2007 NFL General News Thread

#1

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#2

Frank Gore Gets Huge Contract Extension

Running back Frank Gore has agreed to a four-year contract extension with the San Francisco 49ers, a reward for his team-record 1,695 yards rushing last season.

Gore, who led the NFC in rushing in his second pro campaign, was due to earn $435,000 in the upcoming season. With the extension, the Pro Bowl running back will be under contract to the 49ers through 2011 with a deal containing more than $14 million in guaranteed money.

The deal, reported by various media outlets, was confirmed to The Associated Press by a person close to the negotiations who spoke on condition of anonymity because the 49ers aren't expected to announce it for several days.

Gore was the heart of the 49ers' offense last season, setting franchise records for yards rushing, 2,180 total yards from scrimmage and single-game rushing with his 212-yard performance against Seattle.

After a football career dotted by injuries, Gore started all 16 games for the 49ers last season and was selected to start in his first Pro Bowl. The former University of Miami star underwent reconstructive surgery on both knees in college, followed by major surgery on both shoulders after his rookie season with the Niners.

But Gore was remarkably durable while averaging 5.4 yards per carry last year. His low-to-the-ground running style delighted fans and frustrated defenses as he surpassed the best seasons by former San Francisco stars Roger Craig, Ricky Watters and Garrison Hearst.

The 49ers worried about their ability to retain Gore when he hired a new agent, Drew Rosenhaus, who reportedly told the team that Gore should be the NFL's highest-paid player. That won't happen, but the club reached an agreement that could keep Gore in San Francisco for five more seasons.

Gore was in Phoenix on Wednesday at the league meetings while negotiations with the 49ers heated up. He didn't respond to a request for comment.

Source: Sports Illustrated

#3

Pacman Jones to Meet with NFL Commish

Adam "Pacman" Jones will meet with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on April 3 to discuss the Tennessee Titans cornerback's run-ins with the law.

A person within the league familiar with Jones' situation told The Associated Press on Tuesday that a hearing will occur next Tuesday. That person requested anonymity because the hearing has not been announced.

Goodell is unlikely to make any decision on a suspension or fine at that time, because the commissioner's new, stricter player conduct policy has not been completed.

The hearing was first reported by the NFL Network.

Titans coach Jeff Fisher said Tuesday he has not spoken with Jones since just after Las Vegas incident Vegas "when we helped facilitate the first meeting with police."

"He's very disappointed with what's happened," Fisher said. "He thinks he let the city, the fans and his teammates and the organization down."

On Monday, Las Vegas police recommended prosecutors file a felony charge of coercion and misdemeanor charges of battery and threat against Jones, stemming from a Feb. 19 strip club fight and shooting.

The NFL confirmed last month that officials were reviewing Jones' off-field conduct, which has included 10 incidents where he was interviewed by police.

Fisher, for one, fully supports a stricter NFL conduct policy.

"Our organization is very much in favor of the commissioner's involvement," he said. "We're very much in tune with him. He has a plan and is determined, as are all of us, to minimize, if not eliminate this."

While Jones awaits possible charges in the Las Vegas case, a Tennessee prosecutor said Tuesday he will revive a criminal case against Jones if the Titans cornerback is charged in Nevada.

In January, Jones struck a deal with Rutherford County prosecutors on misdemeanor charges of public intoxication and disorderly conduct. He was given a chance to avoid jail and have the counts expunged from his record if he stayed out of trouble until July 5.

"In the event we determine he hasn't ..., we would file a motion and ask that the case be reinstated to the court docket," District Attorney General William Whitesell told the AP.

Whitesell said he has followed that investigation through the media.

"It's always frustrating in situations where we have an opportunity to get cases off our docket and give a chance to work things out. It's not unique to him. It's frustrating," Whitesell said.

The attorney who represented Jones in that case, Roger May, was at a meeting and did not immediately return a message.

Manny Arora of Atlanta, who is representing Jones in the Las Vegas incident and on unrelated charges in Georgia, said Tuesday night that May would continue handling the Tennessee case. But he said the Tennessee prosecutor would have to prove the terms of the original agreement had been violated.

"At this point, it seems like nothing would surprise me," Arora said.

