NFL FanHouse

Larry Johnson Petition Pretty Clear Proof How Much Chiefs Fans Hate Him

Will Brinson — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:45:00 EST

Filed under: Chiefs, NFL Fans, NFL Coaching, NFL Media Watch, NFL Rumors

Larry Johnson is a mere 80 yards away from passing Priest Holmes as the all-time leading rusher in KC history, but if the fans who put together an online petition have their way, he won't get there.

You see, it turns out that LJ's recent actions -- tweeting at coach Todd Haley, calling reporters homophobic names, being suspended by the team -- combined with his past transgressions -- police problems, being suspended by the team (again) -- have created a sort of pent-up anger within the fanbase.

You can read the entire (and quite lengthy) petition here: petitiononline.com/StopLJ, but for those of you who don't care to parse through (deservedly) bitter, Midwestern ranting, here's the skinny: fans of the Chiefs are loyal, which is true, and they care deeply about and want to support their team, even when the Chiefs stink.

The petition seems to insinuate they realize that 12-win seasons aren't happening every year and they're not around the corner -- meaning they're cool with GM Scott Pioli rebuilding -- but that allowing Johnson to permanently etch his name atop a pretty important team record is simply unacceptable.

And you know what? I completely agree with them, at least in the sense that if I were a Chiefs fan, I would have wanted Johnson gone a long time ago, and I would be none too happy (particularly considering his production this season, which they cite in the petition) if he were still on the team despite his repeated efforts to not be a part of it.

Additionally, I salute these fans for taking a stand that doesn't involve eBay or craigslist -- as much as I would enjoy seeing Johnson up for purchase online, it's pretty inspiring to see a downtrodden group of fans take a stand on a moral level.

Larry Johnson Petition Pretty Clear Proof How Much Chiefs Fans Hate Him originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Eric Mangini's Job Somehow Safe

Matt Snyder — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 22:55:00 EST

Filed under: Browns, AFC North, NFL Coaching, NFL Rumors

After yet another embarrassing beatdown for his Browns -- this time a 30-6 loss at the hands of the Chicago Bears -- Eric Mangini received a vote of confidence, at least for the remainder of this season. Randy Lerner, owner of the Browns, indicated he isn't willing to dismiss Mangini right now, but admitted to the Associated Press that he is "sick" about the state of his franchise.

Even if Mangini's safe, Lerner did express interest in making one change -- he wants to bring in a football-tested authority figure to help run the franchise. The way he's phrasing everything, it sounds like he wants to hire someone in the Bill Parcells-in-Miami mold.

"There's absolutely no question about that," he said. "The highest priority that I have is a strong, credible, serious leader within the building to guide decisions in a far more conspicuous, open transparent way. I can maybe defend decisions by saying I've sought advice and I've brought people in, and we've gone to see people -- and I think my highest priority is to have a stable figure that represents the voice that explains the decisions."

Update: Browns Fire GM George Kokinis

Lerner also admitted the Browns' quarterback situation isn't even remotely close to working.

No matter how they proceed, it's obvious some serious changes need to happen in Cleveland. The Browns are 1-7 and the franchise is currently in as bad of shape as any other team in football. The game in Chicago was just another in a string of embarrassments for the Browns -- as they turned the ball over five times and even missed their only extra point attempt. This was a 30-6 beatdown from a team that lost 45-10 to the Bengals last week.

They don't seem prepared and have no real general direction. The personnel is pretty awful, too.

The Browns have a bye next week, but will face the Ravens at home in Week 10. They likely have three more realistically winnable games left on the schedule. They travel to Detroit in Week 11, go to Kansas City in Week 15, and host the Raiders in Week 16.

Eric Mangini's Job Somehow Safe originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 01 Nov 2009 22:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jamal Lewis Says He's Retiring After 2009 Season Ends

Will Brinson — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Browns, NFL Rumors

Jamal Lewis told reporters following the Browns' loss to the Bears Sunday afternoon that he is planning to retire after the 2009 season. Yes, I know what you're thinking: "Woah. Jamal Lewis is still playing football?"

But he is.

And apparently, this will be his final season -- after telling reporters of his intentions, he also added "I mean what I say" which, presumably, is to ward off the possibility of people mistaking him for Brett Favre.

Lewis is most famous for two things: rushing for 2,000 yards in one season and going to prison. Drafted out of Tennessee with the fifth overall pick in 2000, Lewis was a catalyst in the Ravens' Super Bowl run that year, rushing for 1,364 yards with a 4.4 yards per carry average. Then, two years later, Lewis went b-a-n-a-n-a-s, posting 2,066 yards (the second-highest single season total in NFL history, mind you) and averaging an obscene 129.1 yards per game.

