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Home to a half Mexican who now lives in Silverdale, WA and who supports the Hawks, Sonics and Mariners along with the alma mater (WSU). I also post wacky links, pictures of insanely hot women and what have you (if you don't want to read my ramblings), so enjoy.


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Friday, March 26, 2004
OMG RUMORZ~~~

Beat ya to it!

-We hear that if Cardinals OG Leonard Davis once again falls short of his considerable potential, the team will probably be looking to deal him after next season.

-If the Texans can add a young cornerback of starting caliber via the draft, we hear CB Marcus Coleman could be moved to free safety.

-Word is the 49ers could be entertaining thoughts of going after Bengals QB Jon Kitna should he become available.

-Rumors of Corey Dillon being sent to either Oakland or Denver were considered unfounded at presstime, and no trade is expected until after the draft, if at all. Dillon has stated, however, that the three teams that most interest him are Oakland, Dallas and Denver.

-Although the Panthers are willing to stick with QB Chris Weinke as a third-stringer for the time being, rumors won’t die that former Panthers starter Steve Beuerlein might be convinced to return for one more season with the team.

-We hear that the Dolphins feel they have great flexibility in the upcoming draft now that they’ve acquired WR David Boston. They can go any of three ways with the No. 20 pick — take the top offensive lineman still on their board, grab a third wide receiver or take a safety.

-Despite rumors of interest by the Cardinals, Steelers and 49ers, Rams restricted free-agent QB Marc Bulger, who was tendered at the highest level, had yet to make a free-agent trip as of presstime.

-The Panthers’ pursuit of Rams TE Brandon Manumaleuna — a chase that was for naught — shows that the team isn’t comfortable that second-year TE Mike Seidman, who missed the end of last season with a knee injury, will return at full speed to start the season.

-Sources say the Buccaneers are systematically ridding the roster of players who were drafted by former general manager Rich McKay to assure that everyone’s loyalty is with current GM Bruce Allen and head coach Jon Gruden.

-With all the names being floated around regarding who will be the next backup QB in Tampa Bay, Bucs WR Keenan McCardell maintains that second-year QB Chris Simms will be better than everybody thinks when he finally gets a chance on the field.

-Sources say there isn’t a lot of animosity between Saints DE Darren Howard and the team and that a deal will be worked out prior to training camp to avoid Howard having to wear the franchise tag all season.

-With running back as its top priority, New England has reportedly set its sights on Oregon State RB Steven Jackson. However, we hear that the Lions also covet Jackson, and since Detroit picks sixth overall and New England’s first pick is at No. 21, the Patriots will have to move into the top five to get their man. The Pats have the means to do just that, with two first-round picks, two second-rounders, a third and two fourths.

-We hear that the Jets are working hard to restructure DT Josh Evans’ contract because his cap figure is due to be $3.8 million this season. They are trying to get him to take a pay cut, with the opportunity to earn back some of the money through incentives. If a deal can’t be worked, look for Evans, 31, to be cut or traded.

-The fact that RB LaMont Jordan has popped up in trade rumors does not mean the Jets have soured on him. Quite the contrary. They have been very happy with his performance in short-yardage situations and on the goal line. It’s just that the Jets are committed to Curtis Martin for the next two seasons for salary-cap reasons, and Jordan, whose contract is up after 2004, may have enough trade value to entice a team to make an attractive offer for a young back who has the ability to be a featured back.

-Despite all of CB Ty Law’s bluster about not wanting to come back to New England, we hear it’s highly likely that he will still be with the Patriots this fall. He’s due to be paid $6.15 million in salary in 2004, plus he’ll get a $1 million bonus just for reporting to training camp. He has offered to buy out the final two years of his contract, but the Patriots, who can’t afford to lose arguably the best cover corner in the league, declined.

-We hear that the Bills are not as disappointed in their talent at the DLE spot as many think. They feel that Ryan Denney can be a solid player, not unlike longtime Bills DE Phil Hansen. They also have high hopes for 2003 second-round pick Chris Kelsay.

-We hear that ex-Bucs SS John Lynch would be a better fit in New England than with the Jets, who are looking to get younger and faster in their secondary. Lynch’s close relationship with head coach Herm Edwards could still steer him to the Jets, but Denver, Seattle and New England are interesting possibilities. If Lynch ends up in New England, where the cerebral, hard-hitting veteran certainly fits the profile of a Bill Belichick type of player, we hear that FS-CB Eugene Wilson would likely move back to cornerback, where he played in college.

-Don’t expect a QB controversy in Miami despite the fact that Jay Fiedler is still around to push newly acquired A.J. Feeley for the starting spot. The reason why the locker room won’t be split? We hear it’s because Fiedler is neither a lightning rod nor the type who rallies the troops. Also, the fact that Miami gave up a second-round pick in 2005 means it’s a matter of when, not if, Feeley becomes the starter.

-We hear the Dolphins’ new offensive staff is well aware that RB Ricky Williams has set club records for most carries in a season each of the past two years (383 in 2002, 392 in ’03). That should help them convince head coach Dave Wannstedt that Miami must establish more of a passing game in 2004.

-Starting Qasim Mitchell at the OLT position is becoming a serious possibility for the Bears. Mitchell is a raw talent who performed above expectations as a spot starter in 2003, when he made two starts as a replacement for Mike Gandy. With Gandy expected to move to right guard, Mitchell is the team’s top option. Unless the Bears find a budget buy before training camp or Mitchell disappoints in minicamp, expect the 6-6, 350-pounder to protect QB Rex Grossman’s blind side. The Bears confirmed 2002 first-round pick Marc Colombo will not participate in the March minicamp.

