NFL News and Notes

Andre Smith continues to find himself in the headlines and it isn’t because of a recent photo shoot with GQ. Yet again it has to do with the representation of the Bengals future right tackle.

Priority Sports, who Smith hired to represent him a couple weeks before the draft released a statement today regarding their former client.

“We were asked to come in at the last minute to provide credibility to his draft status and we succeeded in that task. Soon after the draft, Andre Smith became a tremendous distraction to our company.

“What we have subsequently determined is that Andre Smith does not match the culture of Priority Sports and the character of the clients we take so much pride in representing.”

The report per Profootballtalk.com is available here.

Andre Smith fired Alvin Keels and hired Priority Sports’ Rick Smith to bungee his free-falling draft stock before the draft and Smith accomplished that task. Now that he’s been drafted, Andre fired Smith to return to Keels who will likely be able to negotiate a better deal.

The bottom line? Andre Smith played Priority Sports and they are whining about it by slandering his name. Sports agents the slimiest part of the sports industry so it’s nice to see a player use them the way agents use players.

Kudos to Andre. Now that Alvin Keels is your agent you should probably use this video as a motivator before he sits down with Katie and Troy Blackburn to discuss the inevitable hold out.

Moving on.

Carson Palmer had a radio interview recently and said nothing that we haven’t already heard a thousand times. He’s optimistic about the team this season and is thrilled about his wide receiving corp.

“It’s definitely a new look for the Bengals receiver corps but I couldn’t be happier with the guys we’ve got,” Palmer said.

The interesting part, or at least interesting to the national media and fans who generally ignore anything Bengals related unless it pertains to Chad Ochocinco, is Carson’s little nugget on the only non-OTA-attending wide out:

“I haven’t talked to anybody that has talked to him (Ochocinco). He wasn’t here last year so I’m expecting him not to be here at all this year…T.J.’s gone and Chad’s pretty much gone, he hasn’t been here,” Palmer said.

Stop the presses. I suppose these comments could be construed into a suggestion that Chad won’t be back in town ever. But you have to keep in mind Palmer was trying to cover both the departure of TJ and the absence of Chad in one answer.

If Carson is trying to send a message to Chad about not being in camp then he probably is causing more harm than good considering OchoCinco’s comments last season when Carson chimed in on the situation.

“I wish he would stay out of my business,” Ochocinco said.

My take is the longer Chad stays out in LA the better. This team’s vocal leader has shown it’s willing to move on without him and the longer he’s out of the picture the more reps will be given to players who genuinely want to be with the Bengals.

The last bit of news is more of a rumor. But this rumor has 77 career sacks so it’s worth a thought.

The Cowboys are apparently shopping veteran outside linebacker Greg Ellis. The Bengals have been labeled as one of the potential trade partners.

Ellis played under Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer while he was in Dallas and is likely familiar with his scheme and coaching style. Ellis is 33 years old and would carry quite a cap hit if the Bengals chose to trade for him, $5 million to be exact.

If the Bengals are considering a trade, they shouldn’t. Despite being a more proven pass rusher than any player on the Bengals roster, Ellis is aging and his playing time has diminished over the last few seasons. He would likely only play a rotational role and for only a couple seasons more. Role players don’t get paid $5 million a year.

It would be dumb to trade anything for Ellis because it’s clear he will be leaving Dallas even without a trade. They drafted Anthony Spencer in the first round in 2007 and drafted two more pass rushers this April. The Cowboys also had a team meeting of the veteran players this week and their most tenured player, Ellis, wasn’t invited.

So, if the Bengals really did want Ellis they should wait for the Cowboys to realize no one will trade for a 34-year old role player and wait for the pink slip with a Dallas star on it to be delivered to Ellis’ mailbox. Then the Bengals could acquire their third ex-Cowboy of this offseason for a much lower price and there will be much rejoicing.

Bears’ Offseason Acquisitions: Bullish in a Bear Market

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After finishing 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second consecutive year, Bears’ GM Jerry Angelo made the statement “we must solidify the quarterback position.”

Well, Angelo has done just that. He not only solidified the quarterback position, he managed to sign a possible franchise quarterback in Jay Cutler.

Cutler, a Pro-Bowler threw for 4,526 yards with 25 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. While these numbers are impressive, the true tales of the tape are his sacks, third down completion percentage, and interception to pass attempt ratio.

Cutler was sacked 11 times on 616 pass attempts. That equates to one sack every 56 pass attempts.

He performed well on third down, completing 61.9 percent of his passes, with 18 interceptions on 616 attempts; a 1:34 ratio.