But then Lewis went to prison in 2005 for four months over a cell phone/drug issue and was never the same. Well, that's not entirely fair -- when Lewis left Baltimore for Cleveland, he posted over 1,300 yards in his first season and seemed to be in the midst of some sort of resurgence. It didn't last long though, and in 2008, Lewis was held to 3.6 yards per carry over the course of the season as the Browns struggled.

This year has been even worse. Lewis is on pace for less than 1,000 yards rushing and has been more or less nonexistent. So, really, his retirement should come as no surprise and, most importantly, a reminder of how quickly high-profile running backs can decline.

Jamal Lewis Says He's Retiring After 2009 Season Ends originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 01 Nov 2009 18:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Owen Daniels Reportedly Out for Season With Right Knee Injury

Will Brinson — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Texans, Fantasy Football, NFL Injuries, NFL Rumors, NFL Analysis

Owen Daniels, the starting tight end for Houston, left the Texans' game early in the first quarter with a sprained right knee. The Texans managed to win (mostly due to Ryan Moats' beast of a game) but it appears as if the win will be pretty bittersweet, as it's being reported that Daniels is out for the season.

Adam Schefter innocuously (read: no link) dropped the news on Twitter, and the Houston Chronicle has -- kind of -- confirmed it, stating that Daniels will have an MRI on Monday but is "most likely" done for the season.

If Daniels does indeed miss the rest of the year, it's a tremendous blow for a Texans passing attack that had been one of the best in the NFL this year (third overall in passing yardage at 285.6 yards per game). Daniels led all NFL tight ends in yardage, was second in receptions, and third in receiving yards per game.

The tight end, as noted by Texans expert and now heartbroken fan Steph Stradley, had previously tore his left ACL in high school and his left ACL and MCL in college; this seems like the same injury, only to the other leg.

Daniels' five touchdowns on the season and 40 receptions were the most on the team and his 519 yards were second behind only Andre Johnson. So yeah, he will be sorely missed.

Fantasy Spin: This is a nightmare scenario for Daniels' owners, obviously, because thus far he's been the top scoring TE in all Fleaflicker leagues. Hold onto him for now (at least until Monday afternoon) because you don't want to find out he'll only miss 2-3 weeks right after putting him on waivers, but be thinking about a replacement immediately. Joel Dreessen will likely catch the balls from Matt Schaub, so if you're in a deep league, go ahead and make that play, just because Houston tosses the ball a lot. If you're in a shallow league, Ben Watson (34 percent owned), Tony Scheffler (57 percent) and Todd Heap (51 percent) are all viable options as well.

Owen Daniels Reportedly Out for Season With Right Knee Injury originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 01 Nov 2009 17:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Larry Johnson Suspended Until Nov. 9

Will Brinson — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:55:00 EST

Filed under: Chiefs, NFL Coaching, NFL Rumors, NFL Analysis

Larry Johnson has (officially) been suspended, according to a press release from the Kansas City Chiefs. The team's front office and the NFL had previously been investigating whether or not Johnson's behavior (which included antagonizing tweets and rumored inappropriate statements to reporters) was worthy of a suspension.

Judging by the Chiefs' statement, it's probably safe to say it was.

The Kansas City Chiefs have suspended RB Larry Johnson for Conduct Detrimental to the Club effective immediately. Johnson will not be permitted to participate in any team activities or be on team premises until Monday, November 9th. The Chiefs will have no further comment on Johnson's status at this time.

Now, that seems pretty straightforward, but at the same time, there's something a little odd about this whole thing -- why won't the Chiefs talk about this anymore? Why until November 9th (which includes just one game and a ton of practice)?

And perhaps more importantly, why on Earth are they trying to put this guy in what amounts to solitary confinement when he's obviously angry (again) at the team? The smarter thing is to do what Oregon did with LeGarrette Blount and keep him within the team's fold, so to speak, so that he can actually try and become a slightly better teammate.

Of course, this is professional football, so it's a different situation, but if Johnson's behavior in the past has shown us anything, it's that he's not afraid to put on the petulant pouty face and bring the team down.

But, hey, the Chiefs could always be planning to do something more drastic, and decided to use a suspension to get the media off their back. It certainly wouldn't be the craziest thing Scott Pioli and crew have done so far.

Larry Johnson Suspended Until Nov. 9 originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Larry Johnson Slur Nets Him Some More Free Time

Will Brinson — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:25:00 EST

Filed under: Chiefs, NFL Media Watch, NFL Rumors

Recently, Larry Johnson has made waves -- to put it mildly -- not only with his angry tweeting at Todd Haley but also with his recent inappropriate comments to reporters. And now it appears as if he could be suspended by the Kansas City Chiefs sometime soon.

