Feb

29

Gridiron Gabbin with Author of “The GM” Tom Callahan

Filed Under Gridiron Gabbin, New York Giants, Podcasts | 2 Comments

The GM

Site Editor Matt Loede talks with with former Time magazine sportswriter and author Tom Callahan. Tom’s latest project is “The GM – The Inside Story of a Dream Job and the Nightmares that Go with It.” The book takes you through the 2006 season of the New York Giants, as Callahan shadowed Giants GM Ernie Accorsi for an entire season as the team went through an 8-8 season and a wild card playoff birth. The book goes far beyond the specifics of a single season, though. In a marriage of two great raconteurs, one lobbing stories and the other neatly catching them, Callahan and Accorsi—writer and subject—show how the pro game (and the league that showcases it) really works. Click below to hear Matt’s one-on-one with author Tom Callahan

Feb

29

Closing In; Jets and Faneca Tenetively Agree to Deal

Filed Under New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers | Leave a Comment

Faneca

To the surprise of no one, the Jets, already super active on the free agent market in day one, is on the verge of getting stud guard Alan Faenca.  ESPN is reporting that the Jets and Faneca have tenetively agreed to a four-year deal worth $32 million, in which $23 million of it is guaranteed.  Faneca will visit the team this weekend, and likely then wrap up the deal.  The story says that Faneca will play left guard.

Faneca leaves what had become a bitter situation with the Steelers, in which he wanted a long-term deal from the team, and in the end didn’t get it.  The Steelers for some reason did not want to award Faneca with the type of huge money they saw going to linemen like Eric Steinback, Leonard Davis, or Derrick Dockery.  Instead, Fancea did the classy thing and played like an All-Pro and wrapped up his 10-year career with the Black and Gold and simply now will move on.

“I’ve been asking since February to trade me, to let me go,” Faneca said. “I’ve done my piece. I’ve done my time. I’ve done everything I can for this organization. I’ve lived and breathed Steeler football for nine years and gave them everything I’ve had and helped them win a Super Bowl. In my mind, I’ve earned the right to be treated fairly.”

The Jets went out with a mission to be very active in free agency, and in day one they did just that, making a deal to trade for Panthers DT Kris Jenkins, who they then signed to a huge five-year deal, sending Jonathan Vilma to the Saints for a conditional draft pick in 2009, signing DT Sione Pouha, and now it appears that Faneca will be next.  No doubt the Jets are determined to bounce back from a disaster of a 2007.

Feb

29

Wilkins retires after 14 seasons

Filed Under NFL | 1 Comment

Jeff Wilkins

The St. Louis Rams all time leading scorer and the best active kicker in the NFL hung up his spikes on Friday. After 14 seasons Jeff Wilkins the kicker out of Youngstown State University has retired. With his retirement the Rams only have three active players from their 2000 Super Bowl victory, Leonard Little, Orlando Pace and Torry Holt.

Wilkins spent time with the 49′ers, Eagles and the last eleven years with Rams.

“Jeff has been one of the best kickers that I have ever seen,” Rams coach Scott Linehan said. “We will miss him here, but we also wish him well in retirement.”

Wilkins went to the Pro Bowl in 2003 after leading the NFL in scoring with 163 points, going 39-for-42 on field-goal attempts that season. He’s the only kicker in NFL history to make a field goal as time expired in the first half, second half and to end an overtime.

“Throughout my 11 years with the Rams, everybody in the organization has been fantastic from top to bottom,” Wilkins said. “But my retirement is the best for me, my family and the Rams.”

Feb

29

LB Mitchell Shuffles Off to Buffalo

Filed Under 2008 Free Agency, Buffalo Bills, New York Giants | Leave a Comment

Kawika Mitchell

In what has become common practice in the NFL LB Kawika Mitchell won a Super Bowl ring with Giants this year and now has landed a nice big paycheck with the Buffalo Bills.

The deal is said to be 5-years and $17.5 million dollars. It also includes a $3.5 million dollar signing bonus. The five year vet started all 16 games for the World Champion Giants this year after coming to the G-Men the previous off season. He had a solid season with the Giants recording 87 tackles, 3.5 sacks and ironically enough one interception against the Bills that he returned for a touchdown.

