PFW whispers

[Randall]

• We hear initial discussions are under way for new contracts for Rams QB Marc Bulger and WR Kevin Curtis. While Bulger is considered a slam dunk to re-up, perhaps sometime soon, Curtis remains a long shot to stick in St. Louis, as he is slated to become an unrestricted free agent in March.

 

• With two different grievances pending, the Corey Simon mystery continues in Indianapolis. Colts sources claim they saw the defensive tackle, who missed the season with a non-football illness, celebrating on the field with his teammates after the come-from-behind AFC championship victory over archrival New England. However, Simon was nowhere to be seen in South Beach in the week leading up to SB XLI.

 

• Colts DT Montae Reagor told PFW at the Super Bowl that his recovery from the fractured orbital bone suffered in a season-ending auto accident on Oct. 22 is ahead of schedule. "I've gained 15 of the 30 pounds I lost and plan on coming back bigger and faster than ever before," said Reagor, who has his sights set on tipping the scales at 285. "Rest assured, I'll be fine."

 

• Niners OL coach George Warhop couldn't have spoken more highly of veteran G Larry Allen at this year's Senior Bowl. "I thought adding Larry Allen was a big help to us, not only on the field, but in the meeting room for all the young guys we have," Warhop told PFW. "He has helped them understand how the game should be played and how you prepare." Warhop is also quite pleased about his young corps of linemen. "The head coach [Mike Nolan] has done that," he said. "He's always going to make sure there's competition within the line, and we should be good because of that."

 

• New Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt told PFW at the Super Bowl that the best thing about Clancy Pendergast, whom he decided to retain as the team's defensive coordinator, is that "we don't have to change the terminology of the defense, as opposed to the offense, where everybody will be dealing with a new system." And what kind of system will that be? Said Whisenhunt: "We're not going to be the Steelers [he was previously Pittsburgh's offensive coordinator], but we will be physical, disciplined and smart."

 

• Our Seahawks sources believe the team could be in a bit of a bind from a contract-negotiation standpoint if it loses vice president/football administration Mike Reinfeldt, who at this writing was the front-runner to replace Floyd Reese as the Titans' general manager. Reinfeldt has long been considered one of the game's more savvy salary negotiators.

 

• Word is Patriots LB Tedy Bruschi, by all accounts, is coming back in 2007, but he won't continue in a full-time role. We hear Bruschi's shortcomings in pass coverage, which were illustrated in the AFC title-game loss to the Colts when he couldn't keep up with TE Dallas Clark, make him a liability in that area and likely mean he'll be filling a part-time role as his career winds down.

 

• Though he'll be an unrestricted free agent, Dolphins DE Vonnie Holliday told PFW that he would prefer to stay in South Florida, and the return of defensive coordinator Dom Capers is a big reason why. "No one wants to rebuild and go through that whole process of learning a new defense, but it happens," he said. "But the opportunity to come back here and continue to play on a team that I'm very familiar with and for Coach Dom Capers, a guy I've gotten to know very well over the last year and who I have tremendous respect for, would be an excellent opportunity and one I look forward to."

 

• We hear that the Jets may go after Patriots OLB Tully Banta-Cain in free agency and that the Patriots may be willing to let him go after he was effectively benched in his last two playoff games -- against San Diego and Indianapolis.

 

• A lot of people around the league believe that New England will make a big run at free-agent LB Adalius Thomas if he enters free agency. Thomas is a Patriots type of player across the board -- with great size, instincts and love for the game.

 

• CBS analyst Steve Tasker told PFW that the Bills still believe in RB Willis McGahee but that his limitations keep him from being considered an elite back. "I think there are some things Willis doesn't do as well as other top backs. He's a power runner. He runs downhill and he doesn't hop, jump and skip, but that also means he doesn't hop, jump and skip in pass routes, and they have to tailor pass routes for him. So that's a limitation, although he catches the ball well and runs well after catching it. But he's more of a screen-pass guy and a swing-type guy. He's not going to split out, catch it in the slot and make a guy miss."

 

• We hear the Jets were a bit surprised that Richie Anderson left for Arizona to be the Cardinals' TE coach after just one year as the Jets' assistant WR-TE coach. Word is Anderson is a rising star in the coaching ranks, and this move has put him on the fast track up the coaching ladder.

 

• Word is the league quietly informed the Jets and Patriots that the tampering charge regarding Deion Branch from early September that was filed against the Jets by New England had been denied. We hear that the NFL determined that the Jets' conduct did not violate league policy, negating any claim of injury by New England.

