by Joe Tailgate on February 23, 2010
in NFL News
The Panthers have until this Thursday to place the franchise tag on defensive end Julius Peppers. A source in the organization has indicated to Newschannel 36 that Peppers is finished with the team, and they will not pony up the twenty million plus that would be required to keep him for another year under the tag allowing him to test the open market as an unrestricted free agent.
Things could get rough for Peppers. Peter King tweets “Had an NFL exec tell me this weekend he thought Peppers would be lucky to get $10m a year in this climate.”
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by Joe Tailgate on July 30, 2009
in NFL News
True to his word, nose tackle Vince Wilfork will be in attendance today for the first day of Patriots training camp, despite no movement in contract talks. His agent, Kennard McGuire, said yesterday he’s disappointed the situation has come to this.
“Although our dialogue has been ongoing, we just have not achieved the level of comfort for Vince,’’ McGuire said. “In a profession where production and durability equals reward, I’m terribly disappointed that we have not found common ground in what a player of Vince Wilfork’s value truly is. “Our desire was, and is, a commitment to Vince that equals the one he has made to the organization. Today, we’re just not there. For a man who is as passionate to the game as Vince Wilfork is, I truly feel this is unjust.’’
DL Ty Warren, who had off-season groin and abdmominal surgery, and second-year OLB Shawn Crable, who figures to battle for Mike Vrabel’s old spot, will begin training camp on the team’s physically unable to perform list, a league source has confirmed. Also on the list are offensive tackle Mark LeVoir, as well as rookie offensive lineman Rich Ohrnberger and rookie defensive lineman Darryl Richard. All five were placed on the active PUP, meaning they are eligible to return to camp at any time.
by Joe Tailgate on June 11, 2009
in NFL News
- The Eagles and QB Donovan McNabb are close to restructuring the final two years of the quarterback’s current contract. Under his current deal, the 11th-year veteran is scheduled to earn $9.2 million this season and $10 million in 2010. The two sides had been discussing an extension before agreeing to focus on reworking the two years remaining on his current deal.
- Andy Reid isn’t happy about it, but cornerback Asante Samuel has decided to skip at least some of the team’s volunteer camp this week. The Eagles’ cornerback did not show up Monday as the team resumed the full-squad camp that started with four workouts last week. No direct statement was made by the team about Samuel’s absence, and because this camp is voluntary, the Eagles cannot take any disciplinary action.
- Andy Reid is optomistic about Brian Westbrook. “Brian was on a mission this year to come back, and he still is,” Reid said. “When I mention that he was in phenomenal shape, I mean he really was in incredible shape, and that will help him get through this. You have to understand how tough Brian is and how much he loves football.” Westbrook could be sidelined through the preseason after undergoing surgery to remove bone chips from his right ankle last week.
- Lions C Dominic Raiola can’t help but be excited about rookie QB Matthew Stafford, and Raiola says there’s a big difference between Stafford and the Lions’ other first-round quarterbacks, Joey Harrington. “I’m very optimistic – I am every year,” Raiola tells Matt Shepard on WDFN-AM. “But I think this more than any other year. I’m excited. I’m anxious to see the product we put out there with Coach Schwartz leading us. The quarterback competition has been great. Daunte’s in better shape; he’s throwing the ball well. And even Matt … Matt came in and – it’s totally different than our past first-round quarterback that we’ve drafted, y’know, in the past. You can tell that this guy, he looks like a first-rounder. He looks like a No. 1 pick.”
- Patriots NT Vince Wilfork shows up to mandatory camp. Wilfork recently said that he missed all of the Patriots OTA’s because he was upset with the lack of progress in contract negotiations, the OTA’s were optional and he didn’t have to show up to any of them. The Patriots Nose Tackle did show up today as the team began its mandatory mini-camp. He’s currently in the final year of his six-year rookie deal.
- Owner Robert Kraft spoke with reporters today about Wilfork. “Vince and I have a great relationship, we actually chatted at the golf tournament Monday,” he said. “We both understand that this is not personal in any way. This is just each side doing their business. One way or another, I’m sure things will get resolved.”
- The Jets have reached a contract agreement with rookie QB Mark Sanchez, the team has announced. The Daily News has learned that Sanchez has received a five-year contract that includes $28 million in guarantees. This makes Sanchez the highest-paid player in team history.
