PFW - Vol. 23, Issue 04 (June 2, 2008) Off-Season Team Reports

MOTIVATED
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OFFSEASON UPDATES
EXCLUSIVE STATUS REPORTS FOR ALL 32 NFL TEAMS
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PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY
http://www.profootballweekly.com
JUNE 2008
ALSO:
In this
edition of
Volume XXIII
No. 4
CREATORS & FOUNDERS
Arthur Arkush, Robert Drazkowski

and Joel Buchsbaum
Publisher/Editor Hub Arkush
Art director Bob Peters
10
Managing editor Mike Holbrook

Executive editors Dan Arkush
Neil Warner
Senior editors Nolan Nawrocki
Eric Edholm
Mike Wilkening
14
Production assistant Matt Quinnan
CHRIS LONG
The Way We Hear It............................................Pg. 3

Free-agency update ........................................Pg. 19
Feature: The looming labor crisis ..................Pg. 20
Fantasy football: Major story lines of 2008 ....Pg. 23
Difference of opinion: Should the NFL
have a personal conduct policy?..............Pg. 24
Audibles ............................................................Pg. 26
Arena Football League ....................................Pg. 27
Canadian Football League season preview ....Pg. 28
NFL transactions................................................Pg. 30
The Slant with Dan Arkush ..............................Pg. 31
GLENN DORSEY
Business manager Christine Klimusko

Network support tech. Bob Boklewski
AFC REPORTERS
Baltimore Ravens Jamison Hensley
Buffalo Bills Chuck Pollock
Cincinnati Bengals Mark Curnutte
Cleveland Browns Tony Grossi
Denver Broncos Frank Schwaab
Houston Texans Megan Manfull
Indianapolis Colts Tom James
Jacksonville Jaguars Vito Stellino
Kansas City Chiefs Rick Dean
Miami Dolphins Harvey Fialkov
New England Patriots John Tomase
New York Jets Andrew Gross
Oakland Raiders Michael Wagaman
Pittsburgh Steelers Jim Wexell
San Diego Chargers Jay Posner
Tennessee Titans Paul Kuharsky
NFC REPORTERS
Arizona Cardinals Kent Somers
Atlanta Falcons Steve Wyche
Carolina Panthers Charles Chandler
Chicago Bears Bob LeGere
Dallas Cowboys Mickey Spagnola
Detroit Lions Nicholas J. Cotsonika
Green Bay Packers Bob McGinn
Minnesota Vikings Sean Jensen
New Orleans Saints Mike Triplett
New York Giants Paul Schwartz
Philadelphia Eagles Dave Weinberg
St. Louis Rams Jim Thomas
San Francisco 49ers Kevin Lynch
Seattle Seahawks Dave Boling
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Katherine Smith
Washington Redskins John Keim
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Tom Danyluk, Matt Duffy, Art Edelstein,
Pat Fitzmaurice, Court E. Mann, Rick Matsumoto
STATISTICIANS
Rick Arkush, Daryl Arkush
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COLUMNISTS
The two NFL franchises in Missouri the Rams and Chiefs landed
defensive cornerstones in Aprils draft. St. Louis chose Chris Long,
and Kansas City added Glenn Dorsey. Both D-linemen are being
counted on to provide an immediate boost to these downtrodden teams.
NEXT ISSUE
ST. LOUIS RAMS (LONG) / TUSP (DORSEY)
Eric Edholm ......................................................Pg. 21

Jerry Magee; Barry Jackson ............................Pg. 22
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NO REASON TO GIVE BACK:
Players should stand firm in next CBA negotiations

HUB ARKUSH
PUBLISHERS PEN
COLUMNISTS
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Glenn Dickey, Barry Jackson,
Jerry Magee, Bill Wallace
We take a tour around the NFL to see

what each team accomplished in the
spring, and what still needs to be done.
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Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco are the two

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Offseason updates
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Dan Parr
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The Chargers star runner enters the

2008 season eager to silence the critics
who questioned his injury and effort
in the AFC championship game.
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LaDainian Tomlinson
PUBLISHER/EDITOR
hope you understand that all the NFL

owners have really done is to shorten the
term of their labor agreement. The players
and owners will now operate under the current Collective Bargaining Agreement
through 2010, with the 2010 season being
uncapped and more restrictive on free agents
if no new agreement can be reached before
then. Armageddon this is not.
When NFL Players Association executive
director Gene Upshaw stepped to the microphone at his annual press conference before
Super Bowl XLII and stated his belief that
the owners were spoiling for a fight, and his
intentions to give them all they could handle
becoming the primary focus of the moment,
it was clear to all of us whove been here
before it was, Game on.
The owners had until early November to
decide whether they wanted to opt out of the
agreement, but they moved now because they
were ticked that Upshaw had taken the high
ground from them. Upshaw had suggested as
strongly as he could that if the labor peace
which has been the hallmark of the NFLs
runaway status as the No. 1 sport in America
was to be shattered, it would be the owners fault. The message in this May decision
by the owners is that its the greedy players
who are threatening to destroy the game, not
the poor owners, who are being forced to
share far too much of their profits with the
players who generate them.
Why opt out at all? I found the following
explanation posted at NFL.com:
The NFL earns very substantial revenues. But the clubs are obligated by the
CBA to spend substantially more than half
their revenues almost $4.5 billion this
year alone on player costs. In addition, as
we have explained to the union, the clubs
must spend significant and growing amounts
on stadium construction, operations and

improvements to respond to the interests and
demands of our fans. The current labor
agreement does not adequately recognize the
costs of generating the revenues of which the
players receive the largest share; nor does
the agreement recognize that those costs
have increased substantially and at an
ever increasing rate in recent years during a difficult economic climate in our country. As a result, under the terms of the current agreement, the clubs incentive to invest
in the game is threatened.
There are substantial other elements of
the deal that simply are not working. For
example, as interpreted by the courts, the
current CBA effectively prohibits the clubs
from recouping bonuses paid to players who
subsequently breach their player contacts or
refuse to perform. That is simply irrational
and unfair to both fans and players who
honor their contracts. Also irrational is that
in the current system some rookies are able
to secure contracts that pay them more than
top proven veterans.
I always get angry, rightly or wrongly,
when people look me in the eye and call me
stupid. The owners claim they need to build
stadiums to respond to the interests and
demands of our fans makes me angry. Owners build stadiums to line their own pockets,
and no stadium in the history of sports has
been built out of concern for the fans.
There is a simple answer for the owners
concern over their inability to recoup
bonuses paid to players who subsequently
breach their player contracts or refuse to perform. And yes, theyre again calling us all
stupid. All the owners have to do is guarantee the entire contract as long as the player is
willing to perform, as baseball, basketball,
hockey and almost every other industry in
America does, and that whole problem goes

away. The argument that the NFLs standard
player contract isnt favorable enough for the
owners is ludicrous.
The owners concern over rookie contracts
being too expensive is valid and was confirmed by the new president of the NFLPA,
Kevin Mawae. Dont be fooled by Upshaws
immediate dissent. He knows where the
give-and-take will be, but you cant expect
him to give something up before hes been
offered anything in return.
The problem with the current CBA is
about one thing and one thing only. In a situation almost unheard of in a free and open
economy, an industry where each and every
one of the 32 businesses operating is making
a profit, these 32 owners dont believe
theyre making enough.
Heres a stat Id love to see. Was there an
owner in the league in 2007 who didnt make
more in profits than the games highest-paid
player made, based on that players salarycap value?
These current owners seem to believe they
are the game. The truth is, with the possible
exceptions of a Dan Rooney or an Al Davis,
not one of them has contributed a single
thing to the game, and all they do is take.
The players, on the other hand, are, in fact,
the game. Without them there is no multibillion-dollar industry.
I have no idea what shape the negotiations will take or what the flash points will
be, but this much is clear: It will all turn on
how much of the revenue the players are
entitled to and how big the owners profits
should be. The rest is all just smoke. And
based on the simple facts of what each party
brings to the table, I cant imagine how anyone could expect the players to give back a
thing.
JUNE 2008
PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY
WAY
HEAR
HEAR
DA N PA R R
it...
ERIC EDHOLM NOLAN NAWROCKI

M AT T S O H N
MIKE WILKENING
MIAMI DOLPHINS
Ricky Williams can only blame
himself for the downward spiral his
career and to a certain extent,
his life has taken over the past
several years, but he may have
lucked into the ideal situation to
resuscitate it. With Ronnie Brown
in the thick of rehab after
tearing his anterior cruciate
ligament, Williams has
been temporarily thrust into
the No. 1 RB job and will
likely enter training camp
with such a designation. The way
we hear it, his performance in
camp will bear significant weight in
determining just how quickly
Brown returns to action, at which
time Williams would be demoted to
the second unit. If Williams earns
the coaches trust with his play and
It may be summer in Miami, but

theres a cold war being waged between
Jason Taylor and the Dolphins new
regime. Things got off to a rocky start
between the two entities when Taylor,
fresh off an 11-sack, four-forced-fumble
season, opted to accept an invitation to
appear on the hit TV show Dancing with
the Stars instead of participating in the
teams offseason training program.
Knowing that for the losing culture to
be reversed there would need to be a
committed effort by the players in the
offseason, new executive vice president
of football operations Bill Parcells
responded by giving Taylor the coldshoulder treatment. From the Giants to
the Patriots to the Cowboys, Parcells
has a long and distinguished history of
turning around moribund franchises,
but his authoritative style leaves little
Disgruntled: Jason Taylor wants to play out his career on a contender
wiggle room for the players under him.
Its my way or the highway when it
point in his career is unrealistic especially considering
comes to Parcells, said a team insider who has been a
his weight has plummeted to around 245 pounds after
fixture at Dolphins camp since Parcells came aboard. If
his dancing days.
you dont subscribe to his methods, youre in for a rough
This is why the team's probing for a willing trade parttime.
ner in the months leading up to the draft turned out to be
As if the relationship werent strained enough, things
a futile effort. Although he remains a dominant pass rushgot even worse when Taylor admitted on ESPN that down
er, most teams are simply unwilling to give up a secondthe road, hed rather be recognized for the acting career
rounder for an aging pass-rushing specialist. If the Dolhes trying to launch than the football career that might
phins expect to unload him, they're going to need to
earn him a bust in Canton, Ohio.
lower their asking price. But, as the insider told us, ParSo the obvious question now becomes: Just where do
cells isnt going to take a lowball offer for him.
things go from here? Those close to Taylor insist that hes
Parcells also won't cut Taylor, as the Fins' new boss
not considering retirement yet, and his Pro Bowl season
won't dump a disgruntled player who could still wind up
in 07 is testament to the fact that he still has quality play
being a valuable asset to the team. From the sources
left in the tank (at least 1-2 more years). But he desperwe've talked to, the question of whether or not Taylor will
ately wants out of Miami and longs to play out the remainbe in a Dolphins uniform in 2008 will come down to
der of his career on a winner where he can contend for
whether the team is offered a third- or fourth-round draft
a Super Bowl. The irony is that Parcells also wants him
pick for him the minimum it will accept. And if no such
gone, but trading him is easier said than done.
agreement is struck?
Despite reports that teams such as the Eagles, Saints
I see Parcells and Jason kissing and making up, the
and Buccaneers have engaged in trade talks with the
insider said.
Dolphins, we hear that teams running a base 4-3 defense
In other words, if Taylor is still under contract with the
ultimately will not be willing to make a suitable offer. Tayclub this summer, expect him to be present and accountlor may be listed as a defensive end on the Dolphins' offied for in training camp, despite coach Tony Sparano's
cial roster, but in reality he's more of an outside linerecent comments that the club wasn't counting on him
backer who's best-served playing in a 3-4. Such was the
being there. But even if he is with the club through the
case in 2006 when he won NFL Defensive Player of the
start of the regular season, there remains a chance that
Year honors. A porous run defense forced Miami to play
Taylor will be dealt sometime before the in-season trade
Taylor as a traditional D-end in '07, and Taylor was a liadeadline to a team looking for an additional pass rusher.
bility against the run throughout the season. He certainly
And so, the dance continues.
could be a nickel pass rusher in a 4-3, but the idea that
he could be an effective, every-down lineman at this
MATT SOHN
SPORTPICS
TOM BERG
A F C lE A S T
Contract extension
for Bills WR Evans
all but inevitable
It was no surprise that the Bills
recently offered WR Lee Evans a
contract extension. It was also no
surprise that he declined what is
assumed to be a lowball offer. As a
source close to the club told us,
Its just the first step in a process
that both Lee and the team really
want to get done. Evans
contract expires at the end
of next season, and the
Bills are placing a premium
on inking him to a long-term
extension before training
camp commences. Truly happy in
small-market Buffalo, Evans will be
willing to oblige, eventually.
Because of his value as the teams
only legitimate threat at wide
receiver at least until rookie
James Hardy proves himself
and as one of the most respected
leaders in the locker room, Evans
holds the upper hand in the negotiations and can afford to wait for the
Bills to come through with an offer
that will place him among the
leagues highest-paid receivers. Its
simply a question of when, not if.
No easy resolution to
the Jason Taylor saga
WE
Miami
impasse
THE
By DAN ARKUSH
Nearly a done deal: WR Lee Evans

eventually will re-up with the Bills
attitude, Brown might be asked to
sit out the early portion of the season to further ensure proper recuperation, whereas missteps made
by the mercurial Williams will signify the need to get Brown onto the
field quickly. Although its far too
early to draw definitive conclusions, the early returns from the
teams offseason program are
favorable for a seemingly changed
and dedicated Williams.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

Its no secret that coach Bill
Belichick has long held an affinity
for versatile players. In minicamp this week, Belichick
put his preference to the
test, plugging a smattering
of the new and inexperienced Patriots in at positions that they werent expected to
be playing. The word from those in
Foxborough is that Tank Williams

was the smoothest operator of
those dabbling in a new position. A
well-sculpted safety, Williams performed admirably when asked to
move up to linebacker. Although
theres little chance hell see time
at that position in the teams base

3-4 defense, he has the skill set to
effectively man a nickel LB role.
(The Patriots operate with either
two or three linebackers in their
five-DB sub package.) Among
other position experiments, S Raymond Ventrone was given WR
reps, and rookie WR Matthew
Slater bounced between the secondary and receiver, though realis-
tically hes nothing more than a

return specialist.
NEW YORK JETS

Although his meticulously measured comments and overall persona fit squarely into the conservative category, Jets head coach
Eric Mangini appears to be gam-
CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
Our sources in Oakland say

Raiders coaches are encouraging
their defenders to go after the ball
when RB Darren McFadden is carrying it in camp to test the rookies
ability to avoid fumbles. We hear
McFadden needs to do a better job of
locking his elbow down in order to
erase some of the concerns the team
has about his tendency to cough up

the pigskin.
We hear the Broncos Chris
Kuper, considered a front-runner for
the No. 1 OLT spot before Ryan
Clady was drafted, is now penciled in
as the starter at right tackle, with
Ryan Harris fighting to edge him
out. Sources in Denver say Kuper, an
SPORTPICS
W H I S P E R S
Chris Kuper
11-game starter at guard last season,

seems to be a favorite of head coach
Mike Shanahan, who was particularly impressed with how the thirdyear veteran played against Vikings
DT Pat Williams in the last game of
07.
Chiefs MLB Napoleon Harris,
whose starting job is in jeopardy, had
an interesting exchange with the

Kansas City Star. After admitting that
written reports about his tenuous job
status contradicted what hed gleaned
from the coaches, Harris was asked if
he was a happy employee. I am an
employee of the Kansas City Chiefs,
CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY
JUNE 2008
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

he deadpanned.
Bills Pro Bowl OLT Jason Peters
has been absent from the teams voluntary offseason program as he
seeks a renegotiated contract. But
unlike the situation with teammate
Lee Evans, who will likely receive a
raise before the start of training
camp, the chance of Peters being
granted his wish is not nearly as
strong at least not this offseason.
With three years remaining on a deal
he signed in 2006, the Bills are willing
to wait at least another year before
extending their star offensive lineman. Peters is due to earn a sum thats
below market value but still
respectable at $4 million per year, if
he reaches all incentives, so theres
little chance that Peters will hold out if
the Bills balk at his request.
An Achilles tear by recently
acquired WR-RS Tab Perry is a considerable blow to a dangerously thin
Dolphins receiving corps. Miami was
counting on Perry to push Derek
Hagan for the No. 3 WR job. The
starting tandem of Ted Ginn Jr. and
Ernest Wilford has yet to prove its
worth.
The book on the Patriots LB
corps last year was that the starters
formed a potent unit but their age and
the lack of depth were constant concerns. While the age of stalwarts
Mike Vrabel, Adalius Thomas and
Tedy Bruschi (and possibly Junior
Seau, if he and the Pats agree to
spend another year together) is obviously a more significant issue in 08,
the depth is considerably better now.
Rookie Jerod Mayo and free-agent
acquisition Victor Hobson are
expected to seriously contend for
starting ILB duties, while rookie OLB
Shawn Crable has the coaches
excited about his value as a passrush specialist.
With the league opting to allow a
defensive player to wear an audio
headset in his helmet, a majority of
teams will designate a middle or
inside linebacker to wear it. But the
Jets are seriously considering SS
Kerry Rhodes for the role, according to coach Eric Mangini. ILB
David Harris is the other candidate.
Jets OLB Bryan Thomas, coming off a disappointing season after a
breakout campaign in 06, figures to
face stiff competition for his starting
job from rookie Vernon Gholston.
So, considering his health was fine
and the system was the same in 07 as
it had been in 06, why the drop-off in
performance? I felt like I slacked off
a lot, a candid Thomas said. There
were a lot of things I didnt do that I
was supposed to do as far as the pass
rush (and) the running game. In both
of those areas I slacked.
Good news for those seeking
more out of the Titans passing game:
A source close to the club notes TE
Alge Crumpler and QB Vince
Young are building good chemistry.
Titans QB Vince Youngs leadership ability could become a hot-button topic this season, the way we hear
it, after he told NFL.com he contemplated quitting after his rookie season
before changing his mind. I really
thought long and hard about it. There
was so much going on with my family.
It was crazy being an NFL quarterback, Young told the Web site. It
wasn't fun anymore. All of the fun was

out of it. All of the excitement was
gone. All I was doing was worrying
about things. My teammates helped
lift me out of it. I prayed really hard.
And I began to focus on God's calling
for me. Play football. Be a role model.
Those familiar with Youngs contract
couldnt be blamed for expressing
disbelief at Youngs consideration of
retirement after only one year; after
all, he collected a $12.3 million option
bonus before his second NFL season.
Late in the week, Young downplayed
the NFL.com report, telling The Tennessean, I was never going to quit
football.
Colts DT Quinn Pitcock made
minimal impact in his rookie season
of 07, but we hear that was mostly
because he never fully recovered
from a hamstring ailment he had suffered early on. He should be a fixture
in the DT rotation this season.
Just as he was starting to form
good chemistry with QB David Garrard, new Jaguars WR Jerry Porter
suffered a pulled hamstring in OTAs
that could keep him out until training
camp. But the way we hear it, the
injury will allow the rest of a nondescript WR corps more opportunities
to showcase their games.
Word from Texans camp is that
ORG Mike Brisiel has been
impressive in offseason workouts and
will be very tough to keep out of the
lineup.
Steelers LOLB LaMarr Woodley
appears poised to build off a strong
finish to last season, the way we hear
it. Woodley has stood out in organized
team activities.
The way we hear it, dont be surprised if Dan Santucci pushes Eric
Ghiaciuc for the Bengals starting
center job. Ghiaciuc has been a
somewhat inconsistent performer
throughout his Cincinnati career.
Browns rookie LB Beau Bell
could force his way onto the field as a
rookie, the way we hear it, if his early
form with the club is any indication.
Bell has good size (6-1, 244) for the
position and has flashed some
impressive ability.
Word from Browns camp is that
rookie Paul Hubbard looks the part
of a pro wide receiver, but his hands
will tell the tale as to whether he can
contribute.
After skipping the Saints voluntary workouts and the first few weeks
of OTAs, DE Will Smith will participate in this weekends mandatory
minicamp, which is exactly what team
officials had expected, according to
sources in New Orleans. Smith is
unhappy with his current contract,
which will pay him just over $1 million
in 2008 depending on which incentives he reaches, and hes still jockeying for a new deal. The contract negotiations will continue, but there is no
indication that Smith will resume his
protest and sit out training camp if an
agreement is not reached.
The Falcons have not had an easy
time sorting out their options on the
offensive line. Sources say Atlanta is
considering moving Justin Blalock
from left guard to right tackle but will
likely be unable to settle that situation
until coaches see what last years
starter at right tackle, Todd Weiner, is
able to do after he recovers from
major knee surgery. Thats probably
the process that were still dealing with
HARRY SCULL, JR.
W H I S P E R S
Will Smith
more than any other position, new Falcons offensive coordinator Mike
Mularkey recently told PFW. Some
of that is because of injuries, some of
that is because of finding out how guys
can handle certain positions, so were
still its trial and error.
Panthers rookie ORT Jeff Otah
is still hampered by an ankle injury,
which has kept him out of all offseason practices thus far. Word is Otah
has been able to go through individual workouts to build strength, and
there has been no indication that the
injury is serious. In the meantime,
Jeremy Bridges has taken snaps
with the first team at right tackle.
Injury-prone Bears WR Mark
Bradley, who is recovering from
early-May arthroscopic surgery on
his right knee to clean up scar tissue,
is telling team sources that he should
be ready for the start of training
camp, but word is the team isnt nearly that optimistic.
During the Bears first batch of
OTAs, the consensus among observers was that beleaguered starting RB Cedric Benson did indeed
look quicker after having dropped 10
pounds, the result of a healthier diet.
Although DTs Justin Harrell
(back) and Johnny Jolly (shoulder),
DE Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (knee)
and CB Will Blackmon (foot) are
expected to miss the Packers entire
four-week workout session, we hear
all of them are expected to be
cleared for the start of training camp.
Harrell, the teams 2007 first-round
pick, is missing the teams offseason
practices for the second straight year.
Word is the Packers are cautiously encouraged by the condition of
third-year LB Abdul Hodge, who has
been severely hindered by patellar
tendinitis in both knees the past two
seasons. When he was healthy
enough to play over an eight-game
period in 2006, Hodge showed some
impressive flashes.
Free-agent RB Kevin Jones, late
of the Lions, has received interest
from several teams, including the
Patriots and Titans, despite being
only five months removed from ACL
surgery. With two media members
present, Jones incredibly ran up an
incline at full speed and then pivoted
and changed direction with little trouble. Jones says he thinks hell miraculously be ready to play by Week One.
The Cowboys are treating NT
Tank Johnson as somewhat of a
free-agent addition this offseason,
even though he joined the team last

year. The coaches feel hes finally
starting to learn the NT spot in the
defense, using his hands much better,
and they laud his good behavior
since coming to Dallas.
The Giants plan on giving RS-WR
Domenik Hixon more of a chance
at receiver, and hell get every shot to
continue as the Giants primary kick
returner. That signals potentially bad
news for WR Sinorice Moss, who
might have to win the job as the punt
returner to make the team.
Cardinals WR Anquan Boldin
was a no-show at the teams voluntary
workouts. But team sources tell us
Boldin has indicated to those close to
him that he will definitely attend training camp, despite his dissatisfaction
over his current contract.
Dont expect much of anything
from Cardinals C Al Johnson until
training camp. After experiencing
some pain and swelling in his left
knee during offseason team workouts, the teams starting center decided to have surgery to clean the knee
out well in advance of the coming
season.
We hear the Cardinals have put
first-round CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie on a special diet in
the hope of getting his weight up to
the 195-pound range. Cromartie initially tipped the Cardinals scales at
182 pounds.
After a shaky start in the Rams
May minicamp, we hear Mark Setterstrom is beginning to make some
tangible progress at the unfamiliar
center position and may be gaining
on incumbent Brett Romberg for
the starting job. Setterstrom, the
teams starting left guard last season
before suffering a season-ending
knee injury in Week Three, has a substantial edge in size over Romberg.
After having cleanup surgery on
both shoulder joints in early January,
Rams RB Brian Leonard has told
team insiders that hes never felt
stronger. Leonard has reportedly
bulked up to 234 pounds, about 10
pounds heavier than last year.
After suffering a torn Achilles tendon during the Rams offseason program, backup OT Rob Petitti will
probably have to wait about six
months or so before he will be
cleared to do any running.
Would the Niners consider trading
for Dolphins DE-OLB Jason Taylor,
who wouldnt be a bad fit at all in their
defense? According to team insiders,
neither head coach Mike Nolan nor
GM Scot McCloughan is likely to be
willing to take the risk that Taylor
might not work out in the Bay Area.
The consensus among our Niners sources is that fourth-round rookie C Cody Wallace has been consistently displaying textbook knee
bend and hand placement and is
looking more and more as though he
could push starter Eric Heitmann
for playing time sooner than later.
We hear rookie free-agent LB
Ezra Butler, who was cut by the Niners recently after his arrest for driving
under the influence and misdemeanor possession of marijuana, was
considered to have genuine pro
potential by more than a few team
staffers. One NFL scout told a team
insider that he thought Butler, who
was a tackling machine at Nevada,
possessed second-round talent.
WWHI
bling with his defensive personnel,
outfitting the unit with great athletes who come with questions.
The acquisitions of NT Kris Jenkins and OLB Calvin Pace served
as the first sign, as each is
immensely talented but Jenkins
comes equipped with weight and
attitude concerns, and
Pace has only one productive season to his credit.
The second sign came with
the first-round drafting of
OLB Vernon Gholston, a
college defensive end whose
inspiring measurables and spurts
of dominance were counterbalanced by concerns about inconsistency and the need to adapt to a
new position. Most recently, Mangini has experimented with Justin
Miller as the starting cornerback
opposite Darrelle Revis in OTAs.
Because of a severe knee injury
that kept him shelved for the
majority of 2007 and spotty play in
his first two pro seasons of 05 and
06, Miller was largely an afterthought entering the offseason
program. But as one of the fastest
and most explosive players on the
team, Miller has the physical tools
that none of the corners contending for the open CB spot can
match.
A F C lN O R T H
TE Utecht could steal
catches from Bengals
talented WR tandem
The way we hear it, TE Ben
Utecht could quietly cut into the
number of catches that starting
WRs Chad Johnson and T.J.
Houshmandzadeh make this season. Utecht, a former role player in
Indianapolis potent offense, is the
most capable receiver the
Bengals have had at the
position in head coach Marvin Lewis six seasons with
the club. Dont be surprised
if Utecht becomes one of
QB Carson Palmers top targets
on 3rd-and-short situations
scenarios in which Houshmandzadeh has thrived over the
years. Utechts catch total may
also get a boost if a clear-cut No. 3
receiver does not emerge. Rookies
Jerome Simpson and Andre
Caldwell are in the mix for the job,
as are veterans Antonio
Chatman, Doug Gabriel and
Glenn Holt.
BALTIMORE RAVENS
With about two months left
before training camp, much must
be sorted out with the Ravens
passing game. There is no clearcut starting quarterback; rookie
Joe Flacco, young Troy Smith
and veteran Kyle Boller all
have fighting shots at the
job, the way we hear it.
Injuries have already taken
a toll at tight end. TEs Todd
Heap and Daniel Wilcox
are coming off injury-plagued seasons, and capable backup Quinn
Sypniewski is out for the 2008
season with a knee injury. There
are questions about the WR corps
beyond steady Derrick Mason.
Mark Clayton and Demetrius
Williams, both of whom struggled
JUNE 2008
PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY
to stay healthy last season, will

see significant playing time, especially if the Ravens, as expected,
employ plenty of three-WR sets.
And there is the issue of whoever
plays quarterback getting on the
same page with his receivers while
everyone gets comfortable in Cam
Camerons offense. Flacco, the
teams first-round pick, recently
told PFW that building chemistry
with the receivers will come once
he starts to master the offense.
Gaining respect: Raiders QB JaMarcus Russell is showing more leadership

everything. I learned that when I
got there, and I just feel like Im
picking up a lot just being under
him.
A F C lS O U T H
Transition to Texans
offense should be
smooth for RB Slaton
CLEVELAND BROWNS
There is no doubting DL Shaun
Rogers talent. Most evaluators
would agree hes among the most
gifted linemen in the game. But he
hasnt always played to that ability,
which goes a long way in explaining why the Browns were able to
acquire him for CB Leigh Bodden
and a third-round pick in
March. However, the early
returns on Rogers performance from Cleveland are
promising. The way we
hear it, Rogers, 29, does
not appear out of shape; hes listed
at 340 pounds. An in-shape
Rogers could do wonders for
Clevelands defensive line play,
which has been a sore spot in
recent years. Look for Rogers to
get most of his practice work at
nose tackle as he adjusts to the
rigors of that key role in Clevelands 3-4 defense. He will also
work at defensive end.
Texans rookie RB Steve Slaton

starred running behind zone blocking at West Virginia, so he is familiar with elements of Houstons
offense, which also features a
zone-blocking scheme. Once you
see something, you commit to it,
Slaton told PFW. Its a 100
percent full-go. Theres really not going to be too many
cuts (for a running back to
make). Slaton, who is likely
to compete for carries as a
backup in his rookie season, adds
a needed dose of speed to a Texans backfield that lacked it last
season. Slaton told PFW he has
taken well to the Texans offense,
which is modeled after the Broncos attack that Texans head coach
Gary Kubiak ran as Denvers
offensive coordinator. At West Virginia (under then-head coach Rich
Rodriguez), a lot of the tape we
watched was Denver film, Slaton
told PFW. Running the zone for
three years, I think thats a great
transition for me.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS
The way we hear it, Steelers
rookie RB Rashard Mendenhall
looks as though he will be a solid
fit in Bruce Arians offense.
Mendenhall has caught the ball
well in his brief Steelers career,
and hes also shown the speed
that helped make him such a wellregarded prospect.
Mendenhall and probable
third-down back Mewelde
Moore are likely to be the
first backs off the bench for
Pittsburgh, which will have
a more versatile backfield than it
did a season ago. Mendenhall,
who is healthy again after suffering a hamstring injury early in May,
will primarily play the role of keeping starter Willie Parker fresh. At
the NFL Players Rookie Premiere,
Mendenhall told PFW he can learn
a lot from the productive Parker
simply by seeing how he works
every day, just his attitude about
Tony Dungys Tampa-2 defense

isnt among the more complicated
schemes in the NFL, but word out
of Indianapolis is that Dungy is
planning on adding a smattering of
defensive wrinkles that he
abstained from dabbling with last
season. The rationale is twofold:
(1) An inability to generate a consistent pass rush when DEs
Dwight Freeney and Robert
Mathis were banged up
underscored just how
reliant the team was on
those two, and how badly it
needs to find alternative
pass-rushing possibilities
should the starting duo be slowed
again. (2) Indy was breaking in a
host of new starters in 07, and
Dungys more willing to trust his
now well-seasoned crew to handle
greater responsibilities. So, just
what does Dungy have in store?
Its difficult to know exactly, but
employing more DL stunts and
turning loose S Bob Sanders to
attack opposing backfields appear
to be likely options. Dungy will
never be keen on relying on LB
blitzes to pressure the passer, and
the increased confidence he has in
CBs Marlin Jackson and Kelvin
Hayden has him even more eager
to allow Sanders the 2007 NFL
Defensive Player of the Year to
do what he does best.
COURTESY OF TOPPS
Thus far, the pairing of Jaguars

head coach Jack Del Rio and
new defensive coordinator Gregg
Williams is a harmonious one.
Although he would never admit as
much, we hear that Del Rio initially harbored some concern that
appointing a fellow Type A personality especially one whos
SPORTPICS
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
Looking good: Steelers rookie RB

