THE SIX KINGS Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 Pro Football Weekly October 16, 2006 • Although he still gives up a few too many completions, CB Quentin Jammer is playing the best football of his career for the Chargers. His confidence, a return to a more physical approach and San Diego's improved pass rush are key reasons why he's playing so well. • We've likely seen the last of Ahman Green as the Packers' exclusive workhorse. Green saw 25 touches per week through three games and promptly landed on the inactive list for two straight weeks with hamstring injuries to both legs. With backups Vernand Morency and Noah Herron running well in his stead in Weeks 4 and 5, the Packers are looking to decrease Green's workload and will mix the two substitutes in regularly. • We're hearing that not only is Broncos DE Courtney Brown done for the season after being placed on injured reserve last week, but he faces an uphill battle to even return to football after another serious knee surgery. • The Eagles might make a move soon with DT Sam Rayburn, who has been buried on the bench this season after showing flashes in the past. They could either trade him before the Oct. 17 deadline or release him. D-tackles are hard to find, so there most certainly would be a job for the hardworking Rayburn. • Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told the media that FS Marcus Coleman would be released following his four-game suspension, but sources think Coleman might be back at some point considering rookie Pat Watkins' recent struggles as a starter. • When the Cowboys released WR Skyler Green before the season, it appeared the fourth-rounder could be written off as a bust. However, re-signed to the practice squad and turned into a running back, Green has earned recent praise from Bill Parcells as a do-everything guy who could help the team. • The clock is ticking on Eagles DE Jerome McDougle. Though he'll hold on to his job as Darren Howard's backup this season, McDougle must show something soon to avoid sealing his fate for 2007. He has shown little of the pass-rushing ability he was regarded to have coming out of college. • Keep an eye on Redskins P Derrick Frost. He has been limited somewhat by a calf injury and has been inconsistent. Though the team worked out Sean Landeta last week, team sources say that was more of a favor to a local (Baltimore) resident. More likely, the team might look at someone like Todd Sauerbrun, who was recently released by the Broncos. • Thought to be a temporary replacement until rookie Rocky McIntosh was ready, Redskins LB Warrick Holdman actually has been one of the team's more consistent defenders after a subpar '05 season. McIntosh might not get a chance to start until next season. • If RB Curtis Martin miraculously is able to prove to the Jets that he still can carry the ball, we hear the team would look to move a runner from its crowded backfield -- most likely Derrick Blaylock, who has fallen out of favor with the coaching staff. • Word is the main reason why the Jets cut DB Derrick Strait, just two weeks after he served as a starting safety, is that they didn't trust his ability to play cornerback and needed a corner with David Barrett dinged up. That's why the Jets immediately put in a claim for veteran CB Hank Poteat as soon as he was released by the Patriots. • Word is pressure is beginning to mount on head coach Nick Saban with each successive defeat by the disappointing Dolphins. The lack of contributions from this year's draft class is leading critics to point out that Saban has yet to develop any of his draft picks into Pro Bowl-caliber players. While his first draft class (in '05) has netted some starters, Saban's Dolphins have yet to have a breakout player. • Sources in Tampa tell us SS Jermaine Phillips was pulled from the Saints' game in Week 5 because he was playing so poorly. While Phillips still may hold on to his starting job, we hear backup Kalvin Pearson can expect to see more playing time. We're told Pearson is a sound tackler and heavy hitter -- something the Bucs' defense has lacked this season. Our sources also indicated Jon Gruden could implement a rotation system at safety between Phillips, Pearson and starting FS Will Allen like the Bucs had last year with Phillips, Allen and ex-Buc Dexter Jackson. • We're told Buccaneers head coach Jon Gruden has become so frustrated with his underperforming defense that he uncharacteristically called out four players -- DTs Anthony McFarland and Ellis Wyms and DEs Dewayne White and Simeon Rice -- at a press conference the day after the Bucs' 24-21 loss to the Saints. Gruden, who normally doesn't name individual players when they perform poorly, was frustrated with his D-linemen because they weren't getting enough pressure on the quarterback. • Though CB Ken Lucas has reclaimed his starting spot for now, we hear the Panthers are still impressed with rookie CB Richard Marshall, who returned an interception 30 yards for a touchdown in Week 5. • Rookie RB DeAngelo Williams sat out the Panthers' Week 6 tilt in Baltimore with a sprained ankle, but our sources in Charlotte tell us Williams could be more seriously hurt than the team has indicated and that he could miss another game or two. • We hear the Falcons, who ranked dead