According to a statement from the Chiefs, Johnson has been asked to stay away from team activities while the NFL and Kansas City's front office conduct an investigation into his recent statements. All of this despite an apology from Johnson on Tuesday.

The Kansas City Chiefs and the National Football League are continuing to investigate the alleged comments made by Larry Johnson. Until that review is complete, the Chiefs have instructed Larry to refrain from practicing with the Chiefs or participating in other team activities. A decision regarding Larry's status will be made once the investigation has concluded.

Now, there's a couple of factors to consider here. First, Johnson apologized (you can read it at the KC Star if you want, but it's pretty standard, including a bit about not being a "good role model" and telling his coach, the commish, the fans and his teammates that he's sorry). So he at least deserves some sort of break on that end.

At the same time though, Bob Griese apologized too, and he's still staring down a one-week suspension for talking about Juan Pablo Montoya and tacos. The point there being that, as we all know, there's only so much a standard apology can do when a public figure says something highly offensive.

Additionally, Johnson allegedly referring to a group of reporters in a homophobic manner came directly on the heels of his Twitter freak-out -- it's a bad, back-to-back combination of publicly noted displays that Roger Goodell and Scott Pioli cannot possibly be enthused about.

However, they haven't suspended him yet, so there's always a chance that Johnson could end up just paying a lot of money to the organization and the NFL for his behavior. Of course, some people actually think that would be the best thing for the Chiefs -- Johnson's a distraction, no doubt, but he's certainly keeping people in Kansas City from staring too hard at the team's record.

Larry Johnson Slur Nets Him Some More Free Time originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Redskins Pro Bowl Tackle Chris Samuels Reportedly Retiring

Chris Burke — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:20:00 EST

Filed under: Redskins, NFL Rumors

Six-time Pro Bowl tackle Chris Samuels has decided to retire, the Washington Post reported. Samuels left Washington's Week 5 loss at Carolina after hurting his neck, an injury that was initially called a "stinger."

It was later revealed, though, that Samuels suffers from stenosis, which is a condition that causes narrowing of the spine.

Samuels has not played since the injury occurred. He was expected to meet with a neck specialist earlier this week to determine his long-term status, and the Post's report would seem to indicate that the prognosis was not good.

Samuels, the No. 3-overall pick in the 2000 draft out of Alabama, has started 136 games for Washington and was named to the Pro Bowl in 2001, 2002, and 2005-08.

The Washington Times countered the Post's report, saying that Samuels would definitely miss the remainder of the season, but would reconsider a retirement decision in 3-4 months.

Either way, this is a huge blow for an already-reeling Redskins offensive line. Washington will move forward with Stephon Heyer at left tackle, though the team did sign Levi Jones on Tuesday -- Jones started 89 games at left tackle for the Bengals from 2002-08, so he's a definite option to slide into the lineup, even though multiple teams passed on him before the Redskins called.

Unless Jones proves to be a godsend, or Samuels changes his mind, the Redskins will likely find themselves needing to fill several offensive line spots next offseason -- including both tackle spots.

(Update: Samuels released a statement late Friday evening stating, "I will continue to seek medical advice. I hope to see where I am physically over the next couple months. At this time, I have not made a decision, but I love playing for the Redskins and hope to be back.")

Redskins Pro Bowl Tackle Chris Samuels Reportedly Retiring originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Pats Release Joey Galloway

Will Brinson — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Patriots, Fantasy Football, NFL Rumors, NFL Analysis, NFL London

Less than two days after unleashing an aerial assault on the Titans, the Patriots have decided that Joey Galloway is an unnecessary part of their roster and, according to Adam Schefter, both on my teevee and Twitter, released him.

Galloway for the season has a stunningly weak six catches for 67 yards and hasn't played in a Pats game since Week 3. Additionally, when Galloway was on the field, there was an obvious disconnect between he and Tom Brady, who didn't seem to care for the receivers inability to stretch the field for Wes Welker and Randy Moss (which is what, theoretically, he was brought in to do).

As Schefter points out, Galloway is free to sign with another team, which is good news for the receiver who, despite being bumped from both the Bucs and Pats in the last few months, still has enough speed and talent to make him a viable second or third wideout for a playoff contending team.

Of course, he also lost out on a free trip to London as a result of the move, which might mean that Bill Belichick and Co. simply decided that his production didn't outweigh whatever travel costs he was going to incur.

Fantasy Spin: Heretofore, Galloway's been utterly worthless as a fantasy player, and there's always the [good] chance that continues. BUT -- and this might be more of an "if" than a "but" -- if he happens to land on a decent passing team without too many strong wideouts (or, you know, a crappy team like the Browns or Rams who will at least be throwing the ball downfield 40 times a game).