Rashard Mendenhall has fit in well
served as a head coach in the

league to replace the easygoing Mike Smith might cause some
friction. With outspoken DB coach
Donnie Henderson also in the
coaching mix, it shouldnt come as
any surprise that the intensity on the practice field is
greater than it had been
since Del Rio took control
of the team. The energy
provided by the coaches
isnt being exhibited merely as the
natural byproduct of their personalities, however. With so many
newcomers expected to play
prominent roles on the defense,
the coaches have put it upon
themselves to ensure that practice
sessions dont erode into de facto
chalk-talk sessions.
TENNESSEE TITANS
One of the most contentious
position battles in the Titans training camp figures to be at wide
receiver. Justin Gage and Roydell

Williams are the likely starters,
with veteran Justin McCareins
who we hear has played well when
filling in for Williams as the latter
recovers from a broken ankle
also expected to have an important role. Polished rookie Lavelle
Hawkins, a fourth-round
pick out of Cal, could also
work into the rotation; he
has impressed with his
technique in his early work
with the club and has really
turned some heads. If Hawkins is
ready for an important role, he
could put some pressure on second-year WRs Paul Williams and
Chris Davis, neither of whom
made much of an impact in his first
NFL season and both are now
playing for an offensive coordinator
(Mike Heimerdinger) who wasnt
on the coaching staff when they
were drafted. There is a sense that
Paul Williams, Davis and former
Lions and Raiders WR Mike

Williams could be in real fights for
their jobs. While it can be argued
the Titans dont have a true go-to
receiver, they do have strength in
numbers at the position.
A F C lW E S T
Russell moving
toward leadership
role with Raiders
Raiders QB JaMarcus Russell
appears to be on the fast track
toward a leadership position with
the team, the way we hear
it. Sources in Oakland say
Russell has gained his
teammates respect through
showing a commitment and
strong work ethic in offseason workouts. He has looked in
command of the offense during
CONTINUED ON PAGE 25
PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY
SHOW-ME
STATE
CORNERSTONES
JUNE 2008
Resourceful Long
provides Rams
with intriguing
options
By
JIM THOMAS
ST. LOUIS It basically was love at

first sight when St. Louis management
and Rams head coach Scott Linehan met
Virginia DE Chris Long at the NFL
Scouting Combine, and then at Longs pro
day shortly thereafter.
Funny, the Rams scouting department felt the
same way about LSU DT Glenn Dorsey.
Near the end of a long, meticulous and
expensive player evaluation process, the
Rams had Dorsey clearly rated as the top player on their board.
ne hails from a sleepy Louisiana town that doesnt
Then, less than 48 hours before the draft,
some mysterious tweaking occurred on
care much for glitz and glamour. The other grew up
the draft board. Depending on who you
with the trappings of football royalty as the son of an
talk to, Dorsey ended up rated either
slightly ahead of Long or dead even
all-time great. From a personal background perspective,
with Long once the tweaking
Glenn Dorsey and Chris Long have little in common. But when
had taken place.
Perhaps this was done to help
Missouris two NFL franchises plucked them within the first five
justify the pick, because the Rams
picks in Aprils draft, the pairs differing past was suddenly replaced by a strikingly
ended up selecting Long at the
No. 2 overall slot in the draft,
similar present. Separated by a mere 250 miles, the two collegiate All-America
passing on Dorsey.
defensive linemen now find themselves shouldering identical loads of pressure in the
Long clearly fits a greater
need. The Rams got only
American heartland. The Chiefs and Rams couldnt care less about where each came
512 sacks from their entire
from. All that matters is that their prized draftees spark change within two defenses
DE corps last season. And
the teams veteran starting
and organizations bent on escaping the bowels of mediocrity.
left end, former Pro Bowler
Leonard Little, is coming off
CORNERSTONES
Dorsey primed to thrive

where others failed
By
RICK DEAN
KANSAS CITY, Mo. As he

watched countless hours of Glenn
Dorseys game film, on the longshot
chance that the most decorated
defender in college football might
somehow fall to Kansas Citys No. 5 spot in
the draft, Chiefs defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham kept coming back to the
same thought:
What would this powerful, tough-to-block
LSU defensive tackle do if given the freedom
to attack on most plays?
The Chiefs and the rest of the NFL are
about to find out.
Stunned at their good fortune to find the
defensive anchor of the 2007 national champions still on the board at No. 5, the Chiefs
now are anxious to learn how Dorsey can
help their defense when given the one-gapping green light to wreak havoc in opposing
backfields.
Granted, they also need the kind of twogap controlling, run-stuffing play Dorsey
provided for the Tigers. After all, Kansas

City ranked a lowly 28th among NFL run
defenses last season.
Still, the plan is to turn the 297-pound
Dorsey loose to become a penetrating defender who can blow up
running and passing plays
before they have time to
develop.
When he came in for
his (pre-draft) visit, we
talked about him playing a lot of two-gap
schemes (in college), a
lot of read-and-react,
Cunningham said. But
what well go for is penetration at the snap.
The times I saw him do
that on film, he was always in
the backfield, always making
the play. But it was only a small percentage of plays he got to do that. I rarely
saw him with the freedom to just cut it
loose. On third down they were like position
rushers who kept the pocket

tight and didnt let the quarterback run, which you have
to do in college.
But in the NFL you go for penetration,
make the quarterback move, disrupt his
setup. Everything we do fits the things he
wasnt allowed to do. But we believe he can
do all of that.
A caution is in order here.
The Chiefs have been hoping for the same
thing from a succession of unsuccessful DT
draftees and free-agent signings for more
than a decade.
They had high hopes for North
Carolinas Ryan Sims, a player they traded up to get with
the sixth overall pick in
2002. They said many of
the same things about
Eric Downing, their
third-round pick in
01, and Junior Siavii,
their top pick in 04.
The jury is still out on
Turk McBride who
might see time at both
tackle and end and Tank
Tyler, their second- and
third-round draft picks, respectively, of 07 who have yet to make
an impact on an improving defense lacking
top-tier talent.
That lack of playmaking defenders
became even greater when the Chiefs

traded NFL sack leader Jared Allen to
Minnesota for a first-rounder used
as ammunition to move up to select versatile OL Branden Albert and two thirdround picks.
The move helped Kansas Citys draft, no
doubt. But what did it do for Cunninghams
defense?
Dorseys transition to the NFL will go a
long way toward answering that question.
His presence already provides Cunningham with some options.
He has moved DT Alfonso Boone outside
to left end and shifted 2006 top pick Tamba
Hali to Allens vacated DRE spot. If Dorsey
can provide some consistent inside pressure
something the Chiefs havent had since
the days of Dan Saleaumua and Joe Phillips
in the 1990s and Hali improves on his
two-year total of 1512 sacks when rushing
the quarterbacks blind side, the Chiefs
might be able to compensate for the loss of
Allen.
Might being the operative word.
But even in the early days of spring workouts, the Chiefs have seen promise in Dorsey
that their other failed DT draftees seldom
flashed.
Glenn is a guy by himself. Hes just a
beast, said Hali, who has played next to
Dorsey in spring practice. He can take over
a game from that position, especially if a
JUNE 2008
PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY
As a pass rusher,
Haslett described Long as
a slip and slide guy. A
guy that can turn the corner. He has great vision
on the quarterback, and can come back
inside. He has great moves turning the corner.
But Haslett still runs a lot of 3-4 fronts in
passing situations, which should be a natural
for Long. Long also dropped into coverage
occasionally at Virginia. And he might flip
sides with Little from time to time or be used
as a stand-up end (almost like a rush linebacker).
He can do a lot of different things for
you, Haslett said. Hes a better fit for
teams like us, Baltimore, Pittsburgh. Teams
that do a lot of different things than just a
straight 4-3 where youre going to sit there
and rush him all day.
Around Rams Park, Long has been called
a more athletic Grant Wistrom. The nowretired Wistrom, a No. 6 overall pick in 1998,
was a starter for two Super Bowl teams in St.
Louis. Long also has been compared to Seattles Patrick Kerney a fellow Virginia
product because of his relentless,
non-stop style of play.
An underrated part of Longs
game, probably because of his
average size for the position (6-3,
279), is his run defense.
I think hes very good in run
defense, Haslett said. He does
ST. LOUIS RAMS / (BELOW) SPORTPICS
Movable part:
Chris Long should
adapt well to the
Rams 4-3 defense
theyre hard to find. Chris kind of falls into

that category.
Long steps in immediately as the Rams
starting right end in their 4-3 base defense.
But Hasletts complex scheme uses multiple
fronts, and Long has the versatility to be
used in a variety of ways once he settles in.
Remember, he was in a 3-4 his
whole career (at Virginia), and
hes lining up over a tackle,
Haslett said. Now were
going to have to move him
outside and line him up
over a tight end and in
space. So its a little bit of
a learning curve. But from
what I know of him, and
how smart he is I dont
think itll be a big transition
going from a 3-4 to a 4-3.
Longs sack total last season (14) at Virginia is
impressive considering he
played mainly over offensive
tackles in the 3-4. Although not
what you would call a natural
pass rusher, the Rams are
hopeful he can be just as
effective playing more on
the edge in a 4-3 scheme.
team is trying to run. I think hell give us

some different ways to rush the passer and
stop the run.
Dorsey did all of that in Baton Rouge.
Hell be asked to do the same in Kansas City,
but with a slightly different approach.
Ive done both (two-gap and one-gap) at
LSU, and you have to be able to do both to
get the job done, he noted.
But in a one-gap scheme, you can run
loose and try to get upfield and create havoc
in the backfield. You even get your name in
the papers sometimes! he remarked only
half-jokingly. Im looking forward to that
opportunity.
In just a couple weeks of minicamps and
organized team activities, Dorsey already
has gained a sense of what the transition
from a college program albeit a powerhouse program to the NFL will entail.
It seems like everyones always moving
100 miles per hour, said the easy-going
native of small-town Gonzales, La. You
wonder, Where yall goin? Everything
moves at a faster pace, from the drills to the
walk-throughs to the weight room. But Ill
get used to it.
The size of the playbook is a little overwhelming, he admitted. But Ive got some
older guys like Tamba Hali taking me under
his wing and showing me the ropes, so

Im fortunate there.
His new coordinator seems confident that his prized draftee can translate all
of what he did on the collegiate level winning the Bronko Nagurski Award as the
nations best defensive player was just one of
the numerous accolades he collected at LSU
to the professional ranks.
The things that always amazed me were
the athletic skills and balance he had, Cunningham said. He has a really good first
step off the ball, and more than that, he uses
his hands really well.
People already have compared him to a
guy I dont want to name (its Warren Sapp),
but they have the same quick hands. The first
day after practice I looked at (Dorseys) tape
and thought, There it is. His hands get off
the ground so quickly and into the opponent.
Thats why he dominates.
What were looking for is the next step,
and we saw a lot of snaps that said hes ready
to do that.
Rick Dean covers the Chiefs for the
Topeka Capital-Journal.
Fireplug: The Chiefs will attempt to put Glenn Dorsey in a non-stop attack mode
a great job in hand placement and getting off

blocks. He looks like his father from that
standpoint. You can tell his dad coached him
when he was young because hes got the
Howie moves.
Longs father, of course, is Pro Football
Hall of Famer Howie Long, who also was
coached by Haslett at the end of his NFL
career.
While respectful of his fathers accomplishments as a player and grateful for his
help over the years, Chris Long is trying to
make his own name as he embarks on his pro
career.
Jersey No. 75, which was Howies number
with the Oakland Raiders, was available for
Long in St. Louis. In fact, the Rams had just
such a jersey ready for Long at his introductory press conference in St. Louis the day
after he was drafted.
But Long figures its tough enough to try
to follow in his fathers footsteps without the
added pressure of wearing his jersey number.
I think that Im cool with the pressure,
Long said. But theres no need to shovel it
on myself.
Then again, he selected jersey No. 72,
which was Dorseys number at
LSU. But thats an entirely different kind of pressure
one that Long wont be able
to avoid in St. Louis, either.
Take it from Billy
Devaney, the Rams executive vice president of
player personnel: We
really expect big things of
him as a pass rusher.
Jim Thomas covers the
Rams for the St. Louis
Post-Disaptch.
TUSP
toe surgery and turns 34 in October.

But the team hardly is swimming in defensive tackles, either. Adam Carriker and
Clifton Ryan are coming off promising rookie years, but LaRoi Glover is nearing the
end of his career and 2006 draft pick Claude
Wroten is shaping up as a bust.
So time will tell if the Rams made
the right move in selecting Long,
or goofed in passing on a potential great one in Dorsey.
It wont be tough for Rams
fans to keep track of Dorsey,
because hell be playing
right down Interstate 70 for
the Show-Me States western NFL outpost, the
Kansas City Chiefs.
Straight-shooting Rams
defensive coordinator Jim
Haslett knows Long will
improve a St. Louis defense that
finished 20th in run defense and 21st
against the pass. But he also concedes that
Dorsey just might be the next Warren Sapp.
I love Dorsey, Haslett said. I think hes
a monster inside. Hes one of those guys that
come along about once every 10 years. But
to find defensive ends in this league that are
effective and can do a lot of things
PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY
JUNE 2008
AN DIEGO The gusts whipped across frigid

Gillette Stadium, each breath of Old Man Winter slicing through San Diegos sunshine boys.
The Chargers quest for only their second Super
Bowl appearance was melting away that January day,
as they huddled around heaters trying to fool the single-digit wind chill.
But the chill felt by LaDainian Tomlinson, one of
the greatest running backs to don an NFL uniform, in
the aftermath of that 21-12 loss was more biting that anything
Jack Frost could produce.
That the underdog Chargers lost that ice-box-like afternoon to a team streaking to an 18-0 record wasnt among the
lasting story lines. Instead, the frozen-in-time image to many
was Tomlinson, cuddled in an oversized Chargers jacket and
peering from behind his dark visor, sitting on the visitors
bench seemingly in a world of his own.
While Tomlinson sat, others stewed.
While Tomlinson knew he wouldnt return after rushing
just two times and catching one pass because of a sprained
MCL in his left knee, others awaited his ride to the rescue.
While Tomlinson digested the heartbreak of coming so
close to his first Super Bowl, others wondered where his
Superman effort was.
But Tomlinson was forced to cool his impressive jets on a
day which would have grounded most airplanes. He couldnt
go. He couldnt play. He couldnt reach the final goal of a todo list which already has seen being selected the NFLs MVP
and earning two rushing titles be marked off.
Tomlinson was hurt, plain and simple. He couldnt cut on
a knee which barked every time he tried to make a defender
bite. Tomlinson surprise, surprise was human after all.
And for some, that was difficult to accept.
Never mind Tomlinson was chased from the game the week
before, when the Chargers shocked the defending Super Bowlchampion Colts. That playoff test was won by backup RBs
Michael Turner and Darren Sproles, as well as No. 2 QB Billy
Volek subbing for Philip Rivers, also out with a knee injury
who rallied the Chargers to earn their New England visit.
But when Tomlinson was able to practice in the days prior
to the Patriots showdown, Chargers fans hoped he could go.
When he told reporters that the sprained knee which would
routinely require 2-3 weeks rest was responding well, people got excited. When he trotted out for pregame warm-ups in
Foxborough, all was right again in Charger Nation.
Quickly, though, Tomlinsons game and the Chargers season unraveled.
Tomlinson took the afternoons first carry three yards up
the middle. On the second, he added two more.
In the second series, Tomlinson snagged a pass from
Rivers in the flat. He hit the pedal to turn the right-side cor-
With unkind playoff rumblings

still burning a hole in his brain,
Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson
appears determined to make his
postseason critics eat their words
By JAY
PARIS
HARRY SCULL, JR.
READY TO
ner, but he resembled a jalopys sputter instead of his usual
Ferrari-like acceleration. Lacking the wiggle to make Tedy
Bruschi miss, Tomlinson gained but a single yard his last
of the season.
I tried to continue on, Tomlinson said. On that screen
pass, I just didnt have it. I couldnt explode. It wasnt going
to cooperate. I didnt have enough burst.
Tomlinson was done, but the piling on was just beginning.
Commentators such as former player Deion Sanders
questioned Tomlinsons grit. They wanted to know why he
didnt try to play, especially with Rivers competing with a
torn ACL. They were curious that he sat on the bench instead
of at least serving as a cheerleader
for his teammates.
Eyeing redemption:
Tomlinson, who played in countLaDainian Tomlinson is
less games for the once-woeful
all smiles knowing his
controversial postseaChargers that meant considerably
son injury is in the past
less, was being criticized for not
JUNE 2008
PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY
Mending Bolts
LaDainian Tomlinson isnt the only Charger spending his offseason getting healthy. For a team littered with
Pro Bowl talent, a healthy amount of their key cogs have been rather unhealthy since the seasons end.
RB LaDainian Tomlinson: Sprained his left MCL (knee) in the playoffs but didnt require offseason
surgery. He was able to participate in the recent minicamp and should be close to 100 percent for training camp.
QB Philip Rivers: Had arthroscopic knee surgery between the Colts and Patriots playoff games after
tearing his ACL in Indy. He underwent a second surgery in February and had a significant, yet reduced load
in minicamp. He might be able to go full speed by training camp.
TE Antonio Gates: His dislocated toe derailed his production in the AFC championship
Derailed:
TE Antonio
game. He went under the knife soon after the season, but has yet to test it by running. Theres
Gates
is
a chance he might not be ready for the season opener.
carted away
C Nick Hardwick: The anchor of the offensive line missed four games in 07 with a toe
with a toe
injury, then returned for the stretch run and playoffs. But the injury required surgery in March
dislocation
and should keep him sidelined for the early portions of the season.
NT Jamal Williams: The defensive linchpin had arthroscopic surgery on both knees. Hell be brought
along slowly, although he should be fine for training camp.
OLB Shawne Merriman: The feared sack artist had arthroscopic knee surgery and was able to practice
at minicamp and should be full-go this summer.
KWR
JAY PARIS
Tomlinson takes a hand-off from a mending Rivers he had his ACL repaired in the
ous.
Is he OK? Will the knee bother him this
season? Did the criticism he absorbed scar a
prideful man? After all, prior to the New
England game, he had a nearly pristine reputation of playing the game the right way,
the LaDainian Tomlinson way.
Im sure he was pretty pissed off he
couldnt play, OLB Shawne Merriman said.
But Im sure he was even more disappointed those things would be said about somebody that works his tail off.
Its a clich, the old line about nobody
works harder than (fill in the blank). But in
Tomlinsons case, it rings true. Thats why
critics pondering the thought of him begging
off playing against the Patriots is as preposterous as a $2 gallon of gas.
It was disappointing, but critics are going
to be critics, and thats just all part of it,
Tomlinson said. You cant expect everybody to be on your side. It dont matter how
much youve done or what youve done.
Theres always somebody thats looking to
criticize you.
Rivers knew, to a degree, what Tomlinson
was experiencing. During the Chargers run
to their third AFC West title in four years and
Chargers ended Indys season in the divisional round.

He handled it well and moved on. Things
like that usually blow over, Rivers said of
Tomlinson. I know us players and his teammates didnt put much stock into it.
No question it (stings), but you know that
is not the case. But there is a perception that
people are creating. Obviously, (Tomlinson) handled it well. The more years you are
in this league you learn how to handle those
kinds of things.
Tomlinson doesnt have to win over those
scratching their heads, wondering why one
of the most productive running backs in NFL
history wasnt adding to his impressive
rsum against the Patriots. His teammates
and coaches had the future Hall of Famers
back, and Rivers said that is really all that
matters.
Those are the people that you care about,
what they think, Rivers said. You cant
worry about everybody you cant make
everybody happy.

Tomlinson is ecstatic that his sprained

knee responded without offseason surgery.
RUMBLE
offseason reads a hole and accelerates to
the right. He has another football stuck in his
midsection by Rivers and eyes an opening to
the left.
The great Tomlinson is again gliding
around the Chargers Park practice field during a recent minicamp, but people are curi-
fourth AFC championship game in franchise

history, the nit-pickers had picked away at
Rivers. He was caught in a verbal exchange
with a smattering of Broncos players in a
nationally televised Christmas Eve pasting
of Denver. A month later, he was caught on
camera jawing with Colts fans when the
He expects to be a full-go for Julys training camp as the Chargers set out again to
earn that evasive trip back to the Super
Bowl.
But thoughts, too, return to New England,
where the Chargers most recent chance of
reaching the big game was wiped away by
the big injury.

It was a nightmare, Tomlinson admitted.
You just want it over as quick as possible.
The Chargers long to return where they
were four quarters shy of the Super Bowl
in a similar manner. And the 2008 season
is full of promise, as the Bolts have proven to
be among the NFLs elite teams.
When the games begin, the hope in San
Diego is that the memory of a shivering and
demoralized Tomlinson huddled on the sideline will start to fade.
But thats not to say Tomlinson has forgotten what was said, or who said it.
Norv Turner knows that all too well. He
was roasted by many when he was hired to
win the postseason games that previous skipper Marty Schottenheimer failed to do, and
the negativity only intensified as the team
got off to a dismal 1-3 start.
When someone says something and it is
fair, it doesnt bother you, Turner said. But
(its different) when someone says something that you dont think is fair.
Turner speculated Tomlinsons heart was
hurting as much as his knee that day.
Hey, I dont care what the injury is, its
mental, too, Turner said. Youre fighting to
go to the Super Bowl, and he had been playing for that game for seven years and all of a
sudden you are knocked out of the game. He
is human.
Even if others think differently.
Any time (the media) catch something,
they will run with it, and something minute
gets all blown (up), Rivers said. I thought
that was the case there. They panned over to
him when he was sitting on the sidelines
it was zero degrees and we were on defense
and we were all sitting there for the most
point. He was up, encouraging the guys
when we were out there on offense. It wasnt
like it was a bright, sunny day, and he was
sitting there with his helmet on.
The Chargers future is undeniably bright.
And because it is, the spotlight will continue
to be cued in on Tomlinson, as he stiff-arms
not only defenders, but also a reputation
which took an unexpected hit.
Jay Paris is a columnist for the North
County Times.
Im sure he was pretty pissed off he couldnt play. But Im sure he was even more
disappointed those things would be said about somebody that works his tail off.
CHARGERS OLB SHAWNE MERRIMAN ON THE HEAT LaDAINIAN TOMLINSON
RECEIVED FOLLOWING SAN DIEGOS PLAYOFF LOSS TO THE PATRIOTS
HARRY SCULL, JR.
being tough enough with a Super Bowl on

the line.
Yeah, I was surprised, Chargers head
coach Norv Turner said of those turning on
his star running back. Obviously, he was
injured. On the second play of the game he
hyperextends his knee again and gets it
banged pretty good. (He) was hurt and
couldnt go.
But the detractors wouldnt stop. And that
didnt play well in San Diego, where Tomlinson is as popular as warm sunsets and
cold margaritas.
He doesnt need to explain himself to
anybody, and I dont think its right that people said what they said, ORG Mike Goff
said. But people will voice their opinions,
and if that is the opinion that they want to
voice, that is fine.
But those closest to L.T., and those
knowing L.T., know that obviously wasnt
the case. If he wasnt out there, there was a
reason for it. So I think everybody else can
just blow it out their (rear).
PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY
10
JUNE 2008
NFL ROOKIE PREMIERE
Arm and
hammer
Talented QB Matt Ryan
has become the new face
of the troubled Falcons
franchise, but dont let his
pleasant demeanor fool you
he means business
By
ERIC EDHOLM
LOS ANGELES Matt Ryan is twofaced.

Theres the one side of the young man who
has become something of a media darling in
the past year: the self-effacing, articulate and
affable quarterback who turned tomato-red
when Boston College sports information
director Chris Cameron told him the school
wanted to promote him as a Heisman Trophy
candidate last season and all the added attention that comes with such a campaign.
Here at the Los Angeles Coliseum, where
the trading-card companies are putting him
through a grueling, five-hour photo shoot,
this is exactly the kind of attention-grabbing
event that makes him squirm underneath his
pads and shyly grin as a defense mechanism.
And then theres the Matt Ryan who has
come to Atlanta and, in a short time in organized team activities, already has impressed
his Falcons teammates and coaches with
how get this serious he is.
Football is still a game, and we try to present it that way, Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey said. It still should be
fun, and sometimes there are times we try to
make it humorous. But its hard for me to get
him to crack a smile.
Hes all business out there.
Out there is on the field, where Ryan is
knee-deep into the Falcons new playbook.
Hes learning a whole new volume of terminology. A three-by-one formation to the right
was known as trey right at B.C.; now its
something completely different. Hes retraining his brain, learning a system and adjusting
to his first few weeks of life in the NFL.
For the most part I feel comfortable with
the concepts we are using for the passing
game and the protection schemes, Ryan
said. Its just terminology you have to
translate what you know into a different language. Thats the process I am going through
right now.
In many ways, though, he faces more pressure than your typical top-three pick or quarterback. Of course, few other players have
been thrust into such an unstable situation as
that of the Falcons. The franchises recent
demise has been well documented. The ugly
saga of Michael Vick the last man to be
anointed as the teams face has cast a
shadow over the organization and the city of
Atlanta, and former head coach Bobby Petrinos sudden resignation toward the end of
last season left the team in a lurch.
Whether by purge or by progress, the Falcons have made wholesale changes this offseason. The first move for Arthur Blank was
hiring a new general manager, and he chose
Thomas Dimitroff, who cut his teeth in New
PHOTO COURTESY OF TOPPS
SENIOR EDITOR
On the spot: Top draft pick Matt Ryan carries the burden of washing away the Michael Vick saga
England under Bill Belichick and Scott

Pioli. Dimitroff then found Mike Smith, the
architect of a blue-collar defense in Jacksonville, to be his head coach, and Smith
added Mularkey and a host of new assistants.
The new regime quickly settled on a plan
for the on-field product, ridding itself of
some end-of-the-line or broken-down veterans such as Warrick Dunn, Alge Crumpler,
Wayne Gandy and Rod Coleman, plus outspoken DeAngelo Hall, whose troublemaking had trumped his talent, especially on an
impressionable club with a new head coach.
Perhaps Joe Horn will be the next to go. In
their place came a decent crop of young talent in free agency, led by RB Michael Turner, and 11 draft picks, headlined by Ryan.
Because of where he was picked, the position he plays and the franchises fragile state,
Ryan has become the new face. Hes front
and center in a refurbishment effort that is
seen everywhere from improved public relations to Blank meeting with some seasonticket holders in his box this spring.
Maybe I am not an attention seeker,
Ryan said, but at the same time its part of
what I want to be. I want to be a successful

quarterback in the NFL, and that goes along
with it. So you prepare yourself and deal
with it in the right manner, and for the most
part I am trying to.
Its no coincidence that from Jeff
Jagodzinski, Ryans head coach for a year at
B.C., to each of Ryans college teammates
and assistant coaches, each of them gave the
thumbs-up on Ryans character, too.
The Falcons brass effectively made up its
mind to select Ryan following a two-day
meeting in Atlanta back on April 5-6 during
which Blank, Dimitroff, Smith, Mularkey
and others hosted him for dinner the first
night and threw the gauntlet at him the next
day on the white erase board with a host of
football questions. The team had identified
six QB prospects it was interested in drafting
and wanted to see how quickly they could
process information.
We shocked all six of them, Mularkey
said of the teams Xs and Os quiz. Thats
the position where it comes fast and furious.
The team presented the same series of Falcons plays to each of the quarterbacks and
asked them to break the plays down. Some

of the prospects struggled with the test; the
ones who handled the concepts well got
more thrown at them. Ryan stood above the
other five guys.
We wanted some straightforward
answers in regards to football, life, everything, Mularkey said. That was impressive
on his part, and then to follow it up with the
board work and the field work. And then the
people we talked to teammates, coaches
there were a lot of things where I walked
away going, Id have no problem taking him
with the third pick.
Mularkey scoffs at the notion that his new
quarterback is too nice, too sedate to command attention and respect in the huddle.
I dont see it, he said. I see a little fire.
Hes very competitive. Guys on this team are
recognizing that.
He has a presence already, and I dont
think hes waiting to have some success on
the field to grab these guys respect. I have
not seen him be intimidated by the speed and
the names in this game right now. Hes very
focused. And some of the things he has said
in the huddle on top of the play call as far as
direct to players, what to do, I have been
impressed with it.
Said WR Harry Douglas, a fellow rookie
and third-round pick, In meeting rooms,
coaches call on him about certain things.
Hes quick on his feet with the answers. And
the answers are right, too.
But even with his focus on the field, Ryan
has been at the center of criticism around the
league or at least his new contract has. On
the eve of the owners meetings, the Falcons
signed Ryan to a six-year, $72 million deal
in a contract that pays him more than top
pick Jake Long. The timing was not ideal.
The owners have opted out of the Collective
Bargaining Agreement, and one of the hotbutton issues is the escalation of rookie contracts, which has angered some veteran players, including NFL Players Association president Kevin Mawae, and hindered some
teams financial flexibility.
For a young guy to get paid that kind of
money and (having) never (stepped) on an
NFL football field, its a little disheartening
to think of, Mawae, a 14-year veteran, said
on ESPN Radio.
For now, though, Ryan has sidestepped
controversy and kept his focus on the field.
Hell remain in Atlanta through June, take a
little time off and then return for the Falcons
training camp in Flowery Branch, Ga., in
late July.
The biggest thing is to try to embrace
everything, even the tough stuff, Ryan said.
The more comfortable I can get with everything around me, the better chance I will
have to play right away. But I have a lot to
learn.
Ryan will get his chance. Mularkey said
hell compete with holdovers Chris Redman
and Joey Harrington for the starting gig in
Week One against Detroit, but there are
some in the Falcons facility who feel Ryan
will be the guy from Day One.
I can tell he studies away from this building, Mularkey said. Thats evident. He can
take the play from me, go in the huddle, call
the play, and if I say flip it, he can flip it.
There are some quarterbacks who cant do
that, guys who have been in this league for a
long time.
Just in case Ryan becomes what the Falcons hope he can become, Douglas knows
whom he needs to buddy up to.
Me and him, were going to be like white
on rice, Douglas boasted.
With perhaps just a touch of tomato mixed
in.
JUNE 2008
PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY
11
NFL ROOKIE PREMIERE
Self-aware
Charged with turning around a flagging
offense, Ravens QB Joe Flacco knows
learning on the job wont be easy
By
MIKE WILKENING
LOS ANGELES There is no bluster with Joe Flacco.