-Team observers wonder what the losses of OG Eric Beverly and LBs Jeff Gooch and Barrett Green could do to the Lions’ depth. Beverly was invaluable because he could back up all three interior OL positions; Gooch was the team’s top special-teams performer; and Green is a rising talent at weak-side linebacker. Detroit seeks to add a running back and starting right offensive guard but may end up filling both holes through the draft.

-The Vikings may add a veteran inside linebacker in free agency but are waiting for definitive word from MLB Greg Biekert about his pending retirement. Team officials are certain Biekert is done, but head coach Mike Tice wants to hear it from Biekert. Released by the Giants, veteran Mike Barrow has the Vikings’ interest, as does SLB Brandon Short, a Giants unrestricted free agent.

-A key reason for the Colts’ free-agent silence, as many predicted upon the signing of Peyton Manning, is the futures of RB Edgerrin James and WR Marvin Harrison, who’ll become free agents after next season. Team observers say the Colts have in place a plan to keep both players — likely signing Harrison long-term and using the transition tag on James.

-Unlike last season, when the Colts had David Thornton waiting in the wings to replace WLB Mike Peterson, the team has no heir apparent for Marcus Washington, one of many new additions to the Redskins’ roster. The Colts don’t consider Jim Nelson or Cato June, a college safety selected in the 2003 draft and moved to the OLB position, long-term answers or even starters.

-The Eagles would like to add a veteran cornerback to the mix with third-year CBs Sheldon Brown and Lito Sheppard, but you can probably rule out former Saint Dale Carter as a possibility.

-The Redskins’ additions of CBs Ralph Brown and Walt Harris likely spell trouble for Rashad Bauman’s chances to make the team next season.

-There were rumors circulating in early March of a possible trade that would send Rams RB Lamar Gordon to the Patriots, but Rams head coach Mike Martz said if such a trade was in the works, he was unaware of it.

-We hear the Rams’ decision to match the Panthers’ five-year, $8.35 million offer sheet for restricted free-agent TE Brandon Manumaleuna was far from unanimous.

-With about $4.3 million in cap money to play with at presstime, word is the Seahawks were gearing up for one more name free-agent signing. Former Giants LB Mike Barrow, a possible replacement for Randall Godfrey, and Eagles UFA CB Bobby Taylor, a possible replacement for Shawn Springs, were at the top of the list.

-49ers TE Eric Johnson’s new deal with the team includes incentives that would make him one of the league’s top-paid tight ends if he reaches 50 catches in each of the next two seasons.

-Since season’s end, Kwame Harris, the Niners’ new left tackle who is expected to replace Derrick Deese, has lost 40 pounds while recovering from shoulder surgery. Harris played at 310 last year.

-The fact that our Cardinals sources have yet to hear new head coach Dennis Green even mention the name of Cameron Spikes is a strong tipoff that last year’s starting left guard is as good as gone.

-Word from a source close to the team is the Steelers came away very impressed with what they saw from DE Will Smith at Ohio State’s pro day. Smith could project to outside linebacker in Pittsburgh’s 3-4 scheme.

-We hear the Ravens are resigned to the fact that it is going to cost too much to trade back into the first round of the 2004 draft. But the team, whose first pick is in the second half of the second round, could be tempted to trade up toward the top of Round Two if a very good WR prospect unexpectedly slides down the board.

-Yet another reason why losing Terrell Owens stings the Ravens so much: We hear the team had still expected to see eight-man fronts geared to stop RB Jamal Lewis — even with Owens on the outside. That would have left Owens one-on-one with a cornerback, and it’s easy to see why the Ravens would have been overjoyed about that.

-A source close to the Ravens tells PFW that Terrell Owens’ trade to Philadelphia could have been announced on Monday, March 15, but Baltimore general manager Ozzie Newsome was so upset that he told the Eagles and 49ers he would have to sleep on the proposed settlement before agreeing to it. On March 16, the settlement was reached. The Ravens got Philadelphia’s fifth-round pick and got back the second-round pick they had traded to San Francisco in the first Owens trade March 4.

-It appears the only real position battle in Kansas City this summer, barring injury, will be for the ORT spot vacated by John Tait’s signing with the Bears, as the Chiefs return 21-of-22 starters. At first glance, the versatile Marcus Spears would appear to have the advantage based on familiarity in the system, but his practice habits haven’t exactly put him in the good graces of the coaching staff. Brett Williams, a fourth-round pick out of Florida State last year, represents the future but didn’t play a snap as a rookie. Chris Bober, a free-agent acquisition who played some at tackle for the Giants last year, may get a chance but is better-suited inside.

-Once deemed to be progressing, the talks between the Broncos and unrestricted free-agent LB John Mobley had tailed off significantly by late March.

-At presstime, the Broncos’ chances of landing free-agent SS John Lynch were considered “better than people think” by sources close to the team.

-With Adrian Dingle as the only DE holdover, expect the Chargers, in the process of switching to a 3-4 scheme, to take a long look at pass rushers in the draft and after the June 1 cuts.

-Newly acquired Broncos DE Raylee Johnson, who turned down more money from the Chargers, the team that cut him, figures to split time with Reggie Hayward in Denver.

-A source close to the Titans believe that the team is extremely confident about its ability to replace departed DLs Jevon Kearse and Robaire Smith, almost to the point where they don’t consider them major losses to overcome.

etch-a-sketched by john at 1:32 AM