Cutler achieved these numbers without a consistent running back. Imagine what he can do with rookie sensation Matt Forte and a solid running game taking the pressure off.

Comparing these numbers against Orton’s 2008 campaign (18 TDs, 12 INTs, 2972 yards, and 27 sacks) it is obvious that the quarterback position received an upgrade. Orton did suffer an ankle injury in the season which limited his numbers, but Cutler’s mobility makes a huge difference.

Quarterback Acquisition: A++

 

With Kyle Orton gone and Rex Grossman a free agent, Caleb Hanie is projected to be the No. 2 quarterback behind Jay Cutler. Hanie has yet to take an official snap (regular season).

Bears’ GM Jerry Angelo did express confidence in Hanie as he complete 29 of 49 passes for 321 yards, with three touchdowns and two interceptions in last year’s preseason.

Hanie is expected to be challenged by Brett Basanez for the backup role. Basanez does have experience in the NFL, although limited, going six of 11 for 56 yards and one interception in a 2006 contest with the Carolina Panthers.

Backup Quarterback Non-acquisition: D

(If Cutler goes down for any period of time so too would the Bears’ season. A veteran presence is needed. Hmmm, Brian Griese perhaps.)

 

With the departures of Terrance Metcalf, Fred Miller, John Tait, and John St. Clair on the O-line, the Bears shored up the left tackle position by signing Orlando Pace to a three-year deal.

Pace, could split time with last year’s first round pick, Chris Williams, who missed significant time last season while recovering from back surgery.

The Bears also acquired tackles Frank Omiyale and Kevin Shaffer through free agency and drafted guard Lance Louis from San Diego State in the seventh round.  

The roster has tremendous depth regarding the interior line. Center Olin Kreutz and guards Roberto Garza and John Beekman will be the starters. However, it remains to be seen who will start at the tackles.

Does Pace still have some gas left in the tank to protect Cutler from the blind side. Can Williams live up to his first round billing? Who will win out between Shaffer and Omiyale? Their 2008 starts certainly speak for themselves, Shaffer—15 and Omiyale—one.

Offensive Line Acquisitions:  B- / B+

(Depends on whether Pace can remain healthy and Shaffer can be consistent on the right side. If either breaks down, speed rushers could exploit this weakness)

 

The wide receiver position for the Bears has been one of intrigue—a few years ago it was called a place where wide receivers would go to die.

The Bear’s 2009 draft class brought three new receivers to the mix, Juaquin Iglesias, Johnny Knox, and Derek Kinder.

Iglesias is a product of the 2008 Oklahoma Sooners prolific passing attack. Transferring his talent to the NFL will be done though crossing routes over middle and returning kicks.

He’s a warrior across the middle, snagging badly thrown balls (although with Jay Cutler at the helm I am not too sure how many will be bad) and his return ability will allow Danieal Manning to have an occasional breather.

Knox on the other hand is a pure speed threat. A product from Abilene Christian, Knox will stretch the defense and open up the underneath routes for Earl Bennett, Devin Hester, Greg Olsen, and others.

Kinder will add depth to the receiver corps and can play special teams.

Wide Receiver Acquisitions: B

(There may not be a true No. 1 or tall polished receiver, but these draft picks will server well in multiple receiver sets. Their only weakness lies in their the lack of experience.)

 

On the other side of the ball, five of the nine draft picks were spent on defensive players. While in free agency, the Bears brought over free safety Josh Bullocks from New Orleans and defensive back Glenn Earl from Houston.

Signing Earl and Bullocks can possibly fill the Mike Brown departure. If that doesn’t work, third year player Corey Graham could step in to assist S Danieal Manning. The signing of Earl is intriguing, as he is coming off a foot injury and will be reunited with defensive backs coach Jon Hoke. Hoke worked with Earl in Houston.

Sixth round pick FS Al Afalava will provide depth and should be a presence on special teams.

Fourth round pick DB D.J. Moore has exceptional hands and agility, yet his lack of speed may relegate him to back up Nathan Vasher and Charles Tillman

Defensive Secondary Acquisitions: C

(The experience and leadership of Mike Brown will be missed and it is unclear who will step up and establish themselves as “the guy.” The Bears must fill this void if they want to successfully defend the deep ball.)

 

The tandem of Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs will be a formidable duo once again. Fifth round selection and former Ohio State Buckeye Marcus Freeman could be a potential star in the making.

At 6’, 230 lbs, Freeman did underachieve at times in college; however, his skill set could be a blessing in disguise for Chicago’s D and Lovie Smith.

Linebacker Acquisition: B+

The Bears’ linebacker corps is solid. However, the addition of Freeman brings a tremendous upside. (No weakness here.)