last in red-zone touchdown percentage entering Week 6, will try to remedy their drought by incorporating more fade routes in their passing game like QB Michael Vick used to throw to WR Brian Finneran, who's out for the season with a knee injury. WRs Michael Jenkins (6-foot-4) and Ashley Lelie (6-foot-3) have long frames similar to Finneran's, which are ideal for a fade route or jump ball in the end zone. • Sources in New Orleans tell us that while the season-ending knee injury to starting SS Roman Harper will hurt the rookie's development, it shouldn't slow down the Saints' overachieving defense. Veteran Omar Stoutmire, who lost his starting spot to Harper in training camp, will replace Harper. And the Saints signed free agent Jay Bellamy to serve as Stoutmire's backup. We hear Bellamy, who started 67 straight games for New Orleans from 2001 until injuring his shoulder last season, was the team's final cut as it whittled its roster down to 53 before the season started. We're told head coach Sean Payton is very comfortable with Bellamy's knowledge of the defense and ability to step in and contribute right away. • After bringing in a number of wide receivers for workouts, the Vikings signed Bethel Johnson with the hope that he can provide a change of pace with his shifty quickness. We're told he will likely cost Billy McMullen playing time on offense and should replace a disappointing Artose Pinner on kick returns. • The Packers' offensive line has taken to its zone run-blocking scheme much better in recent weeks, behind improved play from their rookie guards. While that may open up some play-action opportunities downfield, we're told the team still can't afford to let Brett Favre take seven-step drops because of protection problems. • We hear that Greg Jennings' even-keeled temperament and professional approach to the game have enabled him to make a consistent and immediate impact. His decent speed and average size didn't attract first-round attention, but he has great hands and no fear across the middle, offering a skill set that is not unlike the one veteran teammate Donald Driver brings to the table. • The last thing the Lions needed was another wide receiver on their active roster, but when ORG Damien Woody was placed on injured reserve, they signed WR Devale Ellis from the practice squad. The team lauds Ellis' speed and his play in practice, which contrasts starkly, on both fronts, with what they've gotten out of 2005 first-rounder Mike Williams. • As if injuries to their offensive line, secondary and LB corps weren't enough, the bug caught the Lions' defensive line this week with the loss of NT Shaun Cody (dislocated toe) for 4-6 weeks. The Lions will miss Cody's speed and ability to make teams pay for doubling UT Shaun Rogers. Don't be surprised to see them shift DLE Cory Redding inside and bring backup DE Kalimba Edwards in to line up on the edge. • While the Texans were intrigued with TE Bennie Joppru's potential, they needed a fullback, and that drove the decision to cut the oft-injured but athletic Michigan product. Vonta Leach replaced Joppru on the roster. • A source close to the Bengals says RB Chris Perry (knee, ankle) is expected to be activated from the physically-unable-to-perform list in Week 7 when the Bengals host Carolina. Perry is said to be eager to return to action. • Browns S Brodney Pool, pressed into service at cornerback in Week 5, generally held his own vs. Panthers WR Keyshawn Johnson. Though Pool's long-term future still appears to be at safety, we hear he has at least proved to the coaches that he can hold up against bigger receivers. • There's talk that the Browns could look at making some moves at offensive guard if the running game does not improve. If that happens, Lennie Friedman could get a chance at one of the OG spots. The way we hear it, OLG Joe Andruzzi and ORG Cosey Coleman have disappointed this year. • RB Jamal Lewis' struggles have led to speculation about how long he'll keep the starting job in Baltimore. Head coach Brian Billick is loyal to veterans, but if Lewis doesn't pick up his play, we're told the Ravens could revisit the RB situation. The way we hear it, veteran Mike Anderson would likely get first crack at Lewis' job, as the team likes what Musa Smith has done on passing downs. Anderson's play has steadily improved after a so-so training camp. • Steelers RB Najeh Davenport will have a bigger role in the offense in the weeks to come as the team looks for someone to spell Willie Parker. • Browns WR Joshua Cribbs could get more snaps on offense in the next few weeks, especially if WR Dennis Northcutt misses any time with his rib injury. However, head coach Romeo Crennel has indicated he views Cribbs as a special-teamer first and a receiver second. • As good as Broncos Pro Bowl CB Champ Bailey is at shadowing receivers, those in Denver seem to appreciate his run support and tackling ability just as much. Entering Week 6, Bailey trailed only LBs Al Wilson and Ian Gold in tackles for the Broncos. And it's not as if those tackles are coming from completions made in front of him, because opposing passers have made a habit of avoiding his side of the field most of the year. Sources indicate Bailey takes great pride in "getting in the game when the opposition is trying to take