NFL Player news

[PhillyPhreak54]

Philip Buchanon released by Houston.

I'm slightly interested strictly because of his PR/KR abilities. Heard he was a dooshbag though.

[MDS]

Not sure it matters. Desmond Howard in his prime couldn't find a wedge here.

[PhillyPhreak54]

FRACAS AT FLOWERY BRANCH

We're hearing that there was a huge blowup in Falcon-land after Sunday's loss to the Giants, and that the problems spilled over into Monday.

The issue arose shortly after the 27-14 loss to the Giants, when defensive coordinator Ed Donatell got in offensive coordinator Greg Knapp's face regarding the inability of the offense to sustain drives, which resulted in the defense being on the field for too long.

Word is that Donatell blamed several injuries sustained by his troops on the poor play of the offense, because the defensive players were exhausted late in the game.

We're also told that, on Monday, owner Arthur Blank summoned Donatell and Knapp to his office, and that Blank wouldn't allow head coach Jim Mora inside the room until Blank had a chance to talk with them.  After the four men met, Knapp was angry -- and word is that Knapp is openly blaming the performance of the offense on the limited passing skills of quarterback Michael Vick.

Stay tuned, folks.  This one could get very ugly, and the Falcons have a big decision to make, especially since backup Matt Schaub will be eligible for restricted free agency after the season.

TO's bitch arguing with Mr. I gave up 4th & 26 over Ron Mexico

[General_Failure]

Does he get activated when the Skins come to Philly? 

An even better question.

[BigEd76]

Heard he was a dooshbag though.

Of course he is.  He's from da U...

[PhillyPhreak54]

Ashley Lelie: Unhappy Again
RotoWire.com Staff - RotoWire.com
Monday, October 16, 2006

Update: Lelie, who caught one pass for 14 yards in Sunday's loss to the Giants, is unhappy with his limited role in the Atlanta offense, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Recommendation: This shouldn't come as any surprise, as Lelie willed himself out of Denver this preseason for not being the primary option in the receiving game. Given how poorly Atlanta throws the ball and how many options they've got in the passing game, Lelie needs a quarterback change or an injury in front of him to receive a significant number of looks.

[SD_Eagle5]

Not really player news, but Fassel fired as Ravens OC, Billick will take over play calling duties.

[PhillyPhreak54]

BUCHANON SIGNS WITH BUCS

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have signed cornerback Phillip Buchanon to a one-year contract, at a prorated base salary of $585,000.

Buchanon was released by the Texans on Monday.  And the Texans actually did him a big favor by making the move when it did.

If the Texans had waited until Wednesday, Buchanon would have been required to pass through waivers.  As it stands, Buchanon became a free agent.

Under NFL rules, players with less than four credited seasons always pass through waivers whenever they are cut, with the worst team to the best team getting a shot to claim him.  Prior to the trading deadline, vested veterans instantly become free agents.  After the trading deadline, however, all players regardless of tenure must go through waivers.

In Buchanon's case, someone like the Packers might have taken a chance on him.  His full base salary was only $800,000, and with six weeks in the books the balance would have been only $517,650.

So Buchanon instead will earn $378,529 from the Bucs along with the balance of his $800,000 salary from the Texans, since he is now entitled (as a vested veteran) to receive termination pay.

The end result?  His total 2006 income increased in one day by more than $375,000, assuming he finishes the season with Tampa.

It's baffling, in our view, that the Texans wouldn't have waited until Wednesday to cut him loose, in the hopes that someone would pick up his contract -- and allow the Texans to get off the hook for more than $500,000 in unpaid wages.

We're also told that the Texans tried to trade Buchanon before cutting him, but found no takers.

Buchanon was a first-round draft choice in 2002 out of the "M", and he was traded to Houston in 2005 for a second-round and third-round draft pick in 2006.  Bucs G.M. Bruce Allen was in that same role with the Raiders when Buchanon was drafted.

[MURP]

Booger possibly traded to Colts

[SunMo]

Eagles should trade for Simeon Rice...

Rice and Howard start...Howard moves inside on passing downs and Cole comes in...

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Trading for Rice before the Tampa game would be genius.

[SD_Eagle5]

Booger possibly traded to Colts

2nd rounder

Colts acquire Bucs' McFarland for second-round pickESPN.com


The Colts made a strong move Tuesday to improve their run defense, acquiring defensive tackle Anthony McFarland in a trade-deadline deal with the Buccaneers in exchange for a 2007 second-round draft pick.

 
McFarland


McFarland, 6 feet and 300 pounds, has spent the last six seasons as a starter on the Bucs' line. Considered one of the NFL's top run defenders at the tackle position, he helped Tampa Bay rank in the top 10 in the league in total defense during each of his seven seasons with the team.

The Colts rank 32nd in the NFL against the run this season, having allowed 166.8 yards per game. They allowed 110.1 yards per game last season.

McFarland entered this season with 292 career tackles, 20 sacks, three forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries. He has played in 93 career games with 79 starts. He started all five games this season for the Bucs recording six tackles and two assists.

Meanwhile, the Bucs moved immediately to fill McFarland's roster spot by signing veteran cornerback Phillip Buchanon, who less than 24 hours before was released by the Houston Texans.

Buchanon, a former first-round draft choice, signed a one-year contract with the Bucs late Tuesday afternoon.

The deal reunites Buchanon with Bucs general manager Bruce Allen, who was a top executive in Oakland's front office when the Raiders chose Buchanan with the 17th overall selection in the 2002 draft. The short-term contract will provide Buchanon the opportunity to perhaps regain the form of his early career, when it appeared that he was emerging as one of the league's top young cornerbacks, and then enter the unrestricted free agent market next spring.

Tampa Bay officials have been seeking to add a veteran corner and had worked the phones over the last few days in trade discussions with other clubs. But it's believed the Bucs never came close to making a deal for a cornerback and, when Buchanon became available Monday evening, they focused on him.

Bucs starting cornerback Brian Kelly, who the team had been shopping in casual trade talks, has missed three games with "turf toe." And nickel corner Juran Bolden, despite not missing any games, played hurt through the first month of the season.

[PhillyPhreak54]

Lions | Rogers tests positive to banned substance
Tue, 17 Oct 2006 15:21:00 -0700

Updating an earlier report, Tom Kowalski, of mlive.com, reports Detroit Lions DT Shaun Rogers was suspended four games by the NFL for testing positive for a banned substance. Sources close to the situation said it was not an illegal drug. After the club's Bye in Week 7, Rogers will sit out four games without pay.

[PhillyPhreak54]

Lehr suspended by NFL for four games
October 17, 2006

The NFL announced today that Falcons guard Matt Lehr has been suspended for four games for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy.

STATEMENT BY NFL SPOKESPERSON:
"Matt Lehr of the Atlanta Falcons has been suspended without pay for the team's next four games for violating the NFL Policy on Anabolic Steroids and Related Substances. The suspension begins immediately. Lehr will be eligible to return to the Falcons' active roster on Monday, November 13."


Falcons head coach Jim Mora responded by saying, "Obviously, we are disappointed, but the NFL's policies are very clear that all NFL players are responsible for what goes into their bodies - regardless of the source. We have options to replace Matt over the next four weeks that we are very comfortable with and will implement

[mpmcgraw]

Are the Colts trying to become the taterskins of the AFC?