The signing of Mitchell helps strengthen the Bills defense. It is also reported that Jaguars DT Marcus Stroud was in Buffalo for a visit on Friday, one day after being told by the Jags that they may trade him.

Feb

29

Eagles-Cards Blockbuster Trade Rumor

Filed Under Arizona Cardinals, Philadelphia Eagles | 2 Comments

Fitzgerald

On the same day that the Philadelphia Eagle’s signed CB Asante Samuel, speculation has erupted that the Eagles could be sending their first round pick in this year’s draft and CB Lito Shepherd to the Arizona Cardinals for WR Larry Fitzgerald.  If the rumor has legs, than both side could be in the making for vast improvement.  The Cardinals recently moved CB Antrelle Rolle to S which left a hole and role that Shepherd could fill-in and better.  For the Eagles, this could finally be Donovan McNabb’s big break as he has the arm and accuracy to take a team to a Super Bowl like he did in the past.  Remember the Donovan-T.O. connection?  If this rumor is true, then the Eagles could be right back on track to make another Super Bowl.

There has been solid speculation that Fitzgerald could be on his way out of Arizona due to his enormous contract and cap hits he’d cause in 2008 and 2009, but Cardinals GM Rod Graves has shut down those rumors while holding that Fitzgerald will be a Cardinal in 2008.  For Shepherd, he was unhappy with the Eagles while struggling in 2007.  There has been rumors circulating with Shepherd’s name on them for sometime now, with one including Chad Johnson from the Bengals.

Feb

29

Tying up 49′ers loose ends

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49ers go back to Candlestick

            There is still more news on a busy day for the 49ers and the NFL.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle’s Niner Insider Kevin Lynch, the 49ers will change the name of their stadium from Monster Park back to its old standby, Candlestick Park.

            49ers Vice President of Communications Lisa Lang announced in a conference call that the 49ers and Monster Cable adjusted its sponsorship agreement, which included the company relinquishing its naming rights to the 49ers’ stadium.

            The article also stated that, according to the city of San Francisco’s Prop H limits, there are only four companies which have naming rights to the 49ers’ stadium: Monster, Virgin Airlines, Organic Inc. and Wells Fargo.

            I had always called Candlestick Candlestick even when it was Monster Park, but now it is nice to know Candlestick will be not only the idealistic name for the 49ers’ stadium, but the accurate name.

 

Smith’s contract extended

            On Thursday, the 49ers exercised a “buyback” clause in Alex Smith’s contract, extending the 2005 number one overall pick’s contract with the 49ers through 2010. The clause supposedly is worth $5.86 million.

           

49ers GM comments on NFL investigation

            As mentioned here on 49ersgab.com earlier in the week, the NFL is investigating the 49ers into possible tampering with Chicago Bears unrestricted free agent linebacker Lance Briggs.

            49ers GM Scott McCloughan had this to say on the NFL’s investigation: “There’s nothing to it. It’s just maneuvering by an organization trying to find the best way to keep their guy.”

 

NFLDraftCountdown.com’s response

            After reporting on 49ersgab.com on Thursday that NFLDraftCountdown.com has projected Auburn defensive end Quentin Groves as the team’s first-round pick in its latest mock draft, instead of choosing a wide receiver, I asked the Web site’s President, Scott Wright, for some justification into the projection. Here is his emailed response:

 

“One big factor is that San Francisco will be able to get a very good receiver in round two, maybe even Early Doucet who they really like.

I definitely feel that the Niners #1 need is for a wide receiver, but Mike Martz should be able to get more out of their current group and the bottom line is that it usually takes 2-3 years for wideouts to develop and Mike Nolan and that current regime might not have that long.  They need an instant impact from that top pick and as the Giants showed us in the Super Bowl, you just can’t underestimate the value of a pass rusher like Quentin Groves.”

 

            Thanks to Scott for that! More 49ers news this weekend!