him out." • Word out of Denver is that the Broncos made the decision to cut P Todd Sauerbrun last week based 60 percent on how disappointed they were in his suspension for violating the league's substance-abuse policy and 40 percent on how well his replacement, Paul Ernster, played in his absence during the four-week suspension. Ernster also was a better kickoff specialist than Sauerbrun, who seemed to waste his best punts in practice. • Entering Week 6, 14 of the Chargers' Nate Kaeding's 24 kickoffs were handled inside the opponent's 5-yard line. Only 17 went beyond the 5-yard line last season, when he suffered from a bad back. • Communication in a young secondary has been an issue for the Raiders, and so has stopping the run. Poor tackling is partly to blame, but they are not getting the push from the defensive line like they had hoped for, and overpursuing has also been a problem in terms of the opponent exploiting cutback lanes. • Putting too much air under the ball has been a real problem for Raiders young QB Andrew Walter, who has been sought out by Randy Moss on the sideline on more than one occasion just to "get on the same page," according to Walter. • Don't be surprised to see the Raiders pull the plug on the "Langston Walker is a right tackle" experiment. Walker, who played at left guard last season before being moved back outside upon Art Shell's arrival as coach, has been beaten pretty regularly on the edge. Rookie Paul McQuistan, a natural tackle who lost his ORG job to Kevin Boothe in Week 3, would likely be first in line to replace him if a move is made. • Word is Rams defensive coordinator Jim Haslett is very pleased with the adjustment being made by former first-round pick Jimmy Kennedy, who has moved from the "three-technique" DT position to nose tackle this season. Kennedy had one of the best games of his career in the Week 5 win over Green Bay (six tackles and a forced fumble) despite playing with a broken right hand. Kennedy broke his hand two plays into the season. • We hear Rams special-teams ace Paul Smith, who had surgery early last week to repair damage around his left eye, will probably be out of action for three weeks. Smith had the surgery after being involved in a bone-crushing collision on kickoff coverage against the Lions in Week 4. • We hear WR Larry Fitzgerald, who was initially expected to be out 2-5 weeks with a hamstring injury, was walking around with no signs of a limp last week and will probably do everything in his power to return for the Cardinals' next two games vs. the Raiders and Packers, a pair of weak opponents against whom he figures to put up big numbers if he's able to play. • Is Cardinals QB Kurt Warner really ready to retire at the age of 35? We hear that, while he has come to grips with the reality that his days are indeed numbered at this stage in his career, the $3 million remaining on his contract with the Cardinals after this season could be hard to resist after all is said and done. • It was hardly a surprise to our sources in the desert that the Cardinals used a nice chunk of their considerable cap money last week to extend the contract of DT Darnell Dockett, who was re-signed through 2011 and will reportedly receive $7 million in bonuses in a deal that could potentially earn him almost $22.5 million. Dockett has played at a high level so far this season and remains a committed soldier under Dennis Green. Another Cardinal player who we hear will definitely not be re-signed is disappointing OLT Leonard Davis, who appears to have finally worn out his welcome and is expected to be free to test the free-agent market next offseason. • Don't be surprised if Seahawks RB Shaun Alexander sits out another game due to his injured foot. The reigning league MVP was initially expected to miss 4-6 weeks with the injury, and we hear he didn't practice at all last week, even though he told the local media that he could have suited up against the Rams if it were a playoff game. • Look for the Niners to go after former Pro Bowl S Troy Vincent, who was recently released by Buffalo, to bolster their undermanned secondary. We hear the fact the team would be willing to offer Vincent plenty of playing time could be an attractive selling point for a player who vice president of player personnel Scot McCloughan said could receive feelers from about half of the league's teams. • With Colts WR Brandon Stokley having problems staying healthy this season, we hear the team might strongly consider signing veteran WR Ricky Proehl, who spent the last three seasons with the Panthers. We also hear that, while the Colts believe PK Adam Vinatieri is finally fully recovered from the groin injury that forced him to miss three games, the team is keeping recently released PK Martin Gramatica's phone number on speed dial. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avernus Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 bump...good info here.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tega Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 6 Kings - Thank You for that info! