News

Patriots could use preseason to showcase Brian Hoyer, Ryan Mallett

stevenlourie News, Patriots

According to ESPN Boston’s Mike Reiss, the Patriots may be using their 2nd preseason game, a national televised one against the Eagles, to showcase Brian Hoyer and/or Ryan Mallett for trade purposes. The Patriots don’t need both behind Tom Brady, which is why ESPN Boston, the Boston Herald, and many others have speculated that the Patriots could be shopping both of them.

Ideally, the Patriots would prefer to trade Brian Hoyer because he is entering a contract year, while Mallett is signed for 3 more years, but Hoyer, a restricted free agent earlier this offseason, reportedly tried to shop himself around the league earlier this offseason and found no takers as teams would have had to give up a 2nd rounder for his services.

Mallett, meanwhile, was a 3rd round pick in 2011 so the Patriots would be unlikely to take anything less than a 2nd rounder back for him, something that simply is unlikely to happen this close to the start of the season. Reiss also goes to say that he doesn’t expect there to be any legitimate suitors for the pair out there this offseason and that “expectations of getting something meaningful in return are a bit higher than the reality.”

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Brandon Boykin expected to be Eagles’ slot cornerback

stevenlourie Eagles, News

According to Sporting News, Brandon Boykin is expected to open the season ahead of Joselio Hanson as the team’s slot cornerback. Boykin was a steal in the 4th round this past April and could have gone in the 1st or 2nd round if he wasn’t 5-9. His lack of height won’t be nearly as big of a deal in the slot and he has very good pure coverage abilities.

With Boykin playing on the slot, the Eagles could have an improved pass defense this year, despite jettisoning one of the league’s top cornerbacks, Asante Samuel, for financial reasons. Dominique Rodgers Cromartie, who struggled mightily on the slot last year, will move outside where he’s a much better fit. The 2009 Pro Bowler will also be motivated in a contract year. Meanwhile, #1 cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha will play significantly less zone coverage than he did last year, thanks to schematic changes by defensive coordinator Juan Castillo. Zone coverage was a huge part of the reason why the man who was once the league’s top cornerback struggled last year.

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Maurice Jones Drew could report to Jaguars before Training Camp

stevenlourie Jaguars, News

Maurice Jones Drew was one of only a few players to skip his team’s mandatory minicamp last month, but ESPN’s John Clayton believes that MJD could report to Training Camp on time because “he now realizes the team is going to do nothing as far as giving him anything on a contract.” The Jaguars have said that they will not even talk contract with MJD and that they want him to fulfill his commitment, even though he has exceeded his contract and they would have cut him had he not, like they did with former teammate Aaron Kampman, along countless others.

Early speculation was that MJD would be angered by that and could have a holdout that rivaled the one that Chris Johnson had last year, but that doesn’t seem to be the case anymore as MJD appears to be putting this season above his own finances. If he is there for the start as Training Camp, it’ll be a boost for his fantasy value as he’d no longer run the risk out getting out of shape like Chris Johnson did. He’s still hurt by the offense he’s on and the fact that he led the league in carries last year. If he doesn’t get a deal this offseason, he’ll likely to try again next offseason as he heads into a contract year in 2013. He’s owed a mere 4.45 million this year.

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Matt Forte unlikely to sign extension with Bears before deadline

stevenlourie Bears, News

According to NFL.com’s Jason La Canfora, Matt Forte is unlikely to sign an extension with the Bears before next Monday’s deadline. La Canfora describes talks between the two parties as “fruitless” and says that the chances a deal is reached in time are “weak.” This makes sense, given everything that’s happened this offseason, including the Bears pissing off Matt Forte by signing Michael Bush to a 4 year deal to be a potential replacement, the Bears saying that they’re unsure of Matt Forte’s health even though he had never missed a game before last year, and Forte laughing at the notion that his health is a problem.

Forte has already given assurances that he won’t miss any regular season games, but he could skip some of Training Camp in protest. This season might be his final with the Bears as they’re unlikely to franchise him again next offseason at a 20% increased price and Forte might not be inclined to resign with the team after how they’ve treated him this offseason.

That being said, he’ll continue to be the lead back for the Bears, with Bush being a pure backup like he was in Oakland before last year behind Darren McFadden. With a healthy Cutler and Forte, along with the addition of Brandon Marshall, and the removal of Mike Martz, who never fit, as offensive coordinator, the Bears should be one of the better teams in the league this year.

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Redskins, Fred Davis working on an extension

stevenlourie Commanders, News

According to Pro Football Talk, talks have picked up recently between the Redskins and Fred Davis as the deadline for franchise players to sign extensions looms next Monday. Davis is set to make 5.446 million next season under the franchise tag. He caught 59 passes for 796 yards and 3 touchdowns in just 12 games last year with Rex Grossman throwing to him.

The 2008 2nd round pick could have a breakout year in 2012 with Robert Griffin throwing to him. Given that, he might be smart to not sign an extension now and hold out for more money next offseason. The one issue with him is that he’s a failed drug test away from a year long suspension, but, for what it’s worth, Davis says that’s past him and blames the lockout for it.

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Seahawks’ Chris Clemons expected to attend Training Camp

stevenlourie News, Seahawks

Chris Clemons was one of only a few players to hold out of his team’s mandatory minicamp last month and he was fined for doing so. He did so because he wanted a new contract, as he heads into a contract year, but, even though he has yet to receive one, a Seahawks insider talks Pro Football Weekly that Clemons will be there for the start of Training Camp with or without a new deal.

