Around the NFL - 2009

[Rome]

They have full casino gaming right across the border in Canada and good beer too.

[General_Failure]

They might as well go live in Canada, then. What, they're staying in the US for the fabulous medical coverage?

[ice grillin you]

I can't believe Dallas took a $9 Mill. cap hit to get rid of him. They must have really wanted him gone.

because there is no cap?

[BigEd76]

Bryant McFadden to the Cardinals...2/$10M

[Feva]

Good... now let's trade them Sheldon for Boldin!!!

[reese125]

in a split second

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

The Eagles aren't on this list, shockingly.

[Cerevant]

They might as well go live in Canada, then. What, they're staying in the US for the fabulous medical coverage?

The ownership in Buffalo is considering a move to Toronto.  They are having a few games there to gauge interest:

http://www.billsintoronto.com/

That's right folks, TO is playing in Canada.

[PhillyPhreak54]

GENO HAYES STABBED BY GIRLFRIEND
Posted by Mike Florio on March 9, 2009, 2:47 p.m.

On the same day that we mentioned during a radio spot the Michael Irvin-Everett McIver scissors-to-the-neck routine, reports have surfaced of another NFL player assuming the role of McIver.

And of his girlfriend playing the part of the Playmaker.

But she improvised a bit.  Instead of scissors to the neck, she allegedly stabbed Bucs linebacker Geno Hayes in the head with scissors on Saturday, and then she stabbed him in the neck with the more conventional stabbing weapon, a knife.

Hayes was treated and released from a Tampa-area hospital.

The girl, 19-year-old Shevelle Bagley, faces charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.  She was freed on $25,000 bond.

Hayes, 21, was a sixth-round draft pick last year from Florida State.  He is one of the candidates to replace Derrick Brooks, who nearly two weeks ago was cut.  But in a much different way.

[SD_Eagle5]

the Rams released Orlando Pace

[BigEd76]

-- a couple of days after signing Shawn Springs, the Pats also signed Leigh Bodden

-- Mike Peterson rejoins Mike Smith in Atlanta

[Eagaholic]

Lions get Julian Peterson from Seattle for Cory Redding and a fifth. Redding went on IR last year and apparently is accepting a restructuring his contract downwards to make the trade happen. Also apparently, Seattle consulted with the Eagles FO for advice on the trade.

[mpmcgraw]

wait what

[mpmcgraw]

i hope someone at least got a handjob out of this

[Eagaholic]

Blurb from PFT with some good points. Although the new NFLPA executive director is a topic of only passing interest if at all  to most NFL fans, it could have big implications as to how pro football is shaped for the coming decade.

FREE AGENCY, TRADES MAKE FOR AN UNUSUAL NFLPA ELECTORATE
Posted by Mike Florio on March 15, 2009, 5:37 p.m.

The next NFLPA Executive Director likely will be determined later today, via one, two, or three votes of the assembled player representatives.

Each team has one representative — but since the vote comes more than two weeks after the start of the 2009 league year, plenty of the player reps no longer play for the team whose players they represent.

To be precise, 15 of the 32 player reps have landed on new teams or are free agents.
Four of them are on new teams.  Cardinals representative Nathan Hodel has signed with the Patriots.  Bills rep Robert Royal has signed with the Browns.  Patriots player rep Mike Vrabel was traded to the Chiefs.  Eagles rep Brian Dawkins signed with the Broncos.

Eleven are no longer affiliated with their prior teams:  Matt Stover (Ravens); Jason Kyle (Panthers); Darnell Dinkins (Browns); Ebenezer Ekuban (Broncos); Mike Furrey (Lions); Mark Tauscher (Packers); Vonnie Holliday (Dolphins); Darren Sharper (Vikings); Charlie Batch (Steelers); Adam Goldberg (Rams); Kevin Carter (Buccaneers).

NFLPA communications coordinator Joanna Comfort told us via e-mail from Hawaii that the players who land with new teams or who ultimately are not signed at all will remain the official representatives of their old teams until a new rep is elected later this year.

We suppose it's the only practical approach for a sport that, given the free agency system the union secured, now involves greater roster turnover than ever.  But there's something odd about the fact that nearly half of the player reps will have no accountability at all to their constituents, since they'll likely never be sharing a locker room with them again.