 

In 2008, the Bears’ defensive line reeked with underproduction. While he is not considered a free-agent per se, I do see the addition of Rod Marinelli resurrecting the D-Line again.

Third round selection Jarron Gilbert is a freak of nature. Check out his pool trick on YouTube. His size and athleticism should translate into a solid interior pass rusher behind Marinelli and will provide depth to D-Line

In the fourth round, the Bears drafted defensive end Henry Melton out of Texas. At 6’ 3” 260 lbs, Melton moved to DE from running back just two years ago. He speed and quickness could just be what the Bears need to get pressure on opposing quarterbacks from the edges.

Defensive Line Acquisitions: B

(Gilbert and Melton could fit in the rotation depending on how the season goes. Both are extremely athletic and provide depth, yet each will need to step up the game if they want to contribute to Marinelli’s and the team’s demands)

 

After going 9-7 the Bear’s offseason acquisitions plugged many holes (QB, DL, CB, and S). They have added depth to the offensive line and linebacker positions. However, a true free safety needs to step up as well as a right tackle.

With OTAs now in full swing, look for the Bears’ to solidify these positions and be a team headed back to the playoffs for 2009.

Free agency and Draft Acquisitions: A-

Philadelphia Eagles: McNabb Finally Has Receivers Competing for Spots

Throughout his career, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb has faced his fair share of criticism.

When the Eagles selected him with the No. 2 pick overall in 1999, he was booed by fans who wanted Ricky Williams instead. His controversy with Rush Limbaugh shed light on the issue of African-American quarterbacks in the league. Even this past November, he dealt with criticism after head coach Andy Reid benched him in the second half during a 36-7 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

If he fails to win a Super Bowl by the time he decides to call it quits, McNabb’s legacy in Philadelphia may be remembered for the five NFC Championship game appearances in eight years without a championship. However, he should be considered along with the group of wide receivers he has played with over his career before he gets judged.

Peyton Manning had Marvin Harrison. Steve Young had Jerry Rice. Troy Aikman was lucky enough to have Michael Irvin at wide receiver and Emmith Smith at running back.

Even though he played less than two seasons with the Eagles, Terrell Owens may always be seen as the best wide receiver McNabb ever played with. Eagles fans may not want to believe it, but it’s true. McNabb and Owens had the potential to be one of those dynamic duos that won a Super Bowl together.

Unfortunately, that never happened.

In 21 games, Owens caught 132 passes for 1,963 yards and 20 touchdowns. He and McNabb had the potential to become a pair similar to Manning and Harrison.

Besides Owens, McNabb has never played with a truly dominant No. 1 receiver during his career. Despite this, he has still managed to throw for 29,320 yards and 194 touchdowns during his 10-year career. Looking at the Eagles leading wide receiver each year, the numbers are impressive for McNabb considering which receivers he has had to work with. Look at the Eages’ leading receivers each season since 2000:

2000: Charles Johnson, 56 receptions, 642 yards, and 7 touchdowns

2001: James Thrash, 63 receptions, 833 yards, and 8 touchdowns

2002: Todd Pinkston, 40 receptions, 798 yards, and 7 touchdowns

2003: Todd Pinkston, 36 receptions, 575 yards and 2 touchdowns

2004: Terrell Owens, 77 receptions, 1,200 yards, and 14 touchdowns

2005: Terrell Owens, 47 receptions, 763 yards, and 6 touchdowns (only played in 7 games)

2006: Reggie Brown, 46 receptions, 816 yards, and 8 touchdowns

2007: Kevin Curtis, 77 receptions, 1,110 yards, and 6 touchdowns

2008: DeSean Jackson, 62 receptions, 912 yards, and 2 touchdowns

Owens and Curtis are the only wide receivers to record more than 1,000 yards in a season during the McNabb era. Other receivers that McNabb has played with through his career include James Thrash (2001-2003) and Freddie Mitchell (2001-2004). Throughout his career, McNabb has been able to post solid numbers considering the wide receivers he has worked with.

Ever since the departure of Owens, one of the main topics surrounding the Eagles’ organization has been about Donovan McNabb and how he needs a true No. 1 wide receiver. Even during the offseason, McNabb made it clear to the media that he would see what moves the team made during the offseason before making a decision about a contract extension.

Over the last couple of years, rumors have swirled around the league about the possibility of the Eagles landing a big-name wide receiver. No matter how many rumors have swirled around, the matter of fact is the team has never been able to acquire that top wide receiver McNabb always wanted.

As much as the Eagles may have wanted to acquire Anquan Boldin or Braylon Edwards, they may not need them as much as people think.

