Whispers

[THE SIX KINGS]

It has become more apparent in recent weeks that TE Tony Gonzalez, who is planning to void out of the final year of his contract, seems to be destined for the franchise tag from the Chiefs. Gonzalez and his agent are not making any headway in negotiations on a new deal. We’re told Gonzalez isn’t expected to attend any offseason minicamps if he receives the tag.

 

There’s a sense the Texans, who spent the No. 1 pick on DE Mario Williams and signed DE Anthony Weaver to a lucrative deal last offseason, will nonetheless be looking to address the defensive line early in this April’s draft. The Texans could be compelled to draft a defensive tackle on the draft’s first day; 2005 first-rounder Travis Johnson has been a major disappointment inside. Also, the team could look to add another pass rusher. Antwan Peek is an unrestricted free agent, and he may not be re-signed.

 

Though he wasn’t happy about it, we hear the reason why the Bills didn’t offer to extend MLB London Fletcher’s contract beyond this season is that they want to get bigger and younger in the middle. Also, we hear the Bills want a middle ’backer who makes more tackles at, or near, the line of scrimmage than the undersized Fletcher did.

 

Word is RB Ricky Williams intends to return to the NFL in 2007 and will be willing to play for whichever coach the Dolphins choose to succeed Nick Saban.

 

Word out of Jacksonville is QB Quinn Gray, who began the season third on the depth chart, will get a chance to compete with David Garrard for the starting spot next season if the Jaguars don’t bring in a veteran signalcaller. Gray saw his first extended playing time in Week 17, when he replaced an ineffective Garrard in the lineup and led the team to three scores. Our sources still expect Byron Leftwich, who began the season as the starter, to be traded in the offseason.

 

The Saints dodged a bullet in their bye week when starting CB Mike McKenzie emerged from a four-car accident near the Saints’ training facility unscathed. We hear McKenzie was taken to the hospital for evaluation, but he was released later that day. We’re told McKenzie was a little stiff in the days after the accident, but he didn’t miss any practice time and is expected to be at full strength for the Saints’ playoff opener.

 

We’re told that with a fumble in each of the Broncos’ last three games and an inability to truly distance himself from rookie Mike Bell, Tatum Bell could have trouble landing a roster spot for next season, depending on the team’s activity in free agency and the draft.

 

It’s early, but it wouldn’t come as a surprise to sources in Denver to see the Broncos package their extra third-round pick from Washington in the Ashley Lelie three-team trade in an effort to move up and land an impact defensive end in the draft.

 

Rumors that Bill Bidwill Jr. was champing at the bit to get more involved in the Cardinals’ business might have been a bit exaggerated. You would think Bidwill would be more actively involved in the search for a new coach, but team sources tell us he has been out of the country with his family, while brother Mike continues pulling all the strings.

 

Taking into account the bad taste that has lingered in the Seahawks organization since the unceremonious departure of Pro Bowl OLG Steve Hutchinson last offseason, inside sources tell us it’s highly unlikely the team will allow PK Josh Brown, the player considered least expendable among its free agents, to split the scene this season. “I think it’s imperative that they re-sign him,” Seahawks special-teams coach Bob Casullo told PFW last week. “Considering his value to the team, it’s a no-brainer.”

 

If the Colts know what they’re going to do with DT Corey Simon, who many believe has worn out his welcome after a mysterious non-football injury turned him into a nonfactor this season, they’re doing a great job of keeping it under wraps. Team sources tell us the subject of Simon remains very much taboo at Colts headquarters.

 

Our Rams sources believe there’s less than a 50-50 chance that former first-round pick Jimmy Kennedy will stick with the team next season after failing to cut the mustard this season as the team’s starting nose tackle. Kennedy’s current contract with the Rams runs out at the end of the ’07 season, which would cut down the amount of cap revenue the team would stand to lose should it decide to release him.

