Whispers

[THE SIX KINGS]

Whispers

 

By PFW staff

June 7, 2009

 

 

NFC Whispers

 

— Byron Leftwich is showing how serious he is about winning the Buccaneers’ QB competition. He has reportedly lost more than 10 pounds since last season and told the media he’s not done shedding weight. Leftwich, who is listed at 250 pounds, is primarily battling Luke McCown for the starting job, although rookie Josh Freeman has an outside chance at winning it.

 

— Expectations are high for Saints TE Jeremy Shockey after a disappointing first season in New Orleans, and his recent incident at a pool party in Las Vegas wasn’t an encouraging sign. Shockey had to be rushed to a hospital after reportedly experiencing symptoms of dehydration. Despite that mishap, close observers of the team say Shockey has had a productive offseason. We hear he has participated in most of the voluntary offseason workouts, which was a big step for Shockey, who trained in Miami, away from his teammates, during his time with the Giants

.

— With talk that Donovan McNabb could get an extension that could make him an Eagle for his entire career, it’s interesting to note what might happen to Kevin Kolb, once believed to be the heir apparent at quarterback. Our sources continue to tell us that the Eagles like Kolb — just as the Packers liked Matt Hasselbeck once and the Patriots liked Matt Cassel after his breakout season. There just might not be a home for Kolb, who is signed through 2010. Don’t be surprised if he is showcased a little bit this season, perhaps in a blowout or two, and then becomes trade bait next offseason.

 

— Redskins S LaRon Landry isn’t answering head coach Jim Zorn’s voice mails or text messages and has stayed home throughout the current workout sessions — the only significant absence on the team now that London Fletcher and Mike Sellers have returned to work. We hear that Landry is not a training-camp holdout threat, and a source close to Landry told PFW that the safety is working out as often as three times a day and is fully into an intense regimen that he hopes will keep him healthy after a 2008 season in which he was banged up for most of the year.

 

— The Lions’ plan right now is to start Jon Jansen off at right tackle, where he will compete with last year’s first-round pick, Gosder Cherilus, for the starting job. But it’s possible that Jansen, who has said he would try any spot along the line, could work at a few spots simultaneously. Here’s one scenario that almost certainly won’t happen: Jansen starting at left tackle, and Jeff Backus moving to left guard. That said, don’t rule out Jansen getting a shot at left guard, even though he has never played there before.

 

— We hear the Bears aren’t overly concerned about the hamstring injury suffered by starting RB Matt Forté at the end of a June 3 OTA practice. That said, word is his practice time is likely to be limited during some or all of the team’s remaining OTAs, which end on June 17.

 

— Our sources in Green Bay tell us first-round OLB Clay Matthews is continuing to feel the effects of the strained hamstring he suffered in the team’s first OTA practice and could be sidelined for another week or two.

 

— Our Cardinals sources tell us newly signed SS Adrian Wilson will receive a base salary in 2009 of $8.5 million — up from the $4.75 million he was scheduled to receive under his previous contract. Wilson has a cap number just over $10 million, thus becoming the third Cardinals player with a $10 million-plus cap number, along with WR Larry Fitzgerald and QB Kurt Warner.

 

— We hear the Cardinals’ organization received quite a scare on the first day of June when star WR Larry Fitzgerald went down in a heap with newly acquired CB Bryant McFadden during a voluntary practice. “There was a lot of media there, and everybody got deafly quiet,” one source on the scene told PFW. “When Fitzgerald finally got up after a couple of minutes, there was no denying the sighs of relief.” We hear there was also no denying Fitzgerald’s consummate professionalism. “You really gotta give the guy credit,” the source said. “After observers were saying stuff like, ‘Just please shut this guy down until the end of July!’ there he was, coming back into the practice for the 11-on-11 stuff. When you have players like (Anquan) Boldin and (Darnell) Dockett faking hamstring injuries to avoid these practices, Fitzgerald looks awful good in comparison.”

 

— Word is the competition is wide open for the Cardinals’ kickoff-return job vacated by J.J. Arrington. We’re told the primary challengers are WR Steve Breaston, who is expected to also continue returning punts; free-agent addition Jason Wright, who is expected to take over Arrington’s third-down role; first-round draft pick Chris “Beanie” Wells; and rookie free agent Michael Ray Garvin.

 

— It had been widely assumed that versatile veteran LB Chris Draft was the front-runner to start at strong-side linebacker for the Rams. But at least for now, we hear the majority of first-team reps at the position are being taken by ex-Niner Larry Grant and former “Mr. Irrelevant” David Vobora, with Draft playing mostly in the middle. It could be that the Rams prefer to have Draft serve as the top backup at all three LB positions.

 

— Rams OT Adam Goldberg on the extent to which players on the team are talking about rumors of a potential sale: “That doesn’t really ever trickle its way down to the blue-collar area in the locker room. That’s a business decision that’s handled by the business people, and it’s our job to prepare to be the best football team we can be for the ’09 season. We’re just going to worry about preparing to win football games.”

