Whispers from around the NFL

[Randall]

• There's a growing sentiment around Washington that the poor performance of the Redskins' defense this season might have cost Gregg Williams a chance to succeed Joe Gibbs as head coach. Williams is the highest-paid assistant in the NFL, and though a lot of the blame can't be put on his shoulders, he might end up being the one who shoulders the blame.

 

• There is an opinion around the league that the Patriots paid a high premium to sign C Dan Koppen to a long-term contract extension as a way of proving to the other Patriots players that the team is willing to reward its own, following the trade of popular WR Deion Branch earlier this season.

 

• Minnesota's nickel backs are picked on more often, but CB Fred Smoot is definitely the weak spot in the Vikings' base defense. Smoot simply hasn't shown the shutdown skills his reputation suggests, often giving too much cushion. In short, we're told he isn't as good as he thinks.

 

• We hear Panthers DT Kris Jenkins, injured for most of the 2004 and '05 seasons, is having weight and stamina issues. The plus-size tackle is playing better early in games, and while he still makes an impact play or two, his play is too inconsistent for the liking of the Panthers' coaching staff.

 

• It appears that rookie Ahmad Brooks has nailed down the Bengals' starting MLB job with some impressive play in the last several weeks. Now the team waits for veteran LB Brian Simmons, who started the season in the middle, to get over a nagging neck injury. Simmons knows every LB position in the Bengals' scheme, so Cincinnati can move him around without much worry.

 

 

Darrent Williams

Cornerback

Denver Broncos

 

Profile

2006 SEASON STATISTICS

Tot Ast Solo FF Sack Int

48 42 6 0 0 1

• Broncos second-year CB Darrent Williams remained confident and upbeat last week after getting abused by the Colts' Reggie Wayne, who racked up 10 catches for 138 yards and three touchdowns in Week 8. In fairness to Williams, he had played very well leading up to the game against the Colts, he didn't have much of a pass rush to rely on, and as part of the scheme, he wasn't pressing Wayne at the line of scrimmage, which he surely would have preferred.

• The early returns on Broncos young OLT Erik Pears are good. Pears replaced Matt Lepsis, who was lost for the year in Week 7, and hasn't looked back. Sources say Pears really benefited from his time in NFL Europe, and he has good balance and shows some tenacity. He isn't as athletic as Lepsis, but finding an equal to Lepsis in that category is a tall order.

 

• Broncos MLB Al Wilson, who recently broke the same thumb he had trouble with last year, is playing without a cast on his hand, but it is said to be affecting his ability to wrap up as a tackler.

 

• A few NFL insiders may have jumped the gun a bit on Tony Gonzalez's contract status with the Chiefs, suggesting that the two sides were nearing a contract extension that would likely keep Gonzalez in Kansas City for the remainder of his career. Gonzalez, who is expected to void out of his current deal to become a free agent next spring, said last week that they "aren't even close" to finalizing a deal but reiterated he would like to stay put. "Things are working well for me here, so it's not a case of the grass being greener somewhere else," Gonzalez said.

 

 

Justin Fargas

Running Back

Oakland Raiders

 

Profile

2006 SEASON STATISTICS

Rush Yds TD Rec Yds TD

61 285 0 1 5 0

• Oakland's Justin Fargas has been battling shoulder and hip ailments in recent weeks but has impressed with his ability to continue to run hard through the pain. If he can get healthy, we're told to expect Fargas and FB Zack Crockett to share the workload in the running game with LaMont Jordan the rest of the way.

• Defensively, the Raiders are getting more pressure with just their front four lately, which has helped the linebackers eliminate a lot of the opposition's dump-off passes and check-down routes to backs and receivers and has allowed the defensive backs to successfully remain in man coverage downfield.

 

• CB Drayton Florence is basically splitting time now with first-round pick Antonio Cromartie in San Diego's secondary. Both players are fine with the sharing of duties, and the bigger role for Cromartie is not an indictment of Florence whatsoever but instead was made in an effort to get the improving Cromartie on the field more often.