 

We’re hearing that veteran Niners C Jeremy Newberry’s surgically repaired knees are feeling good enough for him to reconsider his retirement plans. Word is those knees held up just fine recently when he leg-pressed 360 pounds 40 times.

 

We hear Niners DL Anthony Adams, who has shifted around the D-line the last four seasons, has been told he no longer fits the team’s defense.

 

One name to keep an eye on in the assistant-coach carousel is Panthers QB coach Mike McCoy. We hear McCoy has drawn interest from other teams for an offensive coordinator post, and if the Panthers make a change at offensive coordinator, as has been rumored, the 34-year-old McCoy will certainly get a look.

 

That Browns QB Charlie Frye started the season finale at Houston spoke volumes about the team’s lack of confidence in reserve Ken Dorsey, who was expected to play because of Frye’s right wrist injury. Frye completed 25-of-34 passes for 187 yards at Houston, but it was clear he was not 100 percent. Frye convinced the team he could play and gutted it out in a show of leadership.

 

Word out of Cleveland is that the Browns would like to retain free-agent centers Hank Fraley and Lennie Friedman.

 

Ravens observers can’t quite figure why RB Mike Anderson isn’t getting more work. Anderson had gains of 19 and 30 yards in two of his last eight carries of the regular season. However, the way we hear it, he does not appear to be a threat to take any of the workload away from Jamal Lewis.

 

The way we hear it, Steelers ORT Willie Colon showed enough in starting the final two games of the season to be considered a contender for that starting job, as well as the ORG spot should the team look to replace Kendall Simmons.

 

The Cowboys were encouraged by the play of OLB Bobby Carpenter down the stretch. He finally let his athleticism dictate his play and started to make an impact, even if he still needs refinement.

 

The Redskins likely will have a new kicker in 2007. Though Shaun Suisham missed only two kicks in 11 attempts, team sources think they can do better. John Hall will not be brought back.

 

The Eagles will expect major improvements out of DT Brodrick Bunkley this offseason. He had been dropped from the regular rotation until the final week of the regular season, when he got about 60 plays of action against the Falcons but made only two tackles.

 

Giants sources wonder if RB Brandon Jacobs has the personality and demeanor to handle replacing Tiki Barber. The Giants are certain to give Jacobs help in the backfield, but he stands as the primary option. However, he has been known to get testy and defensive with the media and will have to learn to deal with the added attention.

 

Titans sources think that TE Erron Kinney’s playing days might be numbered, if not over. He’s attempting to return from tricky microfracture surgery, and the team likely will move on as if it doesn’t expect him to play in 2007.

 

Watching Jordan Black get repeatedly beat by Dwight Freeney’s speed and bull rush last week left sources believing even more that the Chiefs’ OLT position must be upgraded before next season.

 

Greg Wesley doesn’t look to be long for his starting job at safety in Kansas City. With the awareness Jarrad Page showed in his rookie season and Wesley’s penchant for looking for the big hit rather than focusing on making the routine play, it looks like an inevitable move.

 

OLT Robert Gallery has not gotten it done in his three-year NFL career, but with another coaching change in Oakland, it’s worth noting it likely will be five different OL coaches in five seasons for Gallery, dating back to his senior year at Iowa. The Raiders’ instability has done very little for his career.

 

A few familiar faces may not be back with the Packers next season. Longtime FB William Henderson is considering retirement, and TE Bubba Franks and WR Robert Ferguson may not be long for the roster. Franks had an especially tough year and isn’t likely to see the five years left on his contract.

 

With plenty of cap space available, expect Green Bay to make a run at bringing back restricted free agent Cullen Jenkins, who finished the season strong after being shifted to defensive end. The downside, of course, is that they’d be paying former starter Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila an awful lot to be a mere specialist.

 

After an awkward end to the season in Minnesota, exemplified by a Christmas release of veteran WR Marcus Robinson, don’t be surprised to see V.P. of player personnel Rick Spielman and owner Zygi Wilf play a more active, visible role going forward. We’re told Wilf will be more involved, if only to ask questions and remain educated, while Spielman will take some of the personnel and public-relations burden off head coach Brad Childress.

