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PFW - Vol. 23, Issue 04 (June 2, 2008) Off-Season Team Reports
PFW - Vol. 23, Issue 04 (June 2, 2008) Off-Season Team Reports
OFFSEASON UPDATES
EXCLUSIVE STATUS REPORTS FOR ALL 32 NFL TEAMS
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JUNE 2008
ALSO:
In this
edition of
Volume XXIII
No. 4
10
14
CHRIS LONG
GLENN DORSEY
AFC REPORTERS
Baltimore Ravens Jamison Hensley
Buffalo Bills Chuck Pollock
Cincinnati Bengals Mark Curnutte
Cleveland Browns Tony Grossi
Denver Broncos Frank Schwaab
Houston Texans Megan Manfull
Indianapolis Colts Tom James
Jacksonville Jaguars Vito Stellino
Kansas City Chiefs Rick Dean
Miami Dolphins Harvey Fialkov
New England Patriots John Tomase
New York Jets Andrew Gross
Oakland Raiders Michael Wagaman
Pittsburgh Steelers Jim Wexell
San Diego Chargers Jay Posner
Tennessee Titans Paul Kuharsky
NFC REPORTERS
Arizona Cardinals Kent Somers
Atlanta Falcons Steve Wyche
Carolina Panthers Charles Chandler
Chicago Bears Bob LeGere
Dallas Cowboys Mickey Spagnola
Detroit Lions Nicholas J. Cotsonika
Green Bay Packers Bob McGinn
Minnesota Vikings Sean Jensen
New Orleans Saints Mike Triplett
New York Giants Paul Schwartz
Philadelphia Eagles Dave Weinberg
St. Louis Rams Jim Thomas
San Francisco 49ers Kevin Lynch
Seattle Seahawks Dave Boling
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Katherine Smith
Washington Redskins John Keim
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Tom Danyluk, Matt Duffy, Art Edelstein,
Pat Fitzmaurice, Court E. Mann, Rick Matsumoto
STATISTICIANS
Rick Arkush, Daryl Arkush
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COVER STORY
Instant impact
COLUMNISTS
The two NFL franchises in Missouri the Rams and Chiefs landed
defensive cornerstones in Aprils draft. St. Louis chose Chris Long,
and Kansas City added Glenn Dorsey. Both D-linemen are being
counted on to provide an immediate boost to these downtrodden teams.
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Offseason updates
Rookie Premiere
LaDainian Tomlinson
PUBLISHER/EDITOR
JUNE 2008
WAY
HEAR
HEAR
DA N PA R R
it...
MIAMI DOLPHINS
Ricky Williams can only blame
himself for the downward spiral his
career and to a certain extent,
his life has taken over the past
several years, but he may have
lucked into the ideal situation to
resuscitate it. With Ronnie Brown
in the thick of rehab after
tearing his anterior cruciate
ligament, Williams has
been temporarily thrust into
the No. 1 RB job and will
likely enter training camp
with such a designation. The way
we hear it, his performance in
camp will bear significant weight in
determining just how quickly
Brown returns to action, at which
time Williams would be demoted to
the second unit. If Williams earns
the coaches trust with his play and
SPORTPICS
TOM BERG
A F C lE A S T
Contract extension
for Bills WR Evans
all but inevitable
It was no surprise that the Bills
recently offered WR Lee Evans a
contract extension. It was also no
surprise that he declined what is
assumed to be a lowball offer. As a
source close to the club told us,
Its just the first step in a process
that both Lee and the team really
want to get done. Evans
contract expires at the end
of next season, and the
Bills are placing a premium
on inking him to a long-term
extension before training
camp commences. Truly happy in
small-market Buffalo, Evans will be
willing to oblige, eventually.
Because of his value as the teams
only legitimate threat at wide
receiver at least until rookie
James Hardy proves himself
and as one of the most respected
leaders in the locker room, Evans
holds the upper hand in the negotiations and can afford to wait for the
Bills to come through with an offer
that will place him among the
leagues highest-paid receivers. Its
simply a question of when, not if.
No easy resolution to
the Jason Taylor saga
WE
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Miami
impasse
THE
By DAN ARKUSH
CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
SPORTPICS
W H I S P E R S
Chris Kuper
CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
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JUNE 2008
W H I S P E R S
Will Smith
more than any other position, new Falcons offensive coordinator Mike
Mularkey recently told PFW. Some
of that is because of injuries, some of
that is because of finding out how guys
can handle certain positions, so were
still its trial and error.