The Ravens first-round pick is aware of the leadership
demands, vocal and otherwise, that come with playing quarterback. But first things first.
Like proving to your teammates that you know the playbook.
Ive been so focused on what Ive got to do, making sure
I say the play right and all of those things, said Flacco,
speaking about his command of the huddle. I havent
thought too much about it. Ive just tried to go into the huddle and be as confident as I can and let the guys know that
Im here to play some football, that I can be the leader of the
team.
The Ravens are banking on as much, though the timetable
for such plans is fluid. Flacco, who starred at the University
of Delaware, will compete with Troy Smith and Kyle Boller
for the Ravens starting job. Time and again, Ravens head
coach John Harbaugh has said each of the
quarterbacks will have a fair shot to win the
No sure bet:
position. And Flacco is spotting experience
Joe
Flacco
could start Day
to both of his competitors.
One or sit
But make no mistake: The Ravens drafted
and wait
the 6-6, 235-pound Flacco to be their longterm starter at a position that has lacked stability ever since the franchise moved from Cleveland. Whats
more, if recent history is any guide, the Ravens will not hesitate to play him in his first season. Look no further than the
case of Boller, whom the Ravens drafted in Round One five
years ago and immediately inserted in the starting lineup.
However, Boller didnt play quite the way the Ravens had
hoped, and the fallout led to a chain of events that landed
Flacco in Baltimore. After Bollers third NFL season, the
Ravens traded for Titans veteran QB Steve McNair in June
2006 and immediately installed him as the starter. McNair led
the Ravens to the AFC North title in his first season as a
starter and made the Baltimore offense formidable.
But the clock was ticking on McNairs career, and everyone knew it. General manager Ozzie Newsome never shied
away from admitting that McNair who played through
numerous injuries throughout his career had only a handful of years left when he joined the Ravens. The end came
last season, when McNair lasted only six games before a
shoulder injury landed him on the bench for good. The
Ravens plummeted to last place in the division. Head coach
Brian Billick was fired, and Harbaugh, best known for his
work as the Eagles special-teams coach for much of this
decade, replaced him.
Harbaughs first major decision: picking a quarterback.
The candidate pool was winnowed when McNair, his body
battered after years of a uniquely physical style of play,
retired less than two weeks before the draft.
Speculation then turned to the Ravens draft plans, with
Boston Colleges Matt Ryan believed to be the clubs top target. But when neither the Rams, selecting second overall, nor
the Falcons, selecting third, would budge from their spots,
Newsome employed another Draft Day strategy. The Ravens
traded back from the No. 8 spot in the draft, dropping down
18 spots to No. 26. Their target: Flacco, whom the Ravens
had become enamored of because of his strong arm and
impressive intangibles. They also liked that he moved relatively well for a man his size.
When I first heard about him, I said, Oh, there is no
way, recalled Ravens QB coach Hue Jackson, voicing his
initial skepticism about Flaccos maneuverability. Jackson
had worked with the similarly sized Carson Palmer as USCs
offensive coordinator and later as the Bengals WR coach and
knew that tall passers can be sitting ducks in the pocket. As
I studied him, I became more and more impressed.
Fearing another team would move ahead of them to take
Flacco, the Ravens, after having traded down, dealt up to No.
18 to select the young drop-back passer. In his first pro minicamp, Flacco showed the ability that excited the Ravens
BALTIMORE RAVENS
SENIOR EDITOR
coaches and management so much. His arm strength drew

raves from the players. The coaches liked that he didnt make
many mistakes he fumbled no snaps and threw but one
interception, and that pass had been tipped.
Perhaps most importantly, he didnt seem overwhelmed by
his surroundings, try as the Ravens did to see if they could get
a rise out of him. We got a chance to push him, to pull him,
to make him a little uncomfortable, Jackson said. The thing
I like about Joe is that it was like another day in the backyard.
The rookies easygoing nature also drew praise from the
teams unquestioned defensive leader, LB Ray Lewis, who
called Flaccos personality incredible.
I know theyve done their research behind that and really
investigated on how good he was as a quarterback and things
like that, Lewis told Baltimore reporters after a minicamp
practice. But, if you watch the guy on film, and you watch
the guy outside the film room, hes just a great person overall.
If Flacco made a generally positive impression in his first
minicamp, he also left the impression that there was significant room for improvement when it comes to quickly getting
rid of the ball. Its an area of his game that scouts had
knocked leading up to the draft and one that Harbaugh
believes needs further improvement, lest the Ravens rookie
passer spend far too much time on the ground for anyones
liking.
I think its going to come with being comfortable, Flacco said of having a quick trigger. Thats going to come with
time. Im plenty quick. I get the ball (out) in plenty of time.
But in my mind, when youre getting used to a new offense,
youve got to get used to a lot of things.

Hell also have to get used to being in the midst of a spirited competition for a starting job. Boller has 42 career starts
to his credit and is entering the final season of his contract.
Smith, less than two calendar years removed from winning
the Heisman Trophy, responded well when thrown into the
lineup late last season. Jackson has come away impressed
with the attitude and work ethic of both veteran passers.
Nothing will be given to Flacco.
Will Joe play in his first year? Jackson asked, rhetorically. No one can say that.
But the Ravens investment in Flacco, coupled with his
promising play in the infancy of his professional career, likely means that a year spent learning on the bench, a la Palmer
five seasons ago for a Bengals team capably led by Jon Kitna,
would be a surprise and perhaps a disappointment.
Whenever Flacco enters the lineup, Jackson believes hell
be capable of handling the considerable responsibility inherent at the position.
He has unbelievable skill, Jackson said. He has unbelievable poise. And I think there is a fire in him that will come
out.
But first things first. Like learning that playbook. And
holding off two veteran passers who will give no quarter.
Im just getting ready by preparing myself and going out
there, doing the best I can, Flacco said. Im not worried
about anything but going out there and proving that I can
play. If I did anything other than that, it would be bad for
myself. Im not going to worry about all the competition; Im
going to go out there and play and hope things work out for
the best.
PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY
12
JUNE 2008
NFL ROOKIE PREMIERE NOTEBOOK
Best
feet
forward
MARK LYONS / GETTY IMAGES
ROOKIE RECEIVERS TRY

TO MAKE THE BEST
OF THEIR SITUATIONS
By ERIC EDHOLM
and MIKE WILKENING
SENIOR EDITORS
LOS ANGELES Recently, PFW spent

the weekend talking to more than 30 of the
top draft choices from this years class who
were in Southern California for the NFLs
Rookie Premiere Weekend, which included
some philanthropic events leading up to the
weekend before the fun stuff started. Players
contributed in a Madden NFL 08 tournament
new Redskins WR Devin Thomas, using
the Cowboys no less, beat Bears RB Matt
Fort in the finals before heading over to
the Los Angeles Coliseum the following day
to have their football-card photos shot in their
new uniforms.
We spent time talking to most of the players one-on-one in the relaxed atmosphere
and found them to be candid, enlightening
Up in the air: Rookie Jerome Simpson could be

Chad Johnsons caddy ... or a Day One starter
and entertaining especially the wide
receivers, who were the unofficial stars of the
weekend, even with players such as Dolphins
OLT Jake Long and Falcons QB Matt Ryan
highlighting the player list. Here are some of
the things we found out about the players:
Bengals rookie WRs to

push for playing time early
Even if Chad Johnson hadnt spent the offseason trying to talk his way out of Cincinnati, the Bengals were likely to address the
If you want
ANALYSIS
WR position in the draft. The Bengals other

top target, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, is a free
agent at seasons end, and No. 3 WR Chris
Henry was released in April after yet another
arrest.
Cincinnatis draft haul underscored its concern about its WR depth. Even with a slew of
defensive needs, the Bengals used secondand third-round picks on a pair of pass catchers: Coastal Carolinas Jerome Simpson, the
46th player chosen, and Floridas Andre
Caldwell, the No. 97 selection.
Simpson, who is expected to back up
Johnson at the X receiver spot, helped his
draft stock with an exceptional performance
at the East-West Shrine game. Caldwell
who enjoyed a much higher national profile in
college because of his exploits at the University of Florida has been impressed with his
new teammate thus far.
Hes a great athlete, Caldwell said. They
picked him for a reason, and theyre looking
for big things. And from what Ive seen, it
looks like he can prove them right.
Caldwell has been practicing at the Z
receiver spot Houshmandzadehs primary
position and could also play in the slot. He
said he is excited to find his place in what he
calls a receiver-friendly offense.
They said theyve got some open spots,
Caldwell said. Theyve got a lot of people
competing for them, and they want to see me
go out there and compete and try and get one
of them.
For their part, Caldwell and Simpson did
not want to speculate about Johnsons future
in Cincinnati.
I dont know anything about it, Caldwell
said. I only know what I hear about it on
ESPN and on TV.
Said Simpson: I just want to put some of
his game into my game. I just hope the guy
comes back. It would be an honor to work

with him.
Bills Hardy dismisses gun

incident, character questions
Of all the rookie receivers in this years draft

class, Bills WR James Hardy might have one
of the best opportunities to shine right away.
Hes a big target (6-foot-538), which the Bills
long have looked for, and could earn a starting
spot opposite speed burner Lee Evans.
I feel the more time I am there, with the
guys, I think Ill have a good chance right
away, Hardy said. On Draft Day, thats what
they told me: They wanted me to contribute
immediately. I am going in with the right mind
frame.
But there are questions, too. Hardy entered
the draft with his character being questioned
following domestic battery charges from 2006
and after being suspended for violating team
rules that apparently were unrelated to the first
case. Those issues, plus some scouts belief
that Hardy displays sloppy mechanics, probably caused Hardy to drop to the 41st overall
pick after a record-breaking career at Indiana.
Two weeks following the draft, Hardy was
involved in another incident where witnesses
said he pulled a gun and allegedly began
assaulting his father, who spent part of
Hardys childhood in prison. Hardys father
refused to press charges and the case was
dropped, but Hardy still felt the need to clear
the air about his character and what happened in his hometown of Fort Wayne, Ind.
It was definitely a big misunderstanding,
Hardy explained. I dont see how people can
put their own judgment on the situation and
then (tear) anybody down. But at the same
time, I hurt myself being in that situation.
ProFootballWeekly.com
provides analysis for every aspect of the NFL,
whether its breaking news or rumors, fantasy football,
player ratings, handicapping or the NFL draft.
Here is some of the content youll find on

ProFootballWeekly.com:
Regular updates of The Way We Hear It, with insights, rumors and analysis on each team.
Fantasy football advice for your draft and each week of the regular season.
Team pages, with inside information, transactions, rosters, etc.
Year-round blogs.
NFLinks, directing you to provocative, NFL-related articles on other Web sites.
News and analysis of free-agent signings.
The PFW spin on the days most noteworthy events, plus player news and They Said It.
PFW Online, our print edition delivered electronically.
Amazing statistics, current and historical, including team rankings and fantasy football stats.
Youll find our draft coverage in the NFL Draft channel.
JUNE 2008
PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY
13
NFL ROOKIE PREMIERE NOTEBOOK

him with the No. 33 pick after offensive coordinator Al Saunders assured him the team would
take him were he still on the board. Now Avery
is charged with learning Saunders renowned
and stuffed-to-the-gills playbook.
Man, its really complicated, Avery said. I
hear its one of the hardest playbooks in the
league. Its no more play time its all study
now.
Avery watching,
learning from Holt
One of the highlights of the NFL Players

Rookie Premiere weekend for the more than
30 first-year players in attendance
was the football-card photo
shoot at the Los
Angeles Coliseum.
The rookies donned
their new uniforms
and had their photos
taken by trading-card
companies Topps, Donruss Playoff and Upper
Deck.
Its very exciting
very, said Buccaneers
WR Dexter Jackson, who
collected trading cards as a
boy and counts the 1986
Topps Jerry Rice rookie card
as his favorite.
Falcons WR Harry Douglas
an image-conscious receiver
who was the only player who
attended the Madden NFL 08
tournament the night before in a
well-cut suit said the tradingcard photography was an interesting experiment.
Its funny because when you play,
you obviously dont have much time to think
The Rams drafted WR Donnie Avery near

the top of Round Two with an eye on life after
Torry Holt.
For now, though, Holt remains the Rams
top wide receiver. And Avery, playing behind
Holt at the X receiver spot, is getting an
object lesson in how to play the position.
Im just sitting back and observing everything (Holt) does, Avery said. He does
everything so fluidly and with no reaction that
the defender can pick up. Thats what I want
to become.
The Avery-Holt relationship is likely to be
scrutinized in the months ahead after the veteran took a tough-love approach with the
rookie in the Rams May minicamp. Asked of
his impression of Avery to date, Holt told the
St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Right now, I dont
have any impressions of Donnie Avery.
Hes gotten on me a couple times, Avery
said, and I appreciate that, because he said
I have too much emotion in my routes, and I
appreciate him giving me feedback. So thats
the biggest thing Im working on right now,
making every route look the same.
Avery had a feeling the Rams might select
Rookies pose for camera
about what you look like, Douglas said. But

here, the (photographers) are telling you what
steps to take and how to jump, so it slows you
down in your mind a little. I guess looking
good and playing can be two different things.
Each of the players goes through a series
of shots, from stills in the Coliseum stands to
action shots, with players running on the field,
as well as jumping onto mats that make the
players look as if they are flying through the
air to make a catch or a tackle or throw a ball.
Panthers RB Jonathan
Stewart missed his first
two jump attempts in the
photographers eyes, but
he eventually got the drill
down, flashing a wide
smile after his final
attempt. Smooth, he
said.
It was clear that
most of the players
enjoyed the sessions,
running
around in their
respective
teams gameday jerseys for
the first time
and mugging
for the cameras.
Perhaps some
of that glee
w a
s
because
of the fact they
realized that the fun was
ending there. Most of the players
left immediately following the Coliseum day
and reported to their teams OTAs until roughly mid-June.
S
OPP
OF T
ESY
URT
O CO
T
PHO
Being back at home, I realized that you are a

product of your environment, and if you are
around, you sort of adapt to it. Me being at
the wrong place at the wrong time its
unfortunate, but at the same time it has been
blown out of proportion. Thats why I have
nothing to hide.
People are going to try to bring you down,
even close family members unfortunately.
Basically I have learned my lesson and I have
to stay away from home.
PREVIEW 2008
FANTASY FOOTBALL GUIDE 2008
COMING
THIS
SUMMER
Renaissance man
Harry Douglas is smart for a rookie. He

knows that the more he can do well, the
more he can do. Case in point: Douglas knows
he probably will spend most of his time on
offense as a slot receiver, at least as a rookie,
but he hopes to learn all the WR positions in
the Falcons offense in time. He also thinks he
can make a big impact on special teams, where
he contributed in a lot of ways at Lousiville.
I am a big special-teams performer, he
said. I played kickoff coverage, kickoff return,
punt block, (punt) return, and I held on field
goals.
I was an L1 (wedge buster) on kickoffs. I
even made a few tackles as an L1.
For now, Douglas is focused on football,
wanting to be a big part of the Falcons
revival, along with QB Matt Ryan. But Douglas has plans for life after football, whenever
that might be he wants to be a lawyer.
I graduated before my senior year and
worked in a law firm (Frost Brown Todd in
New Albany, Ky.) from May to December. It
was a great experience. I have wanted to be
a lawyer since I was like 4 years old. So I took
pride in that.
Douglas first got the itch to experience the
courtroom watching TV dramas such as Law
& Order but found that the grunt work of the
internship wasnt quite as dramatic. Still,
undaunted, he said they eventually let him do
other things, and he maintained his interest in
a career in corporate law.
I went to a lot of depositions and trials and
things. Its going to be a big thing after football. But right now, this is the prime of my life,
and I am focusing on football. But life after
football, I plan on being successful, too.
I want to own my own law firm one day, he
said.
PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY
JUNE 2008
Keeping
tabs
M
A LOOK AT EACH TEAMS OFFSEASON MANEUVERS
ost of the new

pieces have been
put in place, as
OTAs and mandatory minicamps
begin dominating
the NFL scene until late July.
Some pieces will be perfect fits, while others are
destined for failure. In Pro
Football Weeklys annual
assessment of each teams
offseason wheeling and
dealing, we recap the work
that has been completed
since the end of the 2007
season, in addition to looking ahead to the things that
still need to be done before
the 08 gate swings back
open for good.
A
Buffalo Bills
underwhelming third-year pro with an

injury concern (Ko Simpson) is battling a
converted wide receiver who cant tackle
(George Wilson).
Miami Dolphins
Mission accomplished: Bill Parcells was
hired to gut the moribund franchise and

rebuild it from the ground up, and Step
One is officially done. Gone are aging and
injury-prone vets such as Trent Green,
Zach Thomas and L.J. Shelton, while in
come promising young players such as
Jake Long, Ernest Wilford and Randy
Starks. But the most important addition is
new head coach Tony Sparano, an O-line
guru who will instill discipline in an organization that lost its path during the oneyear Cam Cameron calamity.
Unfinished business: For as many new
faces as there are, holes abound at nearly
every position. On offense, there remains
a dearth of capable pass catchers to snag
the balls of whoever wins the QB derby,
and OG concerns temper the enthusiasm
created by a solid OT pair. The defense is
in worse shape, as an overhaul of the
frontseven personnel is needed in order to
run the teams preferred 3-4 scheme. On
top of everything, the cold war being
waged between Parcells and the teams
only legitimate star, Jason Taylor, casts an
ominous shadow over the entire organization.
New England Patriots
Mission accomplished: A defense char-
Mission accomplished: The most impor-
acterized by its grittiness rather than its

talent received major fortifications on all
three levels. Trading for DT Marcus
Stroud gives the Bills a pocket-collapsing
inside presence that had been sorely lacking, OLB Kawika Mitchell has the speed
to blitz and the strength to defend the run,
and first-round rookie CB Leodis McKelvin could have Buffalo forgetting about
Nate Clements very soon. Second-round
WR James Hardy is the tall, complementary wideout Lee Evans needed.
Unfinished business: Hardy might
scream potential, but the fact that Buffalo
is so reliant on a rookie to make new coordinator Turk Schonerts offense click
underscores how downtrodden the WR situation is. The TE position is even worse, as
no holdover or addition will give defensive
game-planners pause. Theres a glaring
question mark at free safety, where an
tant offseason transaction had nothing to

do with adding or disposing of a player.
Priority No. 1 for the Patriots was re-signing WR Randy Moss after he redefined
WR greatness in 2007. An old and tired LB
corps received injections of youth with the
drafting of Jerod Mayo and the free-agent
signing of Victor Hobson, both of whom
could comprise the Pats ILB tandem for
the foreseeable future.
Unfinished business: A flawed secondary doesnt get better by watching
Asante Samuel, arguably one of the five
best corners in the game, flee to Philly. In
his place, the Pats reeled in a host of undistinguished stopgap types who will be considered successes if they are merely average. An offensive line that was terrific in
the regular season but exposed as glacially
slow in the Super Bowl looks no different.
The fact that ORT Nick Kaczur is still
responsible for ensuring Tom Bradys
HARRY SCULL, JR.
NFL TEAM UPDATES
2008 OFFSEASON
14
Paying Bills: Rookie CB-RS Leodis McKelvin will get thrown right into the mix with plucky Buffalo
health is a reality that should make all

Patriot fans squirm.
New York Jets

Mission accomplished: The Jets reached
deep into their pockets and pulled out a

wad of cash to lure in a free-agent class
resonating with name-brand talents. The
transformation of the defensive front seven
from a 4-3 to a legitimate 3-4 is almost
complete after the team landed massive NT
Kris Jenkins, prized OLB Calvin Pace and
ultra-athletic rookie OLB Vernon Gholston. An offensive line bolstered by veterans Alan Faneca and Damien Woody
should pave a better road for the run game.
Unfinished business: RB Thomas Jones
cant blame the lousy offensive line for all
his problems in 07; the Jets still lack a true
bell cow in the backfield. Of course, the
running game would receive a considerable
boost if the quarterbacks play decently, but
the Jets will once again forge ahead with
the questionable games of Chad Pennington and Kellen Clemens. As promising as
second-year CB Darrelle Revis is, the Jets
tried but failed to land a quality corner to
flank him.
Baltimore Ravens
Mission accomplished: The Ravens fired
head coach Brian Billick after the team fell
apart in the second half of the 07 season.
Replacement John Harbaugh has never

before been a head coach at any level, but
the Ravens like the energy and attention to
detail he brings to the job. The Ravens
were quiet in free agency, but they were
bold in the draft, selecting strong-armed
Delaware QB Joe Flacco in Round One.
Hell compete to start right off the bat.
Unfinished business: The Ravens did
not have the salary-cap room needed to be
aggressive in free agency, so the core of
last years club remains intact and many
of the same questions continue to linger
from a season ago. The offense could again
lack punch if one of the quarterbacks
doesnt emerge. The additions of CBs
Fabian Washington (ex-Raider) and Frank
Walker (ex-Packer) add depth in the secondary, but will it help the Ravens surrender fewer big plays in the passing game?
Cincinnati Bengals
Mission accomplished: The Bengals lost
steady DE Justin Smith in free agency, but

they replaced him with ex-Titan Antwan
Odom, a younger player who may prove a
better pass rusher than Smith. In the draft,
the Bengals may have found a defensive
star for years to come in LB Keith Rivers,
who figures to start immediately on the
weak side. The receiving corps will be
deeper than it was a season ago if rookie
WRs Jerome Simpson and Andre Caldwell
pan out and ex-Colts TE Ben Utecht lives
up to his billing.
Unfinished business: The Bengals failed
to add a starting-caliber defensive tackle. A

trade for Shaun Rogers fell through at the
last moment, and the Bengals passed on
paying a high price for Dewayne Robertson. In addition to Smith, two other steady
defenders departed in free agency: LB
Landon Johnson and S Madieu Williams.
Head coach Marvin Lewis wanted to shake
up the defense after a disappointing 07
season, so some personnel and scheme
changes were expected. But is there
enough talent on hand for the defense to
make a big leap forward?
OLG Alan Faneca one of the best players at his position in the NFL to the Jets.
The effect on the offensive line could be
tremendous. Considering the way Roethlisberger was forced to flee collapsing
pockets last season, this is not a positive
development. Another position group to
watch: the play of the defensive line, which
is not especially deep (and the depth was
not addressed via the draft). Advancing age
is a concern with this group.
Cleveland Browns
Houston Texans
Mission accomplished: With two bold

moves, the Browns may have fixed their
leaky defensive line. Trades for Packers
DT Corey Williams and Lions DT Shaun
Rogers at the outset of free agency were
the Browns shot across the bow of their
AFC North rivals, who had gotten used to
Cleveland struggling to stop the run and
get after the quarterback in recent years.
The Browns were also able to extend QB
Derek Andersons contract and give him
another speedy receiver, ex-Patriot Dont
Stallworth.
Unfinished business: Trading for Rogers
cost Cleveland CB Leigh Bodden, an experienced starter. And the trades for Rogers
and Williams left the Browns without picks
in the first three rounds of the 08 draft.
Nonetheless, it was something of a surprise
when the Browns did not bolster their CB
depth in the draft, and Cleveland was
forced to scramble when potential starter
Daven Holly suffered a season-ending
knee injury in May. Now the Browns will
be relying heavily on 33-year-old CB Terry
Cousin and looking closely at the waiver wire throughout the summer.
Mission accomplished: The offensive

line will get a boost from the hiring of
assistant head coach Alex Gibbs. His work
with the Broncos O-line is the stuff of legend. Gibbs influence played a major role
in the decision to trade for Broncos C Chris
Myers and to draft Virginia Tech OLT
Duane Brown in Round One. If Brown fits
the Texans system the way Gibbs believes
he can, Houston may finally have stability
at a key position.
Unfinished business: The Texans may
still have more questions than answers at
running back. The projected starter, Ahman
Green, is coming off an injury-plagued 07
campaign. Ex-Titan Chris Brown is bestsuited as a role player, and third-round pick
Steve Slaton may have too small of a build
to be anything more than a change-of-pace
back at the pro level. The teams CB depth
is also a concern; the top cover corner,
Dunta Robinson, will miss the start of the
season as he recovers from a knee injury.
Indianapolis Colts
Mission accomplished: The two biggest
moves were delivered before the season
came to an end, as the Colts locked down S
Bob Sanders and TE Dallas Clark to longterm extensions that will keep them in Indianapolis for what the teams hopes is their
entire careers. OG Ryan Lilja, one of the
rocks on one of the leagues most consistent lines, also re-upped.
Unfinished business: Although they
accomplished everything they were hellbent on accomplishing, the Colts inability
to add a pass-rushing threat to a D-line that
failed to generate a pass rush after DEs
Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis were
injured in 07 is troubling. A year ago, it
would have been incredulous to suggest the
the Colts wideouts could be a source of
concern, but the injury concerns of Marvin
Harrison leave the team with no proven
third receiver to pair with Reggie Wayne
and Anthony Gonzalez.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Mission accomplished: The Steelers
built for the future this offseason. They

accomplished their primary offseason goal
by signing QB Ben Roethlisberger to an
eight-year, $102 million deal. The Steelers
were not very active in free agency, but
they drafted RB Rashard Mendenhall and
WR Limas Sweed, two of the most wellregarded players at their positions. They
wont start in 2008, but both could be key
parts of the offense in years to come.
Unfinished business: The Steelers lost
15
is hazy at best.
Tennessee Titans
Mission accomplished: The Titans tried
to address their struggling offense with a
series of moves. Head coach Jeff Fisher
fired offensive coordinator Norm Chow,
replacing him with Mike Heimerdinger,
who oversaw the potent Titans offenses in
Steve McNairs heyday. The Titans signed
TE Alge Crumpler and WR Justin
McCareins to give QB Vince Young more
capable targets and drafted speedy RB
Chris Johnson to give a somewhat-plodding attack more life.
Unfinished business: The capable DLE
tandem of Antwan Odom and Travis
LaBoy departed in free agency. Jevon
Kearse, back from a disappointing stint in
Philadelphia, will be asked to pick up some
of the slack, as will Bryce Fisher and rookie William Hayes. The Titans will be working in new starters at both guard spots after
OLG Jacob Bell signed with St. Louis and
ORG Benji Olson retired, so the continuity
of the O-line could be a work in progress
early.
Denver Broncos
Mission accomplished: The Broncos
scaled back on doling out big deals to marquee free agents, as they had done in past
offseasons, and chose instead to sign a crop
of veterans to fill or compete for starting
jobs. Niko Koutouvides and Boss Bailey
will take over at middle and strong-side
linebacker, respectively, and Darrell Jack-
son, Keary Colbert and Samie Parker will

compete for the No. 2 WR slot. Denver
may have plucked a cornerstone at left
tackle, selecting Ryan Clady with the 12th
pick in the draft.
Unfinished business: Longtime PK
Jason Elams departure for the Falcons
leaves the Broncos with a gaping hole at
kicker, which could develop into a major
headache if Elams successor, Matt Prater,
continues to struggle with accuracy. Prater
was 1-for-4 on field goals in a brief stint
with the Falcons early last season. If
Dewayne Robertsons knee continues to
give him problems, Denver could continue
to struggle against the ground game, as it
did in 07, ranking 30th in run defense.
Kansas City Chiefs

Mission accomplished: The Chiefs just
might have cashed in on a draft for the

ages. GM Carl Peterson put all his eggs in
that one basket and landed impact performers at nearly every area of need. DT
Glenn Dorsey is primed to reverse the
curse of first-round D-tackles failing upon
their arrival in Kansas City, and OLT Branden Albert has the raw talent to rebuild a
once-proud offensive line thats fallen on
hard times. Second-round CB Brandon
Flowers shares in departed CB Ty Laws
proclivity for physical play but actually has
the athleticism to put it to use. Yes, the
youth movement is afoot in the heartland.
Unfinished business: You dont get better by trading away the most feared sack
artist in the game today, especially one
whos only now entering the prime of his
career. But with Jared Allen now a source
(Continued on Page 16)
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Jacksonville Jaguars
HARRY SCULL JR.
Mission accomplished: With new defen-
Double bonus: David Garrard got himself a

new contract and a new No. 1 receiver
sive coordinator Gregg Williams bringing

his high-pressure 4-3 scheme down to
Jacksonville, the Jaguars needed to outfit
themselves with some fresh, young defensive legs to attack off the edge. After securing gifted rookie DEs Derrick Harvey and
Quentin Groves, mission accomplished.
Enigmatic WR Jerry Porter arrives in Florida with some baggage, but also with all the
physical tools needed to become the No. 1
wideout QB David Garrard longed for.
Unfinished business: The offensive line
is functional but doesnt inspire a whole
lot of confidence to keep Garrard erect and
the running game churning, particularly at
the OT spots. The effort to land Porter
appears to be worthwhile, but bust-personified Troy Williamson doesnt cut it. Until
notice is served otherwise, the WR outlook
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2008 magazines, both of which go on sale this summer. Also, you can still buy
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In fact, you can purchase any of our magazines, football or basketball, when
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2008 OFFSEASON
PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY
NFL TEAM UPDATES
JUNE 2008
PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY
JUNE 2008
Fire and ice: Cowboys Marion Barber and

rookie Felix Jones (left) just might be the next
great RB tandem
(Continued from Page 15)

of pride for the Vikings, theres a tremendous concern about where the Chiefs pass
rush will come from. The offensive line
remains a mess despite the addition of
Albert, and the shoddy unit is still protecting a quarterback in Brodie Croyle whos
done nothing to suggest hes the real deal.
Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly have a

chance to contribute right away, especially
in the red zone.
Unfinished business: The team added
only two defensive linemen this offseason
injured DE Erasmus James and seventhround DE Rob Jackson. There is concern
with the ages of DE Phillip Daniels (35)
and DT Cornelius Griffin, who is 31 but
has had quite an injury history. On offense,
QB Jason Campbell is the starter, but he
must continue learning the finer points and
show he can adapt. Highly regarded backup Todd Collins remains hungry to play
more after last seasons flourish.
Oakland Raiders
Mission accomplished: Raiders owner
Al Davis dropped some major cash this

offseason, hoping to spark a quick turnaround for his recently woeful franchise.
Fourth overall pick RB Darren McFadden
is expected to make a major impact and
should take some of the playmaking pressure off QB JaMarcus Russell in his first
year as the starter. Oakland added a No. 1
receiver, when healthy, in Javon Walker,
but he reported to workouts out of shape,
which disappointed team officials. Davis
made major upgrades in the secondary,
trading for CB DeAngelo Hall and signing
SS Gibril Wilson.
Unfinished business: There is no clear
starter at right end, and the Raiders are
hoping recent castoffs Kalimba Edwards
and Greg Spires can get a push off the edge
opposite top-tier DE Derrick Burgess.
Oakland lost QB Josh McCown to the Dolphins and did not re-sign Daunte Culpepper, leaving the squad little insurance
behind Russell. A relatively unimpressive
tandem of Marques Tuiasosopo and
Andrew Walter will serve as Russells
backups.
Dallas Cowboys
Mission accomplished: The team
addressed depth issues at running back and
cornerback, and now those stand as potential strengths if everything holds up. The
long-term deals given to RB Marion Barber and CB Terence Newman not only help
clear up salary-cap space for this season,
but because owner Jerry Jones got the deals
done before the owners opted out of the
CBA, the team sidestepped some tricky
accounting had it waited. First-rounders
RB Felix Jones and CB Mike Jenkins also
stand to help immediately, at least on special teams, and if CB Pacman Jones is reinstated, he has major potential.
Unfinished business: Theres concern
with the safety depth, especially with franchise FS Ken Hamlin likely to be playing on
San Diego Chargers