Feb

29

Jags Open Free Agency By Grabbing Lemon and Porter

Filed Under Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins, Oakland Raiders | Leave a Comment

Porter

The Jaguars have spent their first day of free agency filling two needs, a wide out and a backup quarterback.  First the team came to terms with now former Dolphins QB Cleo Lemon, who will take Quinn Gray’s spot as David Garrard’s backup quarterback.  Then the team made a big deal later in the day as they signed now Raiders wide out Jerry Porter to a big deal – 6 years at $30 million with $10 mil guaranteed.

Lemon is a QB that can be a quality backup, as last season he had some solid moments even though the Dolphins limped to a 1-15 record.  Lemon, 28, led the team to their only win, an overtime home win over the Ravens.  He got a pretty good chunk of change from the Jags, $8.1 mil for three years with a $2.95 mil signing bonus.  Reports say that the Vikings and Giants also had interest in Lemon.

As for Porter, he comes with a bit of a better resume, but has been widely known to have a bad attitude and issues with his coaching staff.  In Oakland, he showed moments of being a top wide out, only to then get yanked for issues with the coaches like Art Shell back in 2006.  That season he played in just four games, and caught only one pass.  This past season things for him were back to normal, as he caught 44 passes for 705 yards and six TD’s.

He was a second-round pick in 2000, has 284 career catches for 3,339 yards and 30 touchdowns. His best seasons in Oakland were in 2004 and 2005, when he had 140 catches for 1,940 yards and 14 touchdowns. In all, Porter appeared in 105 games for the Raiders.

Feb

29

Gridiron Gabbin with Eagles Insider & Bleeding Green Nation Editor Jason Bruer

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Samuel to wear wings
Take a listen as Matt Loede sits back and interviews from bleedinggreennation.com site editor Jason Bruer on his take on the Asante Samuel deal, the rest of the Eagles doings in free agency, and what the outlook is for the team getting some help for the offense and Donovan McNabb. Click below to hear Matt’s interview with Eagles insider Jason Bruer from bleedinggreennation.com.

Feb

29

Do the Eagles Already Have a Deal with Asante Samuel?

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Samuel vs Bernard Berrian

In this crazy first day of free agency, it seems like things are changing by the hour, and now yet another report which states that the biggest name on the free agent market may indeed be off the market.  The blog at the St.Petersburg Times is reporting the following when it comes to the Eagles and free agent CB Asante Samuel:

“For those of you still wondering about Patriots cornerback Asante Samuel, I have it on good authority that he is bound for Philadelphia. Anything can happen because nothing’s official yet, but that’s the version that has been making the rounds among insiders since Wednesday evening.”

John Clayton of ESPN reported early today that Samuel was to meet with the Eagles today, so yes, a deal could very well have been struck in the past few hours and they can be just waiting to cross the “t’s” and dot the “i’s” before they make anything official.  While it came out a few days ago from FoxSports.com that the Saints were the front runner for Samuel, many always had the Eagles in the running as well.  Stay tuned.

Feb

29

Anderson Signs a Mulit-Year Deal with Cleveland

Filed Under Cleveland Browns | 2 Comments

Anderson 

All the hoopla about Browns quarterback Derek Anderson appears to be over – for now.  Earlier this morning Anderson and the Browns agreed to a multiyear contract to stay with the Browns, just a few hours after he became a restricted free agent.  Anderson and the team agreed to a reported deal that will pay him a guaranteed $14 mil. 

The Plain Dealer states the following about what Anderson has agreed to: “The terms are a three-year contract worth a maximum of $26 million, but with no less than $24 million.  The actual guaranteed money is $13.5 million, but the “practical” guarantee is $14.5 million, because Anderson will most likely receive the $1 million roster bonus due next year.”

It was just Thursday that GM Phil Savage stated if Anderson had gotten an offer from another team, the Browns probably wouldn’t have been able match it and he would have been gone and Brady Quinn would have been the starter. Anderson threw 29 TD passes last season and played in the Pro Bowl, but the grumblings continue to be that the Browns want to see what Quinn could do, and since they spent a first-round pick this year on him, they have a lot invested in him.  

For now, the 24-year-old signal caller will stay with the Browns, but again, there are still rumors out there that D.A will be out there for trade bait and that he very well may be moved for a first-round draft pick.  Don’t forget that the Browns are giving up their second-round pick in April to the Packers for the services of D-lineman Corey Williams. 

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