Jones also has charges pending from a February 2006 Georgia case.

Fisher expressed his disappointment that Jones' troubles have stolen the spotlight from the Titans' turnaround on the field.

"With the off-field things, it's been a challenge," he said. "From the standpoint of when it's the first thing discussed in the morning and the last in the evening, it is [draining]. It's taken the limelight, and it's been difficult. As much as we want to talk about it, it's difficult to get info. To voice the organization's true feelings on the matter, we need to get all the information."

Goodell said Monday that discipline will be stepped up under the new player conduct policy, and he hoped to have it in place next month. He's considering making disciplinary decisions before the April 28-29 draft.

Teams, as well as individual players, could be subjected to punishment or sanctions.

"It's a complicated issue, and there are no simple answers," Goodell said. "We're going to hold the clubs more accountable. If the clubs are providing the right resources that have a positive impact on personal conduct, we will take that into account."

Source: ESPN

#4

Pacman's lawyers step up legal defense

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Meet Adam Jones. A speedy cornerback and punt returner who can turn a game with one play and is filled with all the self-confidence anyone could need. Nicknames? Pacman -- and now poster boy for all that's wrong with the NFL.

"It sure feels that way," attorney Manny Arora said of his client.

The Titan's legal defense kicked into high gear Wednesday after Las Vegas police said they will seek three charges for Jones' role in a Las Vegas strip club fight Feb. 19. The immediate concern is what the NFL will do to the two-year pro.

And yes, his attorneys will fight league punishment for a man they say is working hard to grow up and learn from his mistakes.

"I think we'll see a better Adam. I just need to get him through this little storm here, and then we'll move on. The problem is the district attorney's probably going to want to arrest him because of the political pressure, and we have to work it out," Arora said.

Jones will have a meeting Tuesday with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to explain for himself the 10 separate incidents in which the player has talked with police since the Titans made him the first defensive player drafted in April 2005.

He has been arrested five times with no convictions.

But the Las Vegas incident could complicate other cases: A plea agreement in a Tennessee case of public intoxication could be revoked and a Georgia case from February 2006 that is pending from Fayetteville police who say Jones interfered with them while dropping off his girlfriend at her parents' home.

A Nevada prosecutor expects to receive a report from Las Vegas police by Monday and will decide if charges should be filed. Police want Jones charged with a felony count of coercion and misdemeanor counts of battery and threat. A decision on charges could take up to 10 days.

"It won't go at the bottom of the stack. It certainly won't be on the top of the stack either," Clark County district attorney David Roger said.

The resulting publicity, especially the strip club fight that police say Jones incited around 5 a.m., has fans calling for the Titans to release him and the NFL to throw him out of the league.

Numerous NFL players have been arrested over the past two years. But it's Jones whose photo has been splashed repeatedly over the past few weeks whenever talk turns to the commissioner stiffening the league's personal conduct policy.

Arora said Jones has put himself in positions where he may have earned the title as the poster boy.

"A lot of places you go -- night clubs, strip clubs at 5 in the morning -- I'm thinking unsavory people are going to be there. Do you want to be in that position? That answer should be no," Arora said.

The attorney said the high school honors student who had an 1150 on his SAT is changing his life. He is tapping NFL veterans for advice, forcing his old friends to either clean up their acts or leave. He is concentrating on his family, his 1-year-old daughter and her mother, who is finishing college.

"If a shooting isn't a wakeup call, then nothing will be," Arora said.

Jones was raised by his mother, Deborah, and his grandmother after his father was killed when he was 6. His mother declined to talk to The Associated Press on Wednesday when contacted at her Georgia home but has said her son had to be tough growing up in Atlanta's housing projects.

He left West Virginia after his junior year and was only 21 when the Titans gave him millions of dollars as the sixth overall pick. But Jones started talking to police within a few days of being drafted.

Jones' attorneys spent Wednesday talking on radio and in interviews in Nashville asking for patience, defending a client who has become an easy target. Jones has been told not to speak publicly until his legal problems are cleared up.

Arora wants to see the evidence Las Vegas police have. Police said Monday that they are working their investigation from the fight inside the club out to the shooting that left one man paralyzed.

