The NFL Offseason/Pre-Draft Thread

[MrRant 0]

Rudi may sit out year

Cincinnati Post: "The agent for Bengals running back Rudi Johnson has reportedly told the team that his client will sit out next season rather than play for the one-year deal that comes with designation as a franchise

 

http://www.cincypost.com/2005/01/22/beng01-22-2005.html

 

Jets unlikely to deal for Moss

Newark Star-Ledger (Scroll Down) (registration required): "There are rumbling in Minnesota that WR Randy Moss wants out. But Jets coach Herman Edwards is too big on character to take on someone like Moss."

 

http://www.nj.com/jets/ledger/index.ssf?/b...75509242670.xml

 

Gannon on the move?

Orlando Sentinel (registration required) (Scroll Down): "Oakland has serious salary-cap issues, and it's likely they'll have to release quarterback Rich Gannon, who is due to earn $8 million in 2005. This, of course, will perk up the ears of Buccaneers Coach Jon Gruden, who never met an aging, over-the-hill Raider he didn't like."

 

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orl-...ports-headlines

 

 

Cowboys may bring back Testaverde

Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Scroll Down) (registration required): "The Cowboys have expressed interest in bringing back 2004 starting quarterback Vinny Testaverde. There is a question of whether he would come back as a starter or a backup."

 

http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/sports/football/10708435.htm

[Guest Vitamin X]

Oh yeah, in Packer news, Seattle VP of Personnel Operations, a former scout by Ron Wolf's been hired to take over the GM position since Sherman sucked donkey dick at the GM position. No word on if Sherman's contract will be restructured to last beyond this upcoming year when it ends, but I'm guessing it depends on how well the Packers do next season or not, and also a lot on if Favre decides to retire or not.

 

I mentioned this in the Packers-Vikings playoff game thread, but decided to repeat it here. The DBs coach for the Pack, Kurt Schottenheimer (brother of Marty) has also been axed, for pretty obvious reasons. If they weren't obvious, it comes as a result of setting two dubious franchise records: Allowing the most passing TD's in a season (33), and fewest turnovers. I expect Bob Slowik to follow soon, and I wouldn't be surprised to see Tom Rossley (offensive coordinator) get the axe as well, since Sherman was infinitely better calling the plays than Tom was. I'm not even sure if Sherman will last past this year, despite his high winning percentage.

[Guest The Winter Of My Discontent]

Gannon's finished.

 

Rudi is a moron if he does this.

[Vern Gagne 0]

28 teams aren't playing Hippy.

[Guest Vitamin X]

He's still back in 1993.

 

I had no idea that Rudi Johnson had that great of a season. I remember at the beginning of the year he was getting blamed for much of the offense's inability to move the ball, then it was unfairly blamed on Palmer who had a decent year. Still 1 1/2 great seasons shouldn't net you a large, long term contract. Run the Bengals into the playoffs next year, then we'll talk money, Rudi.

[LaParkaMarka 0]

What's so bad about getting franchised? It's still, what, 8 million or something retarded? Not exactly a bad payday.

[Guest Vitamin X]

Job security. Players- and often, agents- don't like the idea of management franchising a player which is essentially saying "You want more money? Prove that you deserve it. But in the meantime, we really, really don't want to lose you unless we can rip off some other team in doing so." and the other side usually doesn't like that.

[Vern Gagne 0]

Heck, the should only have 1 year contracts. You'd see better performances and effort from players.

[Fökai 0]

...but the league revenue would take a turn for the worse.

[Guest Vitamin X]

Nonsense! They'll just raise ticket prices yet again!

[HarleyQuinn 0]

RB Travis Henry and RB/FB Rueben Droughns have both been granted permission to seek trades to other teams.

 

Jacksonville Jaguars signed WR Chris Cole(potential kick return man) and re-signed S Nick Sorensen(Special Teams captain) to a multi-year contract.

 

Oakland Raiders want to sign WR Jerry Porter before he hits the FA market.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/stor..._len&id=1971547

 

The Indianapolis Colts promoted QB Coach Jim Caldwell to Assistant Head Coach. WR Brandon Stokely finalized a 5 year contract with the Indianapolis Colts that they had agreed to in December.

http://www.indystar.com/articles/4/211126-2714-196.html

 

New Orleans Saints re-signed C/Long Snapper Kevin House to a 5 year contract.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Heck, the should only have 1 year contracts. You'd see better performances and effort from players.

Salaries would drop as well. The problem is, the union would never agree to such a move, and it would be difficult to sell the concept to fans, who want to see good players return each year. I don't like the idea myself.

[Brett Favre 0]

That's BS on the Jets won't try and trade for Moss statement. Last year the Jets offered Santana Moss, John Abraham, and a 1st round pick (ended up being Vilma, thank God they declined) for Randy Moss.