Mission accomplished: The Chargers
were about as quiet as any team this offseason, as they still have a couple of years
to re-sign their marquee talent and werent
in need of doing much to bolster an already
stacked roster. But adding first-round CB
Antoine Cason is certainly a boon for a
suspect nickel package, and third-round
RB Jacob Hester has the goods to replace
Michael Turner as the Bolts backup to
LaDainian Tomlinson.
Unfinished business: As loaded as this
team is, a host of injury concerns dominate
the San Diego story lines. Aside from wide
receiver, the depth isnt great anywhere, so
the Bolts are holding their collective breath
that the players on the mend can get better
soon. The revelation that ILB Stephen
Cooper will sit out the first four games for
violating the leagues banned substance
policy isnt welcome news for a LB corps
thats stout on the outside, suspect on the
inside.
Chicago Bears
JAMES D. SMITH
NFL TEAM UPDATES
2008 OFFSEASON
16
a one-year tender offer and SS Roy

Williams possibly in his final year in Dallas. Signing Hamlin to a long-term deal
might bring immediate cap relief, but its
not clear with the leagues cloudy economic forecast if that can be done soon. As it
stands, the receivers are unchanged, and
though they helped the team pass for 4,105
yards, one thing is clear: Terrell Owens
cant get hurt. Anything an injured Terry
Glenn and converted QB Isaiah Stanback
give them is gravy. Other than Jones, LB
Zach Thomas was the only veteran addition
to a slightly disappointing defense from 07.
New York Giants

Mission accomplished: Compensating
for the loss of S Gibril Wilson, the team

drafted S Kenny Phillips, who stands a great
chance to start as a rookie. Second-round
CB Terrell Thomas also adds depth to a secondary that could look different by September. Eli Manning has some new insurance
behind him with veteran David Carr and
draft pick Andr Woodson, and the team
added several bodies at linebacker
including veteran Danny Clark, who could
start, and intriguing rookie Bryan Kehl.
Unfinished business: The team is waiting to find out what happens with two inlimbo stars, DE Michael Strahan and TE
Jeremy Shockey. Strahan could opt to
retire, which would cause some shifting on
defense, and though team officials say
Shockey will return, he has yet to show up
and say much about his status. The team
needs to settle on starters at weak-side linebacker and at safety, and there are five QBs
vying for three spots. One could get cut
before the team reports to camp in July.
Philadelphia Eagles
Mission accomplished: The Eagles
upgraded their pass rush with free-agent
DE Chris Clemons, even if hes a part-time
player. The special-teams units should be
far better with the addition of several good
coverage guys, plus electric rookie RS
DeSean Jackson. But the biggest addition
was CB Asante Samuel, who should help
improve on the Eagles paltry 19 takeaways from a year ago.
Unfinished business: Despite all their
flirting with big-name receivers this offseason, including inquiries about Randy
Moss, Chad Johnson, Roy Williams and
Larry Fitzgerald, the Eagles added only
one wideout Jackson, a second-rounder,
who has speed but might be too small to
play anywhere but the slot. And the lingering saga with CB Lito Sheppard and his
desire to be traded might not have any new
developments, which would carry into
training camp as one of the top stories to
follow in Bethlehem, Pa.
Washington Redskins
Mission accomplished: The team found
its replacement for Joe Gibbs, and new

head coach Jim Zorn has been hard at work
installing the new West Coast system. So
far, Zorn has received high marks of
approval from the players, even if his
methods might be a bit unorthodox to
some. Zorn insisted he needed big
receivers to run this offense, and he might
have scored two good ones rookies
Mission accomplished: The Bears filled

a glaring need on the offensive line with
the selection of Chris Williams with their
first pick in the 2008 draft. It was a move
that solidified two positions, with Williams
expected to start at left tackle, and veteran
John Tait, the starting OLT in 07, shifting
to right tackle a particularly shaky position last season.The selection of Matt Fort
in the second round creates badly needed
competition for the beleaguered Cedric
Benson at running back. On the contract
front, the team surprisingly managed to resign free-agent OLB Lance Briggs, in
addition to giving three high-character core
players DE Alex Brown, TE Desmond
Clark and PK Robbie Gould welldeserved new deals.
Unfinished business: The Bears remain
embroiled in a contract stalemate with star
MLB Brian Urlacher and also appear far
from agreeing to new contracts for two
other key players, DT Tommie Harris and
WR-RS Devin Hester. It remains to be seen
who will prevail in the expected wide-open
competition for the starting QB job
between Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton,
and the teams suspect WR corps has been
further weakened by Mark Bradleys
recent surgery on his right knee.
Detroit Lions
Mission accomplished: This biggest
move this offseason was the firing of offensive coordinator Mike Martz in favor of
Jim Collettos more balanced philosophy.
The plan is to run the ball more frequently
and consistently, and the team has adopted
a zone blocking scheme. The secondary
should have more clarity, too, with the
additions of CBs Leigh Bodden and Brian
Kelly and safeties Dwight Smith and
Kalvin Pearson, plus the expected healthy
return of FS Daniel Bullocks.
Unfinished business: Despite the commitment to running the ball more than last
seasons 32nd-ranked unit, the team still
must settle on a marching order there.
Rookie Kevin Smith is the sentimental
favorite to win the job over incumbent
Tatum Bell, but dont count out Aveion
Cason, Brian Calhoun or Artose Pinner.
There also is a DL rotation to figure out.
There are spots up for grabs at left end
(Jared DeVries vs. Ikaika Alama-Francis)
and at tackle.
Green Bay Packers

Mission accomplished: For better or
worse, the Packers thoroughly revamped
Minnesota Vikings
Mission accomplished: The Jared Allen
trade could turn out to be one of the coups
of the NFL offseason, but the Vikings
made other moves of note. FS Madieu

Williams is regarded as an upgrade over
Dwight Smith, and WR Bernard Berrian
gives the team the downfield threat it had
lacked since Randy Moss left town. There
also is better depth across the board, and
QBs Gus Frerotte and John David Booty
add to the intrigue at the teams most questioned position.
Unfinished business: Tarvaris Jackson
has yet to be named the starter by head
coach Brad Childress, but all signs point to
him taking the first-team snaps. Yet, that
doesnt mean Jackson doesnt have to
improve; his play could be the difference
between a Vikings Super Bowl and missing
the playoffs. Though Allen makes the Dline a first-class group, theres a big battle
at the other DE spot between Ray Edwards
and Brian Robison.
17
lack a true playmaker, making it a huge

concern heading into the season. Head
coach Mike Smith will have a hard time
replacing CB DeAngelo Hall, who was
dealt to the Raiders, and it has yet to be
determined who will start in his absence.
overall in the draft. After some shuffling,

the offensive line is beginning to take
shape with Jordan Gross moving from
right to left tackle, and rookie Jeff Otah
stepping into the vacant slot on the right.
Carolina added some weapons in the passing game and is expecting free-agent
signees D.J. Hackett and Muhsin Muhammad to help stretch the field.
Unfinished business: Panthers head
coach John Fox will be holding his breath
with every snap QB Jake Delhomme takes
in training camp as Delhomme makes his
return from Tommy John surgery. Carolina
does not have an established veteran backup for Delhomme. Though QB Matt
Moore, entering his second season, had a
solid three starts late last season, he has yet
to establish himself as the QB of the future.
Carolina Panthers
Mission accomplished: The Panthers
believe they are on course to accomplish

the goal of re-establishing a power running
game following the addition of RB
Jonathan Stewart, whom they selected 13th
New Orleans Saints
Mission accomplished: New Orleans
Atlanta Falcons
Mission
accomplished:
Atlanta
addressed its biggest need finding
Michael Vicks replacement selecting
QB Matt Ryan with the third overall pick
in the draft. The Falcons have already
signed Ryan to a six-year, $72 million contract to make sure he wont miss any camp
time because of a holdout. RB Michael
Turner, the top free-agent running back
available this offseason, was signed to add
some power to the backfield, and he should
remove pressure from Ryan once hes
granted the starting job, which could be as
early as Week One.
Unfinished business: It was a major surprise that the Falcons didnt spend a single
pick on a defensive tackle during the draft.
They have some depth at the position but
CHRIS GRAYTHEN / GETTY IMAGES
the QB position in the wake of Brett

Favres retirement, installing Aaron Rodgers as the new starter and adding two
promising rookies (second-rounder Brian
Brohm and seventh-rounder Matt Flynn)
to back him up. The draft also added badly
needed depth at cornerback, where second-round pick Patrick Lee appears wellsuited for the No. 3 role behind aging
starters Charles Woodson and Al Harris;
on the offensive line; and at wide receiver,
a position that was already well-stocked.
Ex-Ram Brandon Chillar, the teams lone
free-agent addition, should help provide
better overall play at strong-side linebacker.
Unfinished business: On the field, the
D-lines health is cause for concern.
Injury-prone former first-round pick Justin
Harrell, who is expected to make much
more of an impact in his second season
with Corey Williams having been traded to
Cleveland, recently underwent minor back
surgery that will probably keep him sidelined until training camp. Meanwhile, fellow DTs Johnny Jolly (shoulder) and Colin
Cole (arm) are on the mend from seasonending injuries, and DE Kabeer GbajaBiamila is also currently sidelined after
undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery in
late May. Off the field, the Packers were
hardly rushing to put together a new contract for RB Ryan Grant, who has declined
to sign his $370,000, one-year tender as an
exclusive-rights free agent. That Grant has
been working out and attending meetings
is viewed as a promising sign.
Man in the middle: Jonathan Vilma could be the

centerpiece of a rebuilt Saints defense
traded for Jets MLB Jonathan Vilma on the

first day of free agency, which finally gave
the squad a potential playmaker in the LB
corps. The team remained aggressive, trading up in the draft to get its prized possession, DT Sedrick Ellis, with the seventh
pick. New Orleans looks much better on
defense than it did a year ago, although the
excitement about Vilma is tempered by his
rehab of a knee injury from last season.
Unfinished business: There still is
uncertainty about who the starting running
back will be. If Deuce McAllister is able to
recover from a torn ACL and microfracture
surgery, hell be the workhorse in the backfield again. However, if hes unable to
return to form, more responsibility will fall
on the shoulders of Reggie Bush and backups Aaron Stecker and Pierre Thomas. The
(Continued on Page 18)
2008 OFFSEASON
PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY
NFL TEAM UPDATES
JUNE 2008
PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY
(Continued from Page 17)

team had talks with free-agent RB Shaun
Alexander, and they could be revisited
early in training camp if he remains
unsigned and McAllister struggles.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Mission accomplished: The Bucs stayed
relatively quiet in free agency, aside from

signing C Jeff Faine away from the division-rival Saints, but added some muchneeded depth and speed to their secondary
and receiving corps on Day One of the
draft. CB Aqib Talib will push Phillip
Buchanon for a starting spot or at the very
least become a very versatile nickel back in
08. Second-round pick WR Dexter Jackson will make an immediate contribution
as a kick returner and could develop into a
dangerous receiver by utilizing his stunning speed.
Unfinished business: Two of the most
valuable members of Tampas offense
QB Jeff Garcia and RB Earnest Graham
are both unhappy with their current contracts and may hold out if their demands
for new deals arent met. The Bucs have
the cap room to please both players, but
GM Bruce Allen appears ready to play
hardball as Garcia and Graham enter the
final year of their contracts.
Arizona Cardinals
Mission accomplished: A lack of depth
was a major factor behind the teams
defensive meltdown late last season. With
that in mind, the Cardinals made that their
JUNE 2008
top priority in both the draft and free

agency. First-round draft pick Dominique
Rodgers-Cromartie adds a badly needed
dose of playmaking ability as the likely
No. 3 CB behind starters Rod Hood and
Eric Green. Rookie DEs Calais Campbell
(second round) and Kenny Iwebema
(fourth round) should fortify a D-line that
ran out of gas down the 07 stretch. Freeagent OLBs Travis LaBoy and Clark Haggans are quality veteran additions at a position that also will be bolstered by the return
of Chike Okeafor, who sat out the 07 season with a torn biceps tendon.
Unfinished business: Contract issues
involving franchise ILB Karlos Dansby,
star WR Anquan Boldin and disgruntled
DL Darnell Dockett, among others, are
expected to linger through the summer. On
the field, the Cardinals could have a serious
problem if either Levi Brown or Mike
Gandy gets hurt at offensive tackle, a position that could use another experienced
backup. The Cardinals dont appear to have
gotten any speedier at the skill positions,
which they had mentioned as an offseason
goal. Its clear neither third-round WR
Early Doucet nor fifth-round RB Tim
Hightower was drafted for his 40-time.
St. Louis Rams

Mission accomplished: Recognizing the
need for major change following a disastrous 2007 campaign, beleaguered head
coach Scott Linehan added six new coaches to his staff, led by offensive coordinator
Al Saunders, who has created a positive
buzz with his ties to the Greatest Show on
Turf era when he coached under Mike
Martz. Energetic new executive V.P. of
player personnel Billy Devaney has also
helped to lighten Linehans load. First-
KKR GROUP
NFL TEAM UPDATES
2008 OFFSEASON
18
Serious business: QB Jeff Garcia is not the only Buc who is unhappy with his current contract
round draft pick Chris Long fills a major

need at defensive end and looks like a good
fit in coordinator Jim Hasletts multi-look
scheme. Free-agent additions Jacob Bell
and Josh Brown appear to be very solid fits
at left guard and placekicker, respectively.
Unfinished business: It has been a long
time since the Rams have had to worry
about the WR position, but they do now
with Torry Holt forced to deal with a
chronic knee injury and Isaac Bruce signing with the 49ers. The onus will be on disappointing 07 free-agent addition Drew
Bennett and second-round pick Donnie
Avery, a selection questioned by many, to
pick up the slack. In addition, a wide-open
competition exists at center, and it remains
to be seen how effective two longtime stars
on different sides of the ball OLT Orlando Pace and DLE Leonard Little will be
coming off serious injuries suffered in 07.
The Rams need Pace, who has only been
able to play nine games the past two seasons, to be back at full strength.
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San Francisco 49ers

Mission accomplished: After scoring a
league-low 219 points last season, the Niners reached out to Mike Martz to become
the teams fourth offensive coordinator in
the past four seasons. Considering Martzs
well-earned reputation for assembling lively, freewheeling, pass-heavy offenses, at
least the Niners wont be as dreadfully boring as they were in 07. The team also
appeared to add a host of useful parts via
free agency, most notably DE Justin Smith
and WRs Isaac Bruce and Bryant Johnson,
who could blossom in a starting role after
being stuck behind Larry Fitzgerald and
Anquan Boldin in Arizona.
Unfinished business: What promises to
be a most intriguing starting QB competition involving former first-round pick Alex
Smith, Shaun Hill and newcomer T.J.
OSullivan is just beginning to materialize.
Although players such as Bruce, Johnson
and RB DeShaun Foster must certainly be
considered serviceable, it seems like the
Niners did surprisingly little, especially via
the draft, to upgrade their listless offense.

The OT position appears especially thin,
particularly on the right side, where the
teams reliance on injury-prone Jonas Jennings could be a very risky proposition. On
defense, there are still pass-rush concerns.
Ex-Bengal Smith is supposed to help out in
that area, but he had only two sacks in 07,
and former first-round pick Manny Lawson
has been a disappointment as a pass rusher.
Seattle Seahawks
Mission accomplished: The Seahawks
have gone to great pains to revamp their

subpar ground game this offseason. Head
coach Mike Holmgren said goodbye to
longtime star RB Shaun Alexander, and
hello to spirited new O-line coach Mike
Solari and free-agent additions Mike
Wahle, who he hopes can shoulder the load
at left guard, and RBs Julius Jones and T.J.
Duckett. First-round draft pick Lawrence
Jackson and fourth-round draft pick Red
Bryant should bolster the D-line outside
and inside, respectively. Second-round
draft pick John Carlson, who has shown
nice early flashes, should be an upgrade at
tight end over the departed Marcus Pollard,
with lots of help from holdover Will Heller
and newcomer Jeb Putzier.
Unfinished business: Injuries are a
major cause for concern. Heading into
June, starting offensive linemen Walter
Jones (OLT), Chris Spencer (C) and Chris
Sims (ORG) and backups Ray Willis and
Floyd Pork Chop Womack were all still
nursing ailments. Same goes for starters
Patrick Kerney (DLE) and Rocky
Bernard (DRT) and former first-round
DT Marcus Tubbs. The odds appear to be
growing that WR Deion Branch, who tore
up his knee in the playoff loss to the
Packers, could start the 08 campaign on
the physically-unable-to-perform list.
Two other areas of concern are special
teams, where the team must overcome the
loss of quality PK Josh Brown and top
special-teamers Niko Koutouvides and
Kevin Bentley, and veteran WR Bobby
Engrams contract issues.
JUNE 2008
PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY
FREE AGENCY 2008
Boys ink major deals

before CBA buzzer
By
DAN PARR
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
quiet offseason in Dallas was

interrupted on May 20, as the
Cowboys locked up two of their
own to long-term deals just before
the NFLs owners voted unanimously to opt out of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
The owners decision injects the
possibility of an uncapped year in 2010 into
any future negotiations that players agents
may have with clubs. Cowboys owner Jerry
Jones struck before he and his colleagues
sent the league toward potentially uncharted
waters and signed RB Marion Barber and CB
Terence Newman, who both received the first
Pro Bowl nods of their careers in 07, to new
contracts.
Dallas took a page out of the Patriots offseason playbook of a year ago, when QB
Tom Brady restructured his contract to allow
the team to complete the trade for WR
Randy Moss. Cowboys QB Tony Romo and
OG Leonard Davis both agreed to have their
contracts modified in order to ink Barber
and Newman to megadeals, according to
reports.
Barber, a restricted free agent who has
gained 4.8 yards per carry and rushed for 24
touchdowns over the past two seasons while
splitting carries with the Seattle-bound Julius
Jones, signed a seven-year, $45 million deal,
with $16 million guaranteed. Newman
became one of the highest-paid cornerbacks
in the league, agreeing to a six-year extension for $50.2 million with $22.5 million
guaranteed.
The length of Barbers contract raised a
red flag or two for observers around the
league. For one, he never has served as a fulltime starter and didnt find a spot in the starting lineup last year until the playoffs. The
larger concern, however, is that Barbers violent running style ultimately will lead to
injuries that shorten his career and will not
allow him to play out the full duration of his
new contract. Keep in mind that in the current league climate, even the healthiest players dont play out their deals to completion
very often. Of course, that trend could
change, pending the outcome of the negotiations for a new CBA.
Even with Julius Jones departure, Barber
wont be shouldering the entire load for the
Cowboys they drafted RBs Felix Jones
(first round) and Tashard Choice (fourth
round), the fourth and seventh highest-rated
rookie backs in PFWs ratings, in April.
Jones is a speedy complement to the hardnosed Barber and is expected to make an
instant impact. Choice, regarded as a steal in
the fourth round, fits as a special-teams contributor this season, but could develop into
Barbers replacement down the road.
Felix Jones will take on Julius Jones former role as the quicker option out of the
backfield, but he wont get starts as Julius
did. Felix Jones has a chance to become a
much more versatile playmaker than Julius
Jones ever was while making contributions
as a rusher, receiver and kick returner.
Newman has started all but two games he
has played in since the Cowboys drafted him
with the fifth overall pick in the 2003 draft.
He battled a foot injury last season, which
kept him out of the first two games, and he
had a career-low tackle total, managing 50.
The 29-year-old (he turns 30 on Sept. 4) still
managed to come up with four interceptions,
which tied a career high. Newman has been
JAMES D. SMITH
Worth the risk? Marion Barbers physical running

style could limit the length of his career
regarded as one of the best cover corners in

the league for some time, but because teams
tend to throw away from his side of the field,
he has not received as much attention as
some of his colleagues.
The Cowboys arent done sorting out some
issues in their secondary and likely will shift
their attention next to reaching an agreement
with another Pro Bowler from last season
franchise free-agent FS Ken Hamlin, who
still has not signed his one-year tender of
$4.396 million. There were reports nearly
two months ago that he was close to signing
an extension, but that was evidently premature. Dallas has until July 15 to sign him to a
long-term deal. The squad is also waiting for
CB Pacman Jones to be reinstated by commissioner Roger Goodell and is trying to
smooth things over with disgruntled SS Roy
Williams, who appeared at odds with teammates earlier this offseason and opted not to
attend recent OTAs.
NEWS AND NOTES

Bears PK Robbie Gould is giving hope
to undrafted free-agent kickers everywhere.

Gould, who went undrafted out of Penn State
in 2005 and spent time with the Ravens and
Patriots before ending up in Chicago, became
the highest-paid kicker in the league on May
12 when he received a five-year, $15.5 million contract extension including a $4.25 million signing bonus. The new deal runs
through 2013. Gould has made 84-of-99
field-goal attempts in his three seasons,
including 31-of-36 in 07, and made the Pro
Bowl in 06. His deal tops that of Rams PK
Josh Brown, who signed a five-year, $14.2
million contract on March 1.
The Colts brought back a key piece from
their Super Bowl winning backfield of 2006,
signing RB Dominic Rhodes to a one-year
deal on May 7. He will back up Colts starter
Joseph Addai and share carries with Kenton
Keith. Rhodes spent the first six seasons of
his career in Indianapolis before joining the
Raiders in 07 He became the odd man out in
a crowded Oakland backfield, and the team
released him shortly after drafting RB Darren
McFadden with the fourth overall pick in
April. Rhodes was the Colts starter during
the regular season of 06, but lost his job to
Addai in the playoffs as the squad went on to
win Super Bowl XLI.
19
RANKING THE FREE-AGENT CLASS OF 2008

Below are the highest-graded players who hit the free-agent market. Some came free because their contracts expired, others were cut in cost-cutting moves. (Updated through June 1)
TOP 100 FREE AGENTS

RK. POSITION/PLAYER
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
WR Randy Moss
DE Jared Allen
DT Albert Haynesworth
DE-OLB Terrell Suggs
CB Asante Samuel
CB Nnamdi Asomugha
CB Marcus Trufant
OG Alan Faneca
RB Marion Barber
LB Lance Briggs
RB Michael Turner
DE Justin Smith
LB Karlos Dansby
OT Jordan Gross
DE Antwan Odom
OT Flozell Adams
OT Stacy Andrews
LB Calvin Pace
OG Jason Brown
S O.J. Atogwe
DT Corey Williams
DE Chris Canty
S Ken Hamlin
OL Damien Woody
TE L.J. Smith
PK Josh Brown
WR Dont Stallworth
QB Derek Anderson
S Madieu Williams
WR D.J. Hackett
S Gibril Wilson
P Dustin Colquitt
RB Julius Jones
LB Landon Johnson
PK Rob Bironas
WR Bernard Berrian
WR Javon Walker
DE Travis LaBoy
TE Alge Crumpler
OG Jacob Bell
C Jeff Faine
CB Drayton Florence
WR Andr Davis
DL Tommy Kelly
OG Jake Scott
DE Bobby McCray
DT Jovan Haye
OT David Stewart
LB Michael Boley
WR Jerry Porter
LB Kawika Mitchell
WR Bryant Johnson
S Yeremiah Bell
OG Justin Smiley
LB Demorrio Williams
DT Rod Coleman
S Eugene Wilson
DE Marques Douglas
LB Reggie Torbor
QB Josh McCown
RB DeShaun Foster
PK Jason Elam
OG Maurice Williams
FB Leonard Weaver
CB Domonique Foxworth
LB Tedy Bruschi
DE Kevin Carter
RB Derrick Ward
DE Jevon Kearse
LB Clark Haggans
OT Max Starks
RB Chris Brown
LB Victor Hobson
DE Antonio Smith
DT Darwin Walker
WR David Patten
OG Larry Allen
S Dwight Smith
LB Boss Bailey
S Will Demps
WR Justin Gage
S Chris Crocker
WR Devery Henderson
LB Danny Clark
QB Todd Collins
S Marlon McCree
WR Ernest Wilford
WR Isaac Bruce
WR Nate Washington
LB Dan Morgan
CB Eric Green
RB Ron Dayne
RB T.J. Duckett
WR Darrell Jackson
WR Marty Booker
ST Brendon Ayanbadejo
S C.C. Brown
FB Tony Richardson
RB Tatum Bell
RB Aaron Stecker
2007 TEAM
Patriots
Chiefs
Titans
Ravens
Patriots
Raiders
Seahawks
Steelers
Cowboys
Bears
Chargers
Bengals
Cardinals
Panthers
Titans
Cowboys
Bengals
Cardinals
Ravens
Rams
Packers
Cowboys
Cowboys
Lions
Eagles
Seahawks
Patriots
Browns
Bengals
Seahawks
Giants
Chiefs
Cowboys
Bengals
Titans
Bears
Broncos
Titans
Falcons
Titans
Saints
Chargers
Texans
Raiders
Colts
Jaguars
Bucs
Titans
Falcons
Raiders
Giants
Cardinals
Dolphins
49ers
Falcons
Falcons
Patriots
49ers
Giants
Raiders
Panthers
Broncos
Jaguars
Seahawks
Broncos
Patriots
Bucs
Giants
Eagles
Steelers
Steelers
Titans
Jets
Cardinals
Bears
Saints
49ers
Vikings
Lions
Texans
Titans
Falcons
Saints
Texans
Redskins
Chargers
Jaguars
Rams
Steelers
Panthers
Cardinals
Texans
Lions
49ers
Dolphins
Bears
Texans
Vikings
Lions
Saints
2006 TEAM
TERMS (YRS. VALUE GUARANTEED)
COMMENTS
Patriots
Vikings
3 yrs. / $27 mil. / $15 mil.

6 yrs. / $74 mil. / $31 mil.
Eagles
6 yrs. / $57 mil. / $20 mil.
Seahawks
Jets
Cowboys
Bears
Falcons
49ers
Cardinals
Panthers
Bengals
Cowboys
Bengals
Jets
Ravens
Rams
Browns
6 yrs. / $50.2 mil./ $20 mil.

5 yrs. / $40 mil. / $21 mil.
7 yrs. / $45 mil. / $16 mil.
6 yrs. / $36 mil. / $13 mil.
6 yrs. / $34.5 mil. / $15 mil.
6 yrs. / $45 mil. / $20 mil.
1 yr. tender / $8.065 mil.
5 yrs. / $29.5 mil. / $11.5 mil.
6 yrs. / $43 mil. / $15 mil.
6 yrs. / $42 mil. / $22 mil.
6 yrs. / $38 mil. / $16.3 mil.
Jets
Eagles
Rams
Browns
Browns
Vikings
Panthers
Raiders
Chiefs
Seahawks
Panthers
Titans
Vikings
Raiders
Cardinals
Titans
Rams
Bucs
Jaguars
Texans
Raiders
Titans
Saints
Bucs
Titans
Falcons
Jaguars
Bills
49ers
Dolphins
Dolphins
Chiefs
5 yrs. / $25.5 mil. / $11 mil.

5 yrs. / $14.2 mil. / $4 mil. SB
7 yrs. / $35 mil. / $10 mil.
3 yrs. / $24 mil. / $13 mil.
6 yrs. / $33 mil. / $13 mil.
2 yrs. / $3.5 mil.
6 yrs. / $39 mil. / $16 mil.
5 yrs. / $8.5 mil. / $2.4 mil. SB
4 yrs. / terms undisclosed
3 yrs. / $10 mil.
6 yrs. / $42 mil. / $16 mil.
6 yrs. / $55 mil. / $16 mil.
5 yrs. / $22 mil. / $7.5 mil.
2 yrs. / $5 mil. / $1 mil. SB
6 yrs. / $36 mil. / $16 mil.
6 yrs. / $37.5 mil. / $15 mil.
6 yrs. / $36 mil. / $13 mil.
4 yrs. / $16 mil. / $8 mil.
7 yrs. / $50.5 mil. / $18.125 mil.
4 yrs. / $19.5 mil. / $6 mil.
5 yrs. / $20 mil. / $5 mil. SB
6 yrs. / $30 mil. / $10 mil.
5 yrs. / $17.5 mil.
1 yr. / terms undisclosed
1 yr. / $1.4 mil.
5 yrs. / $25 mil. / $9 mil.
5 yrs. / $16 mil. / $5.5 mil.
Bucs
Bucs
Dolphins
Dolphins
49ers
Falcons
Jaguars
Seahawks
Broncos
Patriots
Bucs
Giants
Titans
Cardinals
Steelers
Texans
Patriots
Cardinals
Panthers
Saints
1 yr. / $1.8 mil.

