Espn Insider Updated 7/31 - Sports handicapping Forum

ServiceKing · 07-31-2006, 03:20 PM

Updated: July 10, 2006

Whispers from around the NFL

Pro Football Weekly

• RB Willis McGahee wouldn't reveal his weight, but he looked noticeably slimmer and more toned at the Bills' June minicamp than he was at the end of last season. Word is McGahee believes that carrying less weight will bring back some of the explosiveness he lacked last season.
• Sources close to the Raiders indicate that WR Jerry Porter isn't the happiest camper with the way new head coach Art Shell has pushed for more discipline. Sources cite the sometimes tenuous relationship Porter had with Jon Gruden, who, like Shell, was more heavy-handed than Bill Callahan or Norv Turner. The Raiders have dangled Porter as trade bait in the past, so it wouldn't come as a complete surprise for Oakland to shop him if things don't go well early on.
• Sources say Broncos QB Jake Plummer has been sharp throughout summer workouts and appears to be as confident as ever despite Jay Cutler looking over his shoulder. Though the real bullets have yet to start flying, we're hearing that Cutler looks like the real deal to this point.
• Our sources in New Orleans tell us that newly acquired WR Bethel Johnson and underachieving third-year WR Devery Henderson will compete in training camp for the No. 3 WR role behind Joe Horn and Donte' Stallworth. We hear that the loser of the competition likely will be traded or released because the Saints are only going to keep one deep threat on the roster.
Fred Taylor
Running back
Jacksonville Jaguars

Profile
2005 SEASON STATISTICS
Att Yds Avg Long TD
194 787 4.1 71 3

• Jaguars RB Fred Taylor has somewhat smoothed over his disagreement with team management by keeping his word to participate in mandatory workouts. He chose to skip the offseason conditioning program to work out on his own in South Florida against the advice of head coach Jack Del Rio. Taylor has been injured in training camp two of the past three years, and the Jaguars wanted to keep a close watch on the training habits of their offensive cornerstone. In 2005, Taylor failed to rush for 800 yards for the first time in any season in which he had 10 starts, and he had just one carry of more than 20 yards.
• Vikings C Matt Birk is right on schedule in his recovery from hip surgery that cost him the 2005 season. Birk did participate in the offseason program without recurrence of pain or discomfort in his hip or abdomen. The team expects him to further solidify a new-look offensive line charged with paving the way for the Vikings' new ball-control West Coast offense.
• Sources in Jacksonville say the 2006 season is extremely critical for QB Byron Leftwich, who'll be in line for a new contract in the next two years. Leftwich has missed seven of the last 24 regular-season games because of injuries and could take the blame if the passing game falters without Jimmy Smith. Leftwich consistently missed the mark at a recent minicamp but said he wasn't worried about his accuracy or timing with his new starting receivers, Matt Jones and Reggie Williams.
• Despite signing free agent Nick Greisen and drafting Clint Ingram to replace OLB Akin Ayodele, we're told the Jaguars will open training camp with Pat Thomas as the first-string strongside linebacker.
• Several players with ties to Lions offensive coordinator Mike Martz are moving their way up the depth chart. ORT Rex Tucker supplanted last year's starter (Kelly Butler) in minicamp, and RB Arlen Harris, a solid receiver with good speed, has ascended to No. 2 behind starter Kevin Jones. A third ex-Ram, WR Mike Furrey, remains very much in the mix for a reserve WR spot.
• The Colts closed their "summer school" practices to the media for the first time in years, leading to rumor and debate about what kind of experiments the team might have tried with the doors closed. One that might be revisited is moving CB Marlin Jackson to free safety. If FS Mike Doss falters, or a third cornerback emerges behind Nick Harper and Jason David, Jackson could get the call inside.
• Don't expect the Colts to be as reliant on the running game early this season as they were last year. Without Edgerrin James, offensive coordinator Tom Moore will anchor the team with a spread formation, using multiple receivers to protect Peyton Manning and create wide running lanes for RBs Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes.
Mewelde Moore
Running back
Minnesota Vikings

Profile
2005 SEASON STATISTICS
Att Yds Avg Long TD
155 662 4.3 33 1

• The door isn't wide open for Vikings RB Ciatrick Fason to steal work from Mewelde Moore as the backup to Chester Taylor, but Moore hasn't slammed it shut to date. Still bothered by a wrist injury, Moore must answer the same question he faced from the Mike Tice regime: Can he stay healthy? He appeared to be coming around at the most recent minicamp. If Moore doesn't stay healthy, Fason is one of several backs head coach Brad Childress said he's confident will pick up the slack.
• We're told the Bears don't expect much of a QB controversy between Rex Grossman and Brian Griese. Grossman has the full backing of the coaching staff, but his injury history necessitated the Griese signing.
• With Jets C Trey Teague on crutches with a reported ankle injury, rookie C Nick Mangold has been inserted into the starting lineup. Word is, Teague may be out for a significant amount of time.
• Word from South Florida is that the Dolphins are satisfied, for the time being, with their current crop of nose tackles and will only look to add a player like veteran free agent Dan Wilkinson later in training camp if rookie Fred Evans, second-year player Manny Wright and aging veteran Keith Traylor aren't getting the job done.
• Word out of Atlanta is the Falcons no longer plan to trade backup RB T.J. Duckett before training camp begins. But we hear if rookie Jerious Norwood has an outstanding camp, he could take carries away from Duckett and even starter Warrick Dunn, and in the process, put Duckett back on the trading block.
• Our Falcons sources tell us starting DE Patrick Kerney, FB Justin Griffith and backup WLB Demorrio Williams should be receiving contract extensions in the next few months. All three players are in the final year of their current deals.
• We're told there is still no progress on a potential contract extension for Buccaneers CB Ronde Barber. Barber, who is entering the final year of his contract, has said he would like to have a new deal in place by the start of training camp, but we hear GM Bruce Allen won't even return his agent's phone calls.
• Panthers offensive coordinator Dan Henning told PFW why Carolina was so aggressive in signing former Titans C Justin Hartwig to replace veteran Jeff Mitchell: "Justin Hartwig is a younger, stronger guy than we've had there. … We felt like we needed to get better. Back 10-11 years ago, the philosophy emerged that when you need a player at a specific position, you get one in free agency and don't wait for the crapshoot of the draft and then wait for the maturity of a player you don't know about until you are into the season. We take that approach."
• The Saints have reshuffled the deck at safety, and we hear last season's Week 1 starters -- FS Dwight Smith and SS Jay Bellamy -- will both enter training camp working with the second unit. FS Josh Bullocks, who started 13 games as a rookie last year in place of an injured Bellamy, and free-agent acquisition Omar Stoutmire are penciled in as the starters. We also hear Smith, who was on the trading block earlier in the offseason, is no longer being shopped around because the new coaching staff has been impressed with how he handled his demotion.
• With 2005 third-round draft pick Richie Incognito looking impressive in the Rams' last full-squad minicamp and '05 fourth-round pick Claude Terrell still looking chunkier than the Rams would like, we hear Incognito could have a decent shot at replacing Terrell as the team's starting left guard. After missing his rookie season with a kneecap injury, Incognito's mobility and strength drew high marks at the last minicamp, but the fact the Nebraska product hasn't played an actual game since the fall of '03 is a bit worrisome.
Jerametrius Butler
Cornerback
St. Louis Rams

