The Bucs are set to get a visit from free agent RB Kevin Jones according to the St.Pete Times. The paper says that Jones is well aware of the backfield situation with the Bucs, as the team has already gotten a deal done with Earnest Graham and are hoping and watching Cadillac Williams to see his status. Beyond that, they have Warrick Dunn, who returns to the team, and Michael Bennett.

The visit to the Bucs will take place next week. Oddly enough, the Buccaneers were not one of the four teams that watched Jones work out last month in Michigan. Those teams included the Steelers, who Jones sat down and talked to on Wednesday. It seems that Jones wants to find a team before camp starts, that way he can get in and be a part of a team when they start camp at the end of the month.

Published reports indicate that the Rooney family ownership of the Steelers could be in jeopardy.  Reports indicate that as many as four of Dan Rooney’s brothers are interested in divesting their 16 percent stakes in the storied NFL franchise in order to bring the club into line with ownership regulations of the NFL and to prevent possible future inheritance tax problems. 

Several sources place the value of the franchise somewhere between 800-million and 1.2-billion-dollars.  Several of the Rooney brothers have been in touch with Stan Druckenmiller, president of Duquesne Capital Financial, who is a Steeler season ticket holder and a multi-billionaire.  Druckenmiller has said that if he were to buy into the team the Rooney’s would still run the day-to-day operations. 

The Steelers, one of the most stable organizations in the NFL, will be shaking up some things at the top.  The team announced that chairman Dan Rooney and his son, team President Art Rooney II, want to purchase Dan Rooney’s brothers shares in the team.  The reason behind the move is that some of Rooney’s four brothers want to put some of their business efforts elsewhere.

What will this do to the Steelers players or fans for that matter?  Not a heck of a lot.  Dan Rooney says that he’ll do whatever he has to do to keep the Rooney family as the teams owners, and keep the team in the Steel city, which seems like it won’t really be an issue.  Art Rooney II has already said that the shift within the Rooney family should not affect the team or fans.

The Rooney family owns racetracks in both New York and Florida, and one big no-no that the NFL wants to make sure is not involved in their sport are people involved with gambling, and the Rooney’s have added forms of gaming that are inconsistent with NFL gambling policy.

A few days ago we threw out what we felt were going to be the five worst offenses in the NFL coming into 2008. Now on the positive side, we’re back to give you the other side of the ball - the defenses, and what five teams are going to have have top notch and the best defenses entering the season.

1. San Diego - The Chargers have a great blend of speed and power, and their three main parts of their defense - D-line, linebackers, and secondary all have playmakers. Shawne Merriman is a beast among linebackers, Antonio Cromartie is one of the most exciting corners in the league, and Jamal Williams, Luis Castillo and Igor Olshansky make up a solid front three. This team is going to be tough to move on in 2008.

2. New York Giants - The defending Super Bowl champs return with a solid defense that should again make life tough on QB’s in 08. Even losing Michael Strahan, they still have a solid front line with Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck, LB core led by Mathias Kiwanuka, and good enough secondary to get the job done. The safety position has a few question marks, but overall this team is all about pressure, as their 53 sacks a year ago proved.

3. Dallas - Getting Adam “don’t call me Pacman” Jones will help a secondary that needs a boost, now the only question is will be eligible to play this year. Adding Zach Thomas brings some leadership to the defense as well as a guy that can still play. The LB tandem of Greg Ellis and DeMarcus Ware will give QB’s nightmares, and should result in turnovers and hurried throws that will play right in the hands of the secondary.

4. Pittsburgh - After DE Aaron Smith went down last season, the Steelers D was never the same. They get him back in 2008, and the team should be able to regain its early season form of 07. Dick LeBeau is a master at confusing QB’s, and with young studs at linebacker like Pro Bowler James Harrison and 2nd year player LaMarr Woodley, he will have two players that can make a QB’s day very long. The secondary has it’s issues, but if Troy Polamalu is back to 100 percent, the unit can make strides under coach Mike Tomlin.

5. Minnesota - Love what this team did in the offseason, snatching sack crazy Jared Allen from the Chiefs. His play, along with that of Kevin and Pat Williams will make offenses have some sleepless nights. E.J. Henderson is solid at MLB, and Chad Greenway and Ben Leber also had good seasons a year ago. The signing of Madieu Williams gives the secondary another weapon as well, and he’s better than Dwight Smith, who he replaces.

Drexel Perry - Total Titans

Cowboys vs Redskins

Just as the Cowboys and the Indians battled each other in Western movies, the Dallas Cowboys and the Washington Redskins have had their share of violent skirmishes on the gridiron.