Report: Pats Release Joey Galloway originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Are Chiefs Ready to Move Dwayne Bowe?

Chris Burke — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 23:35:00 EST

Filed under: Chiefs, Dolphins, Ravens, NFL Rumors

Through the first two seasons of his NFL career, wide receiver Dwayne Bowe looked destined to be a superstar in Kansas City for years to come. In 2007, Bowe's rookie season out of LSU, he had 995 yards receiving, then topped that number in 2008 with 1,022 yards and seven touchdowns.

Year 3, though, has not gone as well. Bowe got off on the wrong foot with new Kansas City head coach Todd Haley -- losing his starting spot in the preseason due to work-ethic questions -- including coming to offseason workouts overweight. He then struggled with a nagging hamstring injury, and has just 15 catches in four games this season.

And with Kansas City 0-5 and apparently in need of a complete overhaul, Bowe's name continues to surface as Tuesday's trade deadline looms.

The speculation kicked up a notch Friday when ESPN claimed that the Ravens were prepared to offer a second- and fifth-round pick for Bowe. Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh did nothing to dispel those rumors, saying that "there are possibilities" for his team on the trade market.

Baltimore has come up in association with just about every available receiver since the offseason -- including Brandon Marshall -- and nearly found itself forced into making a move back in July when Derrick Mason briefly announced his retirement.

The Ravens quelled some of the concerns about their wide receiver group by opening the season 3-0 and scoring 30 points or more in each of those victories. But back-to-back losses to New England and Cincinnati have forced those issues to resurface. The Week 5 loss to the Bengals was particularly troubling offensively, with Baltimore receiver's catching just four of 22 Joe Flacco completions and Mason finishing with no grabs.

From Baltimore's perspective, unloading a pair of picks for Bowe would make complete sense given the Ravens' belief that they can contend for a Super Bowl title this season. Bowe and Mason would give Baltimore a very talented 1-2 punch and further open the ground game for Ray Rice and Willis McGahee.

The deal makes less obvious sense for Kansas City -- it's never that wise to dump a top-flight 25-year-old receiver. Still, the Chiefs are clearly in rebuilding mode (despite the hefty extension they gave Matt Cassel) and Bowe's occasional hiccups with Haley might help label him as expendable.

That said, should the Chiefs opt to move Bowe, it's far from a lock that the Ravens would land him. They aren't the only team searching for WR help, after all.

The Dolphins might be more than willing to unload a second- and fifth-round pick -- or even up the ante slightly -- if the Chiefs dangle Bowe. Miami's current top three of Davone Bess, Greg Camarillo and Ted Ginn has been decent this season, but far from spectacular -- and with Chad Henne now under center, Miami needs some players that can stretch the field.

Miami's interest in Bowe could increase should the Dolphins go into New York and knock off the Jets this week. That would put them at 3-3 and smack dab in the thick of the AFC East race. Even without a victory, taking a shot at Bowe could be worth it -- the Dolphins would have him under contract through at least 2011 and finally have a real No. 1 receiver.

It's not likely that Kansas City unloads Bowe given his natural ability. It's possible, though, and something to keep an eye on as Tuesday closes in.

Are Chiefs Ready to Move Dwayne Bowe? originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 23:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jon Gruden Atop Dan Snyder's Wish List To Coach Redskins?

Josh Alper — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:55:00 EST

Filed under: Redskins, NFL Coaching, NFL Rumors

The first five weeks of the season have led to the widespread belief that Jim Zorn's got about as much time left in the nation's capital as a Congressman found in a hotel room with three dead prostitutes. That means that speculation about his possible replacement has ramped up to a fevered pitch and, since the Redskins are owned by Daniel Snyder, it's focused on only the biggest available names.

Tuesday brings a report from the Washington Examiner that sources close to Snyder have placed former Raiders and Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden at the top of the owner's wish list. It's not hard to figure out why that report would surface on a Tuesday.

Last night was Monday Night Football, after all.

It's a good bet that the source was watching the Jets-Dolphins clash with Snyder and heard the owner remark how he'd love to hire Gruden more than once after the former coach broke down a play during the game. If they had been together on Sunday night, it would have been the same thing with Tony Dungy while a Sunday brunch would have elicited Snyder's desire for Bill Cowher. The only thing odd about the report is that Ron Jaworski, Mike Tirico and Hank Williams Jr. aren't also in the running for the job.

We kid, but it will be interesting to see how interested coaches like Gruden, Cowher, Mike Shanahan and Mike Holmgren are to return to work for Snyder if they have other options. The option of a different team with a less impulsive owner or a TV gig that pays well while waiting for a better opportunity may well prove to be more appealing than going to work for Snyder.