Profile
2005 SEASON STATISTICS
Tot Solo Ast Sack FF Int
78 75 3 0 0 5

• The hamstring that Rams CB Jerametrius Butler tweaked a couple of weeks before the team's last minicamp could be considered a significant setback, especially taking into account how much 2006 first-round pick Tye Hill appeared to improve from the previous minicamp. Conversely, we hear CB Travis Fisher, who, like Butler, was plagued by injuries last season, looked very good in the last minicamp.
• Although new Rams VP of player personnel Tony Softli will oversee both the Rams' pro and college scouting departments, which will be headed by holdovers Charley Armey and Lawrence McCutcheon, respectively, we're told the former head of college scouting for the Panthers still must answer to both head coach Scott Linehan and president of football operations Jay Zygmunt. In addition, the new setup is definitely a demotion for Armey, who just turned 67 and wasn't interested in setting up shop elsewhere at this stage in his career.
• The Cardinals still have some interest in free-agent CB Ty Law, but after spending a fortune on RB Edgerrin James earlier this offseason, it would have to be at a price that's likely to be significantly less than what Law continues to be after.
• Keep a close eye on Cardinals second-year S Aaron Francisco, who we hear has put on decent weight and is being groomed to replace current FS Robert Griffith as early as next season. Our sources tell us the Cardinals believe they can probably get by with the aging Griffith in a starting role for one more season.
• We hear the Niners have been impressed enough with free-agent addition Walt Harris to consider him the starting left corner over Mike Rumph heading into training camp. The Niners also consider FS Mike Adams to be much improved from last year and no longer think of him as a backup playing a starter's role.
• Word is, the Niners were upset that backup QB Cody Pickett decided not to play in NFL Europe this season. There's talk of moving the athletic Pickett to the team's motion-fullback position, which could enable him to salvage a roster spot.
• Our Seahawks sources tell us the team was impressed with the way 2005 first-round pick Chris Spencer, who up to now has been backing up veteran Robbie Tobeck at center, performed when pressed into duty at right guard in the last minicamp. On the downside, the team is somewhat worried about the condition of top OLG candidate Floyd "Pork Chop" Womack, who was bothered during the minicamp by sore triceps.
• The Raiders would love to add a running back for depth behind LaMont Jordan and may look to the early round of training-camp cuts for just such a candidate. Justin Fargas, No. 2 on the depth chart, is considered little more than a special-teams guy, and part-time FB Zack Crockett, while reliable in the past, is not someone you want to hand your offense over to.
• Word out of Oakland is that the development of rookie LBs Thomas Howard and Darnell Bing could ultimately determine how many three- or four-LB looks the Raiders use this season. The Raiders are believed to be at least mildly interested in the services of Junior Seau because they'd like to add a veteran presence defensively.
• The player who most took advantage of Chiefs DE Eric Hicks being limited in minicamps while recovering from shoulder surgery was first-round pick Tamba Hali, who displayed a quick first step and the ability to sense throwing lanes and knock down passes at the line of scrimmage.
• At first glance, the inexperienced Ronnie Cruz stepping in at fullback for the departed Tony Richardson would seem to be an issue in Kansas City, but it should be noted that Richardson's role had diminished with age and the Chiefs have utilized more two-TE, single-back sets recently.
• Massive TE Brandon Manumaleuna may have been acquired by the Chargers more for blocking purposes, but it's his soft hands that have caught the eye of new QB Philip Rivers and the coaching staff.
• Ravens QB Steve McNair showed consistent improvement throughout his first minicamp in Baltimore. The way we hear it, McNair and WR Derrick Mason picked up right where they left off from their time together in Tennessee, and their exceptional chemistry was apparent.
• A source familiar with the Steelers' decision-making process says character is weighed heavily in the draft process, which makes WR Santonio Holmes' recent off-field problems that much more surprising. The way we hear it, there is concern that Holmes might have trouble maintaining focus, given his offseason and that he'll soon be signing his rookie contract.
• Some Texans observers don't share the team's optimism about RB Domanick Davis being ready for the start of training camp as he recovers from the effects of knee surgery.
• Of the Browns' rookies, there's a feeling RB Jerome Harrison is most ready to contribute, likely on third downs.
• Expect the Browns to split out TE Kellen Winslow at wide receiver at times, particularly if Braylon Edwards misses the start of the season.
• Don't count out Erik Meyer, an undrafted free agent, in the competition to be Cincinnati's No. 3 quarterback. Word is that Meyer has caught the eye of QBs coach Ken Zampese.
• Though Titans WR Bobby Wade struggled famously as a punt returner in Chicago with the swirling winds in Soldier Field, he might start the season with that duty. Though the WR position is crowded in Tennessee, expect Wade to make the roster -- the coaches appear to like him a great deal.
• It appears the Titans are slipping out of the Ty Law running, but that doesn't mean they aren't looking for a cornerback. If a veteran comes available before or during training camp, don't be surprised if they make a big push.
• New Redskins offensive coordinator Al Saunders gushed about backup RB Ladell Betts in the team's final minicamp, and Saunders pledges to find more ways to get both Betts and Clinton Portis on the field at the same time. Expect Betts to be used more as a receiver and keep his job as kick returner.
• Though he was beaten out for the Rams' VP of player personnel job by Tony Softli, Cowboys chief college scout Tom Ciskowski is considered a rising star and legitimate GM candidate in the near future.
• Eagles RB Correll Buckhalter, who is coming off his third season-ending knee injury in five years, likely won't be ready for the start of camp and faces long odds to make the roster despite being a personal favorite of the coaching staff.
• There's a chance that both Rob Johnson and Jared Lorenzen could beat out Tim Hasselbeck for the Giants' backup QB job. Johnson must prove he has shed the rust from a two-year layoff, but Lorenzen has impressed the staff with his throwing this offseason. • With the Cowboys phasing the fullback out of the offense, Lousaka Polite -- who got most of the work there last season -- is fighting for his roster life. He has been working at running back and tight end, but both positions are crowded.

ServiceKing · 07-31-2006, 03:37 PM

Updated: July 12, 2006

Quarterbacks on the mend

By Gary Horton

Scouts Inc.

Archive

NFL coaches and players are now in the midst of well-deserved vacations, but teams start reporting to training camp in less than two weeks. Let's look at 10 intriguing story lines for the upcoming season.

1. Super Bowl rematch?

The Steelers and Seahawks were clearly the top two teams in the NFL at the end of the 2005 season, and both expect the same kind of success in 2006. Pittsburgh is an organization that hates distractions, and it has had more than its share this offseason.

The motorcycle accident involving quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in June could have been a lot worse, but it threw a huge scare into everybody in the organization. Roethlisberger still could have an uneven preseason with some lingering effects from the crash.

The Steelers lost three significant players -- wide receiver Antwaan Randle El, safety Chris Hope and defensive end Kimo von Oelhoffen -- to free agency, along with the retirement of running back Jerome Bettis. In addition, the Steelers' first-round draft pick, wide receiver Santonio Holmes, has endured some off-the-field problems in the last two months. The Steelers have more question marks than they would like, especially in what is shaping up to be a very competitive division.