Panthers rookie ORT Jeff Otah
is still hampered by an ankle injury,
which has kept him out of all offseason practices thus far. Word is Otah
has been able to go through individual workouts to build strength, and
there has been no indication that the
injury is serious. In the meantime,
Jeremy Bridges has taken snaps
with the first team at right tackle.
Injury-prone Bears WR Mark
Bradley, who is recovering from
early-May arthroscopic surgery on
his right knee to clean up scar tissue,
is telling team sources that he should
be ready for the start of training
camp, but word is the team isnt nearly that optimistic.
During the Bears first batch of
OTAs, the consensus among observers was that beleaguered starting RB Cedric Benson did indeed
look quicker after having dropped 10
pounds, the result of a healthier diet.
Although DTs Justin Harrell
(back) and Johnny Jolly (shoulder),
DE Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (knee)
and CB Will Blackmon (foot) are
expected to miss the Packers entire
four-week workout session, we hear
all of them are expected to be
cleared for the start of training camp.
Harrell, the teams 2007 first-round
pick, is missing the teams offseason
practices for the second straight year.
Word is the Packers are cautiously encouraged by the condition of
third-year LB Abdul Hodge, who has
been severely hindered by patellar
tendinitis in both knees the past two
seasons. When he was healthy
enough to play over an eight-game
period in 2006, Hodge showed some
impressive flashes.
Free-agent RB Kevin Jones, late
of the Lions, has received interest
from several teams, including the
Patriots and Titans, despite being
only five months removed from ACL
surgery. With two media members
present, Jones incredibly ran up an
incline at full speed and then pivoted
and changed direction with little trouble. Jones says he thinks hell miraculously be ready to play by Week One.
The Cowboys are treating NT
Tank Johnson as somewhat of a
free-agent addition this offseason,
WWHI
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3
bling with his defensive personnel,
outfitting the unit with great athletes who come with questions.
The acquisitions of NT Kris Jenkins and OLB Calvin Pace served
as the first sign, as each is
immensely talented but Jenkins
comes equipped with weight and
attitude concerns, and
Pace has only one productive season to his credit.
The second sign came with
the first-round drafting of
OLB Vernon Gholston, a
college defensive end whose
inspiring measurables and spurts
of dominance were counterbalanced by concerns about inconsistency and the need to adapt to a
new position. Most recently, Mangini has experimented with Justin
Miller as the starting cornerback
opposite Darrelle Revis in OTAs.
Because of a severe knee injury
that kept him shelved for the
majority of 2007 and spotty play in
his first two pro seasons of 05 and
06, Miller was largely an afterthought entering the offseason
program. But as one of the fastest
and most explosive players on the
team, Miller has the physical tools
that none of the corners contending for the open CB spot can
match.
A F C lN O R T H
TE Utecht could steal
catches from Bengals
talented WR tandem
The way we hear it, TE Ben
Utecht could quietly cut into the
number of catches that starting
WRs Chad Johnson and T.J.
Houshmandzadeh make this season. Utecht, a former role player in
Indianapolis potent offense, is the
most capable receiver the
Bengals have had at the
position in head coach Marvin Lewis six seasons with
the club. Dont be surprised
if Utecht becomes one of
QB Carson Palmers top targets
on 3rd-and-short situations
scenarios in which Houshmandzadeh has thrived over the
years. Utechts catch total may
also get a boost if a clear-cut No. 3
receiver does not emerge. Rookies
Jerome Simpson and Andre
Caldwell are in the mix for the job,
as are veterans Antonio
Chatman, Doug Gabriel and
Glenn Holt.
BALTIMORE RAVENS
With about two months left
before training camp, much must
be sorted out with the Ravens
passing game. There is no clearcut starting quarterback; rookie
Joe Flacco, young Troy Smith
and veteran Kyle Boller all
have fighting shots at the
job, the way we hear it.
Injuries have already taken
a toll at tight end. TEs Todd
Heap and Daniel Wilcox
are coming off injury-plagued seasons, and capable backup Quinn
Sypniewski is out for the 2008
season with a knee injury. There
are questions about the WR corps
beyond steady Derrick Mason.
Mark Clayton and Demetrius
Williams, both of whom struggled
JUNE 2008
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A F C lS O U T H
Transition to Texans
offense should be
smooth for RB Slaton
CLEVELAND BROWNS
There is no doubting DL Shaun
Rogers talent. Most evaluators
would agree hes among the most
gifted linemen in the game. But he
hasnt always played to that ability,
which goes a long way in explaining why the Browns were able to
acquire him for CB Leigh Bodden
and a third-round pick in
March. However, the early
returns on Rogers performance from Cleveland are
promising. The way we
hear it, Rogers, 29, does
not appear out of shape; hes listed
at 340 pounds. An in-shape
Rogers could do wonders for
Clevelands defensive line play,
which has been a sore spot in
recent years. Look for Rogers to
get most of his practice work at
nose tackle as he adjusts to the
rigors of that key role in Clevelands 3-4 defense. He will also
work at defensive end.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS
The way we hear it, Steelers
rookie RB Rashard Mendenhall
looks as though he will be a solid
fit in Bruce Arians offense.
