Sunday Football Fever

At a news conference today, Dolphins coach Tony Sparano announced that Jason Taylor won’t be attending any off-season workouts, including training camp.

Taylor denies any problems between him and new VP Bill Parcells, but that is likely at the center of this.  Taylor says that “at the end of the day, I will show up and I will do anything I need to do, and I will be the best football player I can be.”

The problem is, no one knows when that day will be…

Filed under: Preseason News

Tags: bill parcells, jason taylor, miami dolphis, tony sparano, training camp

I guess the Falcons really like Matt Ryan.  Today he signed a six-year, $72 million contract — $34.75 guaranteed!

While I think it’s a bit excessive for someone yet to take a snap in the NFL, I’m glad they came to an agreement now.  I’ve seen a lot of QBs ruin their rookie seasons (and often their entire career) by holding out.

Let’s hope he’s worth the money…

Filed under: Contracts, NFL Draft

Tags: atlanta falcons, matt ryan

This morning the NFL has opted out of the collective bargaining agreement it had held with the players.  According to ESPN, this could mean that 2010 won’t have a salary cap and 2011 might see a lockout.

The reason for the lockout, according to the NFL:

“The current labor agreement does not adequately recognize the cost of generating the revenues of which the players receive the largest shares; nor does the agreement recognize that those costs have increased substantially — and at an ever increasing rate — in recent years during a difficult economic climate in our country,”

The league had until November to opt out, but decided to do it early.  This was a wise move, as it gives them more time to negotiate a new agreement before the 2011 season.

Let’s hope it works out well.  I still cry for the NHL and the utter stupidity they showed a few years ago, which effectively ruined an already weak sport.

Filed under: League News

Tags: cba, lockout, salary cap

The Raiders continued their off-season defensive spending spree today signing linebacker Edgerton Hartwell.  Harwell sat out all of last year after missing portions of the previous 2 seasons due to injury.

The Raiders continue to try and improve their defense through free agency.  I’m not real sure how this will play out.  On the one hand, Al Davis hasn’t been tight with the purse strings in an attempt to improve the defense.  But on the other hand, this reminds me of the Redskins a few years ago, when they signed all the big name free agents in attempt to improve immediately.  The issue comes in when all these new players (DeAngelo Hall, Gibril Wilson, Javon Walker, etc) have to share a locker room.  Personalities clash; egos get in the way; chemistry suffers.  And despite what people think, chemistry is a really important piece of winning a championship.  Teams who have the talent but not the chemistry tend to fall just short of their goals (think 2004-2005 Philadelphia Eagles).

It’ll be interesting to see how the situation plays out in Oakland.  Honestly, I think they’ll be improved but still be among the top 5 teams picking in the draft next year.

Filed under: Free Agency Signings

Tags: al davis, deangelo hall, edgerton hartwell, gibril wilson, javon walker, oakland raiders, philadelphia eagles, washington redskins

This is hard for me to believe.

Marvin Harrison has never had any off-the-field issues and is such an outstanding character, that I can’t even fathom him being investigated for any crime.  But sure enough, he’s being investigated for a shooting that occurred outside a bar he owns in Philadelphia.  Word is that the bullet that was fired came from one of Harrison’s guns.

I’m just stunned that he’d be involved in anything like this.

Filed under: Preseason News

Tags: indianapolis colts, marvin harrison