Seattle had its own free-agency defections, losing wide receiver Joe Jurevicius, free safety Marquand Manuel and most importantly, left guard Steve Hutchinson. However, the Seahawks did avoid disaster by re-signing running back Shaun Alexander to a new long-term contract, and they added solid free agents in wide receiver Nate Burleson and outside linebacker Julian Peterson.

If Alexander doesn't turn into a soft player, now that he has his big payday, and if the new pieces of the puzzle jell quickly, this is a team that expects to get back to the Super Bowl. Seattle's road to Miami may be less bumpy than Pittsburgh's. A rematch is a definite possibility. 2. Will ailing quarterbacks be ready?

AP

The Bengals need a healthy Carson Palmer next season.

An astounding number of teams have placed their hopes in 2006 on the recovery of their starting quarterbacks. Roethlisberger, Daunte Culpepper (Miami), Carson Palmer (Cincinnati), Drew Brees (New Orleans), Donovan McNabb (Philadelphia) and Chad Pennington (New York Jets) all are question marks for the start of the season.

The most important news in July and August may be the daily medical reports that come out of training camp. With depth at the QB position in the NFL at an all-time low and an alarming lack of quality backups, these players need to be ready.

3. Keyshawn and T.O. intertwined?

Two of the most prolific receivers in the NFL, who also can make headlines with their outlandish behavior, will be in the spotlight in 2006. Keyshawn Johnson was quietly run out of Dallas and replaced by the volatile Terrell Owens. Johnson will now try to prove in Carolina that the Cowboys made a mistake.

Both are big, physical receivers. The one huge difference is that Owens still has some deep speed and a big-play element, while Johnson is now strictly a possession receiver. This is probably the last stop for both of these players, and watching them accept their roles this fall will be interesting, to say the least.

Carolina has a big-play deep threat in Steve Smith, and the Panthers will expect Johnson to take away double teams and do the dirty work over the middle. Will he become frustrated if Jake Delhomme continues to force the ball to Smith, or will Delhomme realize Johnson is a big target who can make this pass offense more consistent?

In Dallas, Owens should really help Terry Glenn get less double coverage, but the Cowboys want to utilize tight end Jason Witten and rookie TE Anthony Fasano, who both catch the ball well over the middle. When you factor in that Dallas ran the ball 521 times in 2005, it is fair to wonder where the catches for Owens will come from. With marginal offensive line protection, Drew Bledsoe was sacked 49 times a year ago, so how long will it take for Owens to implode if he is not getting the ball?

4. Is Atlanta heading in the right direction?

The success of this franchise continues to fall on the shoulders and feet of the talented, but inconsistent Michael Vick. The coaching staff says he wants to return to his scrambling style of play and it is fair to wonder whether he will ever be a dependable QB. When Vick struggles, he tends to question the offensive philosophy and the coaching staff, making it a tough situation for head coach Jim Mora.

Owner Arthur Blank has given this organization everything it needs to be successful, and his patience may be running thin. With all the questions on offense, this is also a Falcons defense that went from elite status in 2004 to the bottom third in the league in 2005, and the unit seemed to be playing with no confidence. This team needs to get off to a quick start in September, or the players might tune out Mora.

5. How big is the Edge factor in Arizona?

One of the biggest moves this offseason was running back Edgerrin James' leaving Indianapolis to join perennial loser Arizona. The Cardinals are hoping James will revitalize a running game that finished dead last in the NFL a year ago, and an offense that produced only two rushing TDs in 2005. Head coach Dennis Green will utilize a lot of three-receiver sets, designed to spread the field and soften up defenses against the run, but James' success will depend on how the offensive line plays.

The bad news is the Cardinals did not dramatically upgrade their offensive line in the offseason, but they did hire a new offensive line coach in Steve Loney. This is a franchise starved for success. With a new sold-out stadium, there may be more optimism in Arizona than in any other NFL city heading into training camp.

6. Does Carolina deserve respect?

This team always seems to sneak up on us because it is not flashy. Although the Panthers posted a solid 11-5 record last year and played in the NFC Championship Game in Seattle, the organization realized it had some work to do to reach the next level.

The success of the Panthers is based on running the ball and stopping the run. Unfortunately, the Panthers did neither effectively last season. As a result, they upgraded on both sides of the ball in free agency and will return to their formula for success in 2006.

Last year, Smith was the entire offensive show for Carolina, but now he has Johnson to take pressure and double-team coverages away from him, so this should be a much-improved passing game. A big key for Carolina will be how Johnson and Smith coexist. This is a team with great chemistry, a strong locker room and a stable coaching staff. If Johnson is not a disruption and the new players jell, this is a championship team.

7. Where are the veteran quarterbacks?

An unusual amount of teams will be pinning their hopes on young signal callers -- J.P. Losman (Buffalo), Philip Rivers (San Diego), Charlie Frye (Cleveland), Alex Smith (San Francisco), Rex Grossman (Chicago), and Billy Volek (Tennessee) are all talented guys under tremendous pressure.

Most NFL coaches will tell you the ability to be strong mentally and handle the emotional roller-coaster of the position is key to the success of NFL quarterbacks. It will be interesting to see which of these youngsters succeeds.

8. Can the Minnesota Vikings turn things around?

The Vikings cannot wait to start training camp and put a miserable 2005 season behind them. New head coach Brad Childress has promised to improve discipline from a year ago and get this talented roster to achieve its full potential. Owner Zygi Wilf opened up his checkbook and let the organization spend $31.5 million in free agency.

The new players -- left guard Steve Hutchinson, running back Chester Taylor, fullback Tony Richardson, linebacker Ben Leber, defensive back Tank Williams and guard Artis Hicks -- are certainly upgrades, but will they jell early? Will the players respond to Childress' philosophy? If quarterback Brad Johnson stays healthy, this could be a playoff team. They will be a very interesting team to watch in the preseason. 9. Has New England's window closed?

The Patriots might finally be losing some of their magic.

Bill Belichick has done a great job in New England of keeping his roster stocked with quality role players and not allowing free agency losses to tear his team apart. However, this offseason has not been kind to the Pats and the team may have a big mountain to climb in 2006. Losing linebacker Willie McGinest, placekicker Adam Vinatieri, offensive tackle Tom Ashworth and wide receiver David Givens is bad enough, but they did nothing to replace them.

This is an aging roster with several players coming off injuries. The margin for error is less than it's been for a long time. Although the Bills and Jets still appear to be mediocre, the Dolphins have a legitimate chance to replace New England at the top of the AFC East. You can never count out Belichick and Tom Brady, but a demanding early schedule will really test their resolve.

10. Can kickers make a difference?

Typically, kickers don't receive much attention heading into training camp, but three veteran kickers have switched teams, affecting six organizations.