4 yrs. / $14 million
2 yrs. / $6.25 mil.
2 yrs. / $1.8 mil.
4 yrs. / $9 mil.
4 yrs. / $16 mil.
1 yr. tender / $927,000
2 yrs. / $2.9 mil. / $1.2 mil. SB
1 yr. / $1.1 mil.
2 yrs. / $6 mil.
2 yrs. / $3.6 mil. / $800,000
Lions
Broncos
Texans
Titans
Dolphins
Saints
Giants
Redskins
Broncos
Dolphins
49ers
Steelers
Retired
Cardinals
2 yrs. / $5 mil.
5 yrs. / $17.5 mil. / $4.3 mil. SB
2 yrs. / $4.75 mil.
4 yrs. / $14 mil.
1 yr. / $1.15 mil. / $300,000
1 yr. / $2 mil.
2 yrs. / $4 mil.
3 yrs. / $9 mil.
1 yr. / $2 mil. / $500,000 SB
4 yrs. / $13 mil. / $6 mil. SB
2 yrs. / $6 mil.
1 yr. / $1.48 mil.
Seahawks
Broncos
Bears
Ravens
Texans
Jets
Lions
Saints
5 yrs. / $13 mil. / $4 mil.

2 yrs. / $3.5 mil.
4 yrs. / $4.9 mil.
1 yr. / almost $2 mil.
1 yr. / $1.6 mil.
1 yr. / $1.4 mil.
Would have been a surprise if he signed elsewhere

Joins a defensive line thats laden with Pro Bowlers
Put it all together in 07
Will be paid about $8.5 mil. if he signs DE-OLB tender
Ballhawk expected to give Philly secondary a boost
Given exclusive franchise tag; rising star at his position
Intercepted seven passes last season
The centerpiece of the Jets O-line rebuilding plans
Cashed in after impressive 07 season
His return to Chicago was thought to be a long shot
Gets starters money, carries in Atlanta
Hardworking, run-stuffing defensive end
Uniquely talented linebacker can play inside and outside
Very good on the right side; moving to other side in 08
Were eight sacks in 07 a sign of things to come?
One of the bigger and more dependable OLTs around
Just starting to reach his vast potential
Jets paid big for this talented, versatile OLB
Tough, physical left guard is a player on the rise
Led NFC with eight interceptions last season
Traded to Cleveland, where hell be a key part of D-line
Good 3-4 DEs are hard to find; has a bright future
Hoping to get rewarded after first Pro Bowl season
Talented but inconsistent; Jets will play him at ORT
One of Donovan McNabbs most dependable targets
Bolted for division-rival St. Louis; clutch, strong-legged
Browns couldnt resist adding another big-play threat
Set up for another big payday if he can build on 07
Reunites with former Bengals DC Leslie Frazier
Could be a bargain if he pans out
Raiders desperately wanted a steady veteran safety
Already one of NFLs best; could get even better
Likely to share carries with T.J. Duckett
Steady, versatile OLB will play on weak side in Carolina
Had an excellent 07 season; could cash in next year
Has very good speed; Vikings new No. 1 WR
Raiders are gambling 07 struggles wont carry over
Athletic pass rusher notched six sacks last season
Tennessee hopes he plays to his form of a few years ago
Paid handsomely to help fix St. Louis leaky O-line
The athletic Faine is one of the better centers around
Solid starter; has 10 career interceptions
Very good kick returner and capable No. 3 or 4 WR
Received a record deal for a DT; coming off ACL injury
After losing Jacob Bell, Titans signed Indys ORG
Talented but not particularly consistent
Had a breakout season in 07 (six sacks) in the Tampa-2
Has logged 30 career starts at ORT for Tennessee
One of the bright spots on Falcons defense last season
Could be a good fit in Jacksonvilles passing game
Got the long-term deal he wanted after playing well in 07
Joins a somewhat-crowded WR picture in San Francisco
Coming off knee injury; impressed in 06
Signed deal with Miami on first day of free agency
Penciled in as Chiefs new weak-side backer
Can be an effective pass-rushing DT when healthy
Can also play CB in a pinch; needed change of scenery
Rugged run stuffer; notched 71 tackles last season
Big strong-side LB who has the ability to get to the QB
One of the entrants in the Dolphins QB derby
Will spell Frank Gore; part-time role suits him well
Has made 54-of-60 FG attempts the past two seasons
Moved inside to guard and found his niche
Versatile player is one of Seattles secret weapons
Has 18 starts in three NFL seasons
Instinctive ILB figures to be a Patriot for life
Cut, then re-signed
Change-of-pace back will have to compete for carries
Hopes return to Tennessee will jump-start his career
Still can be an effective OLB in a 3-4 scheme
The only player to receive the transition tag
Texans might use committee approach at RB
Has significant starting experience in 3-4 and 4-3
Came along nicely last season
Disappointed in his only season with the Bears
Still a threat to get deep after all of these years
May retire; if he doesnt, he still could snag a starting job
Productive; off-field incidents are a concern
Joins brother Champ in Denver
Impressed after joining Houston in September
Became an important part of Titans offense in 07
Enters wide-open safety competition in Miami
Has racked up 20.2 yards per catch in four NFL seasons
Good locker-room, special-teams presence
Will back up Jason Campbell in Washington
Broncos are looking for better play at safety
Tall, physical possession receiver
Could be a stabilizing presence for Niners offense
Steelers No. 3 WR has flashed some big-play ability
Injuries forced star-crossed player to call it quits
Has developed into a solid starter
Houston has passed on re-signing its leading 07 rusher
Played well in a limited role for Detroit last season
Struggled with Niners; will compete to start in Denver
Could be Chicagos No. 1 receiver
Special-teams star; also will get some snaps on defense
Steady, if not flashy, strong safety
Thomas Jones had to applaud his arrival
Gets another chance with Lions
Catches the ball well; a solid No. 3 back
PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY
20
JUNE 2008
Back
to the
bargaining table
CHIP SOMODEVILLA / GETTY IMAGES
By
MIKE WILKENING
SENIOR EDITOR
ver since they voted 30-2 to extend the Collective Bargaining Agreement in March 2006
just beating an NFL Players Associationimposed deadline and keeping a salary cap in
place for several more years but giving players a larger share of revenues NFL owners have wanted nothing more than to reopen
negotiations with the NFL Players Association on the next CBA.
How badly the owners want out of the current agreement
was laid bare on May 20, when they unanimously voted to
terminate the final two years of CBA, making 2010 the final
league year covered by the agreement and 2009 the final
league year in which a salary cap will be in place.
For all intents and purposes, the beginning of the uncapped
2010 league year has become a deadline of sorts for both
sides the point of no return, as NFLPA executive director Gene Upshaw called it. NFL owners, who hastily ratified
the current agreement two years ago as the prospect of an
uncapped year in 2007 loomed, would prefer keeping a cap,
while Upshaw has repeatedly said an uncapped year would
make it impossible for him to sell his membership on a cap
ever again.
Under the current CBA, players will receive 59.5 percent
OWNERS, PLAYERS
HAVE MANY ISSUES
TO OVERCOME
IN NEXT SET OF
CBA NEGOTIATIONS
of total revenue in the next two years. The owners, who will
spend almost $4.5 billion on player costs this year and will
almost certainly spend more in 09, when the salary cap
reaches $123 million, are seeking relief.
A Collective Bargaining Agreement has to work for both
sides, the NFL said in a statement, upon the owners decision to shorten the CBA. If the agreement provides inadequate incentives to invest in the future, it will not work for
management or labor. And, in the context of a professional
sports league, if the agreement does not afford all clubs an
opportunity to be competitive, the league can lose its

appeal.
Upshaw has repeatedly insisted the players will not take a
smaller share of the revenues in the next agreement.
Heres a rundown of some of the other major issues that
will affect the next round of labor negotiations:
NFL capital spending and debt loads To hear it from
the owners, they are under pressure both because of rising
player costs as well as capital costs. Owners must spend
significant and growing amounts on stadium construction,
operations and improvements to respond to the interests and
demands of our fans, the NFL said. The current labor
agreement does not adequately recognize the costs of generating the revenues of which the players receive the largest
share; nor does the agreement recognize that those costs
have increased substantially and at an ever-increasing rate
in recent years during a difficult economic climate in our
country.
The amount of debt each club is carrying has already
proven a source of labor unrest. In February, the NFLPA filed
a grievance against the NFL, claiming owners had engaged in
collusion when they voted last October to lower each teams
debt ceiling from $150 million to $120 million by 2010. The
union charged the move was designed to limit the amount of
money teams had on hand just as the league entered the
uncapped year. NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told PFW that
the owners were advised by the NFL Finance Committee
JUNE 2008
PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY
21
QUIET DISSENT:
Players, owners are taking measured approach to deal with labor strife
he NFL owners are now weeks
removed from their move to opt out
of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, the same one they almost
rubber-stamped a little more than two
years earlier. And the feeling is the same:
Were not terribly close to a solution that
would ensure financial harmony, and
everything could break open with a
salary-cap-free year in 2010.
Although keeping peace is less important in most right-minded peoples agendas, it does play into what are likely to be
some sticky negotiations between the
sensitive players union and the suddenly
challenged owners group, which now realized it got a bit bilked with the previous
deal. Overseeing it all is commissioner
Roger Goodell, who knows his tenure still
can be counted in months and must shepherd this thing through to a safe place.
The roles of the two sides will remain
familiar. The feisty players, far less a
power than their baseball counterparts,
will try to keep a foot wedged in the door
that they opened wide in 2006; the owners will try to impart their hegemonistic
will, using the argument that with rising
salaries, stadium costs and franchise
debt, too much of the money is allocated
to the players.
To extend the king-and-court metaphor,
the owners claim now that the players are
incurring none of the burden of building
the environment in which they flourish,
but the players will counter by saying that

their 59-60 percent share hasnt included
the profitable naming rights for stadiums,
personal seat licenses and luxury boxes.
Call it reverse civil disobedience, if you
will.
Whatever it is, the state of the league
hangs in the balance. In a time of league
prosperity, the idea of spitting into the
wind seems like a risky proposition, but
its the right thing to do. The previous
deal, we see now, might have been
shoved through by the owners who felt
some sense of gratitude to then-commissioner Paul Tagliabue and might have
rushed to judgment on what is a flawed
and skewed allocation of money. And its
always about the money, even if they say
its not.
I guess the Bengals Mike Brown and
the Bills Ralph Wilson the only two
dissenting voices back in 06 dont look
so stupid or so small-marketish now.
The good news is that there is time.
Not as much as people think, because
avoiding the uncapped year means a deal
must be in place sometime in 2009, in
theory. But there is ample time to get both
sides talking about the key issues. In particular order, it would seem to me that
reaching common ground on how the
money is split up trumps other issues,
including rookie salaries, revenue sharing
between the clubs and player discipline.
If we start with the players and owners
after their late-March/early-April meetings in West Palm

Beach, Fla., that there had been no decision by the committee on further steps with respect to the debt burden resolution. The matter was not addressed by the Finance Committee at the May meeting.
Assessing the financial health of the 32 NFL teams is a
guessing game; neither the league nor its member clubs
release financial statements. Upshaw has requested that the
NFL open its books, but owners have refused. According to
USA Today, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said the
league was willing to provide some financial information but
that unreasonable union demands on the conditions for the
release of such data caused negotiations to fall apart.
Revenue sharing among the owners This subject
almost derailed the last set of CBA negotiations, with owners
coming to an agreement on a revenue-sharing plan hours
before the negotiating deadline. Under the current system,
the top 15 highest-grossing teams are required to contribute
non-football revenue into the pool of money to be paid to
players. The teams are split into three tiers, with the richest
five clubs contributing the most revenue. The second tier of
clubs (the sixth- to 10th-wealthiest clubs) contributes somewhat less, with the third tier (the 11th- to 15th-wealthiest
clubs) contributing the least of the group.
(Owners) hate paying the players. But they hate sharing with each other more, Upshaw joked.
Soaring salaries for high first-round picks On the day
the owners terminated the final two years of the CBA, the
Falcons signed QB Matt Ryan, the No. 3 overall pick, to a
six-year, $72 million contract that included more than $34
million in guarantees. Word of the agreement came only
hours after the NFL said the current system, in which some
rookies are able to secure contracts that pay them more than
top proven veterans, was irrational. Titans C Kevin
Mawae, the president of the NFLPA, called Ryans deal disheartening in an interview on ESPN Radio. However,
Upshaw is against a rookie wage scale because of the relatively short career length of the average player, as well as his
belief that high salaries for first-round rookies can only help
star veteran players at the negotiating table.
The ability of clubs to reclaim bonuses paid to players
The NFLPA won a major victory on this front in February
when a federal judge ruled that imprisoned Falcons QB
Michael Vick could keep more than $16 million of $20 million in contested bonuses. With a toughened personal-con-
slices of the pie, we have to mention the

range of 59 to 60 percent of revenues
currently going to the players the owners ideally would like to trim that a bit, but
the players actually think they should get
60 percent or more. In theory, the players
could agree to a smaller percentage and
still make out. The idea is that the players
allow the teams to keep their stadium
money, and the incentive to construct new
buildings will enhance the overall revenues.
The problem with going down from the
current 59-60 percent, or even remaining
at that number, if you ask some player
representatives, is that the players dont
want to appear weak. They dont want it
to seem as though they are getting
jobbed, taking a smaller slice of the pie,
and then have to trot Gene Upshaw in
front of a microphone and explain that he
actually did a good thing, that the pie is
bigger than it was before. Or will be. You
get the idea, I think.
Its tricky, no question. And this issue
probably will not be solved until after this
NFL calendar year. It likely will next
regain legs, other than a few mentions
this summer, at Goodells press conference during Super Bowl week down in
Tampa in February. Thats likely when the
clock starts in earnest.
Right now, theres a lot of posturing, but
the upside is that neither side has fired
much of a shot across the others bow to
duct policy in place, the owners are likely to push for the
right to recoup bonuses paid to players whom are judged to
have violated their contracts.
Upshaws future with the NFLPA Upshaws contract
runs until he reaches age 65 in August 2010, but he has
vowed to stay on as the NFLPAs leader until this latest round
of labor talks ends. In April, Ravens PK Matt Stover attempted to start the process of finding Upshaws replacement by
March 2009, but Stover quickly backed off.
I think the players will stay together right now, a league
source recently told PFW. It sends a big message to players
when its 32 to zero. What the owners are basically saying is,
We are ready for a fight. The players message needs to be,
date, and its in this small victory that I

take solace. It makes me believe that all
parties realize that football has gotten bigger than the owners, bigger than the players and bigger than the commissioner.
Everyone knows the golden goose wont
lay those pretty eggs forever, but why not
keep things as calm in the nest as long
as possible? There will be some complications down the line, surely, but the calm
seas are soothing for now.
You cant fault the approach of either
side right now. The owners, we knew,
would opt out, and by doing so earlier
than the November deadline, they not
only gave themselves nearly seven
months of extra lag time, the negotiations
can be well prepared, more spread out
and, possibly, more harmonious when the
two sides sit down to meet.
As far as the players go, you have to
like their desire to be treated fairly and
want to build not step back from
what they earned in the last deal. They
know how fleeting an NFL career can be
and how important it is to get what they
can when they can, especially as the only
major sport without some kind of guaranteed contract.
Perspective is the operative word. Perspective for whats best for the league
and how this deal should come to be. By
taking a step back, both sides can see
theres a lot to be gained. Lets hope they
do just that. Well see in about two years.
We are 100 percent behind Gene. If the players cannot agree

on anything, there will be big problems.
So begins what could be a lengthy and contentious
set of negotiations, one that both sides knew was bound to
happen ever since Upshaw and then-commissioner Paul
Tagliabue struck a deal to keep the labor peace two short
years ago. The owners decision to opt out of the final two
years of the CBA was widely expected, but not this soon; the
owners had originally been expected to take up the matter in
November. But they did not want to address the issue in the
middle of the season.
Either way, Upshaw wasnt going to be caught off guard.
This just starts the clock ticking, he said.
Story lines, key figures to watch as

next round of CBA negotiations looms
2008 ROOKIE CONTRACTS Uncertainty about the future of the CBA did not stop the
Falcons from striking a lucrative deal with QB Matt Ryan, the No. 3 overall pick. Also, the
Dolphins were able to reach a deal with OLT Jake Long, the No. 1 overall pick, before
Sweet deal: No. 1 overall
the draft began. Whats more, both players received significant raises over the first playpick Jake Long is already the
ers selected at their respective positions a season ago. But will the prospect of an
highest-paid O-lineman in NFL
uncapped year in 2010 and further labor unrest affect any other draft-pick negotiations?
2009 FREE AGENCY The salary cap increases to $123 million in 2009. With teams
becoming better than ever at managing the cap, and with robust starts to the free-agent signing periods in the first
two league years covered under the current agreement, participants in the 09 free-agent market may not behave all
that differently than they have recently. After all, teams can continue to prorate signing bonuses over six seasons.
However, the question of how to deal with the prospect of the uncapped 2010 season looms.
ROGER GOODELL Goodells predecessor, Paul Tagliabue, had a strong relationship with NFLPA executive director
Gene Upshaw. And Goodell and Upshaw have worked well together in Goodells short time as commissioner, especially with regard to the changes made to the player-conduct policy. But how Goodell handles being the focal point of
negotiations with Upshaw who is no slouch at the bargaining table bears watching, especially when the owners dissatisfaction with the current deal is considered. Goodell is no stranger to labor negotiations, but he faces a new
set of challenges.
GENE UPSHAW In what is likely to be his last set of labor negotiations as the head of the NFLPA, Upshaw will
try to build off the success of the 06 CBA extension, which guaranteed players a larger share of revenues than they
had ever had in the salary-cap era. But his job is not without challenges. With the end of his tenure as executive
director looming, Upshaw will work to keep his membership unified through what could be a long, contentious set of
negotiations.
ERIC EDHOLM
ERIC EDHOLM
MIKE WILKENING
PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY
22
JUNE 2008
THE ABCS OF THE CBA:
Rookie contracts among issues needing to be addressed
JERRY MAGEE
e go to work, you and me.

At my place and I suppose
at yours, being part of the
work force requires
accepting certain measures, which
lend a sense of order to matters.
Where I show up, the work
week is 3712 hours (not that newspaper guys, the good ones, place
limits on their efforts). Please be
on time. Deadlines, pal. Dont
miss them. Infinitives should not
be split. Adjectives should be
used sparingly, if at all. Clarity is
encouraged. Traveling, watch that
budget. Newspapers, remember,
are hurting big-time.
A guy in my dodge may not
regard all these points as gospel,
but he lives by them. We are a
society of rules. I bring this up
because the NFL in its wisdom
has chosen to separate itself from
its rules book, which is known as
the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
This is the document that
details the conditions under which
players are employed. I think of it
as the leagues Constitution,
although it might more rightfully
be likened to its Bill of Rights.
Think of we, the people, etc.,
although the NFL warlords have

decided that it was not a perfect
union that was formed when the
CBA, first written in 1993, was
extended in 2006.
Under the provisions currently
being enforced, players receive 60
percent of the leagues gross revenues, or about $4.5 billion.
League revenues are estimated at
$8.5 billion, although only the
Green Bay Packers, being a publicly held corporation, disclose
financial figures.
As the NFL defines its position,
the sums being expended for
players have become burdensome.
In his State of the League
address prior to Super Bowl XLII,
commissioner Roger Goodell
made the point that many teams
must deal with costs that were not
there when the CBA was extended.
I think it is important for our
fans to understand that the labor
agreement is critically important
to our business, and that our business has changed over the last
several years, Goodell said. The
cost of operating an NFL franchise, not only in labor costs that
are 60 percent of the gross, but
the cost in stadium operations and

building stadiums, operating
them, and capital improvements,
these are all additional costs that
we didnt have several years ago,
and I think they need to be recognized.
Goodells position notwithstanding, no one is going to have
to take up collections for the NFL
franchises. We are not in dire
straits, the commissioner has
conceded. What the NFL owners
are doing here, one can suspect, is
assuming a bargaining position. I
think of it in these terms:
We will continue to award
you, the players, 60 percent of the
gross, but in return we want concessions.
In my thinking, the leagues
thrust here is to get away from
making rookie draft selections
members of a privileged class.
Bully, I say. The NFLs structure
concerning payments to players is
upside down. In no other enterprise are people who have not
demonstrated professionalism
granted rewards that the true professionals have little possibility of
matching.
What is needed, clearly, is a
wage scale for rookies. Let them

progress as people in other occupations do, on the basis of their
abilities. Distribute the sums that
have been lavished on prospects
to the athletes who, through their
experience and their trials, merit
them.
In this regard, Jake Longs
name comes up. When the offensive tackle from Michigan, the
first player identified in this years
NFL draft, signed with the Miami
Dolphins, he won a guaranteed
$30 million. This, before he had
taken his stance in an NFL game.
Preposterous. And the league, one
can trust, finally is prepared to
act, as it did in announcing that it
was stepping away from the CBA.
As a condition of renewing the
document, written into it was a
provision that either the owners or
the players, as represented by the
NFL Players Association, could
terminate it in 2011, two years
before it was to have lapsed. A
further condition of opting out,
as the phrase has it, is that should
the owners and the NFLPA not
reach an accord before then, the
2010 season would be one without a salary cap, which makes the
10 season the deadline here.

We would like to get things
done, but often its not until you
have a deadline that people realize
the consequence of not reaching a
deal, Goodell has said.
A year without a cap would
seem an invitation to chaos, but
the league has some controls
meant to prevent teams from making wholesale acquisitions. In
one, a player would have to have
six seasons in the league rather
than the current four before
becoming an unrestricted free
agent. In another, the free-agent
activities of playoff teams from
the previous season would be limited.
I cannot imagine that the NFL
and its players are going to take
this thing far enough for there to
be a stoppage in play in 2011.
Everybody is doing too well for
that to happen. Good can come of
this. Rookies could be rewarded
for what they are beginners.
Make them sweat.
Jerry Magee has covered pro
football for the San Diego UnionTribune since 1961 and for PFW
since its inception in 1967.
MUST-SEE SUNDAY NIGHT:
NBC edges ESPN with slate of blockbuster games
BARRY JACKSON
RADIO-TV
o lets get this straight. NBC is paying

$600 million annually for Sundaynight NFL games and receives not only
seven weeks of flexible scheduling, but
an exceptional lineup without a single dog
game on paper (plus, two annual wild-card
playoff games and a Super Bowl once every
three years).
ESPN, meanwhile pays $1.1 billion a
year, gets no flexible scheduling or postseason games, and was given a Monday-night
lineup featuring ho-hummers Denver-Oakland, San Francisco-Arizona, JacksonvilleHouston and Tampa Bay-Carolina.
Predictably, ESPN wasnt thrilled with the
schedule, but network executives arent
going to complain publicly, either. (And its
schedule was actually better than last years.)
What is clear is this: To position itself
well for the next TV negotiations, the NFL
wants to do whatever it can to boost the ratings of its marquee over-the-air Sundaynight package, even if it makes ESPNs
schedule look weak by comparison. And the
NFL knows the Sunday-night games must
be especially compelling to give viewers
incentive to keep watching after sitting
through an afternoon double-header.
ESPN, as the thinking goes, should be
giddy merely having Monday Night Football and all of the inherent promotional
value of owning cables highest-rated series.
And so, by all measures, NBC again
received the vastly superior schedule this
year. Consider:
While NBC gets three appearances
each by the Cowboys, Patriots and Giants,

ESPN has only one of each (but three
Browns games, oddly enough).
While NBCs 16 announced games feature only three appearances by below-.500
teams (all by Chicago), ESPNs 17-game
schedule includes 11.
While NBC has 11 matchups pitting
two playoff teams from last year, ESPN has
only two (Colts-Titans on Oct. 27, and
Steelers-Redskins on Nov. 3).
NBC gets most of the snazzy games: Dallas-Green Bay on Sept. 21, New EnglandSan Diego on Oct. 12, New England-Indianapolis on Nov. 2 and Giants-Cowboys on
Dec. 14.
NFL NETWORK CHANGES

NFL Network will have fewer Saturday
games, more Thursday games, and good
news! a new play-by-play announcer.
Thankfully, the Bryant Gumbel experiment ended after two painful years of delinquent play-by-play and myriad mistakes.
NFL Network initially approached NBCs
Al Michaels about replacing him, but
Michaels wasnt interested in doing an additional eight games.
Meanwhile, the networks eight-game
package now will consist of seven Thursday-night games (two more than last year)
and one Saturday game (two fewer than last
year). And instead of starting on Thanksgiving, NFL Network instead will open Nov. 6
with Denver-Cleveland. Other highlights:
Arizona-Philadelphia Thanksgiving night,
Jets-Patriots Nov. 13, and Baltimore-Dallas

Dec. 20.
Meantime, commissioner Roger Goodell
said at the April owners meetings in Palm
Beach, Fla., that the league isnt ready to
relent and accept the network being placed
on a tier, even though 63 percent of the
country doesnt get the channel.
Wed shut it down before we ever did
that kind of deal, NFL Network president
Steve Bornstein said. Were all about mass
distribution and wide availability of our
product and theres no reason we want to
make this an elitist product.
The NFL simulcast NFL Networks coverage of the Week 17 Patriots-Giants game
on CBS and NBC, but I don't anticipate
doing that again, Goodell said.
Smart move by Fox to hire former
Ravens coach Brian Billick as a game analyst. He will work in a two-man booth on
Sundays when Fox has eight games, and in
a three-man booth (partners TBA) on other
weeks.
NBC sports chairman Dick Ebersol, on
whether he has considered pursuing the
retired Brett Favre: I cant say the thought
hasnt crossed my mind. (But) Favre has
made it abundantly clear hes not going to
do anything this year. That gives me more
time to decide if theres anything that works
for us.
ESPN play-by-player Mike Tirico quibbles with former analyst Joe Theismanns
claim that Monday Night Football is
essentially Tony Kornheisers show.
Its not Tony Night Football, Tirico

said at the owners meetings. But, he said,
You have to pay more attention with what
youre doing with Tony because hes not
qualified to get on there and talk about
pulling guards.
Tirico said, Im the happiest person
about the decision to continue reducing
celebrity guests in the MNF booth. Im a
nuts and bolts guy almost to a fault, he
said.
No, ESPNs Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd
McShay dont dislike each other, ESPN
people say, although some viewers inferred
otherwise after watching their prickly
debates before, during and after the draft.
The two are actually friends, and although
McShay appears the heir (or hair apparent) to Kiper and has done good work,
ESPN appears committed to Kiper as it
should be as long as he wants to keep
doing draft analysis.
This was draft No. 25 for Kiper, and he
said he notices that the public no longer
ridicules people in his line of work.
Showtime reportedly is working on a
deal to acquire Inside The NFL, which
was dropped by HBO Good job by
Andrea Kremer, on behalf of HBO, to snag
the first TV interview of former Patriots
video assistant Matt Walsh NFL Network
will carry a package of classic games on
Monday nights this summer.
Barry Jackson covers sports broadcasting
for the Miami Herald.
JUNE 2008
PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY
FA N TA S Y FOOTBALL
23
Feature
Scratching your fantasy itch

By MICHAEL
BLUNDA
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
hough Week One still might be a

few months off, its never too early
to start thinking about fantasy football and your upcoming drafts.
Here, in no particular order, are the
top five fantasy story lines to watch
heading into the 2008 season.
Having played only 14 NFL

games, how high does
Vikings RB Adrian Peterson
deserve to be drafted?
Its safe to say that no fantasy player
enters 08 with more buzz than Adrian
Peterson, who is coming off a rookie year
for the ages. He finished second in the
league in rushing (1,341 yards), tied for second in rushing TDs (12) and ran for a singlegame record 296 yards in Week Nine vs. the
Chargers. However, with just one NFL season under his belt, where should Peterson
come off the board in fantasy drafts?
RB LaDainian Tomlinson still is king, but
no player has a higher ceiling than Peterson.
Hes a big play waiting to happen, as evidenced by his league-leading five runs of
40-plus yards last year, and many fantasy
owners are going to be falling all over themselves hoping to snag him. For example,
even though PFW has Peterson as our thirdranked running back and other reputable
rankings have him at fourth or fifth, he was
taken second overall in our most recent
mock draft. The argument for him being the
first guy taken after L.T. is strong, but you
also could make a legitimate case against
picking him that high.
For one, Peterson has a long history of
injury trouble. While at Oklahoma, he dealt
with a high ankle sprain and a broken collarbone, the latter having kept him out for
roughly half of his final season, and last year
with Minnesota he missed two games after
injuring a knee ligament. Also, his sample
size as a pro is a mere 14 games, so its
impossible to know if hell keep up his torrid 07 pace. Lastly, backs such as Brian
Westbrook and Steven Jackson, though each
with his own injury history, have proven
over time that they can post big numbers,
probably making them safer options.
So what does this all mean? Basically, if
youre an owner who prefers drafting a guy
with gigantic upside as opposed to a surefire producer, then you should take Peterson
at No. 2. If you like playing it close to the
vest, itd suit you better to select him fourth
or fifth. Either way, Peterson is a guaranteed top-five pick who should put up massive stats if he can swat away the injury bug.
How will QB Tom Brady and

WR Randy Moss follow up
their record-breaking 2007?
Unless youve been in hibernation, you
know about the record-setting season of the
2007 Patriots. Already thought of as one of
the games best quarterbacks, Tom Brady
took it to the next level by tossing 50 TD
passes. And Randy Moss, coming off a

stretch of down years in Oakland, caught 23
TDs in his first season in New England. The
only question now: What will 2008 bring
for this dynamic duo?
If history is any indicator, the two wont
come close to matching their 07 stats.
When QB Dan Marino threw a then-record
48 TDs in 1984, he followed it up with 30
the next year. And when QB Peyton Manning broke Marinos record by notching 49
TD passes in 2004, the Colt threw for only
28 scores in 05. Based on those numbers,
Brady will rack up around 30-32 TD passes
this season, a solid but far-from-recordshattering total.
Since Moss stats are tied directly to
Bradys, he also would be due for a dropoff. In Marinos huge 84 campaign, his
main target, WR Mark Clayton, caught 18
TDs; Clayton fell all the way down to four
the next year. Even the great Jerry Rice
struggled to follow up his 22-TD 1987 season, catching nine scores in 88. Reasonable expectations would have Moss grabbing between 14-16 TDs in 08, a commendable amount that still might be enough
to lead the league.
With defenses likely to gear up against
the pass, the Patriots figure to run a lot more
this year, and, depending on the mood of
Bill Belichick, they might not continue to
run up the score in blowouts. Though Brady
and Moss deserve to be the first players
drafted at their respective positions, dont
bank on any more records falling.
Who should be the top-ranked

tight end entering 2008?
For the past few years, the world of fantasy tight ends has revolved around two
names: Antonio Gates and Tony Gonzalez.
While those two remain near the top of this
seasons rankings, two new entities, Jason
Witten and Kellen Winslow, vaulted their
way into the upper echelon of tight ends
with banner seasons in 07. With this collection of outstanding talent near the top,
choosing whos No. 1 can be difficult.
Even though Gonzalez had the most
yardage of the bunch last year, the Chiefs
poor offensive line and lack of a reliable
quarterback take him out of the mix, leaving the other three in the running for the top
spot. Based solely on 2007, Wittens case is
the strongest, as he led the trio in both
catches (96) and receiving yards (1,145).
He also plays for one of the leagues best
offenses and has a rock-solid quarterback in
Tony Romo. However, Witten doesnt possess a track record of consistency.
If you look at each ones career body of
work, Gates would be the easy choice, as
hes been incredibly prolific over the last
four seasons. The only uncertainty with
Gates is his dislocated toe, on which he had
surgery in the offseason. He faces a long
recovery period and might miss time early
in the year, causing fantasy owners to think
twice before drafting him.
Finally theres Winslow, who broke out
last year and has the most untapped potential of the three. His days of injury and poor
decisions off the field appear to be behind
him, and he plays for one of the top up-andcoming offenses in Cleveland. If youre an
PHOTOS BY HARRY SCULL, JR.
Watch these fantasy story lines heading into 08
Broken record: Can Tom Brady (left) and Randy Moss possibly top their eye-popping 07 campaigns?
owner who loves gambling on upside, then

the 24-year-old Winslow is your guy. But
beware the possibility that he always could
crash and burn again.
Green Bays QB transition from

