ADN

The Falcons lose a WR for the year.

The Atlanta Falcons got the bad news they expected Monday: receiver Brian Finneran is out for the season after tearing up his left knee in practice.

Finneran, one of quarterback Michael Vick's favorite targets, went down during a workout Sunday night as he practiced a one-on-one drill with rookie cornerback Jimmy Williams.

Tom Condon, the agent for Cardinals first-round pick Matt Leinart, left Flagstaff Sunday with a major piece of business unfinished. Neither side is commenting about the specifics of negotiations, but it's clear things are not going well. Barring some last-hour developments, Leinart won't be signed when the Cardinals hold their first training camp practice this morning. -- Arizona Republic

Carolina coach John Fox said Steve Smith's status is day-to-day after he suffered a hamstring strain Saturday afternoon. It's more likely the injury will be treated as week-to-week. It's possible Smith could miss a preseason game or two because the team is likely to proceed cautiously with its best offensive player. -- Charlotte Observer

There is no guarantee that Daunte Culpepper -- who tore three ligaments in his knee last October -- will be ready for the season opener. Culpepper was cleared to participate in the Dolphins' first practice in training camp yesterday , but there is still uncertainty as to how heavy of a load he'll handle. -- Boston Globe

You could argue that Ronnie Brown, not Daunte Culpepper, is the key to a Dolphins offense that will re-emphasize the running game. Even with the cannon-armed Culpepper at the helm, offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey wants a 50-50 split between ground and air. -- Miami Herald

Deion Branch's agent, Jason Chayut, said there is nothing new concerning the receiver's holdout because of a contract dispute. Branch's holdout will reach Day 4 if he is not at Gillette today. -- Boston Globe

The Texans were looking for a veteran cornerback before they signed Dexter McCleon to replace the injured Demarcus Faggins. Now they are looking for another one. -- Houston Chronicle

In delivering what he called his "state of the union" address to the Seahawks on the eve of training camp, coach Mike Holmgren pointed out the reigning NFL MVP, Shaun Alexander. Holmgren said he didn't care that Alexander won the award and set the league's season touchdown record. You can get better, he said. Alexander didn't take offense. He knows his coach and understands why he was singled out. And he knows what he expects of himself. -- Seattle Times

It's time to start worrying about the Eagles' wide receivers again, a Philadelphia pastime about as common as landfill stench. The biggest concern right now for the Eagles has to be Todd Pinkston, who a year ago suffered a torn Achilles tendon in his right foot. The Eagles had hoped he would be fully recovered by now, but it's obvious that there still is some kind of problem. -- Philadelphia Inquirer

Look for Jerricho Cotchery to make a pretty spirited run at a Jets starting receiver job over Justin McCareins. McCareins is fresh out of the Eric Mangini doghouse. -- New York Post

Coach Bill Cowher had his long-awaited conversation Saturday night with rookie receiver Santonio Holmes, not all of it about football. Holmes has to make up ground off and on the field because of two arrests in May and June, and after he missed most of the Steelers' spring drills because his Ohio State classes were still in session. -- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Titans rookie LenDale White said he's lost about 16 pounds since leaving Nashville after the June minicamps and now weighs about 227. In the Rose Bowl he weighed 252 pounds. -- The Tennessean

As promised, disgruntled Cowboys defensive end Greg Ellis is practicing at linebacker. Is he happy about it? Ellis didn't speak with reporters after Sunday's practice. To hear Bill Parcells describe it, their relationship is not strained, and he believes Ellis will be a good player this season. -- Fort Worth Star-Telegram

The signing of cornerback Tye Hill to a contract with the Rams on Sunday could bring ''significant and positive'' movement in the stalled talks between the Dolphins and safety Jason Allen, according to a source. Hill, picked just before Allen at No. 15, signed a five-year deal. That sets the table for Allen to get a five-year deal as well, according to the source. -- Miami Herald

Domanick Davis is the key to the Texans' running game, and he has been nursing a sore knee that is running short of cartilage. The plan was to let him practice once a day, but soreness after the second day caused him to get an MRI exam that didn't show any new damage. -- Houston Chronicle

Kicker Zac Derr injured his groin and was waived Sunday, putting the much-anticipated field-goal kicking battle in flux. Derr and Tony Yelk, free agents who have never kicked in an NFL game, were seeking to win the job vacated by Todd Peterson. The Falcons are expected to sign another free-agent kicker to come in a compete with Yelk. Because of the tight salary-cap situation, they want a lower-price kicker to make the team. -- Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Wow.....GREAT post Buff....that was FILLED with all good info I wanted to read.


Post of the day thus far...

The Titans will make a good run and The REAL Heisman winner Mr. Young will have a stand out rookie season un-like the HYPE heisman winner mr. bush who may look good but really isn't ready for the NFL which was proven in the National Championship game. Mr. White will have a better season then bush if he can stay healthy. Reggie Bush reminds me of Omarion with quick moves, speed and agile feet but not enough size, strength and power to really make an impact his rookie season. Mr. Bush wont start turning heads until year 3 of his career and the reason why I say his third year is because his body will developed into a fucking phenomenon like Mr. Young who to be honest is ready and has been ready for the NFL.