Vinatieri's move from New England to Indianapolis will not only strengthen the Colts, but also dramatically weaken the Pats. He will have a great year kicking indoors for the high-scoring Colts, while the Pats have no kicker on their current roster they can trust in a close game. The arrival of Mike Vanderjagt in Dallas doesn't hurt Indianapolis, but gives Dallas consistency in the kicking game. Vanderjagt could easily be the difference between an 8-8 and 10-6 record. Also, Ryan Longwell traded the cold weather and tough kicking conditions in Green Bay for the cozy Metrodome in Minneapolis. He will not only upgrade the Vikings, he also leaves the Packers with no dependable kicker. Indianapolis, Dallas and Minnesota all expect big production from their new kickers.

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ServiceKing · 07-31-2006, 03:39 PM

Updated: July 12, 2006

Team strong at DE, RB but lacks championship feel

By Jeremy Green

Scouts Inc.

Archive

With the structure of the NFL's salary cap, it is impossible to build a football team that consists of superstar players at every position. There are no New York Yankees in the NFL game. And even if you could build that team, it would be interesting to see how all those egos would mesh on one 53-man roster.

When my cohorts at ESPN.com told me that John Clayton was putting together an NFL "Dream Team," it really piqued my interest. Would he just take the best players that fit from a salary standpoint, or would he build his team with continuity and chemistry in mind?

Let's break down his roster and see if this really is "The Best Team Money Can Buy."

Any time you build a team, you have to start with the QB position. This is the guy you are going to build your entire offense around. This is your franchise player -- a guy who for years to come will be able to put your team on his back and carry it.

That being said, it is hard to agree with the selection of Peyton Manning as Clayton's QB. Sure, the numbers are great, but where are the championship rings? While Manning is very good under pressure and can be clutch at times, it is hard to fathom passing up Tom Brady, who may eventually go down as the best big-game QB in NFL history. While Brady's cap number for 2006 is $5 million more than Manning's, Brady's overall deal is not as lucrative and he has three more Super Bowl rings.

In terms of reserves, Matt Schaub is a solid backup who has played well with limited opportunities and Andrew Walter is unproven but has a lot of upside.

LaDainian Tomlinson

Running Back

San Diego Chargers

Profile

2005 SEASON STATISTICS
Rush	Yds	TD	Rec	Yds	TD
339	1462	18	51	370	2

It has been said many times that you need an effective running game to win in late January. Well, there is no better pure RB in the NFL than LaDainian Tomlinson. When you talk about Tomlinson, you are talking about a guy with the total package. Sure, you could make a case for Larry Johnson or 2005 MVP Shaun Alexander, but neither of those guys is as skilled in the passing game as L.T. Tomlinson also produces behind a very mediocre offensive line, so just imagine what he could do behind this group.

Marion Barber and LenDale White are solid backups who can come off the bench and provide a spark. Barber proved in 2006 that if the starter goes down, he is more than capable of carrying the load. In White's case, he is a rookie who needs a little direction. I can't imagine a better teammate and role model than Tomlinson, who is one of the hardest-working players in the NFL at his position.

Also in this group, Darren Sproles would be the fourth RB and he is one of the better special teams players in the NFL.

With Manning at the controls, you need a solid group of WRs. I find it interesting that neither Marvin Harrison nor Reggie Wayne made the cut. When building this team, you have to take the salaries of the players and make them fit, but I wonder how comfortable Manning would be without at least one of his favorite targets.

However, it would be tough to go wrong with this starting trio. You have speed with Steve Smith and Santana Moss, and excellent size with Chad Johnson. One issue though: There surely aren't enough passes that can be thrown to keep this group satisfied. Smith has yet to warm to Keyshawn Johnson, so I am not sure how he would react to having to share the ball with far better players in Chad Johnson and Moss.

If this group can mesh, it would without question form the best trio of receivers the NFL has ever seen on the field at one time.

With so much money invested in the "Big 3" receivers, this is a group with very little depth. Roscoe Parrish is young and unproven, Dante Hall is more of a return man, and while David Tyree is one of the best coverage special teams players in the NFL, he offers very little as an offensive threat.

Speaking of playmakers, you need to look no further than Antonio Gates at the TE position. With Tony Gonzalez starting to show his age, there is no more versatile player as a TE than Gates. You can move him all over the field and create tons of mismatches. It should also be noted that Manning loves to use the TE, so in this offense, you could only expect Gates' numbers to improve.

Chris Cooley

Tight End

Washington Redskins

Profile

2005 SEASON STATISTICS
Rec	Yds	TD	Avg	Long	YAC
71	774	7	10.9	32	483

Chris Cooley is a No. 1, but would obviously be a No. 2 with Gates on the same roster. Cooley is a versatile H-back type who can play many roles. He is a good blocker from the backfield and a guy who can make plays at all levels in the passing game.

Leonard Pope is a young developmental TE who has excellent size. At close to 6-foot-8, he is a guy who will eventually become a big factor in the red zone.

This is a solid TE group, but it should be noted that it is not a great blocking unit, so don't expect this offense to be able to run the ball down its opponents' throat to close out a football game.

Any solid NFL team has to be very good up front. This group of offensive linemen would fall into that category. The starting unit of LT Walter Jones, LG Eric Steinbach, C Jeff Saturday, RG Chris Snee and RT Jammal Brown provides a nice mix of size, athleticism and strength.

Jones is arguably the best LOT in the NFL, and Steinbach and Saturday are both top-five players at their positions. Both are extremely tough and smart. The right side of the line with Snee and Brown is not quite as experienced, but they are young players on the rise.

In terms of depth, this unit is solid. Michael Roos is a young player who can back up at ROT and play inside at OG. McNeil can back up at LOT. Spencer can play all three interior offensive line spots. However, Richie Incognito is a bit of mystery. Sure, the salary fits and he has some talent to work with, but he is also a player with some character issues going back to his college days. The offensive line is the most tight-knit group on any NFL team, so there would be some concern that Incognito would be a cancer to this unit.

I don't know that I am big believer, but it has been said many times that defense wins championships. To play effectively on defense, it has to start up front with the big fellas.

Clayton's defensive line is definitely a tale of two groups. On one hand, you have the defensive end position, featuring some excellent players and high motors in Dwight Freeney, Shawne Merriman, Mario Williams and Jared Allen. These are four upfield attacking-type DEs with nonstop motors who can get pressure on the QB.

The defensive tackles, on the other hand, are essentially the opposite. Tommie Harris is an upfield player who can attack gaps and make plays. After him, though, the rest of the group is a little questionable. Albert Haynesworth, Darnell Dockett and Vince Wilfork all have a ton of talent, but to this point have been nothing more than "flash" players. All three have the talent to dominate on a weekly basis, yet you rarely see it when you put on the tape. The last backup DT, Dusty Dvoracek, is a talented rookie, but had some off-the-field issues in college.

Over time it has been proven that to build a great LB group you need to mix a little finesse with power. This group of LBs fits that bill. Denver's D.J. Williams is one of the most underrated LBs in the NFL. He is a very good athlete who shows excellent sideline-to-sideline speed and range.

Moving over to the middle, there is no better bang for your buck than Lofa Tatupu. He is going into his second year and is one of the smartest MLBs in the NFL. He is a guy who will be able to get this entire defense lined up and you can bet there will be very few mental errors on that side of the ball.

On the weak side is Chicago's Lance Briggs. Even though he does not get a ton of headlines because he plays next to Brian Urlacher, he is one of the best WLBs in the NFL. He fits the bill in terms of price right now, but you can bet in 2007 (he's scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent after this season), that his salary cap number will skyrocket.

