Whispers

[THE SIX KINGS]

Whispers

 

 

Jan. 26, 2008

 

 

After previously indicating that they didn’t think Bears free-agent OLB Lance Briggs was being seriously considered by the Niners, our sources in San Francisco are now hearing that the team actually could be interested in Briggs, but as an inside linebacker replacing the aging Derek Smith.

 

After losing one of his biggest advocates in recently fired Niners RB coach Bishop Harris, team insiders have been wondering what the future has in store for unrestricted free-agent RB Maurice Hicks. The consensus seems to be that Hicks’ excellent receiving ability out of the backfield will appeal to new offensive coordinator Mike Martz and that he has a better-than-even chance of being re-signed.

 

After being more than a little concerned about the TE position at the start of the 2007 season, we hear Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt is pretty comfortable with the combination of Leonard Pope and ’07 seventh-round rookie Ben Patrick heading into the ’08 campaign. Pope dislocated his ankle late in the season, but word is he should be fully recovered in time for training camp.

 

Don’t be surprised if the Rams decide to replace fired secondary coach Willy Robinson, who was brought in with Scott Linehan’s initial Rams staff two years ago, with assistant secondary coach Ron Milius.

 

While we hear the Seahawks would love to find a new right guard to replace the aging and increasingly ineffective Chris Gray in either the draft or free agency (somebody a tier below the Steelers’ Alan Faneca, who is considered too pricey for the team’s blood). Yet, that doesn’t rule out the possibility of either king-sized third-year pro Ray Willis or ’07 fourth-round rookie Mansfield Wrotto getting a shot at the starting job, especially Willis.

 

Could Giants TE Jeremy Shockey be playing elsewhere next season? The rumors are already starting, but hold on a second. Team sources suggest that while rookie TE Kevin Boss has filled in for Shockey admirably, it’s unlikely that Shockey will be released or traded in the upcoming offseason.

 

The fact that the Redskins have hired Jim Zorn as their offensive coordinator is a bit unorthodox, considering there is no head coach in place. However, a team source has told PFW that the Redskins may already have made contact with a candidate, either directly or through an agent, and confirmed that Zorn’s hiring wouldn’t change that candidate’s interest in coaching the Redskins. The leading candidates appear to be former Giants head coach Jim Fassel and current Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, who won’t be available for an interview until after the Super Bowl.

 

WR Terry Glenn’s Cowboys career — and maybe his NFL career — could be over. He will have microfracture surgery this offseason, and the Cowboys are almost certain to let him go. They re-signed Patrick Crayton in late December and will consider using one of their two first-round draft picks on a wideout.

 

Though Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson said he thought Victor Abiamiri could factor in at left defensive end in his second season, our sources say the team would like to add another body to compete there — and that likely means either Jevon Kearse or Darren Howard, possibly both, could be cut.

 

Without completely ruling out the possibility that he might consider using the 14th overall pick in the draft on a defensive player, Bears GM Jerry Angelo told team sources at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., this week that he was strongly leaning toward an offensive pick in the first round in April.

 

In his midweek season-ending address to the local media, Packers head coach Mike McCarthy said the team will genuinely try to re-sign all six of its unrestricted free agents, including DT Corey Williams, who is expected to be a popular target in the free-agent market. McCarthy also expressed a strong interest in re-signing long-snapper Rob Davis, even though Davis will turn 40 next December.

 

Vikings TE Garrett Mills got his first regular-season action in the season finale at Denver, catching two passes for 26 yards. Although that’s nothing special, the Vikings’ coaches appear to be intrigued with the receiving abilities of Mills and think he could make an impact as a special-teamer and H-back/TE hybrid.

 

We hear that Lions free-agent-to-be RB T.J. Duckett is more likely to re-sign now that former offensive coordinator Mike Martz has moved on. Not that Duckett disliked Martz, but he clearly wasn’t used all that much until the season was out of hand.

 

An observer in Tampa said RB Cadillac Williams looked considerably thinner in a recent sighting than he had before suffering a torn patellar tendon in Week Four. It further fuels the speculation that his career could be over, which PFW first reported in October.

 

We hear the Cowboys requested permission to speak with Falcons coach Emmitt Thomas, who served as Atlanta’s secondary coach and interim head coach after Bobby Petrino resigned in December. Dallas’ request to interview him for a spot on its staff was denied, and Thomas was named assistant head coach on the same day Mike Smith was introduced as the Falcons’ new head coach.

 

Our source in New Orleans said Saints general manager Mickey Loomis was noncommittal in a recent interview when asked about RB Deuce McAllister’s future with the team. His answer seemed to conflict with the sentiment of Saints coach Sean Payton, who seems adamant about bringing back McAllister, who missed most of the season with a torn ACL.

 

Panthers MLB Jon Beason, fresh off his rookie season, could be thrust into a leadership position on defense this offseason as DE Julius Peppers continues to shy away from the role.

 

Andy Simms, the agent for Bengals unrestricted free-agent LB Landon Johnson, told PFW that the two sides have exchanged contract proposals. The 6-2, 232-pound Johnson started games at weak-side and middle linebacker last season, though it’s likely he would draw the most interest from teams looking for WLB help.

 

There is some confusion about whether the Ravens will block defensive coordinator Rex Ryan from making a lateral move and taking a position elsewhere. However, Ravens spokesman Chad Steele told PFW early in January that none of the Ravens’ assistants, including Ryan, would be stopped if they sought work elsewhere. Already one Ravens assistant, LB coach Jeff FitzGerald, has left for the same job in Cincinnati.

 

Wherever Ryan ends up, Ravens OLB coach Mike Pettine is likely to follow him, according to league sources.

 

It’s safe to say people in San Diego were stunned to hear WR coach James Lofton was being let go after the Chargers’ season came to a close in the AFC championship. On the Chargers’ staff since 2002, Lofton had a year remaining on his contract. WR Vincent Jackson showed tremendous progress down the stretch, and Chris Chambers was known to be very close to Lofton, but it seems clear the Chargers had pegged Hall of Famer Charlie Joiner, fired by the Chiefs after seven years as their WR coach, for the same position.

 

PFW asked Broncos WR Brandon Marshall for something on Jay Cutler that most casual observers may not know. Marshall’s response: “He’s down-to-earth, and he’s not a Hollywood type of guy. A lot of quarterbacks love the camera and love the media attention, but Jay’s a guy who just loves the game.”

 

Sources suggest the Chargers may have one but not both of their safeties, Marlon McCree and Clinton Hart, back in the starting lineup next summer. Rookie Eric Weddle is expected to have one starting job, and the Chargers will add another candidate in free agency or the draft.

 

The Colts signed P Chad Stanley this week, a transaction that tends to get lost in the shuffle but one that could hold some significance. Stanley was Houston’s punter for five seasons before losing his job to Matt Turk. From 2002-06, nobody had more punts downed inside the 20-yard line than Stanley, who may have been brought in to push incumbent Hunter Smith, whose net average of 34.2 yards was his lowest since 2001.

[FWmaker]

nevermind the whispers, just more avatar!!!

[Randall]

If they get Briggs they should consider a 4-3.

[Avernus]

nevermind the whispers, just more avatar!!!

 

...dangit I always miss the good ones...