 

• With Shawne Merriman out the next three games, the Chargers will call on Carlos Polk to fill his OLB spot, and Marques Harris will get opportunities on passing downs. The Chargers own more depth at the ILB spots, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see veteran Donnie Edwards shift outside on occasion to provide support.

 

• We hear that the bye week came at a great time for the Jets, since a number of players were suffering from a little bit of burnout after getting worked so hard in training camp and in the preseason. They expect to have their batteries recharged for the second half.

 

• Dolphins FB Kyle Eckel was discharged from the Navy on Oct. 31 and is in Miami, eligible to practice with the team after being granted exempt status from the commissioner's permission list. The Dolphins will likely work with him the rest of the season, with an eye on developing him for 2007 and beyond.

 

• Ravens SLB Adalius Thomas is having one of his finest NFL seasons. The way we hear it, Baltimore's ability to use him at multiple positions continues to help him tremendously. The book on Thomas is that he needs to be moved around to make his greatest impact.

 

• The Steelers' coverage teams haven't performed as well as the team would have liked this season. Keep that in mind if you're wondering why RB Duce Staley is unable to get off the inactive list. Staley does not play on special teams, and the Steelers are looking to improve in that area of the game. Hence, former practice-squad player John Kuhn will compete with Najeh Davenport for playing time behind starter Willie Parker.

 

• Browns SS Sean Jones' improvement is not lost on Browns observers; Jones has been one of the team's biggest playmakers this season. However, the way we hear it, FS Brian Russell has also shown significant improvement in his second season in Romeo Crennel's defense.

 

• Jaguars DT Marcus Stroud (ankle) was ruled out of Jacksonville's Week 9 contest with the Titans early in the week, leading some team observers to speculate that Stroud could miss the rest of the season. It was the fourth straight game Stroud has missed with an ankle sprain and bone bruise that he suffered in practice leading up to the season opener.

 

 

Carnell Williams

Running Back

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

 

Profile

2006 SEASON STATISTICS

Rush Yds TD Rec Yds TD

124 453 1 21 115 0

• Sources close to the Buccaneers tell us RB Cadillac Williams is more bothered by Tampa's losing record than his sophomore statistical slump. We hear that the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year has never been on a losing team in his entire football career and he is as frustrated as any Buc over the disastrous 2006 campaign.

• Word out of Atlanta is second-year DT Jonathan Babineaux is having a tremendous impact as a backup. We hear Babineaux has been effective rotating with starter Rod Coleman and he was disruptive in his one start, when Coleman sat out with a turf-toe injury in Week 7, recording a sack and recovering a fumble.

 

• We hear rookie Zach Strief, who is filling in for injured OLT Jammal Brown, is in a bind similar to what Brown was in at the start of the season. Strief, a seventh-round pick from Northwestern, played right tackle in college, like Brown, and he's seeing his first action at the OLT spot in the pros.

 

• Our sources in Seattle tell us there definitely appear to be lingering bad vibes among Seahawks players and coaches who believe the front office didn't make more of an effort to retain Pro Bowl LG Steve Hutchinson. As for the return to the starting lineup of LG Floyd "Pork Chop" Womack, who was struggling mightily before missing five games with a knee injury, we're told the Seahawks felt they had no choice, considering how erratically Chris Spencer performed as the starting left guard.

 

• Nobody connected with the Colts is offering any hints at all as to when DT Montae Reagor, who underwent surgery following an automobile accident the day of the Colts' game against the Redskins, might return to action. However, our sources' best guess is that the earliest he could return to action is early December.

 

• While third-year Niners DT Isaac Sopoaga appears to be falling further out of favor, mid-September pickup Damane Duckett appears to be steadily moving up the depth chart. We hear the 6-foot-6, 300-pound Duckett really raised eyebrows in practice last week when he got up a head of steam and steamrolled right over ORT Kwame Harris in pass-rush drills.