Karlos Dansby

Linebacker

Arizona Cardinals

Profile

2005 SEASON STATISTICS
Tot	Ast	Solo	FF	Sack	Int
87	69	18	2	4	3

In addition to a strong starting cast, the unit also has solid depth. Arizona's Karlos Dansby is a No. 1 LB on most teams but with this group, he is a player who can fill a multitude of roles within the sub packages. The best thing he does is bring pressure via the blitz, so you know he is a guy who will get pressure on the QB. He is an excellent athlete who can get into passing lanes and is extremely disruptive versus the run and pass.

Fifth and sixth LBs Larry Izzo and Barrett Ruud are two players who can make a lot of plays on special teams.

The NFL has become a passing league; it is tough to win on a regular basis if you can't pressure the passer. The majority of pressure will come from the defensive line and the linebackers, but it never hurts to have a safety who can bring heat too. When you talk about getting pressure from the secondary, you have to talk about Pittsburgh SS Troy Polamalu. He is the most versatile safety in the NFL. He can play close to the line of scrimmage and in the deep halves and thirds of the field.

In the Colts' scheme, Bob Sanders plays close to the line. With this unit, he becomes a player who can roam and play in space. He is a player who shows excellent range. He has very good ball skills and is a playmaker.

In terms of bang for your buck, you will not find two better cornerbacks than DeAngelo Hall and Marcus Trufant. They excel in man coverage and are considered two of the better young shut-down type cornerbacks in the NFL.

Even though Charles Tillman and Corey Webster have started games in their careers, the most intriguing backup player in the secondary is Seattle's Jordan Babineaux. He does not see a great deal of playing time, but makes the most of his opportunities. He is a ball hawk and can take reps at both the cornerback and safety spots.

It is hard to win championships without a solid kicking game. Oakland punter Shane Lechler has a big-time leg. What makes him a special player, though, is that he also knows how to pooch punt and keep an opponent backed up.

Adam Vinatieri is one of the best clutch kickers in NFL history. He has three Super Bowl rings and played a large part in all of those big games. He is the best kicker in the NFL and will pay huge dividends for the Colts in 2006.

Like any roster, it is tough to describe what "The Best Team Money Can Buy" should look like. Sure, you need talent, but finding winners and the right chemistry is just as important.

While this roster is extremely talent laden, the one thing overall that it misses is that championship feel. Of the 53 players, there are only four (Vinatieri, Izzo, Wilfork and Polamalu) with championship experience. It's hard to win championships with guys who have never been there.

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ServiceKing · 07-31-2006, 03:42 PM

Updated: July 13, 2006

Griese excels long and short

By KC Joyner

ESPN Insider

Archive

Who was the NFL's most accurate passer in 2005? Whenever I bring up the issue of a quarterback's accuracy, I invariably receive a lot of feedback from readers wanting me to clarify what I mean.

An accurate pass can be described simply as a pass thrown within the receiver's catching frame -- the area where the receiver can reach out and get his hands on the ball. If the ball arrives within this frame, it is ruled an accurate pass. Otherwise, it is ruled an inaccurate pass.

Another question I am frequently asked is how do I account for passes thrown well over the head of a receiver, as well as passes thrown away or knocked down. I use a similar line of thinking to the catchable pass idea proposed in the TYPCA metric.

Any pass knocked down or thrown away is removed from the accuracy percentage calculations altogether. I also remove passes attempted when the quarterback is hit just as he throws the ball.

I do count intentional overthrows on deep passes as pass attempts, but they do not count as inaccurate passes. It is a subjective metric, but I use these rules to clarify the metric as much as possible.

I use a percentage basis to rank the quarterbacks, with the lowest inaccuracy percentage being the best. The following is a breakdown of the top five quarterbacks in this metric:

T4. Mark Brunell. Brunell's high accuracy percentage is even more impressive because he was very accurate at all depth levels. Brunell had the eighth-best deep pass accuracy percentage and also ranked in the top five in both the short- and medium-depth levels.

AP Photo/Elaine Thompson

Matt Hasselbeck piloted the NFL's highest-scoring offense.

T4. Matt Hasselbeck. Hasselbeck had the same accuracy percentage as Brunell, but arrived at that number in a completely different way. Hasselbeck's medium and deep pass accuracy rates were average, but his short pass accuracy (91 percent) was phenomenal. The Seahawks' offensive improvement last year was mostly attributed to more consistent play from the receivers, but the quarterback certainly did his part.

T2. Brian Griese. Griese's accuracy metrics were unusual. He had the second-best short pass accuracy percentage, which is something you would expect from a quarterback in a Jon Gruden offense (Griese has since moved on to Chicago).

However, extremely accurate short-pass quarterbacks typically are not as accurate on deeper routes. Such was the case with Griese on medium passes, for which his percentage was merely average. But the odd part was that Griese ranked first in deep pass accuracy percentage. Even keeping in mind that he played in only six games last year, that is quite an accomplishment.

T2. Carson Palmer. Palmer's metrics indicate his passes get better the deeper he throws them. He ranked a mere 12th in short pass accuracy, but made up for it by placing in the top three in both medium and deep pass accuracy.

1. Marc Bulger. What makes this finding most amazing to me is that Bulger played in an offense that was one of the most vertically inclined in the entire league. Bulger had the fourth-highest percentage of deep passes and the sixth-highest percentage of medium passes, yet was still able to approach the 90 percent mark in the accuracy metric.

Bulger had the highest medium pass accuracy percentage, the third-best deep pass percentage, and the seventh-best short pass percentage. He is almost never mentioned as one of the top five quarterbacks in the NFL, but these metrics offer very convincing proof he belongs in that discussion.

As for where some of the other big-name quarterbacks ended up, here are the top 15 quarterbacks in this category: 1. Marc Bulger -- 10.2

2. Carson Palmer -- 11.2

2. Brian Griese -- 11.2

4. Matt Hasselbeck -- 11.8

4. Mark Brunell -- 11.8

6. Kelly Holcomb -- 12.3

7. Brad Johnson -- 12.5

8. Peyton Manning -- 12.6

9. Byron Leftwich -- 13.2

10. Drew Brees -- 13.8

11. Aaron Brooks -- 13.9

12. David Carr -- 14.0

13. Anthony Wright -- 14.4

14. Chris Simms -- 14.6

15. Steve McNair -- 15.0

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ServiceKing · 07-31-2006, 03:43 PM

Updated: July 13, 2006, 11:26 AM ET

Panthers, Seahawks improve defenses

By Matt Williamson

Scouts Inc.

Every year NFL executives make tons of decisions to reshape their teams in free agency. They allow popular players and fan favorites to walk away -- sometimes to division rivals (LB David Thornton going from the Colts to the Titans) or to serious competitors (K Adam Vinatieri leaving the Patriots for the Colts). Other times, teams believe that they have a young player waiting in the wings to replace a fixture whose contract is up (New Orleans DE Will Smith taking over for the departed Darren Howard, who is now with the Eagles), so they can use those funds to help their team in other areas.