Mendenhall has caught the ball
well in his brief Steelers career,
and hes also shown the speed
that helped make him such a wellregarded prospect.
Mendenhall and probable
third-down back Mewelde
Moore are likely to be the
first backs off the bench for
Pittsburgh, which will have
a more versatile backfield than it
did a season ago. Mendenhall,
who is healthy again after suffering a hamstring injury early in May,
will primarily play the role of keeping starter Willie Parker fresh. At
the NFL Players Rookie Premiere,
Mendenhall told PFW he can learn
a lot from the productive Parker
simply by seeing how he works
every day, just his attitude about
COURTESY OF TOPPS
SPORTPICS
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
TENNESSEE TITANS
One of the most contentious
position battles in the Titans training camp figures to be at wide
A F C lW E S T
Russell moving
toward leadership
role with Raiders
Raiders QB JaMarcus Russell
appears to be on the fast track
toward a leadership position with
the team, the way we hear
it. Sources in Oakland say
Russell has gained his
teammates respect through
showing a commitment and
strong work ethic in offseason workouts. He has looked in
command of the offense during
CONTINUED ON PAGE 25
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SHOW-ME
STATE
CORNERSTONES
JUNE 2008
Resourceful Long
provides Rams
with intriguing
options
By
JIM THOMAS
CORNERSTONES
RICK DEAN
JUNE 2008
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As a pass rusher,
Haslett described Long as
a slip and slide guy. A
guy that can turn the corner. He has great vision
on the quarterback, and can come back
inside. He has great moves turning the corner.
But Haslett still runs a lot of 3-4 fronts in
passing situations, which should be a natural
for Long. Long also dropped into coverage
occasionally at Virginia. And he might flip
sides with Little from time to time or be used
as a stand-up end (almost like a rush linebacker).
He can do a lot of different things for
you, Haslett said. Hes a better fit for
teams like us, Baltimore, Pittsburgh. Teams
that do a lot of different things than just a
straight 4-3 where youre going to sit there
and rush him all day.
Around Rams Park, Long has been called
a more athletic Grant Wistrom. The nowretired Wistrom, a No. 6 overall pick in 1998,
was a starter for two Super Bowl teams in St.
Louis. Long also has been compared to Seattles Patrick Kerney a fellow Virginia
product because of his relentless,
non-stop style of play.
An underrated part of Longs
game, probably because of his
average size for the position (6-3,
279), is his run defense.
I think hes very good in run
defense, Haslett said. He does
Movable part:
Chris Long should
adapt well to the
Rams 4-3 defense
Fireplug: The Chiefs will attempt to put Glenn Dorsey in a non-stop attack mode
TUSP
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JUNE 2008
PARIS
READY TO
ner, but he resembled a jalopys sputter instead of his usual
Ferrari-like acceleration. Lacking the wiggle to make Tedy
Bruschi miss, Tomlinson gained but a single yard his last
of the season.
I tried to continue on, Tomlinson said. On that screen
pass, I just didnt have it. I couldnt explode. It wasnt going
to cooperate. I didnt have enough burst.
Tomlinson was done, but the piling on was just beginning.
Commentators such as former player Deion Sanders
questioned Tomlinsons grit. They wanted to know why he
didnt try to play, especially with Rivers competing with a
torn ACL. They were curious that he sat on the bench instead
of at least serving as a cheerleader
for his teammates.
Eyeing redemption:
Tomlinson, who played in countLaDainian Tomlinson is
less games for the once-woeful
all smiles knowing his
controversial postseaChargers that meant considerably
son injury is in the past
less, was being criticized for not
JUNE 2008
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Mending Bolts
LaDainian Tomlinson isnt the only Charger spending his offseason getting healthy. For a team littered with
Pro Bowl talent, a healthy amount of their key cogs have been rather unhealthy since the seasons end.
RB LaDainian Tomlinson: Sprained his left MCL (knee) in the playoffs but didnt require offseason
surgery. He was able to participate in the recent minicamp and should be close to 100 percent for training camp.
QB Philip Rivers: Had arthroscopic knee surgery between the Colts and Patriots playoff games after
tearing his ACL in Indy. He underwent a second surgery in February and had a significant, yet reduced load
in minicamp. He might be able to go full speed by training camp.