Gruden makes sense, though, if only because the Redskins would never find themselves saddled with a quarterback who gets no love from the fanbase or media. While he was in Tampa, Gruden liked to take up a good six or seven roster spots with quarterbacks so that he could change horses at a moment's notice. That would be a nice option for this year's Redskins club, and would actually fit well with Snyder's penchant for always going after the shiniest object in his field of vision.

Jon Gruden Atop Dan Snyder's Wish List To Coach Redskins? originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Orlando Jaguars? Owner Says Team Will Consider Moving Games

Chris Burke — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:15:00 EST

Filed under: Jaguars, NFL Rumors

Jacksonville's attendance woes have reached rather dire straits; the team likely won't sell out a single game in 2009, and sold less than 50,000 tickets for its home opener in Week 2 (with less than 40,000 people showing up). So, perhaps not surprisingly, Jaguars team owner Wayne Weaver is talking about moving the team -- at least on occasion.

According to the Orlando Sentinel, Weaver said that, if the NFL expands to an 18-game schedule in the near future as expected, the Jaguars would seriously consider playing some home games in Orlando.

"There's certainly the possibility that we would play some out-of-market games," Weaver told the Sentinel. "If it happened, Orlando would be the best option and most reasonable location.

"In the past, we have reached out to try and cultivate that market and haven't had as much success as we would have liked. We probably need to do a better job. That's a given. We are looking at a long-term strategy and thinking out of the box on how we can build a fan base in Orlando."

If this strategy sounds familiar, it's because the Bills have employed a similar plan using Toronto. Prior to the 2008 season, the Bills agreed to play eight home games in Toronto between 2008-12, one regular-season game per year plus a few preseason contests -- the Bills beat Pittsburgh in the 2008 preseason, and lost to Miami last regular season in games played at Rogers Centre. They will "host" the Jets on Dec. 3 north of the border to fulfill their 2009 obligation.

Jacksonville might not be the only team to explore moving games to other markets -- both to build up an extended fan base and to ensure sellouts -- if the NFL has the type of attendance woes that have been forecast. Should the regular-season schedule expand to 18 games, the need to find people willing to buy tickets would only increase.

"We know that we can't be a viable NFL city if we only sell 46,000 seats in a 66,000-seat stadium," Weaver said.

Even if the Jaguars follow through with this idea, Weaver did not indicate that the team would look into permanently relocating from Jacksonville to Orlando. Still, a strong show of support from the Orlando area would definitely open some eyes within the Jacksonville organization.

Orlando, too, would be quite an attractive spot for the NFL to setup shop -- Jacksonville has already hosted a Super Bowl, and the city of Orlando would no doubt be a contender to do the same if it landed an NFL team.

The Orlando Jaguars? Owner Says Team Will Consider Moving Games originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Mangini Fines Player Over Bottle Of Water

JJ Cooper — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 14:34:00 EST

Filed under: Browns, AFC North, NFL Coaching, NFL Rumors

First there were the reports of Browns coach Eric Mangini requiring a mandatory bus trip to work for free at his football camp. There were the rumors that Mangini slapped a curfew on players attending "voluntary" offseason workouts. And there was the talk that Mangini screwed Josh Cribbs out of an agreed-to contract renegotiation.

Now Yahoo!'s Michael Silver is reporting that the Browns fined a player $1,701 for drinking a $3 bottle of water out of the hotel minibar during a road trip without paying for it at the front desk upon leaving.

If half of the reports about Mangini are true, you have to wonder why anyone would willingly choose to play for him. Coaches like Bill Belichick and Bill Parcells have managed to combine a team-first mentality with cold-blooded decision-making because they win. But Mangini has siphoned off the worst aspects of Belichick and Parcells without yet showing any signs that he has any of their coaching genius.

But all of these stories coming out will likely make Cleveland a black hole when it comes to signing free agents in the offseason. With so many other teams to choose from, why would a player want to deal with all the pettiness that comes with working for Mangini?

H/T: Pro Football Talk

Report: Mangini Fines Player Over Bottle Of Water originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sat, 19 Sep 2009 14:34:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Colts to Sign Hank Baskett

Matt Snyder — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 12:15:00 EST

Filed under: Colts, AFC South, NFL Rumors

On a televised report, ESPN's Adam Shefter reported the Colts are likely going to ink wide receiver Hank Baskett to a contract. Baskett is most famous for stealing Kendra Wilkinson from Hugh Hefner, but he does play a little football on the side.

The four-year veteran has caught 72 passes for 1,052 yards and six touchdowns in his career. Most notably, he has a penchant for long touchdowns -- he's caught TDs of 90, 89 and 87 yards in his career. Baskett was recently released by the Eagles.