 

• In Denver, word is that some people in the organization weren't all that pleased with the play of the LB corps in '06, primarily WLB Ian Gold and MLB Al Wilson. However, new assistant head coach/defense Jim Bates is not expected to be quite as structured as the departed Larry Coyer, which should create more opportunities for the linebackers, especially if the pass rush improves.

 

• Bears backup QB Brian Griese, a former starter for the Broncos, was asked during Super Bowl week for his thoughts on Jay Cutler replacing Jake Plummer during the season in Denver. "I know how Jake feels, and it's a tough spot," Griese said. "It wasn't all Jake's fault. And it never is. But the first one to go is the quarterback." When asked for advice for Cutler, who just finished his rookie season in the shadow of John Elway, Griese said: "Be yourself. … The city is demanding."

 

• Although it's early in the process, the two teams being mentioned by league sources as the most likely landing spots for QB Jake Plummer are the Texans and the Buccaneers.

 

• It's uncertain whether new Raiders head coach Lane Kiffin has any intentions of bringing back both Aaron Brooks and Andrew Walter, regardless of what the team does in the draft. However, it's clear that Brooks will need to restructure a contract that calls for a $5 million roster bonus in March if he wants a shot at the starting job next summer. One issue the team may have with Brooks, besides a lack of production, is his penchant for pointing blame elsewhere.

 

• The retirement of WR coach Fred Biletnikoff in Oakland, where he had a Hall of Fame playing career with the Raiders and spent the past 18 years as a member of the coaching staff, led some to believe that new head coach Lane Kiffin might have had a hand in forcing him out (as of this writing, Kiffin had already dismissed four other coaches). But we hear that wasn't the case at all. Biletnikoff cited a desire to spend more time with his family and charitable organizations, and it's believed he had grown weary of the team's tumultuous coaching searches and drama in recent years.

 

• Though no significant progress has been made on a contract extension for RB Larry Johnson in Kansas City, talks are said to be going well between the two sides. Johnson has three more years remaining on his rookie contract but is scheduled to make just $850,000 in 2007, far below his market value.

 

• Ravens RB Jamal Lewis had surgery to remove bone spurs from his right ankle, and he indicated to The Baltimore Sun that the ankle bothered him throughout the 2006 season. The Ravens are unlikely to pick up a contract option on Lewis in March, and we're told that if Lewis returns, it will be with a one-year contract.

 

• New Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has kept continuity on the defensive side of the ball. Only one defensive assistant, secondary coach Darren Perry, has left, and Perry was replaced by assistant secondary coach Ray Horton, who has been with the Steelers since 2004.

 

• A source close to the Browns suggests the team could be in the market for another cornerback. Gary Baxter's playing future is in doubt because of a pair of serious knee injuries, and Leigh Bodden was hampered by an ankle injury in 2006.

 

• The way we hear it, don't expect a quick decision on Texans QB David Carr's future in Houston. We're told the Texans won't make any hasty moves. Should Carr leave Houston, the speculation has centered on Broncos QB Jake Plummer rejoining Gary Kubiak in Houston. Kubiak, the Texans' head coach, was Denver's offensive coordinator for three of Plummer's finest seasons (2003-05).

 

• A top QB prospect could feasibly drop to the Vikings at No. 7 in the first round of the draft, but don't expect Minnesota to pounce. We're told Brad Childress remains a fan of 2006 second-rounder Tarvaris Jackson and will give him every opportunity to win the job for 2007.

 

• Two Bears veterans who may have their contracts looked at this offseason are DE Adewale Ogunleye and SS Mike Brown. Ogunleye's production was subpar relative to his contract, and Brown has sustained prohibitive injuries in each of the past three seasons.

 

• Lions head coach Rod Marinelli appears dead set on keeping DL Cory Redding, an unrestricted free agent. Using the franchise designation on him appears to be a likelihood.

 

• Sources tell us Saints QB coach Pete Carmichael is drawing interest from the Dolphins for their offensive coordinator job. New Dolphins head coach Cam Cameron told a contingent of media during Super Bowl week that he is taking his time making a decision on hiring an offensive coordinator and is sifting through plenty of quality candidates. Carmichael was an assistant on the Chargers' staff with Cameron for a few years before going to New Orleans in 2006.

 

• We're told the Panthers could part ways with two veteran defenders in the offseason because of their salary-cap situation. We hear the Panthers are one of a handful of teams that are over the 2007 salary cap and they could be forced to release DE Mike Rucker and SS Mike Minter, who are the heart and soul of the defense, in cost-cutting moves.