Many players will go back to an old team (Philadelphia's Shawn Barber) or many coaches and general managers will bring in players who they trust from past winning relationships (Willie McGinest going from the Patriots to the Browns). Teams with a recent history of losing (Tennessee) will overspend a bit to bring in players from winning organizations to infuse a healthier perspective to their locker room.

This offseason, perennial powerhouses New England and Indianapolis took steps backward, while up-and-coming teams Arizona and Cleveland made strides toward building a winner. This is the beauty of the NFL offseason -- it brings hope. Ask Kansas City Royals and Pittsburgh Pirates fans if they would be interested in such a system in Major League Baseball that would restore their teams somewhere close to respectability instead of being the farm system for the St. Louis Cardinals, Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees year after year.

NFL executives watch countless hours of film, manipulate salary cap numbers and do extensive off-the-field research and background checks to ensure they are bringing in and letting go the correct players to build a winner. Still, mistakes are made. Even the most stable of franchises tweak their starters and depth to keep up with the Jerry Joneses. Here are the five most newsworthy moves made during free agency:

1. Allowing James to leave Indy

Edgerrin James

Running Back

Arizona Cardinals

Profile

2005 SEASON STATISTICS
Rush	Yds	TD	Rec	Yds	TD
-	-	-	-	-	-

It is difficult to decide which will have greater impact -- Edgerrin James' arrival in Arizona or his departure from Indianapolis. Of course we have the luxury of criticizing this move from a distance. Coming up with a deal that would have allowed the Colts to fit James' large contract demands under their salary cap clearly would have been very difficult, but his departure is going to hurt in a big way and it could be fatal for the Colts' Super Bowl hopes. Why will James be missed so much? Of course he is a great running back who is one of the best in the business as a ball carrier. He provided the Colts' offense with much-needed balance, but the other areas of his game will be much more difficult to replace. Dominic Rhodes has proven to be an effective spot duty change-of-pace runner behind a powerhouse like James, and Indianapolis was wise to use its first-round pick on the position with Joseph Addai, who looks to be a good fit for their offense. But to think that these two combined will compare to what James brings to the table would be foolish.

Neither Rhodes nor Addai matches James in terms of being a short-yardage or physical runner. How many times has James gotten the tough yard or two to extend a drive or to get into the end zone? James is one of the best in the business at getting that key first down or plunging for a touchdown. It isn't nearly as easy as he makes it look. Not only will the new stable of backs have less success in clutch short-yardage situations, but they also will not punish a defense throughout a game nearly as much as James does. The Colts have a finesse offense and James was the only physical weapon they had last season. Tackling James all day long gets old in a hurry, and it takes a toll on a defense.

James' rapport with Peyton Manning in the passing game will not be quickly duplicated by Rhodes or Addai. Although both players catch the ball well and Rhodes has experience in the offense, James' sure hands, precise routes and outstanding timing to release into his pattern produced a lot of yardage and first downs as a check-down option over the years. This continuity will take a long time to recapture.

Do not overlook James' big-game experience, ball security and overall reliability. On Indianapolis' own 2-yard line in an AFC championship game in Foxborough, Mass., or Pittsburgh, who would you rather carry the rock, James or Rhodes/Addai? Enough said.

All that said, where James might be missed most is as a pass blocker. Few running backs in the league are as stout in protection as James. Will Rhodes and Addai be able to brace up and keep a blitzing linebacker like Keith Bulluck or Joey Porter off Manning? Not only is James a skilled pass blocker who takes that area of his game very seriously, but he understands the Colts' complex offense and protection schemes very well without making mental errors. How pleased are Manning and Tony Dungy going to be when Addai misses an assignment in Week 3 and a blitzing Mike Peterson gets a free shot on the franchise quarterback? Scary thought.

2. Arizona's addition of James

James is worth mentioning twice because of the profound effect his move will have on the Cardinals. Big things are happening in the desert and no addition this offseason was more substantial than James becoming a Cardinal. Everyone knows that James is a great runner with the ball in his hands, but he brings so many other elements to an offense.

As everyone knows by now, the Cardinals had an outstanding passing game, a dreadful running game and awful red zone touchdown production last season. What few realize though are the extensive injuries the Cardinals dealt with on their offensive line and the multiple starting fives they were forced to play throughout the season. Of course, Arizona's offensive line deserves much of the blame for the failures from last season, but this isn't a unit devoid of talent. There have been offseason upgrades and the continuity gained from playing together week in and week out cannot be overstated.

Now back to James. What he brings off the field could be nearly as important as his immense on-the-field abilities. His signing shows the league and the Cardinals' beaten down fans that this organization now has a lot to offer and it is dedicated to winning. If it goes well, this signing will help Arizona compete for other top-flight free agents in the future. James brings a winning attitude and hard-working, professional approach to the game for young offensive players like Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and Matt Leinart to pattern their careers after.

On the field, James' presence will make defenses honor the running game and will provide Fitzgerald and Boldin with many more single coverage opportunities. As stated above, James' well-rounded game will benefit the Cardinals in many ways, but expect to see an improved time of possession; a lot more 4- to 6-yard runs; and better red zone production. Make no mistake, James is a difference maker.

3. Panthers add vet defensive tackles

Maake Kemoeatu

Defensive Tackle

Carolina Panthers

Profile

2005 SEASON STATISTICS
Tot	Ast	Solo	FF	Sack	Int
40	30	10	0	1	0

True run-stuffing, powerful nose tackle-type defensive tackles are one of the most difficult positions in which to find quality players, which is why the Panthers quickly snatched up Maake Kemoeatu from Baltimore. Quickly after signing Kemoeatu, Carolina didn't stop there. The Panthers inked Damione Lewis, a talented former first-round pick who never really lived up to his lofty draft status in St. Louis. Brentson Buckner won't be back and probably will retire, but these two additions are an improvement over Buckner on what was one of the top defenses in the league for the second half of last season. In addition to adding Kemoeatu and Lewis, Kris Jenkins returns from injury and Jordan Carstens has proven to be a solid rotational player. Carolina's defensive tackles are now possibly the best group in the NFL.

Lewis is athletic with excellent quickness off the ball and a lot of playmaking ability, but he is undersized and can wear down as the game goes on. Having four defensive tackles to share the load will benefit Lewis a great deal and Carolina would be wise to use him as an interior pass rusher on throwing downs and maybe another 25 plays or so to keep him active, explosive and aggressive. He has a fine opportunity to post impressive numbers and become a very valuable member of an excellent defense in a rotation.

If ******* returns to form, he will again rank among the best defensive tackles in the league. He has rare size, strength, power and quickness for such a big man. His stamina is sure to be a problem early on after playing so little over the past two seasons, so this newfound depth will be a plus for *******.

With Kemoeatu and ******* as the starters, the Panthers will have a defensive tackle tandem similar to what the Ravens had with Sam Adams and Tony Siragusa on their vaunted Super Bowl-winning defense. Kemoeatu is absolutely massive with rare power and will manhandle most centers if left one on one. His stamina can be a problem at times and he, in turn, then plays the game too high. The utilization of the tackle rotation will benefit him quite a bit.

