THE SIX KINGS Posted January 17, 2006 Share Posted January 17, 2006 Whispers from around the NFL Pro Football Weekly • The Packers expect a decision from Brett Favre on his playing future to come at roughly the same time this year as it did in 2005. Favre last year announced his intentions to play at "Packers Fan Fest," which is scheduled for March 10-12. • Team sources in Jacksonville believe the Jaguars will seriously consider cutting ties with their most veteran players, WR Jimmy Smith and RB Fred Taylor, in March. Smith, we're told, could be saved because of the possibility that WR Reggie Williams could face a four-game suspension for violating the league's drug policy. • A Texans observer notes QB David Carr has been publicly silent while the debate rages as to whether the team should select Texas QB Vince Young or USC RB Reggie Bush. • Our sources tell us that re-signing DT Chris Hovan, who switched positions to the occupying tackle when he joined Tampa, is one of the Buccaneers' biggest priorities in the offseason. • The Packers want to keep defensive coordinator Jim Bates but have to plan for life without him. General manager Ted Thompson expected Bates, who turns 60 before next season, to entertain other offers after losing out in the Packers' head-coaching derby. If Bates leaves, the Packers will have a fourth defensive coordinator in the last four years. • Favre turns 37 in October, and even if he returns, head coach Mike McCarthy would like Aaron Rodgers to be game-ready by training camp. Rodgers will work with McCarthy in offseason drills and team workouts. After that, McCarthy said a QB coach would facilitate most of Rodgers' day-to-day learning. • Bears head coach Lovie Smith and general manager Jerry Angelo refused publicly to address the status of talks to extend Smith's contract beyond 2007, or even to confirm discussions have taken place. We're told, behind the scenes, Smith hopes to receive a new contract offer before the start of the 2006 season. Smith was one of the four lowest-paid head coaches in the NFL in 2005. • OLG Ruben Brown wants to return next season, the final year of his current contract, and the Bears' plan is to keep him around. Chicago signed OG-C Roberto Garza to a six-year deal in December, but ORG Terrence Metcalf is an unrestricted free agent. • Head coach Jack Del Rio acknowledged last week that QB Byron Leftwich's health is a concern. Del Rio said Leftwich takes too many hits, and if the beating continues, a more serious injury than the fractured left ankle he suffered on Nov. 27 is inevitable. • The first two Ricky Williams trade rumors have surfaced, with the Broncos and Texans possible destinations for the veteran running back. Expect more Williams trade talk to heat up in the coming weeks as Miami looks to parlay Williams' successful return to the NFL in 2005 into a high draft pick. • Our sources in South Florida tell us that Dolphins MLB Zach Thomas had successful surgery to repair his injured shoulder following the regular season and is expected to be ready for May minicamps. • Word is Herm Edwards didn't say farewell to many of his assistants before leaving the Jets for Kansas City. • We hear SS Marlon McCree has endeared himself to the Panthers, especially defensive coordinator Mike Trgovac, for his meticulous preparation and tough play on the field, and that re-signing him has become one of the Panthers' top priorities in free agency. McCree isn't very athletic, but he has proved to be a valuable role player. • Word out of Charlotte is that rookie first-round pick Thomas Davis has become a good fit in nickel packages. He tends to line up on the tight end in pass coverage or is used as a blitzer. • Our sources in Tampa tell us that head coach Jon Gruden would like to retain both of his starting quarterbacks, Brian Griese and Chris Simms, for 2006. Griese started the first six games before suffering a serious knee injury. Simms, in his third year, replaced Griese and led the Buccaneers to the playoffs. Simms is a restricted free agent. • Word is the Buccaneers may have to restructure the contracts of as many as 15 players because they are rumored to be close to $20 million over the 2006 salary cap. • Our sources would be shocked to see DE Darren Howard in a Saints uniform in 2006. Howard became such a locker-room disturbance that he was deactivated for the final four games of the season. The Saints have placed the franchise tag on Howard the past two seasons, but this year they will let him go. Will Smith, who just completed a stellar second season, likely will replace Howard in the starting lineup next season. • It's possible, we hear, the Rams might