 

• Sources tell us that watching former Buccaneers head coach Tony Dungy reach the Super Bowl may have been a painful undertaking for current Bucs head coach Jon Gruden. Those sources in Tampa tell us Dungy remains wildly popular in west Florida whereas Gruden has never been fully embraced by Buccaneers fans and is frustrated that he has been unable to win over the masses despite having won a Super Bowl, something Dungy never did with the Buccaneers.

 

• Giants MLB Antonio Pierce told PFW that LB Gerris Wilkinson has the speed to make an impact on the weak side in his second season. "He showed there at the end of the season that he's capable of being very good. He didn't get a chance until the end there, but he's got what it takes to succeed."

 

• All indications are that the Redskins are looking at a different option at middle linebacker next season. Lemar Marshall clearly struggled against blockers and might move to the weak side, where he likely would battle with Rocky McIntosh for a starting spot in '07.

 

• Though OLT Flozell Adams was named as an injury replacement for the Pro Bowl, don't be surprised if the new coaches push him a little bit next season. Adams was up and down all season, and rookie Pat McQuistan caught the eye of former coach Bill Parcells. There could be changes all along the Cowboys' O-line.

 

• Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera on new Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo: "One thing you're going to see is a guy that's going to be detail-oriented, that's going to really want to attack and do things his way. And his way is probably very similar to the way things happened when he was in Philadelphia with [defensive coordinator] Jim Johnson."

[tonyr0802]

• Although it's early in the process, the two teams being mentioned by league sources as the most likely landing spots for QB Jake Plummer are the Texans and the Buccaneers.

 

 

Anyone think that Plummer in Tampa would help that offense? I think it could help Caddy's value, defenses would have to honor the pass a little bit more IMO giving Caddy some room to run.

[Randall]

Anyone think that Plummer in Tampa would help that offense? I think it could help Caddy's value, defenses would have to honor the pass a little bit more IMO giving Caddy some room to run.

 

 

 

Sure. Of course he could help defenders getting picks too.

[Bronco Billy]

 

 

• In Denver, word is that some people in the organization weren't all that pleased with the play of the LB corps in '06, primarily WLB Ian Gold and MLB Al Wilson. However, new assistant head coach/defense Jim Bates is not expected to be quite as structured as the departed Larry Coyer, which should create more opportunities for the linebackers, especially if the pass rush improves.

 

 

 

"some people in the organization"?

 

If anyone in the Bronco organization is unhappy with Wilson's play this and/or any other season he has played so far, they need to give up football as a profession, because they sure don't have the faintest clue as to how the game is played on the D side of the ball.

 

Gold - yeah, I understand that. Coyer tried to play Gold as a traditional LB this past season, and the guy simply is too light to play man-up all the time. You need to hide him some - easy to do by stacking him or getting him further into space by playing the DE down a bit - and use his speed and pursuit as his primary weapon, not strength & mass.

[CarryTheRock]

• Sources tell us that watching former Buccaneers head coach Tony Dungy reach the Super Bowl may have been a painful undertaking for current Bucs head coach Jon Gruden. Those sources in Tampa tell us Dungy remains wildly popular in west Florida whereas Gruden has never been fully embraced by Buccaneers fans and is frustrated that he has been unable to win over the masses despite having won a Super Bowl, something Dungy never did with the Buccaneers.

 

Add-----Gruden patiently waits for Dungy to retire as he hopes he can take a second team built by Dungy to the Super Bowl by moving to Indy

Edited February 8, 2007 by CarryTheRock

[Bill Swerski]

I'd be shocked if Corey Simon ever wore a Colts uniform again. I'm also pretty sure that the Colts will use their first-round pick on a DT and that Reagor is on his way out as well.

[godtomsatan]

If anyone in the Bronco organization is unhappy with Wilson's play this and/or any other season he has played so far, they need to give up football as a profession, because they sure don't have the faintest clue as to how the game is played on the D side of the ball.

 

 

Yeah, I was curious about that comment as well. Wilson wasn't the problem for the Broncos defense last season.

[broncosn05]

Anyone think that Plummer in Tampa would help that offense? I think it could help Caddy's value, defenses would have to honor the pass a little bit more IMO giving Caddy some room to run.

 

Maybe a little, but the trick here in Denver is our line. The line in TB, IMO, was a disaster last year and continue this year. And with Pittman and Alstott there I still am very ify on the Caddilac Williams scenario. Thehuddle curse.