"Based on the timetable, the NFL issue is what we have to deal with right now, then we have to deal with Las Vegas, which is obviously much more serious than any NFL policy because there's a potential jail sentence down the road if it does get that far," Arora said.

#5

David Carr Visits Panthers

Free agent David Carr traveled to North Carolina on Tuesday to visit with a Panthers team in need of a backup quarterback.

Carr, the No. 1 overall pick by expansion Houston in the 2002 draft, was released by the Texans last month. His agent, Mike Sullivan, did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment. Carolina general manager Marty Hurney does not comment on free-agent visits.

Carr completed 60 percent of his passes with the Texans, but threw 65 interceptions and was sacked 249 times in five seasons. Some believe Carr could flourish behind a better offensive line. Carr is also expected to visit Seattle this week.

The Panthers are looking for a backup behind Jake Delhomme after releasing Chris Weinke last month. The Panthers have also shown interest in former Miami quarterback Joey Harrington.

The Panthers, who have been quiet during the free agency period, are about $9 million under the salary cap.

Source: Sports Illustrated

#6

David Carr Agree To Deal with Panthers

The Carolina Panthers won the battle for free agent quarterback David Carr early Friday morning, reaching agreement in principle with the former Houston Texans star on a two-year contract, the financial details of which were not immediately available.

Carr was released by the Texans after Houston acquired Matt Schaub in a trade with Atlanta earlier this offseason. The first player selected overall in the 2002 draft, Carr will serve as the backup to Panthers starter Jake Delhomme, who is coming off an uneven 2006 season.

"It's a case where we were obviously looking for someone to come in [and] back up Jake and the opportunity to get a quarterback the caliber of David in free agency is unique," Panthers general manager Marty Hurney told The Associated Press. "We thought it was a good situation and a good opportunity for us."

Carolina coach John Fox reiterated during the Panthers' courtship of Carr that Delhomme is the unchallenged starter, but the addition of Carr certainly provides an interesting alternative if the incumbent struggles as he did a year ago.

Carr, 27, chose the opportunity with the Panthers over one in Seattle. He visited with Carolina coaches and team officials on Monday and Tuesday, then made a two-day trip to meet with the Seahawks, where he would have also been a backup. After returning from the Seattle visit, Carr counseled with his wife and opted for the deal with Carolina.

"We made it clear and he knows that Jake Delhomme is our starting quarterback," Hurney said to the AP. "I think it was important for him to come to a winning organization and a place where he thinks has a chance to win. He knows that Jake is our starter. Every player wants to play, but he knows the role he's coming into."

The Cleveland Browns also indicated interest in Carr in recent days and the Miami Dolphins considered him as well. The only visits he made, however, were to Carolina and Seattle.

Obviously, the deal with Carolina represents a step back for Carr in his career, but most NFL experts believe the former Fresno State star still possesses immense talent and sorely needed a change of scenery.

In five seasons with the Texans, he completed 1,243 of 2,070 passes for 13,391 yards, with 59 touchdown passes and 65 interceptions, and a passer rating of 75.3. But Carr was the most-sacked quarterback in the league during his tenure with the Texans. Playing behind one of the league's most porous offensive lines, he was sacked a remarkable 249 times.

Carr started 75 games but recorded just a 22-53 record. Between bonuses and base salaries, the Texans paid Carr more than $35 million in five seasons. When they acquired Schaub, whom they immediately named the starter, they initially hoped to be able to trade Carr, but instead released him rather than prolong his time with the franchise.

The move also means the Panthers now have the top two picks from the 2002 draft. Carolina selected defensive end Julius Peppers with No. 2 pick.

Source: ESPN

#7

Falcons Sign Joey Harrington As Backup QB

Joey Harrington signed a two-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons on Monday, becoming a leading contender to back up starting quarterback Michael Vick.

Harrington, the third overall pick by Detroit in the 2002 draft, started 11 games with Miami last season after being obtained by the Dolphins in a trade with the Lions. He threw for 2,236 yards with 12 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.

Harrington was benched for the final game last season and then released by Miami.

Harrington was a disappointment in Detroit, in part because he was chosen so high in the draft. From 2002-05, he started 55 games with the Lions, throwing for 10,242 yards with 60 touchdowns and 62 interceptions.