As crazy as this may sound, the Eagles enter the 2009 season with loads of talent at the wide receiver spot. They may not be near the top of the list as far as best receivers in the league, but there are a number of players with a level of talent that McNabb has always wanted.

Some players have the potential to be a No. 1 wide receiver. Some players have the potential for playing a smaller role. Either way, these next couple months should be interesting for the Eagles as a handful of wide receivers will be competing for spots in the team’s lineup.

 

DeSean Jackson

Last year, the Eagles selected DeSean Jackson out of California with the 45th overall pick in the draft. Even though he only caught two touchdown passes, he led the team in receiving yards with 962.

His explosiveness is a perfect fit for the team’s West Coast offense. Not only does he make a great fit at wide receiver, but he’s a punt returner too. After last season, it’s not even a question whether Jackson will make the Eagles’ roster this season.

The only question is whether he has what it takes to be the team’s No. 1 wide receiver in only his second season with the team.

 

Jeremy Maclin

In this year’s draft, the Eagles were hoping to draft running back Knowshon Moreno. The former Georgia star would be a perfect fit to play behind Brian Westbrook, with the possibility of becoming the main back in the future. Instead, Moreno was selected by the Broncos with the 12th overall pick.

At first, fans were disappointed after all the hype was built up about Moreno. However, little did they know the availability of a certain player that would come later in the first round.

One of the biggest surprises in this year’s draft was the first wide receiver selected. For months, former Texas Tech wide receiver Michael Crabtree was seen as the player in the draft at his position. When the Raiders selected Darrius Heyward-Bey out of Maryland as the first wide receiver taken in the draft, it threw everyone off.

With the 21st pick in the draft, the Eagles found themselves with an opportunity to draft a standout wide receiver from Missouri in Maclin. Not taking any chances, the Eagles decided to trade-up with the Cleveland Browns and select Maclin at No. 19.

Maclin appears to be a mirror image of Jackson and has the potential to be one of the biggest offensive threats for the Eagles. In just two seasons at Missouri, he caught 182 passes for 2,315 yards and 22 touchdowns. He may not be considered a No.1 wide receiver at the beginning of the season, but the potential is there.

Don’t forget, not many people expected Jackson to have the type of impact he had at wide receiver last season.

 

Kevin Curtis

In 2007, the Eagles struck gold in free agency by signing former St. Louis Ram Kevin Curtis to a six-year, $32 million deal. At the time, the city of Philadelphia was excited since Curtis was the biggest named receiver on the team since the departure of Terrell Owens.

With the acquisition of Curtis, many questioned whether he was capable of being a No. 1 receiver. In his first four seasons with the Rams, he was always considered a No. 3 receiver playing behind Tory Holt and Issac Bruce. He would put up solid numbers from time to time, but never really had the experience as the top receiver.

In his first full season with the Eagles, Curtis reached all expectations. He started more games that season (16) than he did in his entire career to that point. His 1,110 receiving yards and six touchdowns gave hope that the team had finally found the No. 1 receiver they had always been looking for.

Once again, Curtis has the potential to be the team’s No. 1 receiver coming into the season. However, a sports hernia injury at the beginning of last season not only caused him to sit out the first couple of games, but it allowed Jackson to emerge as a rookie.

Curtis played in just nine games last season. His numbers were disappointing, as he only caught 33 balls for 390 yards and two touchdowns.

As long as he stays healthy, Curtis should have a major impact for the Eagles’ offense. However, whether he will be considered a No. 1 or No. 2 wide receiver should be determined over the next couple of months. If Jackson follows up with a successful sophomore campaign and Maclin has a successful rookie season, Curtis may see himself in a similar situation from his days with the Rams as a No. 3 wide receiver.

 

Reggie Brown

After his first two seasons with the Eagles, there were high expectations for Brown. Two years later, those expectations have declined, and Brown appears to be on the verge of trying to find playing time.

From 2005 to 2006, Brown caught 89 receptions for 1,387 yards and 12 touchdowns. Last season, Brown had his worst season in his career.

In the 10 games he played in last season, he only had 18 receptions for 252 yards and a touchdown. The main statistic that sticks out is of the 10 games he played, he only started in three of them. In the three seasons prior to 2008, he started 40 of 48 games he played in.

Brown struggled to find playing time last season. After the Eagles’ drafting of Maclin in this year’s draft, he could be struggling to find playing time once again. Not only will he be fighting for playing time, but he may be battling for a roster spot.

 

Hank Baskett

Out of all of the players on the Eagles’ roster, nobody may have more of an interesting story than Hank Basket.