 

— Our Niners sources tell us that, after being led to believe there were some in the organization who didn’t care for the free-agent addition of Brandon Jones, the former Titans receiver has looked very good in OTAs, making catches over the middle and bouncing off defenders.

 

— Newly re-signed Niners OLT Joe Staley on whether he thinks teammate Patrick Willis might follow in his footsteps to the negotiating table toward gaining a new deal: “If you go to two Pro Bowls in your first two years, I would think the club is doing everything to sign him, but I don’t know. I can’t speak on anything that’s going on except what’s happening with me.”

 

— Seahawks veteran OLT Walter Jones revealed via his Twitter account that he is now able to get into a football stance — a sign that the strength and mobility in his surgically repaired knee is steadily improving.

 

AFC Whispers

 

— The way we hear it, contract negotiations between the Patriots and NT Vince Wilfork are barely progressing because the club is waiting to see what type of player they have in rookie Ron Brace. One of the game’s premier lane cloggers is in search of a lucrative extension for his deal, which is scheduled to expire after the season, but it’s looking as if it won’t happen until some point during the season, if at all.

 

— After failing to institute many new features in 2008, Bills offensive coordinator Turk Schonert is making a concerted effort to broaden the offensive system during OTAs. He’s incorporating more audibles and is entrusting Trent Edwards with more responsibilities and options as the quarterback comes to the line.

 

— Although the Colts selected WR Anthony Gonzalez in the first round of the 2007 draft to man the slot, it’s looking more and more as if he will planted on the outside, at least for the foreseeable future. Much of the reason for this is because the third “receiver” the Colts have the most confidence in is TE Dallas Clark, and they love what they see from the big burner in the slot.

 

— J.J. Arrington is out of the mix after being released May 27, but there will still be plenty of competition for carries in the Broncos’ backfield. It has become clear that rookie Knowshon Moreno will be the primary ballcarrier, and Correll Buckhalter seems like a natural fit as the No. 2 back. The main competition will likely be between LaMont Jordan and RB-FB Peyton Hillis, who will battle to become the club’s short-yardage and goal-line back.

 

— As the Chargers continue to explore sites in the San Diego area to build a new stadium, one thing has become clear: It won’t be in Mission Valley, the home of Qualcomm Stadium. A team of developers’ plans to level Qualcomm and build a new complex containing a stadium, hotel, shopping center and condos has been scrapped, leaving the team to continue its search for a new place to play. If the Chargers can't find one in the area, however, they may eventually be forced to expand their search to other cities.

[Bronco Billy]

— Word is the competition is wide open for the Cardinals’ kickoff-return job vacated by J.J. Arrington. We’re told the primary challengers are WR Steve Breaston, who is expected to also continue returning punts; free-agent addition Jason Wright, who is expected to take over Arrington’s third-down role; first-round draft pick Chris “Beanie” Wells; and rookie free agent Michael Ray Garvin.

 

That ought to make Wells' owners nervous. You don't even think about using a hoss RB in the return game.

[Bronco Billy]

— Seahawks veteran OLT Walter Jones revealed via his Twitter account that he is now able to get into a football stance — a sign that the strength and mobility in his surgically repaired knee is steadily improving.

 

 

It's not getting into a football stance that is a problem, it's being able to get out of it...

[The Wolf]

— Redskins S LaRon Landry isn’t answering head coach Jim Zorn’s voice mails or text messages and has stayed home throughout the current workout sessions — the only significant absence on the team now that London Fletcher and Mike Sellers have returned to work. We hear that Landry is not a training-camp holdout threat, and a source close to Landry told PFW that the safety is working out as often as three times a day and is fully into an intense regimen that he hopes will keep him healthy after a 2008 season in which he was banged up for most of the year.

 

So, why not return a message? I don't get it...

[Savage Beatings]

That ought to make Wells' owners nervous. You don't even think about using a hoss RB in the return game.

 

Vikings have done it at certain times with Adrian Peterson.

[Chargerz]

As the Chargers continue to explore sites in the San Diego area to build a new stadium, one thing has become clear: It won’t be in Mission Valley, the home of Qualcomm Stadium. A team of developers’ plans to level Qualcomm and build a new complex containing a stadium, hotel, shopping center and condos has been scrapped, leaving the team to continue its search for a new place to play. If the Chargers can't find one in the area, however, they may eventually be forced to expand their search to other cities.

This isn't a whisper. It's a SHOUT!

[Randall]

Our sources in Green Bay tell us first-round OLB Clay Matthews is continuing to feel the effects of the strained hamstring he suffered in the team’s first OTA practice and could be sidelined for another week or two.

 

 

They say they have liked DE Jeremy Thompson there. They traded up last year to get him(in the 4th round I think).

 

He's left handed so they like him in Matthews' spot, but if Kampman leaves maybe they'd play him on the right side.

[Big John]

They say they have liked DE Jeremy Thompson there. They traded up last year to get him(in the 4th round I think).

Correct