TE Antonio Gates: His dislocated toe derailed his production in the AFC championship
Derailed:
TE Antonio
game. He went under the knife soon after the season, but has yet to test it by running. Theres
Gates
is
a chance he might not be ready for the season opener.
carted away
C Nick Hardwick: The anchor of the offensive line missed four games in 07 with a toe
with a toe
injury, then returned for the stretch run and playoffs. But the injury required surgery in March
dislocation
and should keep him sidelined for the early portions of the season.
NT Jamal Williams: The defensive linchpin had arthroscopic surgery on both knees. Hell be brought
along slowly, although he should be fine for training camp.
OLB Shawne Merriman: The feared sack artist had arthroscopic knee surgery and was able to practice
at minicamp and should be full-go this summer.
KWR
JAY PARIS
Tomlinson takes a hand-off from a mending Rivers he had his ACL repaired in the
ous.
Is he OK? Will the knee bother him this
season? Did the criticism he absorbed scar a
prideful man? After all, prior to the New
England game, he had a nearly pristine reputation of playing the game the right way,
the LaDainian Tomlinson way.
Im sure he was pretty pissed off he
couldnt play, OLB Shawne Merriman said.
But Im sure he was even more disappointed those things would be said about somebody that works his tail off.
Its a clich, the old line about nobody
works harder than (fill in the blank). But in
Tomlinsons case, it rings true. Thats why
critics pondering the thought of him begging
off playing against the Patriots is as preposterous as a $2 gallon of gas.
It was disappointing, but critics are going
to be critics, and thats just all part of it,
Tomlinson said. You cant expect everybody to be on your side. It dont matter how
much youve done or what youve done.
Theres always somebody thats looking to
criticize you.
Rivers knew, to a degree, what Tomlinson
was experiencing. During the Chargers run
to their third AFC West title in four years and
RUMBLE
offseason reads a hole and accelerates to
the right. He has another football stuck in his
midsection by Rivers and eyes an opening to
the left.
The great Tomlinson is again gliding
around the Chargers Park practice field during a recent minicamp, but people are curi-
He expects to be a full-go for Julys training camp as the Chargers set out again to
earn that evasive trip back to the Super
Bowl.
But thoughts, too, return to New England,
where the Chargers most recent chance of
reaching the big game was wiped away by
Im sure he was pretty pissed off he couldnt play. But Im sure he was even more
disappointed those things would be said about somebody that works his tail off.
CHARGERS OLB SHAWNE MERRIMAN ON THE HEAT LaDAINIAN TOMLINSON
RECEIVED FOLLOWING SAN DIEGOS PLAYOFF LOSS TO THE PATRIOTS
10
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JUNE 2008
Arm and
hammer
Talented QB Matt Ryan
has become the new face
of the troubled Falcons
franchise, but dont let his
pleasant demeanor fool you
he means business
By
ERIC EDHOLM
SENIOR EDITOR
On the spot: Top draft pick Matt Ryan carries the burden of washing away the Michael Vick saga
JUNE 2008
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11
Self-aware
Charged with turning around a flagging
offense, Ravens QB Joe Flacco knows
learning on the job wont be easy
By
MIKE WILKENING
BALTIMORE RAVENS
SENIOR EDITOR
12
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JUNE 2008
Best
feet
forward
MARK LYONS / GETTY IMAGES
Even if Chad Johnson hadnt spent the offseason trying to talk his way out of Cincinnati, the Bengals were likely to address the
If you want
ANALYSIS
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provides analysis for every aspect of the NFL,
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13
Avery watching,
learning from Holt
PREVIEW 2008
FANTASY FOOTBALL GUIDE 2008
COMING
THIS
SUMMER
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Keeping
tabs
M
Buffalo Bills
Miami Dolphins
2008 OFFSEASON
14
Paying Bills: Rookie CB-RS Leodis McKelvin will get thrown right into the mix with plucky Buffalo
Baltimore Ravens
Mission accomplished: The Ravens fired
head coach Brian Billick after the team fell
apart in the second half of the 07 season.
Cincinnati Bengals
Mission accomplished: The Bengals lost
OLG Alan Faneca one of the best players at his position in the NFL to the Jets.
The effect on the offensive line could be
tremendous. Considering the way Roethlisberger was forced to flee collapsing
pockets last season, this is not a positive
development. Another position group to
watch: the play of the defensive line, which
is not especially deep (and the depth was
not addressed via the draft). Advancing age
is a concern with this group.