Brett Favre to Aaron Rodgers
Replacing an icon is never easy.
Perhaps no player in the NFL will be
under as big a microscope this season as QB
Aaron Rodgers, who takes over for retired
Packers legend Brett Favre. All Favre did in
his 16 years in Green Bay was win a Super
Bowl, take home three MVP awards, start
253 straight games and set just about every
major career passing record. Obviously, he
leaves some big shoes to fill.
Rodgers is a competent enough quarterback to keep the Packers offense effective,
but his presence does lower the value of
Green Bays skill players a bit. The guy
who figures to take the biggest hit is WR
Greg Jennings, who caught 12 TDs last
year. Rodgers wont throw 28 TDs like
Favre did last season, so Jennings figures to
see his TD number back in the single digits.
His yardage total of 920 should remain fairly static.
Without Favres big arm to keep defenses
honest, RB Ryan Grant cant possibly sustain the pace he set to finish 07, when he
rushed for 929 yards and eight TDs in the
final 10 games. Even at a more normal rate,
though, a 1,200-yard campaign is very
much within reach for the explosive Grant.
Veteran WR Donald Driver only scored
twice in 07, so a slight improvement on
that total should be expected. And risingstar TE Donald Lee should produce enough
to be a borderline fantasy starter.
As for Rodgers, the signalcaller played
well in the one contest in which he saw
extended time last year; now that the controls are his, he makes for a nice No. 2 fantasy QB. The potential is there for him to
break out, but dont rely too heavily on the
Cal product, as injuries have plagued him
thus far as a pro.
Offseason turmoil surrounding

star WRs Chad Johnson, Marvin
Harrison and Brandon Marshall
For one reason or another, receivers
seem to get themselves into more trouble
than players at any other skill position, and

that trend has continued this offseason.
Chad Johnson, Marvin Harrison and Brandon Marshall all have had their names in
the headlines over the past few months, and
none of those reports has been very positive.
Johnsons case has dragged out the
longest, as hes been publicly declaring his
desire to leave Cincinnati since seasons
end. Upset with the current state of the
Bengals, Ocho Cinco has reiterated that
he wants to play for a serious contender,
saying he wont suit up at all if hes still
wearing orange and black come September.
Johnsons criticism toward coach Marvin
Lewis and QB Carson Palmer has made
him more than a few enemies in Cincy, and
fellow WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh even said
recently that it would be best for the Bengals to deal Johnson. It doesnt appear that
the team will cave in to Johnsons
demands, so he seems destined to either be
playing this season disgruntled in Cincinnati or not at all.
The most shocking NFL story of the
spring has to be Harrisons. Known as a
role-model player and citizen, Harrison is
currently under investigation for his
involvement in an April 29 shooting in
Philadelphia. Though no one was seriously
hurt and Harrison is not believed to have
fired the shots, the bullets found at the
scene were reportedly from a gun he owns.
Even if the receiver is cleared of all
charges, he also has to worry about coming
back from a knee injury that cost him 11
games in 07. Harrison, wholl be 36 when
Week One rolls around, is expected to miss
most, if not all, of training camp following
January surgery. Whether he can rebound
from this ailment at his age is an enormous
question.
Marshalls situation is more about his
lack of good judgment than anything else.
While wrestling with family members this
past March, the wideout slipped on a bag
and proceeded to fall through a TV set. He
suffered a serious laceration to his right
forearm requiring several stitches, an injury
that will cause him to miss all offseason
activities. He should be ready by training
camp, but thats no guarantee. Coming off
a breakout year in which he caught 102
passes for 1,325 yards and seven TDs, Marshall probably is worth the gamble just
know that plenty of risk is involved.
PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY
24
THE
GREAT
JUNE 2008
DEBATE
Is there a need for a personal conduct policy in the NFL?

YES
By
DAN PARR
he NFL is not exactly a haven for

role models.
In all 32 league locker rooms
across the country, you will find a
number of individuals below the age
of 25 with checkered legal histories,
millions of dollars, feelings of invincibility and the profound belief that
even if they commit a crime, like driving drunk or getting into a brawl at a club,
theyll have the money to afford lawyers
who can find a way to keep them out of jail.
Equally destructive is the decision of some
players to surround themselves with individuals who appear to have little respect for the
law and consequently put the career of their
so-called friend in jeopardy.
Of course, there are good guys with extraordinary character and a commitment to
charitable endeavors littered throughout the
league, as well. But you dont hear about
them as much. That kind of story probably
doesnt stick with you or receive as much
media attention as those of Chris Henry,
who had been arrested five times since
December 2005 before the Bengals released
him on April 3, and Pacman Jones, who was
interviewed 10 times by police before NFL
commissioner Roger Goodell stepped in.
Goodell said enough is enough, suspending
Henry for eight games and Jones for a full
season as part of the new conduct policy he
implemented in April 2007.
Goodells reasonable and commendable
goals in designing the new code were to discourage players, coaches, officials, owners
and front-office personnel from making
reckless decisions by punishing them with
suspensions and fines. It also was a push
back from the commissioner on employees
who he clearly thought were tarnishing the
leagues image.
It is not enough to simply avoid being
found guilty of a crime, the new policy
states. Instead, as an employee of the NFL
or a member club, you are held to a higher
standard and expected to conduct yourself in
a way that is responsible, promotes the values upon which the league is based, and is
lawful.
Persons who fail to live up to this standard of conduct are guilty of conduct detrimental and subject to discipline, even where
the conduct itself does not result in conviction of a crime.

Ouch.
That Goodells got a lot of nerve.
You mean, players might have to take
responsibility for their actions and face
penalties decided not just by courts, but by
their strict employers as well?
It almost sounds like real life.
Those of us who dont happen to be in the
NFL more than likely go to work at a place
with a code of conduct and are expected to
abide by that policy or face certain consequences if we decide not to. Many times the
punishment isnt just a suspension from the
workplace but termination, particularly if
we repeatedly are charged with crimes.
To argue that the NFLs conduct policy is
ineffective and needs strengthening or modification is sensible, considering that its still
a rare occurrence when more than a few
days go by without a player getting arrested,
even though Goodell introduced the standards more than a year ago.
However, to say there is no need for the
toughened conduct policy or that it should
be rescinded is simply wrong.
Some opponents of the policy will claim
that it contains too much gray area and that
its not really clear what is considered a violation and what is not. Theyll say that
things are left too much to the discretion of
Goodell, whos on a power trip.
There may be some truth to that, but when
the alternative is no conduct policy, I side
with Goodell. Besides, its pretty clear that
the commissioner has not been liberal in
doling out punishments. The players union
has been supportive of the policy, and there
would certainly be an outcry from it if
Goodell were to abuse his privileges.
Anyone who expects Goodells measures
to scrub away all the grime from the league
or completely stop the lawlessness exhibited
by a few individuals is out of touch with
reality.
There always will be somebody to break
the rules.
But if a few NFL employees think twice
before putting themselves in a bad situation
that could result in the loss of their jobs, this
policy is a success.
Discouraging people from getting into
harms way or doing detriment to others is a
noble and necessary effort.
NO
By
MATT SOHN
here arent many people who

dont enjoy being around Bills DE
Anthony Hargrove. An extroverted friend to his teammates, coaches, media members and fans, his
jovial effervescence is embraced
throughout Buffalo. Get him
around alcohol, however, and
things certainly do turn ugly, as
his repeated arrests are testament to. Yet
for each arrest, Hargrove has paid his
debt to society. He has logged jail time,
shelled out money for court fees and fines
and has been publicly humiliated. The
court system in this country is in place
precisely to handle such situations to
dole out appropriate punishment for any
given infraction.
Evidently, Roger Goodell doesnt think
particularly highly of the system that has
been around since this countrys infancy.
In January, Goodell did his best to ensure
Hargrove would suffer even more for his
indiscretions, suspending him for the
upcoming season.
Under Goodell, suspensions, especially
lengthy ones given to players such as
Tank Johnson, Pacman Jones, Odell
Thurman and Ricky Williams (just to
name a few of the more prominent ones),
are being levied with increasing frequency for conduct away from the gridiron.
Funny, isnt it, how job-training programs
are greatly valued in Americas penitentiaries, yet the league has decided its lawbreakers should be barred from working.
The NFL is overextending its boundaries by attempting to take on policing
duties. Sure, the league would like its
players to be role models, but its unnatural and just plain phony to bully players
into that role, which is essentially what
Goodell is doing. Having thugs play
doesnt illegitimize the league. After all,
aside from only the most jaded Bills fan,
nobody scoffs at the Cowboys reign atop
the league hierarchy during the 1990s
because of extracurriculars going on at
the White House.
That being said, I couldnt agree more
with Goodell when he states that upholding the integrity of the game is of para-
mount importance. Its just that upholding the games integrity shouldnt extend
any further than efforts to ensure fair and
honest competition. Hence, the leagues
steroids and related substances policy is
an absolute necessity. In fact, this is one
area where the punishment a fourgame suspension for the first violation
is too lax.
Theres little contention that illegal
performance enhancers such as anabolic
steroids and human growth hormone give
their users an unfair advantage, but
theres even less contention that the only
thing marijuana enhances is stomach
capacity at the team buffet table. So
unless new information comes out that
EPO was a staple of Michael Irvin and
Co.s pill-popping regimen, those partyhardy Cowboys deserve their untainted
legacy. (Ironically, EPO wasnt even
banned by the NFL until 2007.)
Until Goodell begins signing the paychecks, the individual teams should be
the only entities even allowed to take
penal action for players conduct.
Of course, the underlying issue is that
theres no rationality for teams or the
league to do so. Goodells belief that
players deviant behavior away from the
field is detrimental to the league as a
whole is simply illogical, unsubstantiated
rhetoric.
It shouldnt be the NFLs mission to be
a paradigm of moral purity. Its a business, and as is the case with any business,
generating revenue is agenda No. 1. In
the NFL, revenue is directly linked to the
publics interest, and public interest is
directly related to the product on the
field. Few Bengals fans have renounced
their allegiance to the team because
numerous players rap sheets are longer
than their stat sheets, but a great majority
have lost much of their enthusiasm
because of the teams on-field struggles,
struggles that at least partially can be
pinned on the suspensions of Thurman
and Chris Henry.
I firmly believe that when Goodell
intensified the leagues conduct policies,
his heart was in the right place. Unfortunately, his head wasnt.
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WWHI
practices thus far, which is a big
departure from where he left off at
the end of last season. Russells
development as a rookie was crippled by a lengthy contract holdout
that lasted into the regular season.
He is primed to enter the 08 campaign under a vastly improved set
of circumstances that are more
conducive to winning. There were
widespread reports that Russell
had gained weight in the offseason
to the point where he was teetering on 300 pounds. Those stories
seem hard to believe, we hear,
considering how well Russell has
been moving around in workouts.
Plus, he recently told reporters he
weighs 269 pounds and would like
to drop five before the season.
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

It was widely assumed that by
trading up to draft LSUs Jacob
Hester in the third round in April,
the Chargers intended for Hester
to assume the lions share of the
RB workload behind LaDainian
Tomlinson. While Hester should
indeed be the No. 2 option, word
were hearing is that scatback Darren Sproles will
be playing a more significant role than many
believe. Small but incredibly
quick, Sproles is more
adept at creating on his own than
Hester (and fellow rookie Marcus
Thomas, for that matter). That
ability to make something out of
nothing will be all the more valuable if concerns about the offensive line are validated. Between C
Nick Hardwicks surgery to repair
a severe sprain in his right foot,
which should keep him sidelined
early on, the deteriorating play of
aging ORG Mike Goff and the
inexperience of ORT Jeromey
Clary, the state of the O-line isnt
as solid as its accustomed to
being.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

It would seem as though being
the undisputed focal point of an
offense that has instability at quarterback, a patchwork offensive line
and a new, smashmouth-favoring
coordinator would equate to a
daunting burden for any running
back. Add the fact that hes coming
off a season in which a broken foot
caused him to be a spectator for
the teams disastrous second half,
and it would only seem to
intensify the pressure. But
sources in Kansas City
insist that Larry Johnson
appears completely comfortable in his role. Fully
healed, hes embracing the opportunity to run pain-free, something
that he took for granted before the
pitfalls of 07. Moreover, the low
expectations those around the
league and in Kansas City
have for the Chiefs enable him to
focus on the task at hand without
wondering about outside perception. Actively helping out the rookie
class assimilation into the offense,
Johnson looks like hes finally transitioning from mercurial talent to
team leader.
DENVER BRONCOS
While RB Travis Henrys hamstring injury lingers longer than
PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY
expected, the competition to

become the Broncos No. 1 back is
beginning to look wide open,
according to sources in Denver.
We hear the only two runners to
rule out of the starting job are
Andre Hall and Mike Bell, leaving
the hobbled Henry to fend
off Selvin Young, rookie
Ryan Torain and the
recently signed Michael
Pittman. Denver inked
Pittman in part to add some
insurance in case Henrys injury
becomes more of a concern, but
head coach Mike Shanahan is
always looking to add numbers to
the backfield, regardless of potential health issues. Pittman offers a
tough, veteran presence, as well
as the versatility to play fullback as
he did with the Buccaneers in past
seasons. We hear the Pittman
signing should give a bit of a push
to Henry, who will need to show he
can stay healthy and consistent if
hes going to keep his place on the
team.
N F C lE A S T
DE James a speculative
pickup for Redskins
There are many who questioned
the wisdom of trading a seventhround pick to the Vikings for
banged-up DE Erasmus James,
but there is some sense to the
deal. The choice is dependent on
James making the team, and if he
does that, theres a good chance
his value will be greater than that
of a seventh-round pick.
When healthy, James could
rediscover his pass-rushing
skill, which he has not
shown to date in the NFL
as he did in college. Hes
reunited with Redskins DL coach
John Palermo, who coached
James at Wisconsin, and Palermo
is a noted teacher who is wellrespected. James joins a DE rotation that includes Phillip Daniels,
Andre Carter, Demetric Evans,
Chris Wilson and Alex Buzbee
Rob Jackson, Tommy Davis and
Kevin Huntley are considered
long shots to make the team
one that likely will land five players
on the 53-man roster. Daniels and
Carter are sure bets, and Evans is
considered a valuable reserve;
James likely would have to beat
out either Wilson or Buzbee, two
speed rushers who opened eyes
last season, to earn a roster spot.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
There was a bit of a draft-weekend buzz that the Eagles selection
of three offensive linemen, all of
whom played tackle in college,
was a statement about what the
team thought of its OL depth,
namely with OT Winston Justice,
who has shown little of the
promise he held as a 2006
second-round pick. But
Eagles sources say they
are far from ready to cut
their losses with Justice,
who has spent the offseason getting bigger and stronger. Justice
does need to strengthen mentally,
too, but he said recently during the
teams OTAs that head coach
Andy Reid never challenged his
toughness or anything like that.
Instead, Reid prescribed more
time in the weight room for his
player. To be fair, Justice has
25
Worth a flier: The Redskins hope Erasmus James can bolster pass rush
received far more criticism for the

312 sacks he allowed in one game
to Giants DE Osi Umenyiora than
Justice got credit for the fine job
he did in replacing an injured Jon
Runyan in Week 17, and Justice
has his share of supporters inside
the NovaCare Complex.
DALLAS COWBOYS
Much has been made of SS
Roy Williams absence from organized team activities, plus his
admission that he wasnt entirely
comfortable in last seasons defensive scheme, but there also has
been a little bit of dismay by the
staff that FS Ken Hamlin has
missed the same workouts
as a minor protest to his
one-year franchise tender
and the lack of a long-term
deal. That said, the expectations are that Hamlin and
Williams will show up without issue
when the workouts no longer are
voluntary. In the meantime, the
Cowboys have temporarily promoted Patrick Watkins and Courtney
Brown to the starting lineup, and
the pair have looked relatively
comfortable running the defensive
schemes in shorts and helmets.
Theres less concern about thirdyear man Watkins, obviously, who
was thrown into the fire and started nine games as a rookie, than
there is over Brown, who moved
from cornerback last season.
Spies say Brown clearly has the
ball skills for the position but has a
long way to go before hes ready to
contribute in a major way.
NEW YORK GIANTS

Although many wonder what the
final product will look like in the
secondary once the season
begins, linebacker might stand as
one of the Giants most unsettled
positions. First, theres the
potential retirement of DE
Michael Strahan, which
could force Mathias
Kiwanuka who is penciled in as the starting
strong-side linebacker back to
the defensive line. That could
mean second-year LB Zak
DeOssie, who played special
teams almost exclusively as a
rookie, suddenly is thrust into the
starting lineup. Then theres a battle on the weak side, where veteran Danny Clark figures to duke it
out with Gerris Wilkinson, who
has flashed some athletic ability
but might not be a three-down
player. If there is a guy on the
spot, it is MLB Antonio Pierce,
who might have to compensate for
what is happening on either side of
him.
N F C lN O R T H
Frazier becomes
man in spotlight
on Vikings defense
If the Vikings are going to make
the jump into the upper echelon of
teams in the NFC, the formula
appears clear: Theyll be doing it
with a stout running game and with
defense. A similar approach provided some impressive statistics
last season the team was first
SPORTPICS
JUNE 2008
in rushing defense and offense

but only accounted for eight wins.
And with the quarterback situation
not terribly different, its clear that
the beefed-up defense will end up
carrying a large portion of the load
in 2008. The additions of
DE Jared Allen and FS
Madieu Williams made big
headlines, but they also
should allow defensive
coordinator (and now associate head coach) Leslie Frazier
to make some scheme changes
that will help. First, he can rely less
on the five- or six-man blitzes and
mix up his coverages, knowing that
Allen flanked by two of the best
tackles in the game should provide the pass rush the team had
missed. And adding Williams could
allow SS Darren Sharper to roam
into the box more often and allow
the linebacker to drop back in coverage. Many eyes will be on Frazier early on to see what scheme
changes he has in mind with this
group.
GREEN BAY PACKERS

The early word this offseason is
that as many as five different players could be shuttled in and out of
the guard positions on a fairly regular basis in 2008 primary 2007
starters Jason Spitz (ORG) and
Daryn Colledge (OLG), athletically gifted fourth-year pro Junius
Coston, promising secondyear pro Allen Barbre and
fourth-round rookie Josh
Sitton. We hear Barbre
whose rookie action was
limited as he adapted full
time to the OG position after playing tackle in college could be
destined for the biggest boost in
playing time. In early OTAs, Barbre
was rotating at left guard with
Colledge, who told team insiders
that he welcomed the competition,
and that he was feeling much
stronger this season after spend-
ing much of his time since the end

of the 07 season in the weight
room. But with all five linemen
being extremely versatile, different
combinations could be on tap
throughout the season. Barbres
strength is his toughness and
aggressiveness, a longtime team
insider told PFW. Coston might
have the most pure ability; he really runs well when hes healthy. And
dont overlook this Sitton kid. Sitton reminds many Packers onlookers of Mark Tauscher when the
teams starting right tackle first
came on the scene as a seventhround pick in 2000. The more I
see of Sitton, the more he looks
like a player, the team insider said.
DETROIT LIONS
WR Calvin Johnson was shy
with the media as a rookie, but he
also was a bit overwhelmed by a
voluminous playbook and hindered
by an early back injury that never
really went away. And Johnson
admitted recently that he was
unprepared to deal with the sheer
length of the NFL season,
which grinds away with little
offseason in the summer all
the way through January.
But many feel that the second-year receiver is in a
good position to break out after
what Johnson termed as a just
OK rookie season in which he
caught 48 passes, averaged 15.8
yards and caught four TD passes.
They say his demeanor in practice
is more professional and focused,
there appear to be no ill effects
from the back injury and that he
will be featured prominently in the
new design of the offense. In Mike
Martzs system, Johnson and Roy
Williams often were doubleteamed or bracketed by safeties,
forcing QB Jon Kitna to throw
underneath to slot WRs Shaun
CONTINUED ON PAGE 26
PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY
26
So far so good: Jake Delhommes

elbow appears to be getting stronger
as its going to get. Urlachers

decision to attend minicamp is the
most promising sign yet that a
compromise can be reached.
JEFF FISHBEIN
N F C lS O U T H
Mularkey getting
feel for new Falcons
cornerstone Ryan
WWHI
McDonald and Mike Furrey. However, the strong emphasis on the
run game in the new scheme
should open things up outside,
assuming opponents respect the
run game with a safety playing
down in the box sometimes.
CHICAGO BEARS
Although Brian Urlachers contract differences with the Bears
were thrust more into the limelight
because of his decision to stay
away from organized team activities, we continue to hear
that teammate Tommie
Harris contract stalemate is
considered more of a priority at present. In both cases,
though, nothing noteworthy
seemed imminent on the contract
front heading into June. On Thursday, May 29, however, Urlacher
abruptly changed his stance about
attending the teams weekend minicamp, perhaps not wanting to risk

a potential fine if he skipped the
mandatory event. At least in the
case of Harris, there does appear
to be room for some give-and-take
in contract discussions. Team
sources tell us the Bears offered
Harris a new deal in line with the
seven-year, $50.7 million contract
that Tommy Kelly signed this offseason with Oakland, but that the
Harris camp merely considers
Kellys numbers a nice starting
point for what they hope to be a
much more substantial figure. As
for Urlacher, weve consistently
been led to believe that the Bears
have no intention of giving him one
penny more than the $18 million
they already have offered in a
renegotiation of his current nineyear, $56.65 million contract that
still has four years remaining, his
face-of-the-franchise status
notwithstanding. As one team
insider put it, Any rational person
can see that the 18 mil is as good
Matt Ryan underwent an extensive check of his personality, background and athletic ability before
the draft, but the evaluation
process in Atlanta is just beginning. Ryan, the Falcons new face
of the franchise, will have at least
one set of eyes on him during all team activities. I
watch (Ryans) huddle presence, I watch what he
does, Falcons offensive
coordinator Mike Mularkey
told PFW this week. We as a staff
constantly are evaluating everybody, so I look at: Is he the first
one in the classroom? Is he the
first one in the weight room? Who
does he hang with? I am constantly watching him. Mularkey said the
team is throwing the whole ball of
wax at Ryan during the ongoing
offseason practices so that he can
begin the process of tailoring the
offense to the rookie sometime
down the road.
CAROLINA PANTHERS
Panthers QB Jake Delhomme
accomplished a small but significant feat in his ongoing rehabilitation from Tommy John surgery this
week at the teams offseason workouts. Delhomme
threw about 40 passes to
receivers, which was more
than he had thrown at a
Carolina minicamp earlier in
May, and he told reporters that his
arm felt fine, although he admitted
to being a bit rusty mentally. The
ninth-year veteran was knocked
out three games into the 07 season when he injured his right
elbow, and the Panthers offense
was not the same without him. Its
no secret that the teams ability to
bounce back from a disappointing
7-9 campaign still rests on Delhommes repaired right elbow. Carolina didnt acquire an experienced
veteran to back him up and is
counting on Matt Moore, who
made three starts as an undrafted
rookie at the end of last season, to
step in if Delhomme were to suffer
another serious injury.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

Dont be surprised if Saints WR
Devery Henderson gets caught
looking over his shoulder as the
team approaches training camp.
Hell have some added competition
for a spot in the WR corps this season. While its clear New Orleans
sees some good in Henderson
it re-signed him March 1 to a oneyear, $2 million deal his job as
the No. 3 receiver could be in jeopardy if second-year WR
Robert Meachem continues
to perform as well as he has
in recent offseason practices, the way we hear it.
Sources say Meachem
looks like a different player than the
one who spent all of last season on
the sideline nursing a knee injury.
He appears healed, and his size
and speed have impressed
observers. Meanwhile, Henderson
has tremendous speed, but his
hands are suspect, and drops have
consistently been a problem for
him. New Orleans will likely take
five or six receivers out of camp,
with Marques Colston, David Patten and Meachem as locks to
make the roster. Henderson, Lance
Moore, Terrance Copper and seventh-round pick Adrian Arrington,
who has also shown impressive
flashes in OTAs, will compete for
the last two or three slots.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

As his career spiraled downward
over the past three seasons, Bucs
JUNE 2008
WR Michael Clayton spent much

of the time in head coach Jon
Grudens doghouse and some
weeks on the trading block, as
well. He dropped balls in practice
and seemed to have completely
lost his focus. Clayton had a
breakout first season in 2004, setting franchise marks for receptions
(80), receiving yards (1,193) and
receiving touchdowns (seven) by a
rookie. However, he has unraveled
since then, averaging just
29 catches and 343 yards
while scoring only one
touchdown over the last
three campaigns. Sources
say, however, Clayton may be set
to turn the tables on Gruden. Clayton has hinted that he feels he
hasnt been given enough opportunities in recent years, and while
Tampa appears set to enter the
season with a nearly identical
receiving corps to last years, Gruden may have to put more of his
trust in Clayton this time around.
Its not clear that the Bucs decision not to aggressively pursue
receivers in free agency is necessarily a vote of confidence for
Clayton. However, with veterans
Joey Galloway and Ike Hilliard a
year older, and major question
marks surrounding the additions of
Antonio Bryant and rookie Dexter
Jackson, who figures to make
more of an impact as a returner
initially, Gruden may have to consider making Clayton more of a
factor in his 08 game plans.
N F C lW E S T
Haley will have
more control over
Cardinals offense
Our sources in the desert were
hardly surprised by head coach
Ken Whisenhunts recent disclosure that he planned on offensive
coordinator and close friend Todd
Haley handling most of the Cardinals offensive play-calling for the
2008 season. Its been common
knowledge since the day Haley
The following quotes are from NFL

scouts, coaches and front-office personnel, speaking on condition of anonymity.
I dont care how many championships Bill Belichick has won. He
is not as good as Bill Parcells. Belichick does not have the charisma or
personality. The biggest difference
between the two of them is that Bill Parcells never failed wherever he went.
He won in four spots. He won in New
York when they were losers. He took
the Patriots to the Super Bowl in New
England, and that was an awful team.
He won with an awful Jets team that
was 1-15 and people forget about
that. The next season they were 9-7. He
won in Dallas. They were falling back
down when he got there. Now he is on
his fifth rebuilding project in Miami,
and the arrow is quickly starting to
point up again. The difference with
Belichick is he absolutely failed in
Cleveland.
Brian Urlacher may be a great
player, but hes not a very smart guy.
The Bears tried to pacify him and
offered him more money, and he went
public with the negotiation. When a
team is attacked publicly, rarely does it
result in a positive outcome. (Urlacher)

has been hurt a lot. Hes on the downside of his career. He may be the face
of the franchise now, but the face is
going to start peeling off if he does not
stop crying. You saw what happened
with Lance Briggs. His agent gave
him bad advice. He thought he was
worth more than he was, and he came
walking back to the Bears with his tail
between his legs. Where Urlacher
could hurt himself the most is with his
life after football. I was through Chicago, and they were killing him on the
radio, questioning why he was crying
to the papers. All they do is talk sports
in that city, and it did not sound like he
had a lot of support. Look at Michael
Jordan on the back end of his career.
He was playing for nothing and donating his salary to charity. From an individual marketing perspective, what
Urlacher is doing is not smart.
DeShaun Foster led the league
in fumbles (lost, by a running back) last
year. He was never a superfast guy, and
when he gained weight, his play really
fell off. He needs to keep his weight off
to have a chance (in San Francisco).
It seems like no one ever leaves
the Packers front office, and if they do,
they always come back. Ted Thompson and John Dorsey left but came
back. John Schneider was never
gone for too long. There has not been
a lot of turnover there. Most of their
staff has been in place since Ron Wolf
brought them in.
I thought (Redskins head coach)
Jim Zorn would at least have two
years in Washington, but the Bill
Cowher watch is on. Hes been out of
coaching for two years. I would think
he would be ready to coach again.
Whats going to be interesting
this year is seeing what kind of effects
a defensive headset is going to have
on the game. All the offensive coaches
have been stealing signals for the past
10 years, especially in the West Coast
offense. Offenses gained a big advantage with the no-chuck rule. I think
youll see a shift of power back in favor
of defenses this year. It will level the
playing field.
(Eagles GM) Tom Heckert
came real close to losing his job in
Philadelphia. I dont know how he kept
it. He has done a very average job. He
was the front-runner for the GM job in
Atlanta, but he interviewed so poorly
that (Falcons brass) had no choice but
to eliminate him (from consideration).

