2007 NFL General News Thread

#11

^No doubt

#12

Denzel's Son makes NFL Europe Debut

Source: http://tinyurl.com/34tytz

#13

Pacman Jones To Appeal Suspension

Titans cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones said Friday night he will appeal his season-long suspension and thinks NFL commissioner Roger Goodell made him the league's poster boy for disciplining players.

Jones has not talked to reporters since the suspension for conduct detrimental to the NFL was announced Tuesday. Jones' attorneys had said they were discussing his options and have not returned telephone messages since Tuesday.

But Jones was in Tunica, Miss., and he talked to ESPN's Joe Tessitore while at "Friday Night Fights" about being suspended -- without pay -- for the 2007 season. His case will be reviewed after the Titans' 10th game, leaving the chance for a return.

"I think it was a little bit harsh," Jones said. "I expected the suspension, but for a whole year for a guy that hadn't been charged with nothing? I really didn't agree with it. But for the most part, I'm taking it like a man. I'm going to appeal it. We'll see what the future brings."

Any appeal would be heard and decided by Goodell.

Cincinnati receiver Chris Henry, a teammate of Jones at West Virginia, also was suspended. But Henry received an eight-game ban.

Jones, the sixth pick overall in the 2005 draft and the first defensive player taken that year, has talked with police 10 times since being drafted, and arrested five times. He has not been convicted of any charge since being drafted.

But Las Vegas police want to charge Jones for inciting a strip club fight Feb. 19 that led to a triple shooting. Jones also did not inform the Titans of two arrests in Georgia last year, and a felony obstruction charge for allegedly biting a Fayetteville, Ga., police officer was delayed until May.

Asked if he was being used as an example with the severe punishment, Jones agreed.

"Clearly -- you know, for a guy that hadn't been charged -- I'm clearly made to be the poster boy," Jones said.

Jones said his teammates have been calling him every day since news of the suspension. He said defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch has been a close friend over the past few days.

"What I'm going to do, I'm going to work out every day and make sure I'm in top-tip shape. But come Week 11, I plan on being back on the field," Jones told ESPN.

Titans owner Bud Adams said Tuesday the team wasn't sure if it wanted Jones back unless he changes his behavior and avoids controversy off the field.

Source: ESPN

#14

Brian Westbrook Receives His Bonus Twice

Brian Westbrook received an extra $3 million from the Philadelphia Eagles in an accounting error.

The star running back intends to pay the team back after getting his roster bonus twice. However, the Eagles filed a grievance with the NFL against Westbrook because the money hasn't been repaid yet, a team spokesman said Saturday.

Westbrook finished last season with a career high of 1,217 rushing yards and was sixth in the NFL with 1,916 yards from scrimmage. He signed a five-year contract extension worth $24.9 million during the 2005 season.

Source: Sports Illustrated

#15

Urlacher Fined $100,000 for Super Bowl Hat

Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher was fined $100,000 by the NFL for wearing a cap during Super Bowl media day that promoted a sponsor not authorized by the league.

NFL rules prohibit gear that advertises any product but a designated sponsor, league spokesman Brian McCarthy said Wednesday.

Urlacher was fined for drinking vitaminwater and wearing a vitaminwater hat during the media session in Miami leading to the title game. Gatorade is the NFL's official drink.

McCarthy said this is the first time such a fine has been levied. He added that $100,000 is the standard fine for such a violation at the Super Bowl. A violation during the regular season is $10,000. It is $50,000 at the Pro Bowl.

The fine recalls an episode involving Chicago quarterback Jim McMahon in the playoffs following the 1985 season, the previous time the Bears made the Super Bowl.

McMahon wore a headband that said "adidas" in a playoff game against the New York Giants, and then-commissioner Pete Rozelle fined him $5,000 because the shoe company was not an NFL sponsor. The following week, in the NFC title game against the Los Angeles Rams, McMahon wore a headband that read "rozelle."

Source: Sports Illustrated

#16

Rams Acquire Dante Hall From Chiefs

The St. Louis Rams' long search for a return man ended Wednesday when the team picked up one of the best in NFL history, acquiring Dante Hall from Kansas City in exchange for a fifth-round pick in this weekend's draft.

"We have filled a need with one of the top players in football at his specialty, returning punts and kicks," Rams coach Scott Linehan said. "Dante will fit nicely on our special teams and can be utilized as a receiver in certain situations."

The trade could have draft-day implications for St. Louis. The Rams had expressed strong interest in Ohio State's Ted Ginn Jr., as much for his return ability as for his resume as a receiver. St. Louis also has several needs on defense.

Hall, 28, has returned 11 kickoffs and punts for touchdowns in his seven-year career, including four (two kickoffs, two punts) in 2003. Brian Mitchell holds the record with 14 kick-return touchdowns, followed by Eric Metcalf with 12.

Hall also needs one more kickoff return for a touchdown to break the record of six he now shares with Ollie Matson, Gale Sayers, Travis Williams and Mel Gray.

Hall was the NFL's top returner from 2002-2004. His production declined the last two season, though he had one punt return for a touchdown last season, on Oct. 1 against San Francisco.

In 2003, he averaged 25.9 yards per kickoff return and 16.3 yards per punt return.

Last season, Hall averaged 22.8 yards on 53 kickoff returns and 8.9 yards on 27 punt returns. He also caught 26 passes, two for touchdowns.

For his career, all of it with Kansas City, Hall has averaged 24 yards per kickoff return and 10 yards per punt return.

Meanwhile, the Rams have struggled for years on kick returns. Last season, St. Louis averaged 7.8 yards per punt return. Only five teams were worse. The Rams were 26th in kickoff returns, averaging 21.3 yards.