not want to wait until the Steelers are eliminated from the playoffs to make their final decision on a new head coach, which could hurt the chances of Ken Whisenhunt getting the job. • It would appear the Rams prefer to retain D-line coach Bill Kollar after refusing to let him interview for the Cardinals' D-line job. It could be a different story, though, with offensive coordinator Steve Fairchild, who was granted permission to interview for the same job in Buffalo. • Don't rule out the possibility of Rams interim head coach Joe Vitt, who interviewed for the Jets' head-coaching vacancy, being retained as the Rams' defensive coordinator, especially if the team opts for an offense-oriented type to become the new head coach. Word is team president John Shaw has privately raved about the job Vitt did this season taking over for Mike Martz under extremely tough circumstances and could still be very interested in keeping Vitt on the coaching staff. • Although the Bay Area has been strongly endorsing Seahawks vice president/football administration Mike Reinfeldt as a candidate to become the Niners' new team president -- Reinfeldt worked with Niners personnel head Scot McCloughan in Seattle -- our sources tell us it's more likely the team is grooming director of football operations Paraag Marathe for the job despite his relative inexperience. • Cardinals PK Neil Rackers told PFW last week that the calf muscle he tore in early December "feels great." Added Rackers: "I've done a lot of things to this body, but that was by far the most painful. Coming back after missing one game might not have been my wisest decision, but I'm OK now." • Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis told The Cincinnati Enquirer there wasn't one set of rules for WR Chad Johnson and one for everyone else. An Internet report said Johnson and WR coach Hue Jackson fought at halftime of Cincinnati's wild-card loss with Pittsburgh, and that Johnson swung at Lewis when the head coach tried to intervene. Lewis indicated Johnson would have sat out in the second half if he indeed had been throwing punches. A source close to the club believes Lewis holds all of his players to the same disciplinary standards. • Bengals CB Tory James' play slipped down the stretch of the 2005 season, and we're hearing he could be replaced by Keiwan Ratliff in 2006. • The flea flickers that Steelers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt used in the wild-card win at Cincinnati were in keeping with the trickery tradition Pittsburgh's offensive coordinators have embraced since Chan Gailey's tenure with the club. However, a longtime Steelers observer remarked that once those coordinators move on to other clubs, they often become more conservative. • The way we hear it, Steelers DB coach Darren Perry will be a head-coaching candidate to watch in the years to come. Perry is smart and relates well to players. The improvement of the Steelers' secondary in 2005 works in his favor. • If Ravens offensive coordinator Jim Fassel leaves to take a head-coaching job, Rick Neuheisel will replace him, and how Neuheisel works with the team's quarterbacks will be of note. Fassel worked closely with Kyle Boller and Anthony Wright in 2005, while Neuheisel, the Ravens' QB coach, mostly tutored the No. 3 quarterback. • Not exactly known for his instincts coming out of college, Broncos RB Tatum Bell hasn't shown much in the way of vision while running the football of late. When a lane is there in front of him, he can be dynamite, but when it comes to recognition of defensive tendencies and picking his spots, Bell has appeared very limited in recent weeks. • Just because he's a rookie doesn't mean OLB Shawne Merriman didn't notice what NT Jamal Williams does on a consistent basis for what was a top-ranked Chargers run defense in 2005. "He's a run stopper, so you don't see him sacking the quarterback or making the big plays or things like that," Merriman told PFW. "But he's almost like the quarterback of our defense. Without him, we'd be in trouble. He requires two blockers and is the backbone up front." • The Chiefs' signing of CFL star QB Casey Printers to a three-year, $1.03 million deal is an intriguing one, according to sources. The team was looking for a quarterback of the future to begin to develop behind Trent Green, and Printers' athletic skills have drawn comparisons to Michael Vick and Vince Young. We're told he's not quite in the class of those two, but the Chiefs are excited to have a solid 24-year-old prospect with three years of experience in professional football under his belt. And they have him relatively cheap. • Although first believed to