Around The NFL - 2008

[General_Failure]

Black coaches to show the players that the good ones get rewarded kindly?

[QB Eagles]

The Raiders cut LaMont Jordan, further increasing the size of the "free agent RBs even more done than Shaun Alexander" list.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

The Raiders cut LaMont Jordan, further increasing the size of the "free agent RBs even more done than Shaun Alexander" list.

...and further increasing the list of reasons why you do not pay a ton of guaranteed money to a running back.

Unless he's Brian Westbrook, and you're the evil Jew Joe Banner, of course...

[PhillyPhreak54]

Hester got paid...

HESTER DEAL INCLUDES A TOMMIE HARRIS BONUS
Posted by Mike Florio on July 27, 2008, 2:47 p.m.

The contract extension signed by Bears receiver Devin Hester is reportedly worth $30 million in new money.

The contract includes a$10 million roster bonus due in 2013.  According to ESPN.com, however, the bonus could shrink if Hester doesn't meet certain receiving criteria over the next five seasons.

The Bears used the same tactic in the deal recently signed by defensive tackle Tommie Harris.  For Harris, a reported four-year, $40 million extension includes an $8 million roster bonus due in 2012.  It can go as low as $2 million.

The extent to which Hester's $10 million roster bonus could drop isn't presently known.  Likewise, the triggers to maintain the bonus at its current level haven't been reported.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

That far-in-the-future roster bonus is something many on this board would kill our FO if they tried.  Damn cheap FO.

[QB Eagles]

Casey Hampton -- who has been to the last three Pro Bowls -- showed up to Steelers camp so out of shape that he failed his physical and got put on the PUP list.

[SD_Eagle5]

god I hate him

[PhillyPhreak54]

You hate Casey Hampton?

Why?

[SD_Eagle5]

You hate Casey Hampton?

Why?

Meant to post that in the Favre thread

JETS CANCEL MONDAY PRACTICES
Posted by Mike Florio on July 28, 2008, 10:21 a.m. EDT
The New York Jets have announced that both practices set for Monday, July 28 have been canceled.

No reason was given for the decision to pull the plug on the 8:45 a.m. EDT and 5:45 p.m. EDT sessions.

Practice resumes on Tuesday, with two sessions.

Meanwhile, the players will get an unexpected day off, fairly early in the training-camp process.

[PhillyPhreak54]

SENE IS REPLACED

Tackle Stephen Sene, an undrafted rookie, suffered the ignominy of being released on the practice field. It happened Monday afternoon, just after the Rams received word that their waiver claim on Miami Dolphins tackle Julius Wilson was successful.

Sene received the bad news from personnel chief Billy Devaney, then was driven away on a golf cart.

Wilson should arrive here today. The Dolphins signed the Alabama-Birmingham product as an undrafted rookie last year, but he never got into a regular-season game. A defense lineman, as yet unidentified, also is expected in today.

Cornerback Cortney Grixby, an undrafted rookie from Nebraska, has been added to the roster and participated in Monday afternoon's practice.

Damn, thats farged up

[reese125]

The NFL suspended free agent WR Chris Henry four games for violating the league's personal conduct policy.
However, Henry's indefinite suspension has been lifted and he is eligible to sign with teams.

Calling Jerry Jones...Jerry Jones

[rjs246]

So, uh, add Javon Walker to the list of wide receivers that don't seem to be capable of acting in ways that I understand.

[SunMo]

i would say that dude's life in the past couple of years gives him a pass

[SD_Eagle5]

Kearse: Titans' defense reminds him of '99
By TERESA M. WALKER, AP Sports Writer
Jul 27, 7:49 pm EDT

Buzz Up PrintNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)—Vince Young looked up Sunday and found himself surrounded by Kyle Vanden Bosch, Albert Haynesworth and Jevon Kearse. Nowhere to run, no time to duck.

Ouch.

Luckily, Young wore the red jersey, which means don't touch the quarterback.

It's only the opening days of training camp, but the Tennessee Titans see the chance to be even better on defense than a year ago, when they ranked fifth in the NFL in yards allowed and yards rushing allowed.

Kearse, who is trying to revive his career in his 10th season, sees a group that could rival the defenses Tennessee had in 1999 and 2000 when the Titans went 26-6.

"It's one thing talking about it," Kearse said. "Until you get on the field and be about it, that's another thing."

The Titans fed off embarrassment a year ago, upset at giving up more yards than any other defense in 2006. The emotion they're dealing with now is complacency, which they are fighting by trying to set their sights higher. Being among the best is not good enough now.

Haynesworth, coming off his first All-Pro season, said linebacker Keith Bulluck wants the Titans to be No. 1. It's a goal he embraces as well.

"We've got four more spots we got to move up. We went up (27) spots the year before that. Now it's time to go up four more and be the No. 1 defense," Haynesworth said.

The Titans haven't had the NFL's top-rated defense since 2000, but they go into this season with the most talent and depth since that year, even with the free agent losses of ends Antwan Odom and Travis LaBoy. Vanden Bosch, who had a team-high 12 sacks and 24 quarterback pressures, is ready to remind them to stay hungry.

"We can't think we're going to go out there, show up and have a dominating defense. We have to get better, and it's important we still stay hungry and we're a fast, aggressive defense like last year," Vanden Bosch said.

That attitude was a big key to the Titans' dramatic turnaround. They chased quarterbacks with such intensity that at times it was like watching a pack of dogs running down a steak, coming up with 40 sacks and forcing opponents to abandon the run early by allowing 92.4 yards rushing per game.

That combination, with Haynesworth at times dominating the middle of the line, helped the defense pick off 22 passes, tied with Indianapolis for second behind San Diego. And only Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Tampa allowed fewer first downs than Tennessee.

Coach Jeff Fisher said he believes the defense can be better. He noted at least eight 2-minute drives that the defense was involved in, games so close one big play turned a win into a loss for a team that went 10-6.

"You can pull some satisfaction out of what happened last year," Fisher said. "To me and to them, it's not good enough. You have to do better. You have to win games. ... We're trying to get better so we don't wind up in those types of games."

[QB Eagles]

Kearse: Reminiscences about the time he was a relevant football player
By TERESA M. WALKER, AP Sports Writer
Jul 27, 7:49 pm EDT