 

• We hear the Rams couldn't be happier with the way P Matt Turk has stabilized what had been a problem area for years. The 12-year veteran is still getting good distance and hang time on his punts and also has proven adept at dropping the ball inside the 20. Our sources tell us the team feels quite comfortable with Turk as their punter for at least one more season.

 

• Mike Martz has been the driving force behind the Lions' constant tinkering out wide, where the team has already released Charles Rogers, Corey Bradford, Az-Zahir Hakim and Shaun Bodiford. Martz is seeking speed and familiarity with his offense, and the carousel landed on Kevin Kasper this week. Of course, the Lions have been hamstrung; our sources suggest the salary-cap implications of cutting Mike Williams essentially mean Detroit is operating with a 52-man roster.

 

• Promising rookie S Daniel Bullocks did some nice things while starting five games for injured SS Kenoy Kennedy, but we hear Terrence Holt has played well enough at at free safety to hold on to his starting job.

 

• We're told the Vikings are losing patience with struggling ORT Marcus Johnson, who at times appears lost in both the pass and run games. Veteran backup Mike Rosenthal isn't the long-term answer, nor is he as athletic, but he's smart and experienced and could at least get by on the right end.

 

• FS Nick Collins turned heads in his rookie season, but we hear he has simply failed to take that next step in his second year. The Packers expected big plays to come this season, but Collins hasn't done much, isn't a heady player and appears to be a step slow.

 

• Sources close to the University of North Carolina tell PFW that former Browns coach Butch Davis will be the next head head in Chapel Hill. All that remains to be ironed out are a few details in the contract, including number of years on the deal and approval from the university.

 

• Expect the Cowboys to go with a rotation at free safety for the time being. Following the benching of rookie Pat Watkins, look for Keith Davis and Marcus Coleman to split time based on defensive packages, situations and matchups.

 

• The Titans have been thrilled with the play of FS Chris Hope, their best free-agent acquisition of the offseason to this point. He has been allowed to move around, something he rarely did in Pittsburgh alongside Troy Polamalu, which takes advantage of Hope's great athleticism. Titans sources say he's the best safety the team has had since Blaine Bishop.

[Easy n Dirty]

Thanks Randall, I look forward to this thread every week.

 

 

 

• Mike Martz has been the driving force behind the Lions' constant tinkering out wide, where the team has already released Charles Rogers, Corey Bradford, Az-Zahir Hakim and Shaun Bodiford. Martz is seeking speed and familiarity with his offense, and the carousel landed on Kevin Kasper this week. Of course, the Lions have been hamstrung; our sources suggest the salary-cap implications of cutting Mike Williams essentially mean Detroit is operating with a 52-man roster.

 

 

 

What exactly is the deal with Mike Williams? Is it talent, attitude, or both? The guy certainly seemed to have plenty of talent at USC, and as I recall he handled himself pretty well through that NCAA dispute that cost him his senior season. I read somewhere (maybe on this site) about an interview with Jon Kitna, who is a real stand-up guy, and when the subject of Mike Williams came up, he simply said "No comment", didn't even want to address it. What's the deal here?

[charty]

• There is an opinion around the league that the Patriots paid a high premium to sign C Dan Koppen to a long-term contract extension as a way of proving to the other Patriots players that the team is willing to reward its own, following the trade of popular WR Deion Branch earlier this season.

 

 

Not sure where this is coming from, but I don't see any "high premium".

Koppen's deal is for 5 yrs and can reach $20M. They didn't rip up the last year of his original deal, it basically starts in 2007. However, he's only making 1.5M this year and some of the bonus money is being given to him this year, so it's really like a 6yr 21.5M deal.

 

Mike Reiss gave this comparsion a couple weeks ago...

A good comparison is the contract signed by Justin Hartwig with the Carolina Panthers prior to this season. Hartwig was an unrestricted free agent and he inked a five-year, $17 million contract with $7 million in bonuses ($5 million to sign, $2 million option bonus). Based on Hartwig's deal, which was signed in March, it looks like Koppen got a fair market deal. Hartwig's deal averages $3.3 million per year, while Koppen's deal -- assessed over a six-year term because it doesn't kick in until 2007 -- is at the same figure.