be a long shot to stay on board as the defensive coordinator in Kansas City, Gunther Cunningham was quickly retained by new head coach Herman Edwards. We're told the relationship the two had, stemming back to the early 1990s as assistants together under Marty Schottenheimer in K.C., was a big factor. Edwards liked what the Chiefs had going defensively, especially against the run, and the belief is there will be room for both Cunningham's aggressive man-to-man philosophy and Edwards' preference for more Cover 2 zones in Kansas City. • Word out of Kansas City is that the Chiefs could go a long way toward persuading OG Will Shields to return for another year if they were to elevate OL coach Mike Solari to the offensive coordinator position, but Shields' health probably will be the ultimate deciding factor. • The Titans almost certainly will upgrade at the LB position with MLB Brad Kassell and OLB Peter Sirmon candidates to be gone. Sirmon is under contract and still could return, but Kassell is too slow. The Titans' focus is on adding speed at the position this offseason. • One of the few intriguing players the Eagles are sending to NFL Europe is DT Keyonta Marshall, who appeared in one game in the goal-line defense this season and has caught the eye of some defensive coaches. A concern is his conditioning, so the hope is that he'll get some experience while staying in game shape. • Though Eagles backup QBs Mike McMahon and Koy Detmer failed to impress this season after Donovan McNabb went down, sources say the team is likely to bring back both. The Eagles like Detmer as a holder, and McMahon is a favorite of new offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg. • Although the Cowboys haven't drafted an offensive tackle in the first round since 1981 (Missouri's Howard Richards), there's a growing sentiment that the team could pick one first in April given all the problems they had at that position this season. • Cowboys sources indicate that TE Dan Campbell, though he didn't have his best season, is one of the team's unrestricted free agents whom they'll make a strong effort to re-sign. • Giants FS Brent Alexander hinted at retirement down the stretch this season, and the team is preparing to replace him either way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goopster24 Posted January 17, 2006 Share Posted January 17, 2006 The last one is the one that is the most interesting; you forgot to put it with the others: -Sources tell us they think there's no way that the Eagles will get anything of value for WR Terrell Owens and will end up releasing him. Thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ksu70 Posted January 17, 2006 Share Posted January 17, 2006 Holy schnikey's. Good stuff. I need a minute to digest. Talk amongst yourselves. I'll give you a topic....NFL officiating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ebartender Posted January 17, 2006 Share Posted January 17, 2006 Whispers from around the NFLPro Football Weekly • Though Eagles backup QBs Mike McMahon and Koy Detmer failed to impress this season after Donovan McNabb went down, sources say the team is likely to bring back both. The Eagles like Detmer as a holder, and McMahon is a favorite of new offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg. 1270384[/snapback] I swear to friggin God, if they bring back both that is a joke. Detmer is fine because he is a great holder. But with McNabb's injury history they cannot go into the season with McMahon as a backup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scourge Posted January 17, 2006 Share Posted January 17, 2006 The last one is the one that is the most interesting; you forgot to put it with the others: -Sources tell us they think there's no way that the Eagles will get anything of value for WR Terrell Owens and will end up releasing him. Thoughts? 1270387[/snapback] Thank you for stating the obvious. If they want to get any compensation for him by the league, making an effort to "trade him" only helps their situation. No one is going to give up anything for him because they know the Eagles are going to cut him before his roster bonus hits in March. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PantherDave Posted January 17, 2006 Share Posted January 17, 2006 The Cat's still have unfinished business, but bringing in a veteran-elite type RB has got to be in the cards. The three that come to mind is SA, Edge and Ricky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THE SIX KINGS Posted January 17, 2006 Author Share Posted January 17, 2006 The last one is the one that is the most interesting; you forgot to put it with the others: -Sources tell us they think there's no way that the Eagles will get anything of value for WR Terrell Owens and will end up releasing him. Thoughts? 