The Colts have a need at receiver for the short-term. Anthony Gonzalez, the Colts WR2, is going to miss four-to-six weeks with an injured knee. The Colts are thin at wideout after superstar Reggie Wayne.

Baskett likely wouldn't be able to immediately learn the system and play this week, so Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie are still clearly ahead of him on the depth chart. In the long term, Baskett could provide Peyton Manning with a nice deep threat to complement the receiving corps. Still, is he really that much more talented than Collie?

Time will tell. For now, though, the Colts are simply adding depth in Peyton's arsenal; a cupboard they like to keep as full as possible.

Fantasy Football Spin
I discussed the receiving situation in the podcast (which will be posted on Thursday), and this move won't change anything. The Colts are going to mix-and-match guys opposite Wayne. They'll feed Wayne and Dallas Clark, while utilizing Donald Brown and Joseph Addai in the passing game. Garcon, Collie and Baskett aren't worth owning just yet in leagues other than the deepest ones (16-plus teams with big benches). We need to see a full game plan without Gonzalez to grasp how this rotation is going to work.

Report: Colts to Sign Hank Baskett originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 17 Sep 2009 12:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Steve Smith 'Jokes' Jake Delhomme: 'I Never Really Liked You as a Quarterback'

Will Brinson — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 09:45:00 EST

Filed under: Panthers, NFL Media Watch, NFL Video, NFL Rumors, NFL Quarterbacks

Jake Delhomme's had a rough, well, nine months. Ever since he threw 42* interceptions against the Arizona Cardinals in the playoffs last year, he's been scrutinized, particularly because he signed a new monster extension (even if it was for salary cap purposes).

And then, last week, he laid a total egg against the Eagles, essentially spotting Philly 21 points en route to an embarrassing opening week loss. Turns out, while that game was going on, Steve Smith was "joking" with JakeSixPicks on the sideline, stating, "I never really liked you as a quarterback. But as a person . . . I love you as a person." Prefer video proof? Fine!

Now, obviously Smith was joking -- after all, he said it to Jake's face. But Florio makes a pretty good point ... what if he's not joking about this? That's entirely possible, right? I mean, I constantly disguise insults at people I don't care for by wrapping them in sarcasm and humor, so why can't Smith? Personally, I think he really was kidding; he's worked with Delhomme too long -- and knows the Panthers' QB situation all too well -- to bother trying to start some unwarranted in-team turmoil. It would make about as much sense as randomly punching someone in the face.

*Approximate, based on what it felt like sitting at the game

Steve Smith 'Jokes' Jake Delhomme: 'I Never Really Liked You as a Quarterback' originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 17 Sep 2009 09:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Depth-Starved Eagles Sign Jeff Garcia

Josh Alper — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:10:00 EST

Filed under: Eagles, NFC East, NFL Rumors

With Donovan McNabb's status up in the air thanks to a cracked rib, the Philadelphia Eagles have reportedly reached into their recent past to shore up their quarterback position. The team has signed Jeff Garcia, according to Jason La Canfora of NFL.com and the Philadelphia Daily News.

The move to add a quarterback isn't particularly surprising. The Eagles don't have a third quarterback available for Week Two thanks to Michael Vick's suspension and if McNabb is too hurt to start you'd understandably want to shield him from playing at all. On one hand, Garcia's not a surprising choice since he spent 2006 with the team and knows the offense.

On a couple of other hands, though, the move is awfully intriguing.

The first intrigue is the message, intended or not, that the Eagles are sending about Kevin Kolb. Kolb didn't set the world on fire in relief of McNabb on Sunday nor did he look good when he replaced McNabb against the Ravens in the game that served as a turning point in the Eagles 2008 season.

Given Vick's long layoff, it makes sense that the Eagles wouldn't want to have only one "true" quarterback option if McNabb's injury lingers. Garcia's signing sends a strong impression that they want to have another possible starter on hand, something that doesn't say much for their confidence in Kolb's ability to lead the team.

The second intrigue is the messy way that Garcia's last tenure with the Eagles ended. After Garcia led the Eagles to the playoffs in the wake of a McNabb injury in 2006, there were those who believed that he was a better starting option for the team. The Eagles chose McNabb, obviously, and jettisoned Garcia in favor of keeping A.J. Feeley, who reportedly signed by Carolina on Monday, as his backup. Garcia wasn't happy about that, but apparently didn't burn any bridges with Andy Reid.

If people clamored for him to replace McNabb once, there's nothing to say that it wouldn't happen twice if the chips fell in a similar way as they did in 2006. There's no reason to think that they would, of course, but an already fascinating Eagles quarterbacking situation just became even more interesting. And there are still 15 games to go!