Source: Sports Illustrated

**
Damn, they got him for only a 5th round pick? What a steal
**

#17

Panthers Release Keyshawn Johnson

The Carolina Panthers released receiver Keyshawn Johnson on Tuesday, three days after they selected another former Southern California receiver in the second round of the draft.

It was thought Johnson would help groom Dwayne Jarrett of USC, taken in the second round with the 45th pick. But apparently Johnson was deemed expendable -- he and Jarrett are both 6-foot-4 possession receivers.

The Panthers also selected receiver Ryne Robinson of Miami of Ohio in the fourth round of the draft. While he will likely be primarily used as a punt returner, he did catch 91 passes at Miami of Ohio last season. The Panthers also have receivers Drew Carter and Keary Colbert on the roster.

"We appreciated the contribution of Keyshawn in his season with the Panthers," coach John Fox said. "He brought us high production, but at this time, we are in a situation in which we have a number of young receivers and thought this was the right time to make the decision."

Johnson, who will turn 35 in July, had 70 catches for 815 yards and four touchdowns last season, his first with Carolina, and became the 16th player in NFL history with 800 career catches. The Panthers signed the former No. 1 overall pick last year after he was released by Dallas in a salary cap move so the Cowboys could sign Terrell Owens.

A call placed to Johnson Tuesday afternoon was not immediately returned.

Johnson worked as an analyst for ESPN during the network's draft coverage last weekend. When Carolina selected Jarrett, Johnson remarked he was "much like me" for his size and good hands and said he was looking forward to taking him under his wing.

Johnson has said in the past he would like to work in television after his career his over. He remarked recently he would also be interested in become a general manager of a team.

However, Johnson said late last season he wanted to play at least two more years and get to 1,000 career receptions. Johnson didn't appear to be slowing down last season.

Johnson was taken by the New York Jets with the No. 1 overall pick in the 1996 draft. He's always been productive, but has also clashed with coaches and teammates while earning the nickname "Me-Shawn." He wrote the famous tell-all book, "Just Give Me the Damn Ball" after his rookie season that ruffled feathers.

Johnson later helped Tampa Bay win the Super Bowl in the 2002 season. But a year later, Johnson was deactivated for the final six games after a feud with coach Jon Gruden.

Still, Bill Parcells, who coached him in both New York and Dallas, called Johnson one of the best players he's ever coached, and there was no apparent rift between Johnson and Fox in Carolina. When Johnson signed with Carolina, he said he was content being the No. 2 receiver behind star Steve Smith.

"Keyshawn brought what we knew he would when we signed him and we wish him the very best," Panthers general manager Marty Hurney said.

Source: Sports Illustrated

#18

Tom Brady Restructures Contract To Make Room for Moss

Tom Brady has already made a connection with Randy Moss.

The Boston Globe reported on Tuesday that the quarterback restructured his contract to create cap space so the Patriots could acquire the receiver.

On Sunday, the Patriots sent their fourth-round pick, the 110th selection overall, to the Raiders for Moss. With the draft choice acquired in the deal, Oakland drafted cornerback John Bowie from the University of Cincinnati.

ESPN's Chris Mortensen reports that Brady did not take a pay cut; rather, he restructured his current deal that runs through 2010.

As part of the trade, the Patriots were required to take on the $9.75 million that Moss was scheduled to earn. After the deal, Moss tore up his old contract and signed a one-year, $3 million deal that could be worth up to $5 million with incentives.

On the second day of the draft on Sunday, the Patriots received permission from the Raiders to speak with Moss about a possible trade.

Source: ESPN

#19

NFL Ponders 17th Game

Americans always seem to want more pro football. Yet it's the folks abroad who might be getting an extra taste of the NFL in the future.

Although talks are extremely preliminary, the NFL is investigating adding a 17th regular-season game and playing it outside the United States. The extra game would take the place of one in the preseason, allowing every team to play once abroad without sacrificing a home game.

This year, the Dolphins gave up a home date in Miami to play the New York Giants at Wembley Stadium in London. Two years ago, the Arizona Cardinals played a home game in Mexico City against the San Francisco 49ers.

"It is preliminary, but we certainly are putting resources into pulling that together," said Mark Waller, NFL senior vice president, international. "For now, we have the one game per season or two per season outside of the U.S. But we know it can be tough on home fans since we're taking a game away.

"So we have asked how do we create more inventory without taking games away from fans? That idea came up in internal conversations and we now have an international committee of owners and we talked it through with them, and they asked us to do some groundwork."

While the 17th game won't get off the ground next season, for sure, it could become a staple of the NFL's schedule by 2009 or 2010. But it would present some significant logistical and scheduling challenges.

For one, if there is another week to the regular season, does that mean openers played on Labor Day weekend, something the NFL has avoided in recent years? Or does it mean pushing the Super Bowl back a week to the second Sunday in February? Or leaving the title game where it is and eliminating the week off between conference championships and the Super Bowl?

"It is very early, but our thought is what we could end up with is every week there would be one international game," he said. "We won't have all of them on the same week. And what you would do is look at taking, for instance, four games to London. Play a game in Wembley each month, having eight different teams coming through. A game in September, one in October, one in November and one in December.

"It's a great opportunity from a fan perspective, because they get half of what a fan in the United States gets, four games to eight."

Aside from England, other prime areas to get games would be Germany, which has a half-dozen quality stadiums thanks to last year's World Cup; Mexico; and Canada. Waller doubts Asia or Australia would be targeted because of the travel concerns, but he doesn't dismiss anything. Or anywhere.

Source: ESPN

#20

I wish others in the NFL took giving back to the community as seriously as Peyton Manning.

Peyton Manning United Way