1270387[/snapback] Didn't forget, it just seemed so obvious to me that I didn't think it was post worthy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goopster24 Posted January 17, 2006 Share Posted January 17, 2006 The Cat's still have unfinished business, but bringing in a veteran-elite type RB has got to be in the cards. The three that come to mind is SA, Edge and Ricky. 1270399[/snapback] Do you think the Panthers will dish out the cash needed to obtain those guys? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PantherDave Posted January 17, 2006 Share Posted January 17, 2006 Do you think the Panthers will dish out the cash needed to obtain those guys? 1270401[/snapback] I'd have to check were they'll stand as far cap space, but I think there good, and yes I do, FoxBall is dependent upon having a 1300 yd RB, and I think the Cat's are going to go after someone in the offseason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ksu70 Posted January 17, 2006 Share Posted January 17, 2006 • The Chiefs' signing of CFL star QB Casey Printers to a three-year, $1.03 million deal is an intriguing one, according to sources. The team was looking for a quarterback of the future to begin to develop behind Trent Green, and Printers' athletic skills have drawn comparisons to Michael Vick and Vince Young. We're told he's not quite in the class of those two, but the Chiefs are excited to have a solid 24-year-old prospect with three years of experience in professional football under his belt. And they have him relatively cheap. Who is this guy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goopster24 Posted January 17, 2006 Share Posted January 17, 2006 • The Chiefs' signing of CFL star QB Casey Printers to a three-year, $1.03 million deal is an intriguing one, according to sources. The team was looking for a quarterback of the future to begin to develop behind Trent Green, and Printers' athletic skills have drawn comparisons to Michael Vick and Vince Young. We're told he's not quite in the class of those two, but the Chiefs are excited to have a solid 24-year-old prospect with three years of experience in professional football under his belt. And they have him relatively cheap. Who is this guy? 1270409[/snapback] I was thinking the same thing, anyone got an answer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goopster24 Posted January 17, 2006 Share Posted January 17, 2006 Link to his website: http://www.casey-printers.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goopster24 Posted January 17, 2006 Share Posted January 17, 2006 (edited) About Casey Printers: After being overlooked during the 2002 National Football League Draft, Printers once again was faced with an opportunity. In 2004, Printers led Canadian Football League BC Lions to the Grey Cup, picking up the presitigious title of CFL Most Outstanding Player. Printers threw for 5,088 yards and 35 touchdown passes in his first season as a CFL starter; ran for 469 yards; scored nine touchdowns himself. In Casey’s own words, he reminds us and himself –that nothing is ever as good as it seems or as bad as it seems but in reality it falls right in the middle. COLLEGE 2002: Spent his senior year at Florida A&M, after playing the previous three years for Texas Christian University. Led the Rattlers to a 7-5 record in the Mid Eastern Athletic Conference, completing 123 of 218 passes for 1,517 yards with 12 touchdowns and five interceptions. Also rushed for three touchdowns. 2001: Completed 136 of 252 passes for 1,825 yards and 13 tds. Finished in third place on the Horned Frogs all-time passing yards list with 4,621 yards and 37 touchdowns. Passed for over 1,000 in three consecutive seasons. 2000: Finished fourth in the WAC in pass completion percentage, going 102 of 176 for 1,584 yards with 16 touchdowns and six interceptions. 1999: Named Freshman of the Year by the Dallas Morning News after earning MVP honors in the Mobile Bowl, when he completed 13 of 19 passes for 174 yards and a touchdown. Went 86-150 on the year for 1,213 yards and eight tds, and was named a third-team Freshman All-America by The Sporting News. Edited January 17, 2006 by Goopster24 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Youre Going Down Posted January 17, 2006 Share Posted January 17, 2006 (edited) All I have to say Six Kings is very good post. Good avatar too! Edited January 17, 2006 by Youre Going Down Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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