Depth-Starved Eagles Sign Jeff Garcia originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Did Oakland Issue Richard Seymour an Ultimatum? Depends on Whom You Ask

Chris Burke — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 01:50:00 EST

Filed under: Patriots, Raiders, NFL Rumors

The whole will he play/won't he play situation with Richard Seymour's trade to -- and current absence from -- the Raiders took an odd turn on Thursday night.

Comcast SportsNet Bay Area posted an article on its Web site reporting that Greg Papa, the Raiders' play-by-play man, had said on his radio show that Oakland had issued Seymour a five-day letter to report. What that means, essentially, is that if Seymour -- whom the Raiders acquired from New England for a 2011 first-round pick -- didn't show within five days of receiving the letter, Oakland would be able to place him on a reserve list for the duration of the season.

One problem: Papa never said that.

At least, that's the contention of San Francisco Chronicle reporter David White. According to White, he was a guest on Papa's show Thursday when the Seymour topic was being discussed, and Papa never made a statement claiming that Oakland had put Seymour on the clock. As possible proof of White's assertion, Comcast SportsNet pulled its original story, which "cited" Papa, from its Web site.

White also reports that, "several Raiders officials said no letter has been issued to Seymour," and head coach Tom Cable told the Associated Press that he had no knowledge of the five-day letter being issued to Seymour.

OK, so it's just a misunderstanding then?

We could chalk it up as such -- except ESPN's Adam Schefter then began reporting later on Thursday night that Seymour had indeed been told he has five days to report, citing "league sources."

It's a dizzying whirlwind befitting the Oakland organization.

What we do know is this: Seymour has definitely not joined his new team, and White adds that the Raiders re-signed defensive tackle William Joseph, who was cut on Sunday to free roster space for Seymour.

There had also been talk prior to Thursday's rollercoaster ride about Oakland working toward having the Seymour trade vetoed if he did not report -- though Cable also shot down that notion and contended that Seymour wanted to be with the Raiders.

Oakland opens its season Monday night against San Diego. Maybe we'll have some answers by then.

Did Oakland Issue Richard Seymour an Ultimatum? Depends on Whom You Ask originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Fri, 11 Sep 2009 01:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Broncos, Marshall Ready to Kiss and Make Up?

Josh Alper — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 17:45:00 EST

Filed under: Broncos, AFC West, NFL Rumors

After months of playing out as a soap opera, Mile High Stadium 80204 if you will, the Broncos-Brandon Marshall saga is suddenly looking like a romantic comedy.

It's screenwriting 101. The two characters meet, there are sparks but obstacles are put between them which makes them hate each other, until one day one of them realizes that what they thought was hate turns out to be love after all -- sometimes after the other character changes their hairstyle or takes off their glasses -- and they live happily ever after.

Maybe there was something about the way Marshall took off his helmet at practice on Tuesday that made the Broncos see him in a whole new light. Something happened, because Adam Schefter of ESPN is reporting that the team is "exploring the possibility" of a contract extension.

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Could it really happen? Could the disgruntled receiver and the disgruntled team actually find themselves in a mutually-gruntled situation after everything that has gone down this offseason?

Of course they could, because it was always the solution that held the greatest benefit for both sides. Trading Marshall never made any sense for the Broncos because his hip injury and bad attitude had him at his lowest possible value, while signing him would give them a first-rate weapon to use in what, they hope, will one day be a high-powered Josh McDaniels offense.

Marshall initially asked for a trade because his request for a new deal was turned down, so he was always more interested in getting paid than getting moved. Getting that deal now is absolutely in his interest because a trade isn't happening, and because he'll be a restricted free agent following the season. Given the uncertain status of the salary cap and, if there's a lockout, the league itself, it behooves Marshall to get that deal sooner because later may never materialize.

It's too soon to cue the music and roll the credits on this production, as there's plenty of time for an M. Night Shyamalan-style twist, but it looks like this story could have a happy ending after all. Which, when you think about it, is twist enough after the summer.

Broncos, Marshall Ready to Kiss and Make Up? originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 17:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Quinn Named Cleveland Starter

Will Brinson — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 16:15:00 EST

Filed under: Browns, NFL Coaching, NFL Rumors, NFL Quarterbacks

Things got a little awkward for Eric Mangini this afternoon: Just hours after stating that he was simply not going to tell the world who his starting quarterback would be for Sunday's game, it has been reported via numerous media outlets (as well as Terrell Owens' Twitter -- the latter being the end-all-be-all of NFL reporting, naturally) that Brady Quinn is the starting quarterback for the Browns opener.

