,” Rowland said.
- Steelers WR Santonio Holmes‘ physical remake, particularly around his neck and through his shoulders, is the next step in the development of the MVP of Super Bowl XLIII. The increase in Holmes’ upper body is becoming so pronounced that he’s beginning to look like an entirely different player. “I tipped the scales (Monday) at 201 (pounds),” Holmes said proudly following his workout at Tom Shaw Performance at Disney’s Wide World of Sports complex.
by Joe Tailgate on June 25, 2009
in NFL News
- Commissioner Roger Goodell says he is beginning to focus on evaluating Michael Vick’s future in the NFL. But Goodell said Thursday his decision on the former Atlanta Falcons star quarterback will come “in due time” and not necessarily before the season begins. “I haven’t given a timeline,” on a decision about reinstatement, Goodell told The Associated Press during a telephone interview.
- Talking for the first time since he fired general manager Matt Millen, Detroit Lions owner William Clay Ford admitted that Millen probably didn’t have the experience to be a successful general manager — and also said that former head coach Rod Marinelli probably wasn’t ready either. Millen didn’t have any front office experience before arriving in Detroit and Marinelli was a first-time head coach. “That’s a friend of mine and always will be,” Ford said of Millen. “He has a lot of wonderful qualities, it didn’t work out and we parted ways. It’s history.” On why it didn’t work out, Ford said, “You can answer that probably as well as I can. It just wasn’t going right.”
- The Jacksonville Jaguars are looking to trade veteran receiver Dennis Northcutt, the most productive receiver they have left from last year’s team, Northcutt’s agent confirmed. “They have indicated that they intend to trade him and are trying to do so,” agent Jerome Stanley said in an email exchange with ESPN.com. Northcutt joined the Jaguars as a free agent in 2007 and in 29 games caught 88 passes for 1,146 yards and six touchdowns. He also did some work as a return man.
- Josh McDaniels said the Broncos staff targeted RB Correll Buckhalter in free agency because coaches felt he had “multidimensional” skills that would allow him to succeed in the role of a traditional running back and also in the passing game as a blocker or receiver. “His body is young,” McDaniels said. “He just might be, as a matter of fact, I think he is, our fastest back. He’s got a great burst and he’s got great long speed.” – “To add a guy to our offense that is very unselfish and is going to accept whatever role he earns is great, and he’s going to play his butt off.”
- Richard Dent has received a Hall of Fame endorsement from an unlikely source. In the latest issue of ESPN The Magazine, Indianapolis Colts Pro Bowl defensive end Dwight Freeney expresses his belief that the Bears‘ all-time sack leader deserves to be enshrined in Canton.
- “I grew up a Giants fan, but Richard Dent made me respect the Bears,” Freeney wrote. “He was a dominant force on one of the most dominant defenses in the history of the NFL. When you think of the 1985 Bears defense, you think of two men: Mike Singletary and Richard Dent. “And his stats speak for themselves. He had 137.5 sacks as a defensive end. The benchmark is 100. That’s like hitting 500 home runs in baseball. And everyone knows it’s not easy to play for a long time in this physical league, but he played for 15 seasons at a very high level.”