 

Also, given that Damien Woody signed a six-year, $31 million contract in 2004 with Detroit, when the cap numbers were much less player friendly, this is a good deal for Koppen and the Pats.

I think this is just a case of trying to link the Branch issue to the first contract signed post-Branch, and this isn't really a rash move or anything.

I guess there is a comparison that can be made between Koppen and Branch......

They both entered their last year of the contract underpaid, one buckled his chin strap and didn't complain and was rewarded with a fair extension, the other held out and refused to play until he was paid.

[rajncajn]

• We hear rookie Zach Strief, who is filling in for injured OLT Jammal Brown, is in a bind similar to what Brown was in at the start of the season. Strief, a seventh-round pick from Northwestern, played right tackle in college, like Brown, and he's seeing his first action at the OLT spot in the pros.

 

Let's play guess who's stat this is...

 

1-1, 0.0, 0, 0

Edited November 7, 2006 by rajncajn

[Trots]

Thanks Randall, I look forward to this thread every week.

What exactly is the deal with Mike Williams? Is it talent, attitude, or both? The guy certainly seemed to have plenty of talent at USC, and as I recall he handled himself pretty well through that NCAA dispute that cost him his senior season. I read somewhere (maybe on this site) about an interview with Jon Kitna, who is a real stand-up guy, and when the subject of Mike Williams came up, he simply said "No comment", didn't even want to address it. What's the deal here?

 

Do you mean besides the fact that he is slow, fat, and lazy?

[loaf]

• Sources close to the University of North Carolina tell PFW that former Browns coach Butch Davis will be the next head head in Chapel Hill. All that remains to be ironed out are a few details in the contract, including number of years on the deal and approval from the university.

 

[Savage Beatings]

I love these... anything this week?

[Caveman_Nick]

I love these... anything this week?

 

 

 

 

The most impressive thing, we’re told, about Rams RB Steven Jackson’s emergence as an all-around weapon both rushing and receiving is how well his body has held up, with concerns over the third-year back’s durability becoming less of an issue every week.

 

Despite all the turmoil in Oakland this season, we’re told there is reason to believe the players are slowly but surely buying into Art Shell’s philosophies. “That is the one thing that Art has brought to us, a consistency level of this is who we are, this is how we play the game,” Warren Sapp said. “There is just a better feel around this whole place.”

 

Word from South Florida is that Dolphins GM Randy Mueller would like to see what backup QB Cleo Lemon is capable of but that head coach Nick Saban wants to stick with Joey Harrington, who gives Miami the best chance to win right now.

 

Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio announced last week that QB Byron Leftwich’s ankle would get no better than 85 to 90 percent healthy the rest of the season. This development paved the way for Del Rio to name David Garrard the starter, despite protests from Leftwich that he could play through the pain. It will be interesting to see how healthy Leftwich’s ankle is deemed in light of Garrard’s horrible showing in a Week 10 loss to the Texans, a game in which Garrard threw four interceptions and no TDs and finished with a passer rating of 25.5.

 

Sources tell us Falcons DB Kevin Mathis’ career is likely over after he was placed on the injured-reserve list last week with a broken neck, the second neck injury of Mathis’ career. We hear the 32-year-old is a small guy who plays recklessly and that teams may not want to deal with the liability that’s sure to come with him.

C Justin Hartwig’s disappointing stay in Carolina hit another snag when he tweaked a lingering groin injury during the Panthers’ bye week. Hartwig was the Panthers’ second-biggest free-agent signing on offense behind WR Keyshawn Johnson, yet Hartwig has started only one game. He suffered a groin injury in the season opener and returned to action Oct. 29 before reinjuring himself.

 

We hear that the broken scapula in Patriots S Rodney Harrison’s right shoulder will probably keep him out at least a month. Look for him to come back for the last couple of weeks of the regular season and try to get up to speed so he’s healthy for the playoffs.