After attending the University of New Mexico, he signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent. Not too long after, he was traded to the Eagles for wide receiver Billy McMullen.

Baskett has never been the dominant receiver in the NFL we have seen in Terrell Owens or Larry Fitzgerald. Instead, he has always been known for having that big game once every blue moon.

Baskett’s rookie campaign will always be remembered for his miraculous game against the Dallas Cowboys. Week Five of the 2006 season was the first time Terrell Owens returned to the City of Brotherly Love since his so called “divorce” with the Eagles. He wanted nothing more than to march into Philadelphia and beat his former team on its home turf. The city of Philadelphia wanted to defeat the Cowboys more than anything in the world.

While trailing 21-17 in the third quarter, the Eagles found themselves deep in their own territory at the 13-yard line. On the first play of the drive, McNabb dropped back and threw a bomb down the field to Baskett. A broken tackle and 87 yards later, Baskett had his first career touchdown. The Eagles eventually won the game 38-24.

In his three-year career, Baskett has caught 71 passes for 1,046 yards and six touchdowns. He finds himself in a similar situation to Brown. Since the Eagles have drafted two wide receivers early on the last two seasons, there may be fewer spots on the roster for wide receivers such as Brown, Baskett, and Jason Avant.

The advantage for Baskettt is that his numbers were better than Brown’s last season. Of the 15 games he played in last season, he started six of them. He made 33 receptions for 440 yards and three touchdowns.

 

Jason Avant

Baskett and Avant are more similar than most people realize. Both wide receivers joined the Eagles in 2006 as rookies and have seen a decent amount of playing time each season.

Avant will be entering his fourth season as a Philadelphia Eagle. The former Michigan Wolverine was selected in the fourth round after finishing his college career with 120 receptions, 1,470 receiving yards, and 11 touchdowns.

Avant didn’t have that much of an impact with the Eagles in his rookie campaign. In the eight games he played in, he caught just seven passes, which resulted in 68 yards and a touchdown.

Over the course of the next two seasons, he played in 30 games. He started 11 of them and made 55 receptions for 644 yards and four touchdowns.

Donovan McNabb enjoyed the presence of Avant during the 2008 season, when Avant converted 13 of 15 catches for first downs on third-down plays. Whether this statistic will be good enough to keep him on the team this season will be determined in the next couple of months.

After playing most of his career without a star wide receiver, Donovan McNabb all of a sudden has a ton of weapons to throw to. If Jackson, Maclin, and Curtis can stay healthy, McNabb may have one of the best triple-threats at wide receiver in the league. Not to mention he also has Brian Westbrook, who at times is considered another wide receiver for the team.

The wide receiver position will be very competitive for the Eagles over the next couple of weeks. Jackson, Maclin, and Curtis should be a lock. As far as Brown, Baskett, and Avant go, it appears the three of these guys will have a lot of competing to do for playing time, if not a roster spot.

“Dan Parzych covers the Eagles for NFLTouchdown.com. You can view his work here“

Cleveland Browns: Over 16 Reasons To Be Proud to Be a Browns Fan

As a franchise, the Cleveland Browns have one of the most notable legacies in all of sports.

Sixteen Hall of Famers have been immortalized in Browns orange and white in the team’s history that dates back to 1945 when Paul Brown was named Head Coach.

The hardships that have plagued the team in recent years fail to represent the true greatness that the franchise once embodied.

From losing seasons to quarterback controversies and the myriad of failed Head Coaches, the team has looked almost nothing like those of decades past.

But for the die-hards who continue to keep faith that one day the team will return to greatness, the sixteen-plus legends that compile this list (in order of their induction to the Hall of Fame) remain a testament to what the team once was and can be again…..

Three Reasons Michael Vick Will Not Be Signed By the Patriots

Many sports journalists—including those at The Boston Globe, ESPN, and even here on B/R—believe the New England Patriots are a likely destination for Michael Vick.

They are mistaken. Even setting aside issues of whether Vick deserves another chance, here are three reasons why.

 

1. Once again, the salary cap rears its ugly head.

Vick is still under contract to the Atlanta Falcons and is scheduled to earn a $9 million salary for 2009.

Clearly, the Falcons are not going to pay Vick that money, but if they trade him, the team that trades for him has to absorb that cap hit before they can sign him to a new contract. Since the Patriots don’t have $9 million in cap space available, they would have to have several players renegotiate contracts to create that cap space.

 

2. Vick doesn’t fit the Patriots at quarterback.

Many writers who see Vick as a fit for the Patriots see him as a potential backup to Tom Brady in New England.

He’s not.