This might sound a little surprising, but perhaps Clemons has realized that the Seahawks won’t be giving him an extension or he’s decided to put this season ahead of his own financial interests. Since arriving to the Seahawks as a nondescript player before the 2010 season, Clemons has been one of the best defensive ends in the league, Clemons had 24 sacks, 18 quarterback hits, and 97 quarterback pressures over the last 2 seasons.

However, heading into his age 31 season and with no success outside of Seattle’s system, they are not interested in giving Clemons the Cameron Wake money (4 year, 49 million), he’s looking for, especially not after using a 1st round pick on Bruce Irvin, a similar player and a potential replacement for Clemons long term. Clemons reportedly rejected a 3 year, 18 million dollar offer earlier this offseason.

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Cowboys not expected to extend Anthony Spencer

stevenlourie Cowboys, News

With just 6 days remaining for franchise players to agree to long term deals, it’s more of the same coming out of Dallas. The news continues to be that the Cowboys are not expected to sign franchise player Anthony Spencer to a long term deal. Spencer was one of the first players to sign his tender, worth 8.856 million, after the Cowboys made the surprising decision to tag him, but all of the news out of Dallas was that he would not be given an extension as the Cowboys wanted the former 1st round pick to prove himself in 2012. This latest report comes courtesy of DallasCowboys.com.

Spencer takes a lot of heat for never exceeding 6 sacks in a season despite being a 1st round pick in 2007 and having DeMarcus Ware opposite him, taking away the defensive pressure. However, that number doesn’t tell the whole story. Spencer also had 9 quarterback hits and 35 quarterback pressures last year and leads all edge rushers in tackles over the last 3 seasons. For his efforts last year, he was a top-10 player at his position on ProFootballFocus and only James Harrison graded out better against the run. I don’t know if he was worth the franchise tag, but he’s a valuable member of the Cowboys’ defense.

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Buccaneers’ Ronde Barber could move back to cornerback if Eric Wright is suspended

stevenlourie Buccaneers, News

Legal woes continue in the Buccaneers’ defensive backfield. Aqib Talib is already facing potential discipline from the commissioner even though his felony assault with a deadly weapon charges were dropped. Now, their other cornerback, free agent acquisition Eric Wright, is facing league discipline after being arrested for DUI last week. Behind those two, their depth is questionable at best, ghastly at worst, as both EJ Biggers and Myron Lewis have been terrible whenever they’ve been counted on in the past.

Given that, the Buccaneers could move Ronde Barber back to cornerback for a few games if one or both is suspended to start the season. Barber, who has spent 15 years at cornerback and may be heading for Canton someday, is transitioning to safety this offseason to fill a hole in the starting lineup and to mask the fact that the 37 year old has, understandably, lost a step.

However, Barber may still play cornerback in base packages on the slot, which, again shows how much they lack depth at cornerback, and could start there if needed. That would leave Cody Grimm, who struggled last year, to start opposite rookie Mark Barron. Barber, meanwhile, was torched at cornerback last year, allowing 46 completions on 71 attempts (64.8%) for 583 yards (8.2 YPA), 3 touchdowns, 3 interceptions, 4 deflections, and 5 penalties. He also missed 22 tackles, 2nd most in the league to former teammate Tanard Jackson, who was cut this offseason. Barber ranked 2nd to last among cornerbacks on ProFootballFocus, part of why he is changing positions.

Things look bleak for the Buccaneers in the secondary once again this year, no matter what. Even Wright himself struggled mightily last year, ranking 6th to last on ProFootballFocus among cornerbacks, allowing 75 completions on 120 attempts (62.5%) for 842 yards (7.0 YPA), 5 touchdowns, 4 interceptions, 10 deflections, and 8 penalties. He was not worth the 5 year, 38 million dollar deal he got this offseason. With Barber, Wright, and Biggers, the Buccaneers have 3 of ProFootballFocus’ 6 worst cornerbacks from last season. This will once again be a passing defense to attack in fantasy again.

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Titans have not begun extension talks with Jared Cook

stevenlourie News, Titans

According to Titan Insider, the team has not opened extension talks with Jared Cook, as the tight end heads into his contract year. A 2nd round pick in 2009, Cook has always had endless potential, running a 4.49 40 at 6-5 246, the fastest 40 time of any tight end since Vernon Davis. However, he has struggled to put it all together.

Last year was definitely his best year by far as he caught 49 passes for 759 yards and 3 touchdowns. The 21 catches for 335 yards and a score he had in the final 3 games last year might be a sign of things to come. If they are, the Titans will have no problem franchising him at what should be still a relatively inexpensive franchise tag value for tight ends. That is, of course, provided they can extend Jason McCourty, who they have opened extension talks with, first.

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Former Bengal Antwan Odom wants to return to the NFL

stevenlourie Bengals, News

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, former Bengals defensive end Antwan Odom is attempting a comeback in the NFL. Only heading into his age 31 season, Odom isn’t completely over the hill yet, but injuries forced him to play in just 6 games in 2009, 4 games in 2010, and left him without a contract in 2011. He also has a previous arrest. He’s supposedly healthy now and may get a few looks from teams as a pure flier.

In his prime, he was a talented player who managed 8 sacks in 6 games in 2009 and also had an 8 sack season in 2007 with Tennessee, his last 16 game season. Following that season, he received a lucrative contract from the Bengals, paying him 29.5 million over 5 years with 11.5 million guaranteed, but that was the highlight of his career as his tenure in Cincinnati was injury riddled to say the least. So far, he has, not surprisingly, generated no known interest.

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