Adams and Siragusa allowed Ray Lewis to run free and make plays all over the field. Although he isn't Ray Lewis in his prime, Dan Morgan is an attacking linebacker who runs extremely well and has outstanding playmaking instincts, but he doesn't take on big blockers well and needs this beef in front of him to maximize his potential. No one will benefit more from these two signings than Morgan and he will be a defensive MVP candidate if he can finally stay healthy.

Carolina's fine defensive ends should receive less attention from blocking schemes and their active but undersized outside linebackers should be able to flow to the ball more freely. There is little doubt that running the ball between the tackles is going to be a tedious chore against the Panthers this year.

Defense wins Super Bowls and the signing of these two defensive tackles was especially significant because it allowed Carolina to keep up with …

4. Seattle's signing of Peterson

The Seahawks' underrated and potent Super Bowl defense got much better with the addition of Julian Peterson. Before he tore his Achilles tendon in 2004, Peterson was on a path to becoming the best linebacker in the league. Yes, the best linebacker in the league. Injuries as severe as his take time to heal and we don't claim to be doctors, but he might just be ready to regain his old form. His supporting cast in Seattle will help that quite a bit as well.

Julian Peterson

Linebacker

Seattle Seahawks

Profile

2005 SEASON STATISTICS
Tot	Ast	Solo	FF	Sack	Int
83	58

07-31-2006, 03:20 PM	#1 (permalink)
ServiceKing Wise Guy Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 202	Espn Insider Updated 7/31 Updated: July 10, 2006 Whispers from around the NFL Pro Football Weekly • RB Willis McGahee wouldn't reveal his weight, but he looked noticeably slimmer and more toned at the Bills' June minicamp than he was at the end of last season. Word is McGahee believes that carrying less weight will bring back some of the explosiveness he lacked last season. • Sources close to the Raiders indicate that WR Jerry Porter isn't the happiest camper with the way new head coach Art Shell has pushed for more discipline. Sources cite the sometimes tenuous relationship Porter had with Jon Gruden, who, like Shell, was more heavy-handed than Bill Callahan or Norv Turner. The Raiders have dangled Porter as trade bait in the past, so it wouldn't come as a complete surprise for Oakland to shop him if things don't go well early on. • Sources say Broncos QB Jake Plummer has been sharp throughout summer workouts and appears to be as confident as ever despite Jay Cutler looking over his shoulder. Though the real bullets have yet to start flying, we're hearing that Cutler looks like the real deal to this point. • Our sources in New Orleans tell us that newly acquired WR Bethel Johnson and underachieving third-year WR Devery Henderson will compete in training camp for the No. 3 WR role behind Joe Horn and Donte' Stallworth. We hear that the loser of the competition likely will be traded or released because the Saints are only going to keep one deep threat on the roster. Fred Taylor Running back Jacksonville Jaguars Profile 2005 SEASON STATISTICS Att Yds Avg Long TD 194 787 4.1 71 3 • Jaguars RB Fred Taylor has somewhat smoothed over his disagreement with team management by keeping his word to participate in mandatory workouts. He chose to skip the offseason conditioning program to work out on his own in South Florida against the advice of head coach Jack Del Rio. Taylor has been injured in training camp two of the past three years, and the Jaguars wanted to keep a close watch on the training habits of their offensive cornerstone. In 2005, Taylor failed to rush for 800 yards for the first time in any season in which he had 10 starts, and he had just one carry of more than 20 yards. • Vikings C Matt Birk is right on schedule in his recovery from hip surgery that cost him the 2005 season. Birk did participate in the offseason program without recurrence of pain or discomfort in his hip or abdomen. The team expects him to further solidify a new-look offensive line charged with paving the way for the Vikings' new ball-control West Coast offense. • Sources in Jacksonville say the 2006 season is extremely critical for QB Byron Leftwich, who'll be in line for a new contract in the next two years. Leftwich has missed seven of the last 24 regular-season games because of injuries and could take the blame if the passing game falters without Jimmy Smith. Leftwich consistently missed the mark at a recent minicamp but said he wasn't worried about his accuracy or timing with his new starting receivers, Matt Jones and Reggie Williams. • Despite signing free agent Nick Greisen and drafting Clint Ingram to replace OLB Akin Ayodele, we're told the Jaguars will open training camp with Pat Thomas as the first-string strongside linebacker. • Several players with ties to Lions offensive coordinator Mike Martz are moving their way up the depth chart. ORT Rex Tucker supplanted last year's starter (Kelly Butler) in minicamp, and RB Arlen Harris, a solid receiver with good speed, has ascended to No. 2 behind starter Kevin Jones. A third ex-Ram, WR Mike Furrey, remains very much in the mix for a reserve WR spot. • The Colts closed their "summer school" practices to the media for the first time in years, leading to rumor and debate about what kind of experiments the team might have tried with the doors closed. One that might be revisited is moving CB Marlin Jackson to free safety. If FS Mike Doss falters, or a third cornerback emerges behind Nick Harper and Jason David, Jackson could get the call inside. • Don't expect the Colts to be as reliant on the running game early this season as they were last year. Without Edgerrin James, offensive coordinator Tom Moore will anchor the team with a spread formation, using multiple receivers to protect Peyton Manning and create wide running lanes for RBs Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes. Mewelde Moore Running back Minnesota Vikings Profile 2005 SEASON STATISTICS Att Yds Avg Long TD 155 662 4.3 33 1 • The door isn't wide open for Vikings RB Ciatrick Fason to steal work from Mewelde Moore as the backup to Chester Taylor, but Moore hasn't slammed it shut to date. Still bothered by a wrist injury, Moore must answer the same question he faced from the Mike Tice regime: Can he stay healthy? He appeared to be coming around at the most recent minicamp. If Moore doesn't stay healthy, Fason is one of several backs head coach Brad Childress said he's confident will pick up the slack. • We're told the Bears don't expect much of a QB controversy between Rex Grossman and Brian Griese. Grossman has the full backing of the coaching staff, but his injury history necessitated the Griese signing. • With Jets C Trey Teague on crutches with a reported ankle injury, rookie C Nick Mangold has been inserted into the starting lineup. Word is, Teague may be out for a significant amount of time. • Word from South Florida is that the Dolphins are satisfied, for the time being, with their current crop of nose tackles and will only look to add a player like veteran free agent Dan Wilkinson later in training camp if rookie Fred Evans, second-year player Manny Wright and aging veteran Keith Traylor aren't getting the job done. • Word out of Atlanta is the Falcons no longer plan to trade backup RB T.J. Duckett before training camp begins. But we hear if rookie Jerious Norwood has an outstanding camp, he could take carries away from Duckett and even starter Warrick Dunn, and in the process, put Duckett back on the trading block. • Our Falcons sources tell us starting DE Patrick Kerney, FB Justin Griffith and backup WLB Demorrio Williams should be receiving contract extensions in the next few months. All three players are in the final year of their current deals. • We're told there is still no progress on a potential contract extension for Buccaneers CB Ronde Barber. Barber, who is entering the final year of his contract, has said he would like to have a new deal in place by the start of training camp, but we hear GM Bruce Allen won't even return his agent's phone calls. • Panthers offensive coordinator Dan Henning told PFW why Carolina was so aggressive in signing former Titans C Justin Hartwig to replace veteran Jeff Mitchell: "Justin Hartwig is a younger, stronger guy than we've