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redfish Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 With Gould on bye, Vinatieri better be healthy. Fargin' bastige Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeeR Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 (edited) Yep, thx. Re. this: "Steelers RB Najeh Davenport will have a bigger role in the offense in the weeks ahead" .....I hate Cowher. PS Colts are fools if they don't sign Proehl. He's been underrated his whole career. Edited October 17, 2006 by BeeR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronco Billy Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 This one jumped out at me: We hear that Greg Jennings' even-keeled temperament and professional approach to the game have enabled him to make a consistent and immediate impact. His decent speed and average size didn't attract first-round attention, but he has great hands and no fear across the middle, offering a skill set that is not unlike the one veteran teammate Donald Driver brings to the table. This is what happens when you draft football players instead of athletes with great measureables at the combine. GB stole Jennings, who was widely known as the most pro-ready WR in the draft but didn't have the sexy pedigree or 40 yd dash or shuttle times as other WRs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexgaddis Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 This one jumped out at me: We hear that Greg Jennings' even-keeled temperament and professional approach to the game have enabled him to make a consistent and immediate impact. His decent speed and average size didn't attract first-round attention, but he has great hands and no fear across the middle, offering a skill set that is not unlike the one veteran teammate Donald Driver brings to the table. This is what happens when you draft football players instead of athletes with great measureables at the combine. GB stole Jennings, who was widely known as the most pro-ready WR in the draft but didn't have the sexy pedigree or 40 yd dash or shuttle times as other WRs. compare that with a guy like Troy Williamson who was drafted 7th mainly due to his blazing speed and potential... Jennings looks like a much better receiver at this point in their respective careers... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronco Billy Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 Look for the Niners to go after former Pro Bowl S Troy Vincent, who was recently released by Buffalo, to bolster their undermanned secondary. We hear the fact the team would be willing to offer Vincent plenty of playing time could be an attractive selling point for a player who vice president of player personnel Scot McCloughan said could receive feelers from about half of the league's teams. Didn't WAS sign Vincent yesterday? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Primetime9287 Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 • Word is pressure is beginning to mount on head coach Nick Saban with each successive defeat by the disappointing Dolphins. The lack of contributions from this year's draft class is leading critics to point out that Saban has yet to develop any of his draft picks into Pro Bowl-caliber players. While his first draft class (in '05) has netted some starters, Saban's Dolphins have yet to have a breakout player. He has a breakout player. He just chooses to only give him the ball less than 20 times a game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msaint Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 • We hear WR Larry Fitzgerald, who was initially expected to be out 2-5 weeks with a hamstring injury, was walking around with no signs of a limp last week and will probably do everything in his power to return for the Cardinals' next two games vs. the Raiders and Packers, a pair of weak opponents against whom he figures to put up big numbers if he's able to play. :praying: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
broncosn05 Posted October 18, 2006 Share Posted October 18, 2006 Dang was trying to keep this thread buried after that first post but you guys had to bump it. Great info here. Very appreciated though I miss the avy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ziachild007 Posted October 18, 2006 Share Posted October 18, 2006 This is what happens when you draft football players instead of athletes with great measureables at the combine. GB stole Jennings, who was widely known as the most pro-ready WR in the draft but didn't have the sexy pedigree or 40 yd dash or shuttle times as other WRs. Same could be said for Baskett as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gd74 Posted October 18, 2006 Share Posted October 18, 2006 How could the same be said for Baskett....he can not even hold Jennings jock strap the way he dropped passes all over the field last week Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avernus Posted October 18, 2006 Share Posted October 18, 2006 How could the same be said for Baskett....he can not even hold Jennings jock strap the way he dropped passes all over the field last week I wonder what would happen if the Eagles used jennings jockstrap as a football... would he catch it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gd74 Posted October 18, 2006 Share Posted October 18, 2006 At this point anything would help Baskett... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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