... Ultimately, (Heckert) may have the
GM title, but you have to look at who is
in control. Joe Banner and Andy Reid
run that team. Heckert is the third man
on the totem pole. (Heckert) does not
have the same clout as most general
managers do. His situation is a lot like
Ted Sundquists (was in Denver). He
did not have any power, either. Its
Mike Shanahans show.
Its been a very quiet year for
front-office movement overall, and
when that happens, it usually means itll
be a big year for turnover the next
year. I think well see a big splash next
January because it has been so quiet
this year, even on the coaching front.
Next year you have a lot of guys who
have already been told they have a gun
to their head both Marty Hurney
and John Fox (in Carolina). They have
to get it done this year. Matt Millen
does not have much time left on his
deal (in Detroit). Im not sure about the
Jets, but the way they have been spending money sure suggests they have a
gun to their head. They are moving to a
new facility off Long Island into New
Jersey, so I would think its important
that they get headed on the right track.
SCOTT WALLEM / PROCASE
A U D I B L E S
Brian Urlacher
PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY
was hired by the Cardinals after

a dalliance with Miamis headcoaching job back in January, he
was signed to a new three-year
deal worth about $1 million a year
that Whisenhunt eventually
wanted to turn the play-calling reins over to Haley the
same way Bill Cowher previously did with Whisenhunt
in Pittsburgh. Truth be told,
Haley already had a pretty
firm hold on the play-calling duties
down the stretch last season,
when Arizonas offense was clicking on all cylinders more often
than not. The decision will enable
Whisenhunt to concentrate more
on overseeing game situations, but
team sources tell us the Cardinals
head coach still plans on providing
some occasional play-calling input
a task, he has told Haley, that
will be very hard to relinquish.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

The wheels are in motion on a
Niners defensive line that is going
to look dramatically different this
coming season without longtime
regular DEs Bryant Young
(retired) and Marques Douglas
(free agent signed by Buccaneers) no longer around.
Two prominent changes
that have been made by
creative D-line coach Jim
Tomsula involve moving
massive fifth-year pro Isaac
Sopoaga from nose tackle to
defensive end and fourth-year pro
Ronald Fields, who had been
considered a top candidate to
replace Young at left end, inside to
the nose. Sopoaga, whose temperament is considered much better suited for the outside, has an
extremely quick first step. With his

size team insiders tell us hes
tipping the scales in the 340pound range these days and
mobility, Sopoaga has the potential
to consistently collapse the pocket.
Fields, meanwhile, will be undersized (6-2, 321) in the middle, but
what he lacks in size, the Niners
believe he can make up for with
what are considered the quickest
hands on the line, which could
make him a potential nuisance of
the highest order for opposing centers. Provided he remains active
and plays with leverage, team
insiders tell us Tomsula believes
Fields presence in the middle
could also improve the defenses
ability to shut down the oppositions inside run game, which was
subpar much of last season.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Despite the fact hes currently
rehabilitating from minor surgery
on his right knee in early May, we
hear the Seahawks ORG job is
Rob Sims to lose. Sims, who
struggled more often than not as
the teams starting left
guard last season, wasnt
initially too keen about
switching to the right side
from the left side, which will
now be occupied by 11thyear vet Mike Wahle. But we hear
it didnt take long at all for new
Seahawks O-line coach Mike
Solari to get the third-year vet
fired up about his change of
scenery. Solari likes mobile guys
who can pull and cut off linebackers, and Sims can do that kind of
thing very well, a team source told
PFW. His problem has mostly
been his recognition skills. Sims
27
On guard: OG Rob Sims has switched

from the left to the right side in Seattle
says he doesnt expect to miss any
more than 3-4 days of the teams
June minicamp. Heading into the
offseason, the consensus was that
a wide-open competition would
take place at right guard between
Sims, longtime starter Chris Gray,
who is entering his 16th season,
and massive Ray Willis, and the
hope is still that Willis, who had his
knee scoped this offseason, will
eventually offer Sims a spirited
challenge. As for the steadily reliable Gray, we hear he has willingly
accepted a role as the teams primary backup at both OG spots, as
well as at center, where starter
Chris Spencers surgically
repaired shoulders remain a concern. Its a role that will allow Mike
Holmgren to get some sleep at
night, a team source joked.
ST. LOUIS RAMS

Aside from the extra burst of
energy provided by a very active
and vocal coaching staff particularly in the case of the dynamic
and demonstrative Al Saunders,
the teams new offensive coordinator the one thing that has
really caught the attention
of daily Rams observers so
far this offseason has been
a significant increase in the
passes directed at TE
Randy McMichael, especially
downfield. In his first season with
the Rams in 07, McMichael seldom strayed far from the line of
scrimmage, where his assistance
as a blocker was considered more
of a necessity due to the Rams
SPORTPICS
JUNE 2008
injury-plagued offensive line. But

with free-agent addition Anthony
Becht brought on board this season to handle the lions share of
blocking duties at the TE position
a subtle acquisition that could
reap big-time dividends, according
to many close to the team
theres strong reason to believe
McMichael could put up numbers
in the neighborhood of 55-60
catches and over 600 receiving

yards in a Saunders offense that
has previously worked wonders for
the likes of fellow TEs Chris Cooley and Tony Gonzalez in Washington and Kansas City, respectively. Team insiders also believe
that, to a lesser extent, Saunders
offense could also bode much better for third-year TE Joe Klopfenstein in spot situations.
Utahs White may be blazing final trail

By
MARK ANDERSON
Maybe winning was too easy for Danny

White.
He built his Arena Football League Hall
of Fame coaching career on consistently
leading the team everyone else had to go
through before reaching the top, taking the
Arizona Rattlers to five ArenaBowls and
winning two titles.
There will be no such celebration in Salt
Lake City this year. The Utah Blaze is no
ones obstacle on the path to the championship.
White, in his third year as the
Blazes coach, has gone
through his most pressurepacked season since 1980 when
he succeeded two-time Super
Bowl champion and Pro Football Hall of Famer Roger Staubach as the
Dallas Cowboys starting quarterback.
But White said he has grown as a person
because of this season, which began with
nine consecutive losses.
A lot of good is coming out of this. I
mean a lot of good, White said. Even (in)
my experience as a player, I learned a lot
more when I lost than when I won.
The Blaze finally broke through for a victory by handing the Kansas City Brigade a
convincing 67-50 loss on May 3. White
knew change might be happening after a
forced fumble near the goal line went to his
team a bounce that frequently ended up in
the opponents hands until then.
I think it was mostly relief, White said of
the victory. When something like that goes
on for that long, the pressure builds each

week almost to the point it affects the ways
the players play and affects my coaching.
You play more to win a game at all costs.
Utah came back the following week with
a 71-36 rout of the Colorado Crush, but the
Blazes brief winning streak ended with a
74-64 loss at San Jose on May 17, though
Utah was competitive against the defending
champion SaberCats.
Undoing that awful start, though, has
proven too difficult to overcome, and
Whites future is cloudy. Blaze co-owner
John Garff publicly endorsed
him in April, but did not make
any promises beyond this season. White might even take the
decision out of Garffs hands.
(Retirement) is something
Ill take a hard look at after the
season and sit down with John Garff and go
from there, White said.
If White calls it quits, it would end one of
the AFLs greatest coaching careers.
Now in his 16th season, he took teams to
the playoffs in 13 of 14 years at one point,
making his biggest mark in Arizona. Under
Whites watch, the Rattlers won championships in 1994 and 97.
He, of course, is revered in the Phoenix
area for more than his work with the Rattlers. White set seven NCAA records in
while quarterbacking Arizona State (197173), and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1997.
Even with all those accomplishments,
White might be best known for following
Staubach. Although he never matched his
ARENA
FOOTBALL
predecessors extraordinary success, White

experienced his share of high moments by
taking the Cowboys to the playoffs five
times and setting a club record with 29
touchdown passes in 1980. White still owns
seven team records.
From playing for Arizona State and the
Cowboys to coaching in the AFL, White
admittedly came to take winning for granted.
This season was different.
The Blaze didnt have trouble scoring
points, but did have difficulty making up for
its defensive lapses. Utah scored more than
60 points four times through the first nine
losses, but gave up more than that amount all
but once and allowed opponents to hit 70
points or more three times.
In addition to allowing opposing receivers
to dance in its endzone, the Blaze often
failed to make critical stops, consistently
allowing fourth-down conversions.
White didnt waste time trying to fix the
situation, first demoting Hunkie Cooper in
March from defensive coordinator to DB
coach, and then firing him two weeks later.
It was not a snap decision. Cooper became
one of the leagues all-time greatest players
under White in Arizona, and their relationship went beyond a simple head coach-assistant one.
Hunkie is like a son to me with all the
time weve spent together and all the games
weve won, White said. It was a very, very
difficult decision. In the best interest of the
team, I had to make a change. I had to take
personal feelings out of the equation, but it
wasnt easy.
He took it like a man.

An attempt to contact Cooper was unsuccessful.
Ron James, formerly the DL coach, is the
Blazes new defensive coordinator. He has
extensive AFL experience that includes two
seasons as the head coach of the then-Las
Vegas Gladiators.
The promotion apparently was more than
window dressing. Utahs defense, with the
help of new DBs Damon Mason and Eddie
Canonico, showed signs of improvement
under James before the debacle in San Jose.
I feel the nucleus is there, James said.
Were getting players who believe and play
together.
As for signs of overall team improvement,
James said the head man deserves credit for
never wavering even as the losses piled up.
Most coaches lash out of frustration and
try new things, James said.
White could be excused for losing his cool
this season. He has had to scrape for every
positive he can find, and the grind has
caused him to work three extra hours a day.
Its been emotionally trying, and White
has managed thanks largely because of his
familys support.
Fortunately, I had a lot to fall back on,
White said. I have my family and kids and
grandkids here and my faith. A lot of people
fall into drugs and alcohol and cave in. I can
relate to that. If I didnt have this structure in
my life, theres no telling.
Mark Anderson covers football for the Las
Vegas Review-Journal and is executive
director of the AFL Writers Association.
PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY
28
JUNE 2008
C F L P R E V I E W:
Blue Bombers want

another crack at Cup
By
The biggest news for the Bombers and

their fans, however, was star receiver Milt
Stegalls decision to return for a 14th season in pursuit of a Grey Cup ring that has
so far proven elusive. The
38-year-old Stegall is the
Title chase:
CFLs all-time touchdown
WR Milt Stegall
leader with 144 and hes
is back for a
14th shot at winjust 197 yards away from
ning the Grey Cup
breaking former Calgary
Stampeder Allen Pitts
career receiving yardage total of 14,891.
Defensively, replacing FS Kyries Hebert,
who jumped to the NFLs Cincinnati Bengals, will be coach Doug Berrys main task.
RICK MATSUMOTO
TORONTO ARGONAUTS
2008
PREDICTIONS
GREY CUP WINNER:
Winnipeg
Blue Bombers
RUNNER-UP:
B.C. Lions
MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER:
Joe Smith
B.C. LIONS
COMEBACK PLAYER:
Anthony Calvillo
MONTREAL ALOUETTES
DAVE DARICHUK / WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS
he impending arrival of fresh talent

and the discarding of the well-worn
is what usually occupies the offseason gabfests among ardent Canadian
Football League followers.
But much of the banter during the
six months since the Saskatchewan
Roughriders emerged as the surprise winners of the 2007 Grey Cup and the earnest
start of the 08 campaign centered on the
comings and goings of the CFLs eight head
coaches.
The coaching shuffle began when, less
than two months after leading the Roughriders to their first championship in 18 years,
Kent Austin found himself unable to resist
the pull of his alma mater, Ole Miss, which
was looking for an offensive coordinator.
The Riders hired offensive coordinator Ken
Miller as Austins replacement.
In Hamilton, head coach Charlie Taaffe
appeared set to follow Austin south of the
border for an assistant-coaching position at
West Virginia. However, after several days
of intrigue as to whether Taaffe, who still
had two years remaining on his contract, had
or had not been offered a job at West Virginia, he ended his silence by announcing he
would remain with the Tiger-Cats.
Meanwhile, Montreal Alouettes head
coach Jim Popp fought to retain his job
along with his general managers title. But
after the Als finished with their first sub-.500
record (8-10) since the franchise was resurrected in 1996, owner Bob Wetenhall and
president Larry Smith concluded that a
change was in order. Popp was pushed back
upstairs to the GMs office. Taking over on
the field will be Marc Trestman, a longtime
NFL assistant coach but a CFL freshman
who could find himself wearing Popps
shadow like a cloak if he cant get the Als
back on track.
John Hufnagel, who is anything but a CFL
neophyte, returns to familiar stomping
grounds to take over as head coach of the
Calgary Stampeders, who dumped Tom Higgins after finishing 7-10-1 last season. A
one-time quarterback with the Stamps, Hufnagel also was their offensive coordinator
during the Doug Flutie and Jeff Garcia eras
before heading south for stints with several
NFL teams.
The final coaching change occurred in
Toronto, but the transition was totally amicable. The popular Mike Pinball Clemons,
who had long maintained that he had no
desire to be a career coach, accepted a move
into the Argonauts executive offices as chief
executive officer, replacing Keith Pelley.
Patient heir-apparent Rich Stubler, the
architect of the Argos stingy defense,
replaces Clemons as head coach, but he likely will leave much of the offensive strategy
to coordinator Steve Buratto.
That left only two cities, Vancouver and
Winnipeg, where the media didnt spend the
offseason speculating on whether there
would be a change in the head-coaching
position.
Wally Buono is entrenched as general
manager, head coach and alternate governor
of the B.C. Lions, while Doug Berry is as
secure as a head coach can be after taking

the Blue Bombers to the Grey Cup game
where, without starting QB Kevin Glenn,
they fell 23-19 to the Riders.

EAST DIVISION
WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS

The Bombers are certain the outcome
of last falls Grey Cup game would have
been different had they been able to start
No. 1 QB Kevin Glenn rather than seldomused backup Ryan Dinwiddie. Glenn
watched from the sideline after breaking
his left arm in the East Division final
against Toronto, and Winnipeg fell to
Saskatchewan.
The Bombers hopes of a return to the
championship game in 08 got a huge lift
when GM Brendan Taman managed to resign DE Tom Canada and all-star OT Dan
Goodspeed just hours before they were
eligible to become free agents. Then
Taman re-signed OL Matthew Sheridan a
few days later.
New head coach Rich Stubler molded

the Argos defense into the toughest in the
league during his five years as defensive
coordinator. The question is how the Boatmen will look offensively with Stubler in
charge.
The query was partially answered when
he encouraged the team to trade for QB
Kerry Joseph, the Grey Cup game MVP,
who was made available by the
Saskatchewan Roughriders for financial
reasons. Josephs running ability (he
rushed for 737 yards in 07) will cause
offensive coordinator Steve Buratto to
devise a new look to the Argos attack,
which has been primarily pass-oriented in
recent years.
The Argos will have a new ballcarrier
after dropping John Avery and Robert
Edwards and picking up Tyler Ebell from
Edmonton. Canadians Jeff Johnson and
Andre Durie will share the second spot in
the backfield.
Former NFL first-round pick David
Boston comes in with some off-field baggage, but if he takes full advantage of this
opportunity, he could add to an already
strong receiving corps. Speedy Bethel
Johnson also joins the mix.
On defense, the Argos will be looking for
a replacement for all-star CB Jordan
Younger, who was traded to Edmonton for
Ebell. Khalil Carter likely will get first crack
at the job.
New defensive coordinator Kavis Reed
got welcome news when LB Mike OShea
returned for a 16th CFL season.
HAMILTON TIGER-CATS
New general manager Bob OBillovich,
who once held a similar post with Toronto,
attempted to fill one of coach Charlie
Taaffes most glaring needs, the defensive
secondary, by re-signing Lawrence Gordon, Jykine Bradley and Sandy Beveridge
and adding Chris Thompson from Edmonton. However, Thompson arrived at the
expense of receiver Brock Ralph, who
requested a return to Edmonton after his
daughter was diagnosed with autism.
OBillovich also signed WR Tony Miles
after Toronto decided not to offer him a
new contract. However, the receiving corps
took a hit when the Ticats released Jason
Armstead. Former B.C. Lions pivot Casey
JUNE 2008
PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY
29
Printers, the CFLs Most Outstanding Player in 2004 with B.C., begins his first full
season as the starting quarterback after
signing with Hamilton in the middle of last
season.
The defense will revolve around
dynamic MLB Zeke Moreno, who was one
of the top finds anywhere in the league
last year.
The Ticats are hoping they have found
another Rob Hitchcock in DB Dylan Barker, who was the first overall pick in the
Canadian college draft out of the University of Saskatchewan. The hard-hitting
Hitchcock retired last year.
PK Sean Fleming, who retired after 16

seasons.
SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS
Marc Trestman takes over an aging team

as he makes his CFL coaching debut.
QB Anthony Calvillo will be 36 by mideason and while he has been the teams
unquestioned leader, he missed the latter
part of the 2007 season, including the
playoffs, after his wife was
diagnosed with cancer.
What a rush:
Whether he can bounce
B.C.s Joe Smith
is a solid threat
back mentally this season
to win another
remains to be seen. Marrushing title
cus Brady was a competent
replacement
for
Calvillo, but hasnt yet proven he can be a
season-long starter in this league.
Defensively, the Als lost DT Dario
Romero to Edmonton as a free agent.
General manager Jim Popp thought he
had corralled LB JoJuan Armour, but the
former Hamilton Tiger-Cat changed his
mind and signed with Calgary. The Als also
were rebuffed in efforts to sign free agents
Tom Canada, Dan Goodspeed and
Richard Karikari. Popp was able to sign LB
Reggie Hunt from Saskatchewan.
The Als also got another ex-Roughrider
in receiver Jamel Richardson, who spent
last year with the Dallas Cowboys after
four years in Regina. Hell join a pair of
1,000-yard receivers in Ben Cahoon and
Kerry Watkins.
The Als lost an opportunity to add some
youth to the roster when they had their
first-round pick in the Canadian college
draft taken away for exceeding the
leagues 2007 $4.05 million salary cap.
The cap has since been increased to
$4.25 million.

WEST DIVISION
B.C. LIONS
The main offseason move for Lions general manager/head coach Wally Buono
was releasing veteran QB Dave Dickenson, who missed much of last season with
his third concussion in two years.
Having made that decision, Buono then
re-signed potential free agent Jarious
Jackson, who had vaulted from thirdstringer to starter after No. 2 pivot Buck
Pierce also went down with a shoulder
injury. Jackson led the Lions to a first-place
division finish, but the team faltered in the
West final, losing to Saskatchewan. Jackson and Pierce will battle it out for the
starters role.
Buonos second major task was to get
RB Joe Smiths signature on a new longterm pact. That came after Smith, who won
the rushing title with 1,510 yards, tested
the NFL waters.
Geroy Simon, whose 1,293 yards on
72 catches made him the leagues receiving leader, heads the CFLs top passcatching corps, which also includes
Jason Clermont (1,158 receiving yards
last season) and Paris Jackson (962
receiving yards).
KYLE CLAPHAM
MONTREAL ALOUETTES
DE Cameron Wake, who won Rookie of

the Year and top defensive player honors,
heads up a menacing defense, while OLT
Rob Murphy, named the best offensive
lineman, leads the O-line.
quarterback and with the return to full

health of veteran receiver Jason Tucker
and the acquisition of Ralph, the offense
could be formidable.
Maciocia must find a replacement for P-
CALGARY STAMPEDERS
Theres hope in Calgary that new coach
John Hufnagel, a one-time Stampeder
quarterback, can develop the enigmatic
Henry Burris into a more consistent passer.
Much was expected of Burris when the
Stamps
lured
him
away
from
Saskatchewan after the 2004 season, but
he hasnt been able to get them beyond
the first round of the playoffs.
Besides Hufnagels experience at that
position, Burris also will receive tutoring,
as well as competition for his job, from
Dave Dickenson, who was signed after he
was let go by the Lions. Dickenson
received medical clearance to resume
playing but likely will see action only if Burris falters.
While the Calgary offense was inconsistent last season, it was potent when all
cylinders were running in unison leading the league in most offensive categories. The defense was another matter. It
was the leagues most porous, giving up a
league-high 53 touchdowns and 516
points. The addition of veteran LB JoJuan
Armour should help matters.
EDMONTON ESKIMOS
The heat is on head coach/general manager Danny Maciocia not to miss the playoffs for a third consecutive year.
With that clearly in mind, Maciocia was
active in the offseason. He cut three veterans WR Trevor Gaylor, RS Tony Tompkins and DT Charles Alston and traded
RB Tyler Ebell and WR A.J. Acree to Toronto for CB Jordan Younger.
He also picked up DE Fred Perry
(Saskatchewan), OT Garrick Jones (Calgary), DB Tay Cody (Hamilton), WR Brock
Ralph (Hamilton), DT Dario Romero (Montreal) and QB Jason Maas (Hamilton).
Despite the Eskies struggles, Ricky Ray
still is considered to be the leagues best
A championship inevitably brings salary

demands from newly crowned ring wearers, and the Riders were no different. General manager Eric Tillman had to make
some hard decisions to accommodate
those pay raises.
His toughest decision undoubtedly was
to deal QB Kerry Joseph, who was named
the CFLs most outstanding player as well
as the MVP of the Grey Cup triumph vs.
Winnipeg. Joseph had taken a $125,000
pay cut in 07 to help the teams financial
situation but believed it was time to be paid
on a par with the other leading quarterbacks in the league. That would have
meant a salary in excess of $300,000, a
figure Tillman decided he couldnt meet.
The Riders will go into the season with
journeyman Marcus Crandell, who has
been the backup for the past three seasons, as Josephs replacement.
To get under the salary cap, which the
Riders exceeded marginally in 07, Tillman
released RB-KR Corey Holmes, sent veteran DE Fred Perry to Edmonton for thirdstring QB Steven Jyles and let veteran LB
Reggie Hunt and OT Jermese Jones go as
free agents.
Tillman did re-sign veteran receiver Matt
Dominguez, who missed much of last season with injuries. Dominguez, Andy Fantuz
and D.J. Flick provide a solid set of
receivers for Crandall.
Tillman also re-signed RB Wes Cates,
DB Eddie Davis and WR Corey Grant.
2008 CFL SCHEDULE

Week One
Thursday, June 26
Montreal at Hamilton, 7 p.m.
B.C. at Calgary, 10 p.m.
Friday, June 27
Toronto at Winnipeg, 8 p.m.
Saturday, June 28
Edmonton at Saskatchewan, 7:30 p.m.
Week Two
Thursday, July 3
Hamilton at Toronto, 7 p.m.
Calgary at Edmonton, 10 p.m.
Friday, July 4
Winnipeg at Montreal, 7 p.m.
Saskatchewan at B.C., 10 p.m.
Week Three
Thursday, July 10
Calgary at Montreal, 7 p.m.
Toronto at Edmonton, 10 p.m.
Friday, July 11
B.C. at Winnipeg, 8 p.m.
Saturday, July 12
Saskatchewan at Hamilton, 4 p.m.
Week Four
Thursday, July 17
Hamilton at Calgary, 9 p.m.
Friday, July 18
Winnipeg at B.C., 10 p.m.
Saturday, July 19
Montreal at Saskatchewan, 7 p.m.
Sunday, July 20
Edmonton at Toronto, 4 p.m.
Week Five
Thursday, July 24
Calgary at Winnipeg, 8 p.m.
Friday, July 25
Edmonton at Hamilton, 7 p.m.
Montreal at B.C., 10 p.m.
Sunday, July 27
Toronto at Saskatchewan, 7 p.m.
Week Six
Thursday, July 31
Hamilton at Montreal, 7 p.m.
B.C. at Edmonton, 10 p.m.
Friday, August 1
Winnipeg at Toronto, 7 p.m.
Saturday, August 2
Saskatchewan at Calgary, 8 p.m.
Week Seven
Thursday, August 7
Toronto at Hamilton, 7 p.m.
ALL TIMES EASTERN

Calgary at Saskatchewan, 10 p.m.
Friday, August 8
Montreal at Winnipeg, 7:30 p.m.
Edmonton at B.C., 10 p.m.
Week Eight
Thursday, August 14
Hamilton at Winnipeg, 8 p.m.
Friday, August 15
Montreal at Toronto, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, September 28
Saskatchewan at Montreal, 1 p.m.
Week 15
Friday, October 3
B.C. at Toronto, 7 p.m.
Calgary at Saskatchewan, 10 p.m.
Saturday, October 4
Montreal at Hamilton, 1 p.m.
Winnipeg at Edmonton, 4:30 p.m.
Week 16
Week Nine
Thursday, August 21
Saskatchewan at Edmonton, 9 p.m.
Friday, August 22
Calgary at B.C., 10:30 p.m.
Week 10
Friday, August 29
B.C. at Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, August 31
Winnipeg at Saskatchewan, 3 p.m.
Monday, September 1
Edmonton at Calgary, 4 p.m.
Toronto at Hamilton, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, October 10
Toronto at Winnipeg, 7:30 p.m.
Edmonton at B.C., 10:30 p.m.
Monday, October 13
Hamilton at Montreal, 1:30 p.m.
Saskatchewan at Calgary, 4:30 p.m.
Week 17
Friday, October 17
B.C. at Edmonton, 9 p.m.
Saturday, October 18
Montreal at Toronto, 3 p.m.
Winnipeg at Calgary, 6:30 p.m.
Sunday, October 19
Hamilton at Saskatchewan, 3 p.m.
Week 11
Week 18
Friday, September 5
Calgary at Edmonton, 9 p.m.
Saturday, September 6
B.C. at Hamilton, 4 p.m.
Sunday, September 7
Toronto at Montreal, 1 p.m.
Saskatchewan at Winnipeg, 4 p.m.
Friday, October 24
Calgary at Hamilton, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 25
Edmonton at Saskatchewan, 6:30 p.m.
Toronto at B.C., 10 p.m.
Sunday, October 26
Winnipeg at Montreal, 1 p.m.
Week 12
Week 19
Friday, September 12
Winnipeg at Toronto, 7 p.m.
Montreal at Calgary, 10 p.m.
Hamilton at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
Saskatchewan at B.C., 10 p.m.
Thursday, October 30
Saskatchewan at Toronto, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, October 31
Montreal at Edmonton, 9 p.m.
Saturday, November 1
Hamilton at Winnipeg, 2 p.m.
BC at Calgary, 5 p.m.
Week 13
Divisional Semifinals
Winnipeg at Hamilton, 7:30 p.m.
Toronto at Calgary, 6:30 p.m.
B.C. at Saskatchewan, 9:30 p.m.
Sunday, September 21
Edmonton at Montreal, 1 p.m.
Sunday, November 9
TBD
Week 14
Edmonton at Winnipeg, 8 p.m.
Calgary at Toronto, 7 p.m.
Hamilton at B.C., 10 p.m.
Divisional Finals
Sunday, November 16
TBD
East Final
TBD
West Final
TBD
96th Grey Cup

Sunday, November 23
TBD, 6 p.m.
PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY
30
JUNE 2008
NFL TRANSACTIONS
(As reported, April 26-May 29)
AMERICAN FOOTBALL CONFERENCE

BALTIMORE April 27: Traded: fourth-round pick in
2008 draft to Raiders for CB Fabian Washington. April 30:
ERFAs re-signed: TE Jake Nordin; WR Matt Willis. Roster
addition: WR Kerry Reed (released by Dolphins 4/25). May
9: Roster additions: QB Brad Roach (Catawba); WR Ernie
Wheelwright (Minnesota); WR Patrick Carter (Tampa International); OT Sean Dumford (Eastern Kentucky); OG Isaiah
Wiggins (Illinois State); OG Adam Kraus (Michigan); OG
Brandon Barnes (Grand Valley State); TE Joe Reitz (Western
Michigan); TE Scott Kuhn (Louisville); DL Lorenzo Williams
(Missouri); LB Jameel McClain (Syracuse); PK Piotr Czech
(Wagner); P Ben Dato (Fordham). May 15: Roster additions: OG Adrien Clarke (released by Jets 2/27); TE Xavier
Lee (Florida State); DT Kelly Talavou (released by Seahawks
5/6). Placed on waivers: DT Zarnell Fitch. May 20: Roster
addition: CB Lenny Walls (released by Rams 10/12). Placed
on waivers: DB Jamaine Winborn. May 27: UFA lost: RB
Musa Smith (Jets).
BUFFALO April 30: Assigned on waivers: QB Matt
Baker from Dolphins. May 6: Placed on waivers: LB Joe
Brockington. May 13: Placed on waivers: WR Chris Denney;
TE Kevin Everett (both failed physical).
CINCINNATI May 1: Placed on waivers: LB Roy Manning; LB Anthony Schlegel. May 5: Roster additions: DT
Antwon Burton (released by Broncos 4/15); LB Dan Howell
(Washington); WR Clyde Logan (Idaho State). May 6:
Assigned on waivers: WR Travis Brown from Seahawks.
May 8: Roster addition: WR Maurice Purify (Nebraska).
May 14: Roster addition: LS Tim Bugg (Indiana). May 19:
Placed on waivers: LB Odell Thurman. May 29: Roster
addition: CB Jerrid Gaines (released by Browns 5/6). Contract terminated: WR Doug Gabriel.
CLEVELAND April 29: Assigned on waivers: S
Steve Cargile from Broncos. May 5: Roster additions: OG
Nathan Bennett (Clemson); WR Nathan Hughes (Alcorn
State); DB MilVon James (UNLV); CB Damon Jenkins (Fresno State); LB Asa Matthews (Northern Colorado); LB Xavier
Mitchell (Tennessee); RB Austin Scott (Penn State). Placed
on waivers: RB Kory Chapman; LB Jermaine Dias; CB Jerrid Gaines; S Justin Harrison; QB Craig Hormann; C Robbie
Powell; OT Eric Young (failed physical). May 6: Reserve/nonfootball injury: OT Eric Young. May 14: Contract terminated: CB Kenny Wright. May 15: Roster addition: CB Jereme
Perry (released by Dolphins 4/25). May 21: RFA re-signed:
CB Daven Holly. Placed on waivers: LB Asa Matthews. May
22: UFA lost: WR Tim Carter (Texans). Placed on waivers:
CB Daven Holly (injured/knee). May 27: UFA signed: CB
Terry Cousin (Jaguars). Reserve/injured: CB Daven Holly.
DENVER April 29: Roster additions: RB Anthony
Alridge (Houston); OG Mitch Erickson (South Dakota State);
PK Garrett Hartley (Oklahoma); P Brett Kern (Toledo); OT
Tyler Polumbus (Colorado); WR Lorne Sam (UTEP); LB Wesley Woodyard (Kentucky). May 16: Roster addition: OG
Dylan Gandy (released by Colts 5/5). Placed on waivers:
OG Isaac Snell. May 28: UFA signed: RB Michael Pittman
(Buccaneers). Placed on waivers: S Marviel Underwood.