had there. … We felt like we needed to get better. Back 10-11 years ago, the philosophy emerged that when you need a player at a specific position, you get one in free agency and don't wait for the crapshoot of the draft and then wait for the maturity of a player you don't know about until you are into the season. We take that approach." • The Saints have reshuffled the deck at safety, and we hear last season's Week 1 starters -- FS Dwight Smith and SS Jay Bellamy -- will both enter training camp working with the second unit. FS Josh Bullocks, who started 13 games as a rookie last year in place of an injured Bellamy, and free-agent acquisition Omar Stoutmire are penciled in as the starters. We also hear Smith, who was on the trading block earlier in the offseason, is no longer being shopped around because the new coaching staff has been impressed with how he handled his demotion. • With 2005 third-round draft pick Richie Incognito looking impressive in the Rams' last full-squad minicamp and '05 fourth-round pick Claude Terrell still looking chunkier than the Rams would like, we hear Incognito could have a decent shot at replacing Terrell as the team's starting left guard. After missing his rookie season with a kneecap injury, Incognito's mobility and strength drew high marks at the last minicamp, but the fact the Nebraska product hasn't played an actual game since the fall of '03 is a bit worrisome. Jerametrius Butler Cornerback St. Louis Rams Profile 2005 SEASON STATISTICS Tot Solo Ast Sack FF Int 78 75 3 0 0 5 • The hamstring that Rams CB Jerametrius Butler tweaked a couple of weeks before the team's last minicamp could be considered a significant setback, especially taking into account how much 2006 first-round pick Tye Hill appeared to improve from the previous minicamp. Conversely, we hear CB Travis Fisher, who, like Butler, was plagued by injuries last season, looked very good in the last minicamp. • Although new Rams VP of player personnel Tony Softli will oversee both the Rams' pro and college scouting departments, which will be headed by holdovers Charley Armey and Lawrence McCutcheon, respectively, we're told the former head of college scouting for the Panthers still must answer to both head coach Scott Linehan and president of football operations Jay Zygmunt. In addition, the new setup is definitely a demotion for Armey, who just turned 67 and wasn't interested in setting up shop elsewhere at this stage in his career. • The Cardinals still have some interest in free-agent CB Ty Law, but after spending a fortune on RB Edgerrin James earlier this offseason, it would have to be at a price that's likely to be significantly less than what Law continues to be after. • Keep a close eye on Cardinals second-year S Aaron Francisco, who we hear has put on decent weight and is being groomed to replace current FS Robert Griffith as early as next season. Our sources tell us the Cardinals believe they can probably get by with the aging Griffith in a starting role for one more season. • We hear the Niners have been impressed enough with free-agent addition Walt Harris to consider him the starting left corner over Mike Rumph heading into training camp. The Niners also consider FS Mike Adams to be much improved from last year and no longer think of him as a backup playing a starter's role. • Word is, the Niners were upset that backup QB Cody Pickett decided not to play in NFL Europe this season. There's talk of moving the athletic Pickett to the team's motion-fullback position, which could enable him to salvage a roster spot. • Our Seahawks sources tell us the team was impressed with the way 2005 first-round pick Chris Spencer, who up to now has been backing up veteran Robbie Tobeck at center, performed when pressed into duty at right guard in the last minicamp. On the downside, the team is somewhat worried about the condition of top OLG candidate Floyd "Pork Chop" Womack, who was bothered during the minicamp by sore triceps. • The Raiders would love to add a running back for depth behind LaMont Jordan and may look to the early round of training-camp cuts for just such a candidate. Justin Fargas, No. 2 on the depth chart, is considered little more than a special-teams guy, and part-time FB Zack Crockett, while reliable in the past, is not someone you want to hand your offense over to. • Word out of Oakland is that the development of rookie LBs Thomas Howard and Darnell Bing could ultimately determine how many three- or four-LB looks the Raiders use this season. The Raiders are believed to be at least mildly interested in the services of Junior Seau because they'd like to add a veteran presence defensively. • The player who most took advantage of Chiefs DE Eric Hicks being limited in minicamps while recovering from shoulder surgery was first-round pick Tamba Hali, who displayed a quick first step and the ability to sense throwing lanes and knock down passes at the line of scrimmage. • At first glance, the inexperienced Ronnie Cruz stepping in at fullback for the departed Tony Richardson would seem to be an issue in Kansas City, but it should be noted that Richardson's role had diminished with age and the Chiefs have utilized more two-TE, single-back sets recently. • Massive TE Brandon Manumaleuna may have been acquired by the Chargers more for blocking purposes, but it's his soft hands that have caught the eye of new QB Philip Rivers and the coaching staff. • Ravens QB Steve McNair showed consistent improvement throughout his first minicamp in Baltimore. The way we hear it, McNair and WR Derrick Mason picked up right where they left off from their time together in Tennessee, and their exceptional chemistry was apparent. • A source familiar with the Steelers' decision-making process says character is weighed heavily in the draft process, which makes WR Santonio Holmes' recent off-field problems that much more surprising. The way we hear it, there is concern that Holmes might have trouble maintaining focus, given his offseason and that he'll soon be signing his rookie contract. • Some Texans observers don't share the team's optimism about RB Domanick Davis being ready for the start of training camp as he recovers from the effects of knee surgery. • Of the Browns' rookies, there's a feeling RB Jerome Harrison is most ready to contribute, likely on third downs. • Expect the Browns to split out TE Kellen Winslow at wide receiver at times, particularly if Braylon Edwards misses the start of the season. • Don't count out Erik Meyer, an undrafted free agent, in the competition to be Cincinnati's No. 3 quarterback. Word is that Meyer has caught the eye of QBs coach Ken Zampese. • Though Titans WR Bobby Wade struggled famously as a punt returner in Chicago with the swirling winds in Soldier Field, he might start the season with that duty. Though the WR position is crowded in Tennessee, expect Wade to make the roster -- the coaches appear to like him a great deal. • It appears the Titans are slipping out of the Ty Law running, but that doesn't mean they aren't looking for a cornerback. If a veteran comes available before or during training camp, don't be surprised if they make a big push. • New Redskins offensive coordinator Al Saunders gushed about backup RB Ladell Betts in the team's final minicamp, and Saunders pledges to find more ways to get both Betts and Clinton Portis on the field at the same time. Expect Betts to be used more as a receiver and keep his job as kick returner. • Though he was beaten out for the Rams' VP of player personnel job by Tony Softli, Cowboys chief college scout Tom Ciskowski is considered a rising star and legitimate GM candidate in the near future. • Eagles RB Correll Buckhalter, who is coming off his third season-ending knee injury in five years, likely won't be ready for the start of camp and faces long odds to make the roster despite being a personal favorite of the coaching staff. • There's a chance that both Rob Johnson and Jared Lorenzen could beat out Tim Hasselbeck for the Giants' backup QB job. Johnson must prove he has shed the rust from a two-year layoff, but Lorenzen has impressed the staff with his throwing this offseason. • With the Cowboys phasing the fullback out of the offense, Lousaka Polite -- who got most of the work there last season -- is fighting for his roster life. He has been working at running back and tight end, but both positions are crowded.