 

Jets WR Laveranues Coles believes that part of the reason why QB Chad Pennington’s passing yards have declined since the first couple of weeks of the season is that the wide receivers aren’t running their routes as fast, which has thrown off Pennington’s timing. Translation: Head coach Eric Mangini may have pushed the players too hard in training camp and the preseason, and their bodies now are tiring a bit.

 

Though he’s not fully healed from offseason shoulder surgery, we hear the Patriots believe second-year OT Nick Kaczur is an upgrade at right tackle over rookie Ryan O’Callag han, who had started at the ORT spot for most of the first half of the season while Kaczur was out. We hear that Kaczur, who started much of last season at left tackle, will remain the starter as long as his shoulder holds up.

 

While it’s a little too soon to start evaluating young talent for next season, we hear the Bills could go that route soon — likely in Week 12, if Buffalo loses to Houston.

 

The Broncos were cautious in putting him through several tests before clearing him to play last week, but there do not appear to be any lingering concerns about the two concussions S John Lynch suffered in less than a month.

 

The Broncos have liked what they’ve seen from backup WRs David Kircus, Brandon Marshall and Brian Clark, but opportunities haven’t been as prevalent because there have been fewer three-WR sets this season, in part because of the need to keep the tight ends in more to block.

 

According to sources, the Chargers have been doing a great job of finishing blocks of late, and offensive coordinator Cam Cameron has really found a groove calling plays. His timing and ability to find the right play for any situation have drawn rave reviews.

 

A high ankle sprain that didn’t improve at all last week and kept DE Luis Castillo in a walking boot on the sideline against the Bengals has the Chargers a bit worried. Castillo, other than a couple of quiet games, has been a real factor for San Diego’s 3-4 scheme, and he will be missed if he needs more time to recover, especially with OLB Shawne Merriman suspended for two more games.

 

RB LaMont Jordan took the high road last week when questioned about the Raiders all but forgetting the ground attack in a shutout loss at Seattle in Week Nine, adding that he intends to take a “military approach” and make sure he does what is asked. Sources say that with the offensive line’s inability to sustain running lanes for long, the speedier Justin Fargas might actually be a better fit for the Oakland offense right now.

Damon Huard’s pocket presence has really improved as the season has moved along, and pressure hasn’t deterred him from keeping his eyes downfield. Sources believe he may have played his way into a starting competition elsewhere next season.

 

Cardinals DE Bertrand Berry was careful not to name names when he recently lashed out at a number of his teammates on his weekly radio show, but we have it on good authority that one of the players Berry was no doubt referring to was DT Darnell Dockett, whose work ethic still leaves a lot to be desired, especially since he not too long ago received a five-year contract extension.

 

Sources close to Niners injured C Jeremy Newberry told PFW last week that it’s a virtual certainty the ninth-year center is planning to retire at the end of the year

 

There’s no hiding the Seahawks’ disappointment in WR Nate Burle son, a local product whose contributions to the team’s passing attack have been negligible. With Burleson’s impact as a receiver not expected to increase any time soon, it looks like he will now be mostly counted on to be the team’s primary punt returner. He returned a punt 90 yards for a touchdown in a Week 10 win over St. Louis.

 

Another Seahawks player who continues to disappoint is former first-round DT Marcus Tubbs, who had missed 10 games the past three seasons with assorted injuries before being placed on injured reserve late last week with a troublesome left knee injury. There is an upside, though: Seattle has a very deep DT rotation, and Tubbs’ injury means blue-collar battler Craig Terrill, who has shown a knack for making big plays (three sacks vs. Oakland), will be on the field more.

 

The way we hear it, the Bengals were pleased with the way QB Carson Palmer handled a dispute with WR Chris Henry at the end of the Week Nine loss at Baltimore. Henry appeared to be loafing at the end of the game, and Palmer confronted him. Palmer and Henry have a good relationship, and Palmer is not one to wear his emotions on his sleeve, but the team liked his showing of leadership.