HOUSTON May 9: Roster additions: WR Ryan GriceMullen (Hawaii); WR Darnell Jenkins (Miami); TE Cole Bennett (Auburn); DE Jesse Nading (Colorado State); DT Gabe
Long (Utah); LB Ben Moffitt (South Florida), LB Marcus
Richardson (Troy). May 12: UFA re-signed: OG Fred Weary.
May 19: UFA signed: TE Ryan Krause (Packers). Roster
addition: CB Jimmy Williams (not tendered as UFA by Seahawks 6/1/07). Placed on waivers: TE Cole Bennett. May
22: UFA signed: WR Tim Carter (Browns). Roster addition:
WR Mark Simmons (Kansas). Reserve/injured: C Chukky
Okobi (triceps). Placed on waivers: RB Arliss Beach. May
29: Roster addition: C-OG Mark Fenton (released by Broncos 4/29). Placed on waivers: CB Derrick Johnson.
INDIANAPOLIS May 12: Roster addition: RB
Dominic Rhodes (released by Raiders 4/28). May 14: Roster
addition: P Adam Crossett (Missouri).
JACKSONVILLE April 29: Placed on waivers: QB
Lester Ricard. April 30: UFA signed: S Pierson Prioleau
(Redskins). May 16: Roster additions: TE Adam Bishop
(Nevada); DE Alex Boston (Florida State); TE-FB Chris Brown
(Tennessee); WR Clyde Edwards (Grambling); WR Jeron
Harvey (Houston); WR Derrek Richards (Utah); FB Anthony
Cotrone (Maine); CB Isaiah Gardner (Maryland), CB Michael
Grant (Arkansas), CB Brian Witherspoon (Stillman); DT Theo
Horrocks (Vanderbilt); C-OG Drew Miller (Florida); LB Lamar
Myles (Louisville); QB Paul Smith (Tulsa). May 27: UFA lost:
CB Terry Cousin (Browns).
KANSAS CITY May 1: Roster additions: WR Jabari
Arthur (Akron), WR Sean Bailey (Georgia); DE Johnny Dingle
(West Virginia). May 6: Roster addition: PK Connor Barth
(North Carolina). Placed on waivers: WR Sean Bailey; CB
Chad Johnson; OT Joe Lobdell; LB Mickey Pimentel; QB
Ricky Santos. May 9: Roster additions: FB Steven Jackson
(released by Panthers 9/2); LB E.J. Kuale (released by Saints
3/22/07); WR Kevin McMahan (released by Giants 9/2, from
Giants practice squad 10/2, from Chiefs practice squad
10/16); OT Ken Shackleford (released by Rams 9/2). May 20:
Roster additions: OG L.J. Anderson (Central Florida); OG
Edwin Harrison (Colorado); S Khayyam Burns (Arkansas
State); LB Weston Dacus (Arkansas), LB LeRue Rumph
(North Carolina State); RB Dantrell Savage (Oklahoma
State). May 27: Roster additions: CB Jason Horton
(released from reserve/injured with injury settlement by Texans 12/13), CB Will Poole (released by Chiefs 9/2). Placed
on waivers: OG Ian-Yates Cunningham; S Erick Harris.
MIAMI April 26: Traded: fourth-round pick in 2008
draft to Cowboys for TE Anthony Fasano and LB Akin Ayodele; RB Lorenzo Booker to Eagles for fourth-round pick in
2008 draft. April 29: Placed on waivers: QB Matt Baker; NT
Steve Fifita. May 5: Roster additions: CB Scorpio Babers
(Sam Houston State); DE-LB Keith Saunders (Alabama); DT
Anthony Toribio (Carson-Newman). Placed on waivers: CB
Aaron Lane; WR Marcel Reece; DE Derreck Robinson; LB
Abraham Wright. May 16: Placed on waivers: OG Drew
Mormino (failed physical). May 19: Draft choices signed:
RB Jalen Parmele (6/176), RB Lex Hilliard (6/204); NT Lionel
Dotson (7/245). Roster additions: C-OG Steve McKinney
(released failed physical by Texans 3/25); C Matt Spanos

(USC). May 22: Draft choice signed: OG Donald Thomas
(6/195). May 27: Reserve/retired: DT Kory Robertson. May
29: Placed on waivers: WR Tab Perry (injured/Achilles).
NEW ENGLAND April 29: Contract terminated: LB
T.J. Slaughter. Placed on waivers: CB Tim Mixon. May 1:
Roster additions: OT Josh Coffman (East Carolina); S Mark
Dillard (Louisiana Tech); DT Carlos Feliciano (Maryland); RB
BenJarvus Green-Ellis (Mississippi); DE Chris Norwell (Illinois); LB Vince Redd (Liberty); NT Henry Smith (Texas A&M);
TE Jonathan Stupar (Virginia); DE Casey Tyler (Portland
State); C Ryan Wendell (Fresno State). May 5: Roster additions: TE Tyson DeVree (Colorado); P Mike Dragosavich
(North Dakota State); NT Steve Fifita (released by Dolphins
4/30). Placed on waivers: OT Josh Coffman; DT Carlos Feliciano. May 14: Roster addition: WR Robert Ortiz (released
by Seahawks 8/29).
N.Y. JETS May 5: Roster addition: OG Shawn
McMackin (Hofstra). Placed on waivers: C Brett Byford; CB
Al Phillips. May 6: UFA re-signed: CB Hank Poteat. May 12:
Roster addition: PK Mark Myers (Hamilton-CFL 06). May
19: Roster addition: LS Nick Jarvis (Wake Forest). May 20:
Roster additions: CB Kenny Patton (released by Raiders
5/16/07); CB Jonathan Zenon (LSU). May 22: UFA lost: QB
Marques Tuiasosopo (Raiders). May 27: UFA signed: RB
Musa Smith (Ravens).
OAKLAND April 27: Traded: CB Fabian Washington
to Ravens for fourth-round pick in 2008 draft. May 1: Roster
additions: CB Darrick Brown (McNeese State); LB Malik
Jackson (Louisville); RB Louis Rankin (Washington); OG
Brandon Rodd (Arizona State); C Adam Spieker (Missouri);
TE Darrell Strong (Pittsburgh), Chris Wagner (South Dakota
State). May 6: Roster additions: DE Greyson Gunheim
(Washington); LB Ed Hartwell (released by Bengals 9/1); QB
Brian White (Portland State). May 9: Roster additions: DE
Derrick Gray (Texas Southern); FB Matt Hahn (Penn State);
LB Shane Simmons (Western Washignton). May 12: Roster
addition: DT Tranell Morant (Arizona State). Placed on
waivers: OT Adam Spieker. May 13: Roster additions: WR
Marcel Reece (released by Dolphins 5/6); DE Greg Spires
(released by Buccaneers 2/27). Contract terminated: CB
Duane Starks. Placed on waivers: FB Matt Hahn. May 20:
Contracts terminated: LB Akbar Gbaja-Biamila; S Stuart
Schweigert. May 22: UFA signed: QB Marques Tuiasosopo
(Jets).
PITTSBURGH April 30: Roster additions: LB Patrick
Bailey (Duke); LB Donovan Woods (Oklahoma State); C-OG
Doug Legursky (Marshall). May 1: Roster additions: WR
Dorien Bryant (Purdue); WR Micah Rucker (Eastern Illinois);
DE Kyle Clement (Northwood); CB Roy Lewis (Washington),
CB Travis Williams (East Carolina); QB Mike Potts (William &
Mary); DE Martavius Prince (Southern Mississippi), DE Jordan Reffett (Washington); PK Julian Rauch (Appalachian
State). May 5: Roster addition: WR Kevin Marion (Wake
Forest).
SAN DIEGO May 1: Roster addition: OT L.J. Shelton
(released by Dolphins 2/11). May 12: Roster addition: WR
Marco Thomas (released by Jets 4/28). May 13: Placed on
waivers: WR Greg Bracey. May 27: Placed on waivers: WR
Brandon Jackson.
TENNESSEE April 27: Traded: CB Pacman Jones to
Cowboys for fourth-round pick in 2008 draft and conditional
pick in 09 draft. May 8: RFA re-signed: PK Rob Bironas.
May 13: RFA re-signed: OT David Stewart.
NATIONAL FOOTBALL CONFERENCE
The Fan Zone is here

ProFootballWeekly.com has launched a
new channel on its Web site the Fan Zone.
Available now:
Streaming audio for the year-round Pro Football Weekly radio show.
Fan forums, where you can express your views on any football-related topic.
Our blogs have moved to a new Web site, where they can be read throughout the year.
Pro Football Weekly Radio produces a one-hour radio show that, during the offseason,
offers expert analysis of timely NFL issues. The program, which is broadcast on affiliate
stations across the country every week, will be made available on ProFootballWeekly.com
each Friday for immediate listening or download.
Our blogs have been moved to a new Web site NFLblogs.ProFootballWeekly.com with
commentary on the NFL, the draft and handicapping year-round, as well as fantasy football
advice during much of the year.
ATLANTA April 29: Assigned on waivers: S Nick

Turnbull from Bengals. Roster addition: WR Chandler
Williams (released by Dolphins 4/25). May 12: Roster additions: LB Isaac Brown (Central Michigan); P Jimmie Kaylor
(Colorado State); CB Glenn Sharpe (Miami, Fla.); S D.J.
Wolfe (Oklahoma); DE Brandon Miller (Georgia); RB Jamar
Brittingham (Bloomsburg); OT Michael Butterworth (Slippery
Rock). Placed on waivers: S C.J. Gaddis. May 19: Roster
additions: S Eric Brock (Auburn); S Jamal Lewis (Georgia
Tech); WR Tony Gonzalez (Boston College). Placed on
waivers: LB Earl Everett; S Nick Turnbull. May 20: Draft
choice signed: QB Matt Ryan (1/3). May 21: Roster addition: TE Brad Listorti (Massachusetts). May 22: Placed on
waivers: P Jimmie Kaylor. May 27: Placed on waivers: S
D.J. Wolfe.
CAROLINA April 29: UFA signed: DT Ian Scott
(Eagles). RFA re-signed: LB Adam Seward. Roster additions: DT Darwin Walker (released by Bears 2/19). May 20:
Roster addition: QB Lester Ricard (released by Jaguars
4/30). May 28: UFA re-signed: CB Curtis Deloatch.
CHICAGO May 5: Placed on waivers: DT David Faaeteete. May 6: Roster addition: RB Matt Lawrence (Massachusetts). Contract terminated: S Adam Archuleta. May 7:
Placed on waivers: OG Mike Jones; DT Babatunde Oshionowo. May 12: Roster additions: P Zac Atterberry (Lindenwood); OG Ryan Poles (Boston College); TE Marcus
Stone (North Carolina State). May 13: Roster addition: DT
Gerard Lee (Oregon State).
DALLAS April 26: Traded: TE Anthony Fasano and
LB Akin Ayodele to Dolphins for fourth-round pick in 2008
draft. April 27: Traded: fourth-round pick in 2008 draft and
conditional pick in 09 draft to Titans for CB Pacman Jones.
May 14: Roster additions: OG-OT Cory Lekkerkerker (not
tendered as ERFA by Dolphins 2/28); OG Adam Stenavich
(released by Packers 9/2). May 20: RFA re-signed: RB Marion Barber.
DETROIT April 29: Placed on waivers: OG Ben Noll.
May 1: Roster addition: RB Artose Pinner (released by
Vikings 9/1, by Falcons 12/13, by Saints 12/31). May 6: Roster addition: OT Chris Patrick (released by Packers 4/24).
May 12: Roster addition: OG Matt Butler (East Carolina).
May 13: Roster addition: DB Justin Sanders (Illinois). May
14: Roster additions: S Stephen Howell (Richmond); DT
Jonathan Lewis (released by Seahawks 5/2); TE Buck Reed
(Bethel). Placed on waivers: S Bobbie Williams. May 15:
Roster addition: CB Ronyell Whitaker (not tendered as RFA
by Vikings 2/28). Placed on waivers: CB Pacino Horne. May
19: Roster addition: WR Greg Lee (released by Cardinals
8/28). Placed on waivers: TE Clark Harris. May 20: Placed
on waivers: CB Israel Route. May 29: Roster addition: DT
Shemiah LeGrande (Hofstra).
GREEN BAY May 5: Roster additions: DB Condrew
Allen (Portland State); OT Ryan Considine (Louisiana Tech);

DB Kyle Ward (Louisiana-Lafayette). May 9: Contract terminated: WR Koren Robinson. May 19: UFA lost: TE Ryan
Krause (Texans). May 22: Roster addition: WR Evan Moore
(Stanford).
MINNESOTA May 1: Placed on waivers: WR Joel
Filani; LB Dallas Sartz. May 20: Placed on waivers: WR
Brent Little. May 27: Roster additions: LB Brannon Carter
(Northern Iowa); WR Daniel Davis (Texas Southern). Traded:
DE Erasmus James to Redskins for conditional seventhround pick in 2009 draft.
NEW ORLEANS April 30: Roster additions: LB JoLonn Dunbar (Boston College); OT Akim Millington (Illinois).
Placed on waivers: DT McKinley Boykin (failed physical); RB
Jamaal Branch; WR Carlton Brewster; DE Josh Cooper
(failed physical). May 5: Roster additions: WR Todd Blythe
(Iowa State); WR Evan Moore (Stanford); OT Jason Boone
(Utah); DE Jeremy Geathers (UNLV); RB Lynell Hamilton
(San Diego State); OG Nathan McManus (Georgia Tech); QB
T.C. Ostrander (Stanford); P Waylon Prather (San Jose
State); S David Roach (TCU); S Rocky Schwartz (Houston);
LB Luke Sanders (LSU); LS Ryan Senser (Ohio); C Kevin
Tuminello (Georgia Tech). May 8: Roster addition: RB
Olaniyi Sobomehin (Portland State). May 13: Roster additions: QB Travis Lulay (released by Seahawks 4/9); DT Marcus Pittman (Troy); WR Carlos Robinson (Grand Rapids CC).
Placed on waivers: OG Nate McManus; OT Akim Millington;
WR Evan Moore; QB T.C. Ostrander. May 14: Roster addition: OG-OT Carnell Stewart (released failed physical by
Giants 5/12). May 15: Placed on waivers: C Kevin Tuminello. May 19: Roster addition: OG-OT Brian Stamper (Vanderbilt). May 27: Roster additions: LB Chris Graham (Michigan); LB William Kershaw (released by Broncos 4/29); S Tuff
Harris (released by Dolphins 4/25). Reserve/retired: LB Dan
Morgan. Placed on waivers: LB Luke Sanders; S Rocky
Schwartz. May 29: Placed on waivers: OT Jason Boone.
N.Y. GIANTS May 1: Roster additions: OG Andrew
Bain (Miami, Fla.); OG Carnell Stewart (LSU); C Digger
Bujnoch (Cincinnati); DT Josh Muse (Louisiana Tech), DT
Ogemdi Nwagbuo (Michigan State); OT Dylan Thiry (Northwestern). Placed on waivers: TE Marcus Freeman; S
Andrew Shanle. May 5: Roster addition: DE Wallace Gilberry (Alabama). May 6: Roster additions: WR D.J. Hall (Alabama); S Nehemiah Warrick (Michigan State). May 7: Roster
addition: P Owen Tolson (Army). May 8: Roster addition:
TE Eric Butler (Mississippi State). May 9: Placed on
waivers: TE Eric Butler; OG Carnell Stewart (both failed
physical). May 12: RFA re-signed: S James Butler. Roster
additions: OG Jacob Hobbs (Albany); LS Nick Leeson (Virginia Tech); DE Alex Morrow (USC); DT Nate Robinson
(Akron); DT Brian Soi (released by Dolphins 9/2); S Miguel
Scott (North Carolina State); S Terrance Stringer (Tuskegee).
Placed on waivers: LB Rory Johnson; DT Josh Muse; P
Owen Tolson. May 14: Placed on waivers: DE Antonio
Reynolds. May 19: Roster addition: TE Eric Butler (released
failed physical by Giants 5/12).
PHILADELPHIA April 26: Traded: fourth-round pick in
2008 draft to Dolphins for RB Lorenzo Booker. April 29: UFA
lost: DT Ian Scott (Panthers). May 5: Roster addition: FB
Jed Collins (Washington State). May 12: Roster additions:
LB Gary Butler (California, Pa.); QB Casey Hansen (Norfolk
State); LB Markell Staffieri (Brigham Young).
ST. LOUIS April 30: RFA re-signed: TE Oshiomogho
Atogwe. Roster additions: TE Doug Jones (Cincinnati); FB
Brandon McAnderson (Kansas); RB Russ Weil (Illinois). May
1: Roster additions: RB Yvenson Bernard (Oregon State);
WR Joshua Hyman (Virginia Tech); OT Stephen Sene (Liberty). May 5: Roster additions: WR Matt Caddell (Alabama);
LB Marc Magro (West Virginia); CB Justin McKinney (Kansas
State); NT Joshua Thompson (Auburn). May 6: Roster addition: LB Vincent Hall (Virginia Tech). May 8: Roster addition: DE Rodney Hardeway (Louisiana-Lafayette). May 9:
Roster addition: DT Vernon Bryant (Hampton). Placed on
waivers: RB Yvenson Bernard (failed physical). May 13:
Roster addition: WR Shaine Smith (released by Jets 4/28).
Placed on waivers: DE Rodney Hardeway; WR Josh
Hyman; FB Brandon McAnderson. May 15: Roster addition:
RB Lance Ball (Maryland). May 19: Roster addition: NT
Willie Williams (Louisville).
SAN FRANCISCO May 7: Placed on waivers: LB
Lance Brandenburgh. May 28: Placed on waivers: LB Ezra
Butler.
SEATTLE April 29: Assigned on waivers: QB Dalton
Bell from Packers. Placed on waivers: LS Tim Lindsey. May
1: Placed on waivers: DT Jonathan Lewis. May 5: Roster
additions: DT Kevin Brown (UCLA); WR Joel Filani (released
by Vikings 4/30). Reserve/injured: CB Wale Dada. Placed
on waivers: WR Travis Brown; DT Kelly Talavou. May 6:
Placed
on
waivers:
CB
Wale
Dada
(from
reserve/injured/injury settlement). May 13: Roster addition:
WR Chas Gessner (released by Buccaneers 11/7). Placed
on waivers: C Chris White.
TAMPA BAY May 5: Roster additions: DT Chris Bradwell (Troy); WR Amarri Jackson (South Florida); C John
Rochford (Miami, Fla.); RB Clifton Smith (Fresno State). May
8: RFA re-signed: DT Jovan Haye. May 28: UFA lost: RB
Michael Pittman (Broncos).
WASHINGTON April 30: UFA lost: S Pierson Prioleau. Roster additions: OG Kerry Brown (Appalachian
State); DE Alonzo Dotson (Oklahoma); WR Horace Gant (St.
Olaf); QB Bret Meyer (Iowa State); LB Bryan Wilson (Morgan
State). May 1: Roster additions: OT Shannon Boatman
(Florida State); C Kyle DeVan (Oregon State); S Kevin
Mitchell (Illinois); S Justin Scott (Purdue); DE Dorian Smith
(Oregon State). Contract terminated: OT Kevin Sampson
(failed physical). May 5: Placed on waivers: DT Alonzo Dotson; QB Bret Meyer; S Kevin Mitchell; S Justin Scott. May 6:
Roster additions: QB Derek Devine (Marshall); DB Patrick
Ghee (Wake Forest). May 7: Roster addition: OG Andrew
Crummey (Maryland). May 8: Roster addition: TE Jason
Goode (Maryland). May 9: Roster addition: DT J.T. Mapu
(Tennessee). May 15: Placed on waivers: WR-KR Jerome
Mathis. May 16: Roster addition: DB Steve Tate (Hofstra).
May 27: Traded: Conditional seventh-round pick in 2009
draft to Vikings for DE Erasmus James. Placed on waivers:
DE Dorian Smith. May 29: Placed on waivers: S Steve Tate.
ONLINE TRANSACTION UPDATES AT:
www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/NFL+Zone/Transactions/default.htm
JUNE 2008
PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY
31
UNDER THE GUN:
McFadden: No. 1 in rookie pressure department

EXECUTIVE EDITOR
As youve probably figured out by now, the NFLs

youth is being served in a big way in this issue of Pro
Football Weekly, with considerable copy being devoted to
what is widely considered the cream of this years NFL
draft crop.
With the Giants getting substantial contributions from
their entire 2007 draft class in a scintillating Super Bowl
stretch run that wont be forgotten soon, the focus on
rookie performance levels seems greater than ever. This
seems especially true in the case of the first-round draft
picks, with their instant megamillion-dollar salaries certain to create much bigger initial expectations.
It would appear, however, that there are some No. 1
picks this season who are facing more pressure than others to make their presence very quickly felt. What follows is a rundown of the 10 first-rounders from the 08
draft who, in this grizzled gridiron chroniclers opinion,
will warrant the most scrutiny under the high-powered
national-media microscope this coming season:
1) RB Darren McFadden (4th selection overall) /
Raiders In a perfect world, McFadden, the first running back selected in the draft, would follow in the
industrial-sized footsteps of his 07 counterpart, Vikings
RB Adrian Peterson, and become a major box-office
round. If Otah ends up playing right tackle on Carolinas

revamped offensive line anywhere near as well as Staley
played the same position last season for the Niners, the
Panthers will be quite pleased. Staley played every snap
in 07 at right tackle and now appears poised to make the
transition to left tackle for what the Niners hope will be a
very long time to come. But Otah already is battling
ankle problems, and its not even training camp. Of the
record-breaking eight offensive linemen drafted in this
years first round, Id say hes under the most presssure.
Not only must Otah instantly start opening holes in the
ground game and help re-establish a smashmouth mentality in Carolina, he also faces the major task of keeping
QB Jake Delhomme upright for an entire season. If Delhomme goes down again, the Panthers are toast and
Otah is sure to get burned.
3) OLB Keith Rivers (9th selection overall) / Bengals Rivers, by all accounts a quality player on the
field and a quality person off the field, sticks out like a
rose in a weed-infested Bengals draft crop including
WR Jerome Simpson (second round), DT Pat Sims
(third round), DT Jason Shirley (fifth round) and WR
Mario Urrutia (seventh round) that otherwise is
laden with character concerns. Rivers must quickly
upgrade a run defense that increasingly has been hard to
stomach the past few seasons, which is hardly the
easiest task in the world considering the Bengals
ordinary DT corps that will be operating in front
of him. He also must appear to be the most solid
of citizens and become a respected young leader
from the get-go on a team that just cant seem to
shake its bad-boy image.
4) QB Matt Ryan (3rd selection overall) / Falcons Speaking of image, theres no denying the
fact that Falcons owner Arthur Blank expects
Ryan to become the anti-Michael Vick in the
direct mold of one Tom Brady, while at the same
time turning his team back in a positive direction
on the field with what must be considered relatively limited resources. Ryans
contract numbers six
Big shoes to fill:
years, $72 million, $34.5
The Raiders need
million guaranteed have
Darren McFadden
to make an instant
been described as disimpact as a rookie
heartening by Titans OL
and NFL Players Association president Kevin Mawae. Its pretty safe to
say that wont be the last time Ryans salary is
publicly criticized this season. An extra layer of
skin will be a necessity.
5) DE Chris Long (2nd selection overall) /
Rams In the past five drafts, the Rams have
produced only one Pro Bowl player RB
Steven Jackson. Suffice it to say, the pressure is
on the teams revamped organization to hit a home
run with the son of NFL Hall of Famer Howie
Long. The Virginia product has been compared to
former Rams DE Grant Wistrom, who was a
solid performer in St. Louis but far from spectacular. The second overall pick in the draft should be
more than just solid. That the expectations for
Chris Long will be measured closely against those
of Chiefs rookie DT Glenn Dorsey whom the
Rams strongly considered drafting instead
could be an unfair cross for Long to bear. Also
worth noting: Rams second-round pick Donnie
Avery probably faces as much pressure as Long. He
must prove that hes indeed worthy of being the first
wide receiver selected in the 08 draft a sentiment that
is not shared by the majority of draft experts. Avery also
has to learn a playbook assembled by new offensive
coordinator Al Saunders that reportedly has more pages
than War and Peace.
6) RB Jonathan Stewart (13th selection overall) /
Panthers No other rookie, not even McFadden, is
expected to take on as big of a workhorse role as Stewart, even though DeAngelo Williams still will be around
to provide a steady dose of counterpunches in the Carolina ground attack. Stewart is the favorite among rookies
to be a factor in fantasy-league circles and will receive
extra scrutiny accordingly, as the nationwide fantasy
craze continues to take on a life of its own. The Oregon
JED JACOBSOHN / GETTY IMAGES
THE SLANT
DAN ARKUSH
smash who also eases the pressure on QB JaMarcus

Russell, last years heavily scrutinized No. 1 overall
pick. But the world McFadden comes from is far from
perfect, and the pressure to stay totally focused in unfamiliar surroundings and avoid distractions off the field
will be intense, especially with Al Davis looking over his
shoulder. Clearly, Davis is looking for a last hurrah.
And just as clearly, if McFadden screws up, the eccentric
Raiders owner will make life miserable for him.
2) OT Jeff Otah (19th selection overall) / Panthers
Is he really worth giving up a 2009 first-round draft
choice for? The sacrifice of a future No. 1 for Otah was
widely considered the riskiest first-round maneuver by
far this season. Last year the Niners sacrificed their firstround pick in this years draft (it ended up being No. 7
overall) in exchange for OT Joe Staley late in the first
product also must overcome a shaky injury history.

7) QB Joe Flacco (18th selection overall) / Ravens
The Ravens have long been considered among the
most savvy teams at the drafting table, but their decision
to trade down from the No. 8 spot, after Ryan was gobbled up by the Falcons, and then back up again to the
18th spot to grab Flacco as a QB alternative, which cost
them a third-round pick, was questioned by many. It says
here that there isnt a more boom-or-bust pick in the
first round than Flacco. Big and strong with a cannon for
an arm, theres no doubt he will draw considerable attention. But is he another Ben Roethlisberger or another
John Navarre?
8) OT Duane Brown (26th selection overall) / Texans Aside from East Carolina RB Chris Johnson,
who was drafted two spots earlier by the Titans, there
wasnt a bigger first-round reach this year than Brown.
But it apparently was Texans assistant head coach/O-line
guru Alex Gibbs opinion that mattered most, and Gibbs
seems to honestly think Brown can become the longterm answer at left tackle. Brown who hardly distinguished himself against top collegiate competition at Virginia Tech and needs a ton of work on his technique
could be hard-pressed to live up to Gibbs lofty expectations. The Texans offense finally is starting to turn the
corner toward respectability, and the last thing it needs is
for Brown to reverse its course.
9) DT Sedrick Ellis (7th selection overall) / Saints
Ellis and Chris Long will have a lot in common this
season. They both must deal with the imposing specter of
Glenn Dorsey, the standout defensive tackle from nearby LSU whom the Saints tried hard to acquire in a trade
with the Raiders and Chiefs before moving up three
spots and opting for Ellis. As is the case with fellow
USC grad Rivers in Cincinnati, Ellis will have his work
cut out for him on a defense in dire need of a first-class
run stuffer inside.
10) OT Jake Long (1st selection overall) / Dolphins
A list like this has to include the top overall pick,
right? But the fact that Long will be toiling in the trenches on a unit that will merely be expected to show steady
progress should ease the pressure on him somewhat.
Benefiting from the success enjoyed by fellow Big Ten
lineman Joe Thomas with the Browns as a rookie in 07,
Long was just about the safest pick Bill Parcells could
have made to start righting the ship in Miami. As you
can see, there are at least nine other 08 first-rounders
who I expect will encounter rockier waters.
A-bombs
The best idea the NFL has come up with in a long

time started becoming a reality shortly before this issue
of PFW went to press when the leagues rookies began a
series of visits over the next three months to the Pro
Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, as part of their
NFL orientation. Wide-eyed rookies from the Cardinals,
Jaguars and Buccaneers got the ball rolling and came
away impressed with the opportunity to learn about pro
footballs hallowed history firsthand, which is just what
recent Hall of Fame inductee Michael Irvin, who first
suggested the idea to NFL commissioner Roger
Goodell, had hoped. In the infant stages of their pro
careers, their time couldnt have been more well-spent,
as anybody who has visited the Hall would be quick to
tell you.
It was hard not to take note of the record number of
tackles selected in this years first round. However, I
found the under-the-radar new contracts that OTs David
Diehl and Michael Roos agreed to with the Giants and
Titans, respectively, to be equally interesting. Both Diehl,
who was rewarded with a new six-year, $31 million deal,
and Roos, who re-upped to the tune of six years, $43
million, quietly but very deservedly hit the jackpot, as
every team appears to be on a crusade to assure maximum protection for its QBs blind side. Thats smart
spending.
Whats this? Cowboys WR Terrell Owens says he
couldnt be happier with his current contract situation?
Hey, if you would have told me heading into June that
the two teams with the best records in baseball would be
the Chicago Cubs and the Tampa Bay Rays, respectively,
I wouldnt have believed that, either.
You can always rely on
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PFW - Vol. 23, Issue 04 (June 2, 2008) Off-Season Team Reports

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PFW - Vol. 23, Issue 04 (June 2, 2008) Off-Season Team Reports

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MOTIVATED

LaDainian Tomlinson enters the 2008

season with a chip on his shoulder

l VOL. XXIII, NO. 4 l JUNE 2008

PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY

CREATORS & FOUNDERS

Arthur Arkush, Robert Drazkowski

Publisher/Editor Hub Arkush

Art director Bob Peters

Managing editor Mike Holbrook

Production assistant Matt Quinnan

The Way We Hear It............................................Pg. 3

Business manager Christine Klimusko

Pro Football Weekly

ST. LOUIS RAMS (LONG) / TUSP (DORSEY)

Eric Edholm ......................................................Pg. 21

Get a leg up on the competition by reading the first of our three

NO REASON TO GIVE BACK:

Players should stand firm in next CBA negotiations

We take a tour around the NFL to see

Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco are the two

Associate editors Matt Sohn

Distribution manager Arthur Arkush

The Chargers star runner enters the

Editor-in-chief Keith Schleiden

Subscription manager Kristine Carlsson

hope you understand that all the NFL

on stadium construction, operations and

America does, and that whole problem goes

PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY

ERIC EDHOLM NOLAN NAWROCKI

It may be summer in Miami, but

Nearly a done deal: WR Lee Evans

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

Foxborough is that Tank Williams

at that position in the teams base

tically hes nothing more than a

NEW YORK JETS

Our sources in Oakland say

has about his tendency to cough up

11-game starter at guard last season,

an interesting exchange with the

PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

wasn't fun anymore. All of the fun was

HARRY SCULL, JR.

even though he joined the team last

PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY

to stay healthy last season, will

Gaining respect: Raiders QB JaMarcus Russell is showing more leadership

Texans rookie RB Steve Slaton

Tony Dungys Tampa-2 defense

Thus far, the pairing of Jaguars

Looking good: Steelers rookie RB

served as a head coach in the

receiver. Justin Gage and Roydell

Lions and Raiders WR Mike

PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY

ST. LOUIS It basically was love at

Dorsey primed to thrive

KANSAS CITY, Mo. As he

provided for the Tigers. After all, Kansas

rushers who kept the pocket