Highlights of one of the NFL’s fiercest rivalries include head-to-head battles in two NFC Championship Games, with the Redskins winning both of those contests (1972, 1982). In 1989, a shocking 13-3 victory over the Redskins gave the Cowboys their only win in Jimmy Johnson’s forgettable 1-15 debut as an NFL head coach.

Toss the W-L records out of the window, because you can expect a full-fledged war each time two of the NFL’s flagship franchises face off during their bi-annual NFC East grudge matches.

Brian Miller - Phinphanatic.com

An AFC East Point Of View

Breaking down rivalries in the AFC East is no easy task. Ask a Bills fan..he says Miami, ask a Pats fan and he says Miami, ask a Jets fan and he will throw bottles and batteries…at Miami. Ask a Miami fan
and the answer is not so clear.

While the Dolphins and Patriots have had some memorable games, the Bills and Jets would probably fall into a more “bitter” rivalry. In the 1990’s the Bills and Dolphins rekindled a dwindled rivalry with
epic games between Dan Marino and Jim Kelly. Despite the Bills and the Bryan Cox 2 finger salutes to the Bills crowd, it is the Jets that make Miami fans and players’ blood boil. A long history that dates
back to the Don Shula led Colts losing in Super Bowl III, the Dolphins and Jets have had some amazing and memorable games. From ultra high-scoring affairs to a fake spike, from a Monday night miracle
comeback to a rain soaked playoff game. If you want rivalry. Bitter hold no bar rivalry, you don’t have to look any further than north on interstate 95.

The NFL has had some great rivalries over the years. The 49ers vs. Cowboys during the 1990s was awesome. The Colts and Patriots in recent years has been the best in the NFL. The historical rivalries that include Packers vs. Bears and Steelers vs. Browns are steeped in tradition. But there is one rivalry that stands far above the others.

A Media Member Who Has Covered the NFL for Over 13 Years

The Raiders vs. Anybody

True, this rivalry isn’t what it used to be because the Raiders are just so bad. Still, no team draws as much ire and vitriol like the Raiders. Maybe it’s the fans – because it isn’t about what they have done on the field in recent years – but teams still enjoy beating the Raiders. A lot. Especially the teams AFC West opponents. And really, that doesn’t seem like it will die down in the near future.

Matt Loede - NFLGridironGab

Pittsburgh vs Cleveland

Being in Cleveland the rivals of the Browns over the years include the Bengals and Ravens, but no rivalry is quite as heated as the one against the city about 90 miles away - Pittsburgh. The Steelers and Browns have had some fierce battles over the years, and despite the fact that the Steelers have owned the series since the Browns return since 1999, this one continues to be a good one, and in 2008 it should only get better.

Now that he’s free to go anywhere, where would free agent RB Najeh Davenport like to play? How about Arizona with the Cardinals? Davenport made an appearance today on NFL Radio, and spoke about the desire to play with the Cards because of the relationship he has with Ken Whisenhunt, now Cards coach and former offensive coordinator of the Steelers before moving to desert.

Another team that Davenport mentioned was Detroit, which looks like they still may be in the market for a back after attending the workout of the RB they dumped just recently, Kevin Jones, over the weekend. Davenport would fit their need for a “power back” well. Davenport even said he’d go back to the Steelers, the team that released him.

Last season Davenport filled in late in the year for an injured Willie Parker, and set career highs for yards with 499 and rushing attempts with 107. Against the Rams in week 16 when Parker went down, Davenport ran for 123 yards and a score, then in week 17 at Baltimore ran for 27 yards. He rushed for 25 yards in the playoff loss to the Jags.

Maybe former Lions RB Kevin Jones is not as wanted as he may thinks by teams around the league. If that is not the case, why would only four teams, including his old team, have showed up for his workout on Saturday as he shows that he’s fully recovered from a right knee injury suffered last December. On hand to watch Jones work out were the Dolphins, Packers, Steelers and the afore mentioned Lions.

Word is the Browns were also in the mix, not being at the workout but asking for a tape of the workout. “All the teams basically said they were amazed by what Kevin can do,” said Dr. D.S. Ping, who has been helping Jones rehabilitate his knee. Jones did the basics, including a shuttle run on wet grass which he did in 4.3 seconds. He also ran around cones and caught passes.

Jones had said earlier in the offseason that there were numerous teams interested in his services, and that money was going to be a big factor. He made it known that he was interested in playing for his hometown of Philly, so one has to wonder if Pittsburgh, at least in the same state, has some sort of inside track. The Steelers did dump RB Najeh Davenport Friday, maybe in looking at taking a run at Jones.