Harrington is expected to participate in a three-day minicamp that begins on Tuesday.

Harrington and Falcons quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave each are former stars at the University of Oregon, and Harrington's relationship with Musgrave played a role in his decision to sign with Atlanta.

Harrington will have the most experience of a growing list of candidates competing to replace Matt Schaub, Vick's backup the past three seasons. Schaub was traded to Houston, where he will be the starter.

General manager Rich McKay has said that any veteran added in the offseason will compete with second-year D.J. Shockley for the backup job.

The team also has signed quarterback Chris Redman, who played for new Falcons coach Bobby Petrino for one season at Louisville. A longshot contender is James Kilian, a former seventh-round pick from Tulsa.

The Falcons on Monday also released cornerback Kevin Mathis, a 10-year veteran. Mathis made 54 career starts but was limited to eight games in 2006 after suffering a neck injury in Week 9 at Detroit.

Source: Sports Illustrated

#8

Pacman Jones Suspended for 2007 Season; Chris Henry Out 8 Games

Adam "Pacman" Jones of Tennessee was suspended Tuesday for the 2007 NFL season and Chris Henry of Cincinnati received an eight-game suspension -- both for numerous violations of the NFL's personal conduct policy.

"It is a privilege to represent the NFL, not a right," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement announcing the suspensions. "These players and all members of our league have to make the right choices and decisions in their conduct on a consistent basis."

Jones' off-field conduct has included 10 incidents where he was interviewed by police. The most recent took place in Las Vegas during the NBA All-Star weekend. Las Vegas police have recommended felony and misdemeanor charges against Jones after a fight and shooting at a strip club that paralyzed one man.

Henry was arrested four times in a 14-month span, resulting in two benchings by coach Marvin Lewis and a two-game league suspension. He was one of nine Bengals arrested in nine months.

Source: Sports Illustrated

#9

Drew Bledsoe Retires

Drew Bledsoe retired Wednesday, ending a 14-year career in which he made two Super Bowls.

The top overall pick by New England in the 1993 draft out of Washington State, the four-time Pro Bowl quarterback played for the Patriots, Buffalo Bills and Dallas Cowboys. He was a starter for all three teams, but ended up as a backup with the Cowboys.

Bledsoe threw for 44,611 yards and 251 touchdown passes in his career.

"I feel so fortunate, so honored, to have played this game that I love for so long, with so many great players, and in front of so many wonderful fans," he said. "I fulfilled a childhood dream the first time I stepped on an NFL field, and the league did not let me down one time. I retire with a smile on my face, in good health, and ready to spend autumns at my kids' games instead of my own. I'm excited to start the next chapter of my life."

The 35-year-old Bledsoe lost his starting job to Tom Brady in New England in 2001 when Bledsoe got hurt in the second game of the season, and to Tony Romo in Dallas after Game 6 of last season.

He also asked for his release from the Bills after the 2004 season, when the team informed him it was going with J.P. Losman as the starter the next year. Bledsoe didn't want to be a backup there after he led the Bills to the brink of the playoffs.

He then signed with the Cowboys and was their starter for all of 2005 and part of '06.

In 1996, Bledsoe guided the Patriots to the AFC championship. They lost to Green Bay in the Super Bowl.

He remained the Patriots' starter until he was tackled by the Jets' Mo Lewis in the second game of the 2001 season and injured his chest. Brady took over, although Bledsoe got New England into the Super Bowl in place of the injured Brady by beating Pittsburgh in the AFC title game.

Brady then was the MVP of the Super Bowl win over St. Louis.

The Bills acquired Bledsoe during the 2002 NFL draft by dealing their first-round pick in 2003 to New England. Bledsoe had strong first season in Buffalo, setting 10 team passing records, including single-season marks with 4,359 yards and 375 completions.

His numbers, however, began to decline drastically. In his final 30 games with Buffalo, Bledsoe never finished with more than 296 yards passing, while throwing 29 touchdowns and 27 interceptions during that stretch.

He finishes seventh all-time in yards passing, 13th in touchdown passes and fifth in completions (3,839).

Source: Sports Illustrated

#10

^ Future HOF^