Around The NFL - 2008

[Eagaholic]

quote of the day from PFT

However you feel about Patriots guard Nick Kaczur snitching on the man he claims provided him with thousands of OxyContin pills, or "lunch" to Rush Limbaugh, give him credit — legally, he's walking out of this pretty cleanly.

[PhillyPhanInDC]

CHARGERS CUT PARKER
Posted by Michael David Smith on July 23, 2008, 2:22 p.m.
Adam Schefter of NFL Network is reporting that the San Diego Chargers have released wide receiver Eric Parker.

Parker started 12 games for the Chargers in 2006 and caught 48 passes for 659 yards, but in 2007 he missed the entire season with a toe injury. The Chargers had indicated that they were not planning to bring him back this season, so it's no surprise that he was released just before veterans are to report for training camp.

The 29-year-old Parker, who has spent his entire six-year career in San Diego, still wants to play somewhere this season. There has been speculation that the Browns could be interested in acquiring Parker, although it's unlikely that any team would give him the $1.85 million salary he would have been due this season with the Chargers.

[reese125]

ESPN reporting Devin Hester holding out until an extension is reached

that offense will be the worst in the league this year--Id hold out too

[rjs246]

Damn right, reese. You're way too talented to put up with inferior players on your offense. You had better get caked off before you grace them with your presense.

[reese125]

you looove pro athletes

[rjs246]

Athletes I can take or leave, you on the other hand I can't get enough of. Maybe you should hold out of CF until General Failure offers you your unconditional release.

[reese125]

awwe...come here rj...thaat's it...papa's here

[SunMo]

[reese125]

please...you love it

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Is Samie Parker available too?  How could anyone defend "The Parker Brothers" offense?

[General_Failure]

Athletes I can take or leave, you on the other hand I can't get enough of. Maybe you should hold out of CF until General Failure offers you your unconditional release.

All you bitches are mine to torture until you find somewhere else to go. Also, I just paid the hosting for another year.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

If you need a donation, reese makes the most money.

[General_Failure]

So far the ditch digger is the only one donating anything that isn't time or tickets.

[PhillyPhreak54]

HESTER NEEDS TO REPORT BY AUGUST 5
Posted by Mike Florio on July 23, 2008, 5:46 p.m.

One of the (rare) moments during which we gained some actual credibility in league circles came in 2005, when we explained that Eagles running back Brian Westbrook risked losing his ability to become an unrestricted free agent if he didn't report to training camp by a specific date in August of that year.

By all indications, Westbrook's agent didn't know.  And Westbrook eventually showed up.

Though the Collective Bargaining Agreement has been revised since Westbrook's holdout, the provision in question still applies, and Bears receiver Devin Hester is the first guy who could lose a year's credit toward free agency because of it.

Under Article XVIII, Section 1(b) of the CBA, "a player shall not receive an Accrued Season for any League Year in which the player is under contract to a Club and in which he failed to report to such Club at least thirty days prior to the first regular season game of that season."

Since the 2008 regular season begins on September 4, Hester (a rookie in 2006) needs to show up by the close of business on August 5.  Otherwise, he'll not accrue a third NFL season in 2008.  Four seasons are necessary to become eligible for unrestricted free agency.

Under the current CBA, however, it's a distinction without a difference.  Even with four accrued seasons after 2009, Hester would still be a restricted free agent, since six seasons of service are necessary to qualify for unrestricted free agency in the uncapped year of 2010.

But if new CBA is finalized before 2010 and if the four-season requirement for unrestricted free agency remains, Hester would be a restricted free agent in 2010, because he would have only three accrued seasons.

Bottom line?  Look for Hester's holdout to last no longer than August 5.  Until then, he'll be subject to fines of more than $15,000 per day, and he might have to repay 25 percent of his signing bonus allocation applicable to the 2008 season.

[Diomedes]

let's take a vote:

should I change the title of this thread to "PFT Says, 2008"