There are still other backs on the market, including Shaun Alexander, Cedric Benson, Ron Dayne, Travis Henry, and Chris Henry, for teams to choose from.

It is hard to believe, but it appears that no less than seven teams are interested in the services of former Saints and Browns OL LeCharles Bentley, who asked for and got his release from the Browns two weeks ago.  Bentley feels that he is healthy and can be a starter on a team this season, but it’s going to up to the team that he eventually signs with to figure that out.

Adam Schefter of NFL Network put out a list of the seven teams, breaking down as follows:

Buffalo - The Bills O-line was better in 07 than 06, but could use some help.  They need to make sure to get Jason Peters signed, and they have Melvin Folwer as their center, a good, but not great player.

Cincinnati - They need some help up front, and if Bentley is going to line up at center, it’s a position they can use, with right now Eric Ghiaciuc listed as the starting snapper.  Staying in the North means he can stick it to the Browns as well.

Miami - Bentley can teach some traits to #1 pick Jake Long, and probably take some playing time away from center Samson Satele.  The line needs some experience, and Bentley can add that.

Oakland - The silver and black were 6th in the league in rushing last year, and while they could use some depth, I can’t see him wrestling away a starting job on this already pretty good line.

Pittsburgh - The issues on the O-line were well documented for the Steelers in 2007, and now that Alan Faneca is gone, it’s still a problem spot.  They will have 2-3 new starters on the line this year, and while they already brought in a center in Justin Hartwig, Bentley might be an interesting fit here.

St. Louis - This is the top spot in my opinion for Bentley to land.  The Rams lost out on Barry Sims this week to the Niners, and have been looking hard at the O-line market since they were so banged up there last year.  Mark Setterstrom will be the center in 08, and he can be displaced if Bentley signs.

San Francisco - This may have been a more pressing need before they got Sims this week, but the Niners want to upgrade the O-line still, and would love to add someone like Bentley that can teach youngsters like Chilo Rachal and last years #1 Joe Staley.

Seattle - Walter Jones is coming off another shoulder surgery, and the middle three spots are trouble issues, which is why Bentley is getting consideration here. Center Chris Spencer has offseason thumb surgery, making a run at Bentley even more of a possibility.

The Steelers spent the past few days according to reports trying to shop around running back Najeh Davenport, but after finding no takers the team has decided to release the running back and move on.  Davenport was not a big part of the Steelers plans in 2008 after the team spent a first-round draft pick on RB Rashard Mendenhall.  Many felt that Davenport was on borrowed time after that pick.

Davenport became the feature back in the Steelers offense last season when Willie Parker went down with a fractured leg during their week 16 win at St.Louis.  He carried the load for the teams playoff loss vs the Jaguars during wild card weekend, and during last season set career highs with 107 carries for 499 yards (4.7 per carry) and five scores.

The team has enough confidence that Parker is going to be close to 100 percent once opening day rolls around, and that Mendenhall is going to be able to carry the load as his backup.  Davenport will find work somewhere in the league in 2008, with teams like the Lions, Cardinals, Eagles and Bears still searching for backs to fill voids on their teams.

He was part of the Steel Curtain and a team in the 1970’s that dominated the National Football League. A part of history for Pittsburgh Steelers, DE Dwight White was a big part of the Steelers defense in the 70’s and today, the team announced that the 58-year-old White has passed away following surgery at a Pittsburgh hospital.

Funeral services are scheduled for Wednesday, June 11 at noon at Calvary Episcopal Church, 315 Shady Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15206. Please note that in lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in Dwight’s memory be sent to The August Wilson Center of African American Culture at 425 Sixth Avenue, Suite 1750, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.

He played college football at Texas A&M University-Commerce, and upon entering the league was nicknamed “Mad Dog.” He became a Pro Bowl defensive end, and was one of the game’s more colorful characters, but was also a standout defensive end who played with much intensity. He was by far the most vocal player on the Steelers defense.

Prior to Super Bowl IX, White spent much of the previous week in a hospital, suffering from pneumonia. White lost 20 pounds during that week and was not expected to play. However, he did play, and accounted for the only scoring in the first half when he sacked Fran Tarkenton in the end zone for a safety — the first points in Steelers’ history in a championship game. The Steelers defeated the Minnesota Vikings 16-6.

Finished his career with 55 sacks according to Steeler team records. He retired after the 1980 season and went on to become a stock broker. Team president Art Rooney II is calling White “an important member of the Steelers family.”