Team to watch:
Redskins-Killer off season, best wr core in the league and don†™‚¢‚¢¢¢¬…¡‚¬‚¢¢¢¬…¾

‚¢t forget they do have Jason Campbell.
Seahawks-Duh...
Cardinals-I think I can, I think I can..... They should have a decent season maybe a wild card, but that is fucking pushing it to the max....
Colts-Hands down the best fundamentally sound team in the NFL thats the only way they keep on winning and making it to the playoffs. It takes more then listening to coach to win or even get to the Superbowl....
Panthers-They have it easy in the NFC south if they can contain Vick and put the Cadillac on all four flats...
Saints-Superbowl Championship team for 2008.....
NFC North-Sucks.... Im not even going to mention any of those teams...
San Diego-I hope they can, but I doubt it.... LT is the best RB in the league to get the numbers he does with that shitty line is amazing....
I dont have enough time to break this down any more but I will sum it up like this. The best games and teams to watch will be out of the AFC south and the NFC east this season.... This will be one of the best seasons for the NFL with this years electrifying draft.....

theseeker, why no mention of the Broncos? Denver is way better and more battle tested than San Diego.

Lol...this guy trips me out....


how can you say the Colt's "keep on winning"...when come postseason....they can't get the job done.

I'll take a shitty regular season record and a superbowl ring...thank you very much.


Please tell me...how the Saints are your pick for the superbowl next year...after you just got done raggin' on Bush...


and how can you say VY is ready for the NFL and Bush isn't....when the only reason VY didn't go first was because his throwing motion and ability to read defences weren't up to NFL par.....

Bush would have started with virtually any team that drafted him.....but VY probably wouldn't have started with any team....he's playing backup to a player known as a backup...

How can you tell me VY is more ready for the NFL ?

Please...explain it.


And uhh....the NFC North sucks? Didn't a team from the NFC North finish 2nd in the whole conferance last year?


Oh yeah...let's not forget...the Redskins have Jason Campell!.....an unproven QB from a college team that featured two running backs with more skill than him...I think I could have done well at Auburn with Cadilac and Ronnie Brown in my backfield as well...

I also like how you mention the Seahawks as "duh"....but not the Superbowl winners....




Baised opinions with relatively no backup are a no-go here.....Please come again.

Here's some info from my ESPN Insider account

Even though Vince Young signed a six-year contract with the Titans that could be worth up to $58 million, Mario Williams is still the highest-paid player in the 2006 draft. Young's contract did not surpass the value of the Williams deal.
According to those who are getting their first look at Young's deal, Williams will make more money than Young, who was taken third by Tennessee. The difference is the interpretation of the numbers.

Williams' contract was announced as a six-year, $54 million deal on draft day. Those are the numbers he could realistically make. Young's numbers are between $49 million and $51 million.

There are escalation and bonus clauses in most top picks that give them a chance to "max out" these lucrative deals. To do so, though, the player would have to go to multiple Pro Bowls or achieve the highest possible totals. Williams' deal, for example, maxes out at $62.1 million for six years. Young's contract maxes out at $58 million.

Williams' contract contains more in guarantees than Young's -- $26.4 million to $25.7 million. Now that it is known Williams received more than Young, it could speed up negotiations for Reggie Bush, whom the Saints are not going to pay more than Williams.

Injury watch: Don't expect Steve Smith's scary hamstring injury to cost him more than two or three weeks -- if that. Smith's injury is just a strain. It may not be as bad as the hamstring strain that sidelined him for two to three weeks back in 2003.

†™‚¢‚¢¢¢¬…¡‚¬¢‚¬Å¡‚¢ Cowboys defensive end Marcus Spears could be out two or three weeks with a knee injury, and that's a little bit of a setback to Bill Parcells' 3-4 defense. Spears, who missed a good portion of last year's training camp with three leg injuries, is expected to have surgery for a meniscus tear. It doesn't necessarily move Greg Ellis back into the starting lineup.

†™‚¢‚¢¢¢¬…¡‚¬¢‚¬Å¡‚¢ Ben Roethlisterger will be monitored but he appears ready to do just about everything in training camp. Steelers coach Bill Cowher isn't expected to put too many restrictions on Roethlisberger, who has made an amazing recovery from his motorcycle accident. He's weighing about 236, down about 10 to 15 pounds from last year.

†™‚¢‚¢¢¢¬…¡‚¬¢‚¬Å¡‚¢ At least there was some good news Saturday from the Browns, who lost center LeCharles Bentley for the season. Braylon Edwards, a month ahead of schedule in his recovery from a knee injury, practiced Saturday in the afternoon. There was some thought he might not be ready to play until October. Meanwhile, starting right tackle Ryan Tucker did not suffer a major injury to his knee.

Quickly on the Favre thing.....He's near the top of my list....and that's saying a lot considering I live in Chicago..... I have tons of respect for him and what he does...



"If we had everyone healthy last year, it would have been a different story," Favre said. "How different? I don't know. I would think much different. kinda made me laugh though lmao...


And I'll read and respond to your next post after I get some sleep Buffy.

Thats what you think.... Watch and see.... Ive been around football at every level since I was a kid... Its more than stats way more... The last BCS championship game should be enough to shut your mouth about Bush.... He was shut the fuck down... and the individual with everything he was lacking stepped up and made plays where he couldn't, mr white. bush is no Barry Sanders.... and right now i dont think physically his body is able to take NFL hits, ref BCS champ game. Young is a freak of nature to be so quick, agile and powerfull, fuck his arm, his speed and quickness is enough for a ring or two with the right program. Last year means nothing.... This year will be all about the right moves in the off-season and there were alot of them.... And that duh.... was because there wasnt really not that much to say about the seahawks everyone doesnt know.... they have a great team.... but bush is nothing but hype and he knows it..... its so much more then just physical ability.........

football is 90% mental and 10% physical.....
remember there are more reasons then just ability why certain people sit or play behind others because at the end of the day all of the teams still have business to run.... Customers always right and the fans will get what they want...... If you guys dont get off of reggies nutz ya gunna get herpes......