[Guest]

There isn't one player in the NFL worth more than those 3.

[Guest The Winter Of My Discontent]

Why would the Colts pay their #3 receiver so much when they need DEFENSE?

 

Thats why they'll never win a championship. Poor administrative moves.

[Guest Cerebus]

Have the Cowboys had a decent QB since Aikman? That's why they suck.

[Your Paragon of Virtue 0]

Here's hoping the Bills throw Drew in with Travis in some sort of crazy deal, get something for the O-line perhaps, and just run with Losman.

[sfaJack 0]

Have the Cowboys had a decent QB since Aikman? That's why they suck.

Having Dave Campo as head coach for three years with Jerry Jones running the draft had a lot more to do with their sucking than lack of a quarterback.

[HarleyQuinn 0]

DT Ed Jasper has announced his retirement.

 

Green Bay Packers are expected to announce former Miami interim HC Jim Bates as the new Defensive Coordinator.

 

DB Coach Eric Mangini has been considered the favorite to take over the Defensive Coordinator position in New England.

[Guest Vitamin X]

WHAT THE FUCK? JIM BATES?!

[Spaceman Spiff 0]

What's wrong w/ Bates. The Miami guys LOVED him, and he's probably the only reason they didn't outright quit on the season.

[Guest Vitamin X]

What was Jim Bates before he was promoted to head coach? Unless it he who was the defensive coordinator for the last few years, then I'm not happy. If it is, then I'm elated, because Green Bay would have gone much farther in the playoffs with a defensive coordinator who knew what the fuck he was doing.

[LaParkaMarka 0]

I'm pretty sure he was the D-Coordinator. Seems like a decent hire to me.

[Spaceman Spiff 0]

Yeah, he was Miami's defensive coord., who took over as interim coach when Wannstedt left.

[Guest Vitamin X]

Oh well, that would be a really good hire, then. Nevermind. Yay!

 

I forgot to also take into consideration that Mike Sherman was only a tight ends coach who briefly got some other work as an offensive assistant under Holmgren in Seattle before getting the Green Bay HC job, and he's done a fine job except for the playoffs thus far. I would just hate to see a repeat of last year's defense.

[therealworldschampion 0]

I would just hate to see a repeat of last year's defense.

 

Get a shutdown corner and don't depend on Al "Throw The Flag" Harris if you want an improved Packer defense next year. Packers should make a run at Fred Smoot in the offseasn.

[Guest Vitamin X]

Harris did the best he could without the speed and size most DB's have, he didn't get that many PI calls. Those were all courtesy of Ahmad Carroll, who apparently can't get used to defending passes without boxing gloves.

 

Is Fred Smoot a quality enough corner to be considered a "shutdown" corner, though?

[MrRant 0]

Frustrated Burress says it's likely his final game with Steelers

January 24

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: "Burress is an unrestricted free agent, and he sounded as if last night's 41-27 loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC championship game was his final game in a Steelers uniform."

 

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05024/447271.stm

 

Colts are still thinking offense

January 23

Boston Globe (Scroll Down): "Are they going to let running back Edgerrin James walk off into free agency? ...The Colts may be reluctant to sign James to a big-money contract because Denver's Reuben Droughns, Buffalo's Travis Henry, and Seattle's Shaun Alexander all are available, either in free agency or via trade."

 

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patr...to_history?pg=4

 

Bye George? Eddie's not ready to quit

January 23

Nashville Tennessean: "Another surprise: George, 31, said he's nowhere near ready to call it quits after nine NFL seasons. The Titans' all-time leading rusher and four-time Pro Bowl selection wants to play another three or four years, only this time for a team that truly wants him."

 

http://www.tennessean.com/sports/titans/ar...ent_ID=64540976

 

Dolphins want to talk to Ricky

January 23

Miami Herald (Scroll Down) (registration required): "We hear Dolphins coach Nick Saban already has sent word to Ricky Williams that he is interested in talking if Williams wishes. But Williams still doesn't want to play, friends say. • New Dolphins offensive coordinator Scott Linehan ran primarily a one-back offense in Minnesota, with either two tight ends or three receivers. That puts fullback Rob Konrad -- due $1 million next season -- in jeopardy."

 

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/10713142.htm

[Kahran Ramsus 0]

1) Good riddance.

2) Idiots.

3) Idiot.

4) Idiots.

[Guest Vitamin X]

Wow lots of quality offensive players available. I bet whoever loses out on the Randy Moss sweepstakes will go for Burress next.

 

I think it also speaks volumes about Eddie George when he couldn't get anything behind a usually solid Cowboy o-line. That's the problem with power running backs is that they wear down much quicker than the speedy ones do, because of all the punishment they take. Maybe the Dolphins will take him, but I doubt it.