 

Not only are the Lions not feeling the pressure to draft a quarterback with the No. 2 overall pick, we’re told they may not even feel the need to select one, period, in the 2007 draft. Although he didn’t see the field in 2006, we’re told Detroit still feels good about 2005 fifth-rounder Dan Orlovsky and wouldn’t see the rationale in selecting another developmental, second-day passer.

 

The hiring of Rod Marinelli’s brother-in-law as defensive coordinator may seem like another odd Lions move, but Marinelli and Joe Barry were colleagues at USC before they were family members, they spent five seasons together in Tampa directing the defensive line and linebackers, respectively, and they see completely eye-to-eye philosophically. Furthermore, we’re told Barry has, and would have, attracted plenty of attention around the league if it hadn’t been for Detroit’s immediate interest.

 

The unexpected retirement of Lions special-seams coordinator Chuck Priefer is not an insignificant loss. We’re told that Priefer was the reason that Detroit’s special teams were the one thing you could count on annually from the otherwise hapless Lions. Priefer will stay on in a consulting capacity, but he will be replaced by assistant Stan Kwan.

 

Rex Grossman’s roller-coaster season is, of course, a concern, but the Bears continue to take solace in his resiliency. The inconsistent signalcaller has posted consecutive poor performances only once this season. Otherwise, in three other opportunities to rebound from disastrous outings, he has completed 65.6 percent of his passes for 698 yards, eight touchdowns and only one interception.

Edited January 10, 2007 by THE SIX KINGS

[Suture]

Good info, thanks for sharing.

[PantherDave]

Thanks for the news and it somewhat substantiates a crumb I was thrown by a buddy at the local rag in Charlotte. Henning may retire/resign at 64 or become Asst. HC/Offensive consultant blah blah, and McCoy would take over as the OC-which would in turn appease Delhomme, Johnson and other Panther offensive players that are stepping up and defending Henning, and keep pretty much the offensive blue-print intact with some much needed tweaks added into the overall scheme.

Edited January 10, 2007 by PantherDave

[BeeR]

Thx I love these tidbits...

 

QB Quinn Gray, who began the season third on the depth chart, will get a chance to compete with David Garrard for the starting spot next season if the Jaguars don’t bring in a veteran signalcaller. Gray saw his first extended playing time in Week 17, when he replaced an ineffective Garrard in the lineup and led the team to three scores. Our sources still expect Byron Leftwich, who began the season as the starter, to be traded in the offseason.

I wonder what all the "Leftwich is great" fools think about that

 

 

A few familiar faces may not be back with the Packers next season. Longtime FB William Henderson is considering retirement, and TE Bubba Franks and WR Robert Ferguson may not be long for the roster. Franks had an especially tough year and isn’t likely to see the five years left on his contract.

About time.

 

 

Not only are the Lions not feeling the pressure to draft a quarterback with the No. 2 overall pick, we’re told they may not even feel the need to select one, period, in the 2007 draft. Although he didn’t see the field in 2006, we’re told Detroit still feels good about 2005 fifth-rounder Dan Orlovsky and wouldn’t see the rationale in selecting another developmental, second-day passer.

Tough to call a potential franchise difference-maker, but I'm not wowed by any of the QBs coming out somehow either. The question is who do they otherwise take? Calvin Johnson? Joe Thomas? They really should be looking to trade down.

 

 

Rex Grossman’s roller-coaster season is, of course, a concern, but the Bears continue to take solace in his resiliency. The inconsistent signalcaller has posted consecutive poor performances only once this season. Otherwise, in three other opportunities to rebound from disastrous outings, he has completed 65.6 percent of his passes for 698 yards, eight touchdowns and only one interception.

 

Well if he only plays sucky every other game, no big.