Yes, that's right: Quinn's starting. So not only do Derek Anderson's parents need to put away the party supplies, but Cleveland fans around the ~~world~~ state can stop holding their collective breath, presuming that the Plain-Dealer's report, which comes via "numerous league sources" is true.

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Frankly, it should be: Anderson's success in the past created a highly undesirable (albeit not particularly shocking) situation whereby the Browns had an overpaid veteran and a homegrown youngster that they traded up to draft. And while Anderson may have made Romeo Crennel look good with one solid year of QB'ing, Mangini owes neither player a minute of playing time based on anything other than making sure the starter plays well enough to help him keep his job.

He obviously thinks that player -- in terms of both now and the future -- is Quinn and he's rolling with it. I'm still not sure why he tried to hide that fact, though.

Report: Quinn Named Cleveland Starter originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 16:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Eric Mangini Is Keeping His Starting QB a Secret -- Who Cares?

Will Brinson — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 13:05:00 EST

Filed under: Browns, Vikings, NFL Coaching, NFL Rumors, NFL Quarterbacks

Eric Mangini has already informed his quarterbacks of the state of the Brown Nation (read: who's gonna start against the Vikings), the Associated Press reported. Yet, for whatever reason, he's still keeping that information a secret from the general public.

I understand the rationale behind why Mangini doesn't want to alert the public -- if you have two good players at one position who feature different styles of play and you can't decide who is going to start, hell yeah you should keep your decision a secret.

It's precisely the move that Bill Belichick is notorious for; hence Mangini's footstep-following personnel maneuver. But, frankly, what's the freaking point here?

The players in question are Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson. Not Michael Vick and Donovan McNabb -- two players who would provide at least some contrast in styles and force the Vikings to prepare differently. Quinn and Anderson? Yeah, not so much. They're similar players and, honestly, the only thing that will be a difference-maker in this game will be the amount of sticky glue that Braylon Edwards has applied.

So Man-Genius-Dude: save us all some time and annoying Sportscenter updates and just tell D.A. he's on the bench because you have more invested in Quinn -- horrible contract extension aside.

Eric Mangini Is Keeping His Starting QB a Secret -- Who Cares? originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 13:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Turk Schonert Fired as Bills' O.C.

Will Brinson — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 13:20:00 EST

Filed under: Bills, NFL Coaching, NFL Rumors

Turk Schonert is out as Buffalo Bills' offensive coordinator effective immediately. Word leaked of the decision early on Friday, and Bills head coach Dick Jauron confirmed it at an afternoon press conference.

"Today we removed Turk Schonert and relieved him of his responsibilities as our offensive coordinator," Jauron said. "Nothing that we had planned on obviously, nothing that was enjoyable in any way shape or form, but that's what occurred.

Alex Van Pelt, who was the quarterbacks coach, is expected to take over the role of offensive coordinator in conjunction with Eric Studesville, the current running game coordinator.

But what's good news for Van Pelt and Studesville is obviously bad news for Schonert. In fact, since he's unemployed, the news could potentially even be called "awful." However, most of the time, you don't become jobless in the NFL unless you deserved it, and it seems pretty clear that Schonert probably had this coming.

Jauron implied, however, that the decision to remove Schonert was somewhat sudden:

"Pretty obvious when you make a decision you know when you should do it. I wasn't thinking about firing him three days ago. I wasn't thinking about it two weeks ago. And when you start thinking about it, I think you need to move on it and do something," Jauron said. "So when I started thinking about it, I gave it a good deal of thought and did it. Clearly, I believe it's the right thing to do. It's painful for him and for his family and for the organization to go through it, but it was just a decision I needed to make I felt, and made it."

Why? Well, the Bills have stunk on offense since he's been there, in all honesty. Trent Edwards hasn't progressed as he should have -- even if he's supposed to break out this year -- and given the quality of the skill players on the team, well, Buffalo should be better.

Also, 14 points per game in the preseason doesn't do wonders. (Jauron confirmed, as well, that the "productivity part [of the preseason]" had plenty to do with Schonert's removal.) Nor does losing the preseason finale to the Lions (while scoring less than 10 points in the game). Nor, probably, does making a bunch of noise about a no-huddle offense and how it's going to change the plan of attack -- then somehow managing to not put it in place well.

Personally, I think this will create an interesting situation for the running game when Marshawn Lynch returns from suspension -- Studesville has been a huge supporter of the underrated Fred Jackson, and there seems like a pretty good chance that Jackson could actually unseat Lynch as the starter if he can perform well in the first three games.

Schonert was the third offensive coordinator relieved of his duties in less than a week. The Bucs bounced Jeff Jagodzinksi on Thursday, and the Chiefs removed Chan Gailey Monday.

Turk Schonert Fired as Bills' O.C. originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Fri, 04 Sep 2009 13:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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