Bill Belichick has shown over the last few years that what he wants most in a backup quarterback is the ability to run the same offense the starter—namely, Brady—can run. Matt Cassel was able to do that, albeit with fewer deep bombs and more short passes, which is why the Patriots felt no need to bring in a veteran backup.

The Patriots see a lot of potential in their current backup quarterback, Kevin O’Connell. Bringing Vick in as a No. 2 and demoting O’Connell to No. 3 would not help O’Connell’s development.

O’Connell is a quarterback who can run. Vick would be a running back who can throw; given that at his best he wasn’t completing 60 percent of his passes, it’s hard to see how that would improve the Patriots.

That’s also ignoring that the Patriots would also have to dump at least one of their current quarterbacks, which would make it harder for them to operate their QB development pipeline.

 

3. The Patriots don’t need the Wildcat offense.

The other argument appears to be for using Vick as a Wildcat quarterback. (This argument has been made—rather incoherently—by John Clayton, who notes that Miami used the Wildcat last year; therefore Vick might interest the Patriots.)

As a fan at PatsFans.com noted, the Patriots using the Wildcat would make for a good change of pace—from scoring too many points.

The problem with the Wildcat offense is that it would require taking Brady off the field, and no one can possibly argue that would make the Patriots better either.

Moreover, if the Patriots want to practice against the Wildcat offense, they may already have drafted a rookie who can run the Wildcat in Julian Edelman. (Edelman even has similar stats to Vick’s too.)

Since the Patriots aren’t exactly hurting at wide receiver or running back either, it’s hard to see how the Patriots could possibly fit Vick onto the roster.

 

If Belichick and Robert Kraft feel adding Vick to the team is worth it, I, as a Patriots fan, would give them the benefit of the doubt, but very grudgingly. That said, for the reasons above, I just don’t see it happening.

Keith Bulluck Thinks This is His Last Season in Tennessee

In a recent interview with the Tennessean, Titans linebacker Keith Bulluck he believed the 2009 season will be his last with Tennessee.

When asked if he thought it would be his final season as a Titan, Bulluck said the signs are pointing to it, but he isn’t discouraged.

“I think so, yeah,” Bulluck said. “And I have no reason to believe that it isn’t. But I don’t look at it as something that makes me sad, I really don’t. I have seen great players come here and go, players you’d think would finish their careers here and didn’t.”

Bulluck’s contract is counting $7.85 million against the Titans’ salary cap this season. He led the Titans with 98 tackles in 2008.

The 32-year-old linebacker knows that his departure wouldn’t be a shot at him from the team.

“But I know how things work, and know it isn’t personal,” Bulluck said. “The circumstances for me this year are different. I am kind of approaching this year like it’s my senior year in college.’’

However, if Bulluck stays at his productive pace and signs a deal that keeps the Titans’ salary in mind, it wouldn’t be a shock to see the heart of the defense return in Tennessee.

Atlanta Falcons: “Inspector Gadget” Has New Toy in Gonzalez

Mike Mularkey is going to have a field day in the 2009 NFL football season.

Mularkey, entering his second season as Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator, is coming off a year in which he transformed a team that finished 29th in the league in 2007 (16.2 points per game) to sixth in the league in 2008 (24.4 PPG). And he accomplished the boost in scoring with a rookie quarterback, an unproven receiving corps and a first-year starter at running back.

He is the master of scheming the perfect game plan for whatever personnel he has, earning the nickname “Inspector Gadget” from his days as offensive coordinator with the Pittsburgh Steelers (2001-03).

In Pittsburgh, he turned mobile quarterback Kordell Stewart into a Pro Bowler. He drew up trick plays for receivers Hines Ward and Antwaan Randle El in which they’d throw the ball downfield. In fact, Randle El’s 43-yard touchdown pass to Hines Ward against Seattle in Super Bowl XL came from the same playbook Mularkey – who had left the Steelers by then to coach the Bills – helped develop.

Now, as a member of the Falcons’ staff, he’s got tightend and future hall-of-famer Tony Gonzalez to work with.

Gonzalez is statistically the best receiving tight end in the history of the league, owner of four NFL all-time tight end records. Though it won’t be an issue for Mularkey, he will have to adjust his playbook for Gonzalez, because Mularkey’s offensive schemes have always used the tight end position to block for the run game. In fact, he ran a lot of double-tightend I-formation plays last year for the purpose of having extra blockers.

But based on Mularkey’s track record to work with the talent he has around him, drawing up packages that include passes to Gonzalez won’t be a problem. But it will be the most significant change you’ll see in the Falcons’ offense in 2009.