 

The way we hear it, there’s a sense that the Ravens’ defense needs a slight jolt of confidence after allowing more big plays than usual in recent weeks. The team hoped a strong outing vs. Tennessee would be just the tonic, but the defense struggled without MLB Ray Lewis, who missed the game with a back injury.

 

The Browns had WR Joshua Cribbs, a collegiate quarterback, play the role of Michael Vick leading up to the Week 10 game at Atlanta. The way we hear it, Cribbs, who recently signed a contract extension, would relish the chance to take the occasional snap from center in special offensive packages.

 

The Texans are expected to make a decision on KR Jerome Mathis’ playing status this week (he’s on the PUP list). Mathis missed the first nine games of the season with a foot injury.

 

While rookie Texans DE Mario Williams starts to kick it into gear, don’t overlook the play of Anthony Weaver, the other end, who has been a steady performer vs. the run. Weaver is never going to be regarded as a top pass rusher, but the Texans like what he’s doing in his first season in Houston.

 

The Eagles, ever proactive about signing their core players to long-term extensions, held dialogue with TE L.J. Smith and his people about a new deal, but the two sides couldn’t come to an accord before the league’s deadline to extend contracts and designate a portion of the money toward this year’s salary cap. Smith’s deal is up after the 2007 season, and it appears the two sides will put talks on hold for the time being.

 

Insiders say there’s no coincidence between DT Cornelius Griffin’s return following a three-game losing streak and the team beating the Cowboys in Week Nine. Though Griffin hasn’t played his best football this season, he might be the most important player in Gregg Williams’ front seven.

 

The Giants expect Tim Carter to handle many of the snaps, taking over for injured WR Amani Toomer, who was placed on injured reserve. But keep an eye on Michael Jennings, a former track star who has impressed the team with his improved receiving skills and raw speed.

 

With DE Adewale Ogunleye returning from a hamstring injury and rookie pass rusher Mark Anderson frequently making big plays, Bears DTs Ian Scott and Alfonso Boone are stuck in a numbers game on game day, forcing one of them to be deactivated in three of the last five games. We’re told much of the problem is that the two run-stuffing linemen play essentially the same role.

 

Green Bay got away from its max-protect, conservative passing game in Week Nine, and it paid the price, turning the ball over four times, including twice in the red zone. We’re told Bills DT Larry Tripplett had his best game of the season against the Packers’ inexperienced interior line, and Bills rookie DT Kyle Williams also caused his fair share of disruptions.

 

Surprisingly, little controversy ensued in Minnesota after CB Antoine Winfield called out the Vikings’ offense for its “unacceptable” and “predictable” performance in a 9-3 loss to the Niners in Week Nine. We’re told the offensive players essentially felt the same way and simply couldn’t argue with their veteran defensive leader. Head coach Brad Childress went so far as to give Winfield the floor in practice on Wednesday to clear the air and turn his criticism into motivation.

 

ORT Marcus Johnson has been the primary culprit for the Vikings’ struggles up front, but we hear OLT Bryant McKinnie hasn’t played up to his capabilities either. He was beaten for a blind-side sack and subsequent fumble in San Francisco and was overmatched by New England’s odd front in Week Eight. The Vikings had hoped Steve Hutchinson’s presence and nastiness next to McKinnie would maximize his natural talent, but Hutch has not rubbed off as intended.

 

With Arizona and Miami up next on Detroit’s schedule, we’re told this is a crossroads for the Lions to prove whether they indeed are making progress. They’ve not won more than two games in a row since Matt Millen took over in 2001.

Edited November 17, 2006 by Caveman_Nick

[muck]

With Arizona and Miami up next on Detroit’s schedule, we’re told this is a crossroads for the Lions to prove whether they indeed are making progress. They’ve not won more than two games in a row since Matt Millen took over in 2001.

 

 

This is the most interesting thing posted above...

 

DET hasn't won two in a row since Millen took over?!? Wow! Anything else you want to know about how things are going up in motor city?