From this point forward, opposing defenses will have even more of a hard time deciphering if the Falcons are going to run or pass. Add in Matt Ryan’s ability to execute the no-huddle offense and the Falcons will further be able to use Gonzalez to exploit the defense.

Last season, Ryan threw for 3,440 passing yards, 16 touchdowns (to just 11 interceptions), completed 61.1-percent of his passes, and finished with a quarterback rating of 87.7. His main weapons were Roddy White, Michael Jenkins, and occasionally Harry Douglas and Jerious Norwood.

Ryan threw to three tight ends – Ben Hartstock, Justin Peelle and Jason Rader – who combined for just 19 of Ryan’s 265 completions and caught just two touchdown passes.

In comparison, last year with Kansas City Tony Gonzalez led all NFL tight ends in receptions (96), receiving yards (1,058) and touchdowns (10). And he put those monster numbers up with the Chiefs going through four sub-par quarterbacks (Tyler Thigpen, Damon Huard, Brodie Croyle, and Quinn Gray).

Needless to say, the Falcons have added a new dimension to Ryan’s passing game.

Adding Gonzalez into the mix with playmakers Ryan, White, Jenkins and Douglas in the passing game, along with Michael Turner and Norwood in the run game, and Mularkey has enough weapons to take over the league – in theory, of course.

One thing is certain – Mularkey won’t use the tight end position primarily to block in the run game anymore. At least not as long as Gonzalez is around.

Karma Is a Female Dog

This week former NFL quarterback Michael Vick was released from prison after serving 19 months for his role in dogfighting. He is set to finish the rest of his 23-month sentence under home confinement in Virginia.

Vick is set to start football related workouts with a trainer sometime in the next week and will most likely seek reinstatement from NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell, shortly after.

Vick’s indictment states his involvement in dog fighting dates back to at least early 2001. Vick’s estranged father, Michael Boddie, says Vick staged dog fights in the family garage in 2001 and later in the family’s backyard, where some dogs were “bit up, chewed up, and exhausted.”

For Vick, this was not an isolated incident or a mistake that just happened once. He has been involved in this “blood sport” for many years and for this reason, I think Goodell should rethink reinstating Vick into the NFL. Think about it…it’s not easy for a convicted felon to find a job, why should it be any easier for Vick?

If the viscous torture and cruelty towards animals isn’t reason enough, Goodell should look into Vick’s involvement in illegal gambling. After Vick was indicted, Goodell stated the following:

“Your plea agreement and the plea agreements of your co-defendants also demonstrate your significant involvement in illegal gambling. Even if you personally did not place bets, as you contend, your actions in funding the betting and your association with illegal gambling both violate the terms of your NFL Player Contract and expose you to corrupting influences in derogation of one of the most fundamental responsibilities of an NFL player.”

NFL rules state that participating in gambling activities that bring discredit on the NFL can result in a lifetime ban and that is exactly what should happen with Vick. Allowing him to wear an NFL jersey and step back onto the field would undermine the system.

Even though I don’t agree, my best guess it that Goodell will reinstate Vick in time for the 2010 football season.

Here’s my question: is any player really worth the headache? There will be a media circus surrounding his return to the NFL and this will likely be coupled with angry fans, protests by animal rights organizations, and a boycott from team sponsors.

Simply said, Vick would be a public relations nightmare. Why would any owner take on this unnecessary distraction to the team? In which case, maybe Jerry Jones should take a look at him.

Vick is a tremendous athlete, but his abilities as a quarterback are below average. During his six seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, Vick completed an average of 53 percent of his pass attempts.

A quarterback needs to know how to pass the ball. Running the ball won’t take you to the Super Bowl and Vick wasn’t an exception. He carried the Falcons to the playoffs in 2002 and 2004, but his abilities as a quarterback made it difficult to go any further.

Vick is not worth the headache and having spent the last two years out of football doesn’t make him any more appealing.

As a huge (and admittedly biased) dog lover, I am sickened by the details of the case. Only months before his indictment, Vick threw at least one dog repeatedly against the floor until its bones were broken, all of its organs had ruptured and it finally surrendered to the relief of death.

Vick is personally and financially responsible for what happened to those dogs and he should be held accountable. The dogs that were part of the “Bad Newz Kennels” will never get a second chance on life and Michael Vick shouldn’t get his either.

We Should All be Cheering for Vick

As a Carolina Panther fan living in Atlanta, I think I’m entitled more than most to despise this guy.

I was at the Falcons game in 2003 when he came off the injured list to beat the eventual NFC Champion Panthers.

I was at the Falcons game in 2004 when he put on his cape and dove five yards a foot off the turf to score the game tying touchdown. The Panthers would eventually lose the game, one that would have sent them to the playoffs and cap their remarkable comeback from a 1-8 start.

I’ve listened to every single Falcon fan at one point tell me he was the greatest thing in the history of the NFL, and that if he only had a receiver he’d be elite. 

I saw him wreak havoc on my team, and I watched his surreal trial unfold. 

There is no excusing what he did. It was a horrific, inexcusable, senseless act of cruelty. What he did should not be forgotten. It should remain as a harsh reminder to anyone that thinks training animals to kill each other for sport is in anyway socially acceptable.

However, we do not need to forget in order to forgive.

Vick has served his time and paid his debt to society, and is going out of his way to rebuild his image. Regardless of his intentions, he’s contacted PETA to serve as a spokesperson against animal violence. He’s lost everything he once had, including, most likely, his career. His name is dirt. 

It would send a tremendous message to anyone who came from a similar situation if he were able to recover from this. Young men and women who saw someone larger than life fall for these crimes would see there is such a thing as redemption in a social system many see, perhaps accurately, as stilted against them.

It would also go a long way to repairing the social and racial rifts that opened up in Atlanta during the trial. Vick was always a very polarizing figure in the city, due to both the ways he played quarterback and the way he carried himself. Major networks like ESPN didn’t help matters by fanning those flames with their Town Hall Sessions about the matter. In a city with one of the best young quarterbacks in the NFL, people still wear number seven jerseys.

There is no reason to cheer against him in his efforts to rehabilitate his life. Whether or not you feel it’s appropriate for him to receive another chance from the NFL, it’s obvious that playing football is integral to that process.  

It would be a tremendous accomplishment for Vick as well as the American legal system if he were able to return to the NFL and become a productive member of society.

Just as long as he never produces against the Panthers again. 

Vikings OTA 5/21: More Favre Questions, First Glimpse at QB Competition

Would you be surprised if I told you Vikings head coach Brad Childress was asked about Brett Favre Thursday at his press conference following the day’s practices?

Childress addressed the media and tried to put off questions about the future hall of fame quarterback in the nicest ways.

However, Childress also wouldn’t close the door on the possibility, reiterating that Favre is still retired but also saying the team might still be evaluating him.

“You’re always interested in investigating,” Childress said. “I’ll stand by what I said last time we met. You discuss it. You’re interested in going through the process. Are you interested in a hall-of-fame-caliber quarterback? You’re always interested in going through the process and discussing it and investigating it.”

The main point Childress got across was that although Favre has been the talk among the media at Winter Park, he is more focused on the players that are currently on the Vikings’ roster.

“It’s nothing that I’m focused on because I don’t think anything’s changed,” Childress said. “I’m really focused on the guys that are here on this football team, both old and young. But I’m not spending any time on that.”

Two players that were at workouts on Thursday were quarterbacks Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels, who are expected to compete for the starting job this summer unless a certain quarterback crashes the party.

Jackson talked after practice about what he needs to improve on this season.

“That big mistake. I tend to try to make the big play sometimes, try to save every play like I did in ‘07,” Jackson said. “I got a little bit better at that [in 2008], but a couple of plays I wish I could have back. Just going out there and just playing.”

Jackson also gave his take on the quarterback competition and how he and Rosenfels can benefit from each other.

“I think it’s going to be a great competition. He’s a smart guy. Just by listening to him talk to coaches, you know he knows what he’s doing,” Jackson said. “He’s been in the system before. He has a lot of experience in this offense. It’s good to listen to him talk. Just trying to pick his brain and learn as much as possible.”

Rosenfels agreed with Jackson on the fact that they can both learn from each other.

“I think he can help me with certain things in this offense and I can probably help him with certain things [from] where I’ve been before and certain things that I’ve done or been taught in the past,” Rosenfels said. “But I think it’s a healthy competition. Anytime you have competition it’s going to end up helping the football team and at the end of the day that’s all that really matters. I want to start, he wants to start but at the end of the day what matters is where this football team goes this year.”

Both quarterbacks praised rookie receiver Percy Harvin, who the Vikings selected No. 22 overall in this year’s draft. In just three days of practice, Jackson has already seen how dangerous of a receiver Harvin can be.

”He’s a very talented guy. He’s paying attention to detail, the little things, and it’s going to carry over for him,” Jackson said. “Everybody knows he’s a very explosive player. I know the guys, we’re going to love having him out here. Like a new toy, just want to try him out and get him the ball as much as possible.”

The Vikings will wrap up their OTA’s (organized team activities) for the week on Friday and will begin another mini-camp session starting June 2 that will go through June 5.

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