Cleveland Browns
Houston Texans
Indianapolis Colts
Mission accomplished: The two biggest
moves were delivered before the season
came to an end, as the Colts locked down S
Bob Sanders and TE Dallas Clark to longterm extensions that will keep them in Indianapolis for what the teams hopes is their
entire careers. OG Ryan Lilja, one of the
rocks on one of the leagues most consistent lines, also re-upped.
Unfinished business: Although they
accomplished everything they were hellbent on accomplishing, the Colts inability
to add a pass-rushing threat to a D-line that
failed to generate a pass rush after DEs
Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis were
injured in 07 is troubling. A year ago, it
would have been incredulous to suggest the
the Colts wideouts could be a source of
concern, but the injury concerns of Marvin
Harrison leave the team with no proven
third receiver to pair with Reggie Wayne
and Anthony Gonzalez.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Mission accomplished: The Steelers
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15
is hazy at best.
Tennessee Titans
Mission accomplished: The Titans tried
to address their struggling offense with a
series of moves. Head coach Jeff Fisher
fired offensive coordinator Norm Chow,
replacing him with Mike Heimerdinger,
who oversaw the potent Titans offenses in
Steve McNairs heyday. The Titans signed
TE Alge Crumpler and WR Justin
McCareins to give QB Vince Young more
capable targets and drafted speedy RB
Chris Johnson to give a somewhat-plodding attack more life.
Unfinished business: The capable DLE
tandem of Antwan Odom and Travis
LaBoy departed in free agency. Jevon
Kearse, back from a disappointing stint in
Philadelphia, will be asked to pick up some
of the slack, as will Bryce Fisher and rookie William Hayes. The Titans will be working in new starters at both guard spots after
OLG Jacob Bell signed with St. Louis and
ORG Benji Olson retired, so the continuity
of the O-line could be a work in progress
early.
Denver Broncos
Mission accomplished: The Broncos
scaled back on doling out big deals to marquee free agents, as they had done in past
offseasons, and chose instead to sign a crop
of veterans to fill or compete for starting
jobs. Niko Koutouvides and Boss Bailey
will take over at middle and strong-side
linebacker, respectively, and Darrell Jack-
Jacksonville Jaguars
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2008 OFFSEASON
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JUNE 2008
Oakland Raiders
Mission accomplished: Raiders owner
Dallas Cowboys
Mission accomplished: The team
addressed depth issues at running back and
cornerback, and now those stand as potential strengths if everything holds up. The
long-term deals given to RB Marion Barber and CB Terence Newman not only help
clear up salary-cap space for this season,
but because owner Jerry Jones got the deals
done before the owners opted out of the
CBA, the team sidestepped some tricky
accounting had it waited. First-rounders
RB Felix Jones and CB Mike Jenkins also
stand to help immediately, at least on special teams, and if CB Pacman Jones is reinstated, he has major potential.
Unfinished business: Theres concern
with the safety depth, especially with franchise FS Ken Hamlin likely to be playing on
Chicago Bears
JAMES D. SMITH
2008 OFFSEASON
16
Philadelphia Eagles
Mission accomplished: The Eagles
upgraded their pass rush with free-agent
DE Chris Clemons, even if hes a part-time
player. The special-teams units should be
far better with the addition of several good
coverage guys, plus electric rookie RS
DeSean Jackson. But the biggest addition
was CB Asante Samuel, who should help
improve on the Eagles paltry 19 takeaways from a year ago.
Unfinished business: Despite all their
flirting with big-name receivers this offseason, including inquiries about Randy
Moss, Chad Johnson, Roy Williams and
Larry Fitzgerald, the Eagles added only
one wideout Jackson, a second-rounder,
who has speed but might be too small to
play anywhere but the slot. And the lingering saga with CB Lito Sheppard and his
desire to be traded might not have any new
developments, which would carry into
training camp as one of the top stories to
follow in Bethlehem, Pa.
Washington Redskins
Mission accomplished: The team found
Detroit Lions
Mission accomplished: This biggest
move this offseason was the firing of offensive coordinator Mike Martz in favor of
Jim Collettos more balanced philosophy.
The plan is to run the ball more frequently
and consistently, and the team has adopted
a zone blocking scheme. The secondary
should have more clarity, too, with the
additions of CBs Leigh Bodden and Brian
Kelly and safeties Dwight Smith and
Kalvin Pearson, plus the expected healthy
return of FS Daniel Bullocks.
Unfinished business: Despite the commitment to running the ball more than last
seasons 32nd-ranked unit, the team still
must settle on a marching order there.
Rookie Kevin Smith is the sentimental
favorite to win the job over incumbent
Tatum Bell, but dont count out Aveion
Cason, Brian Calhoun or Artose Pinner.
There also is a DL rotation to figure out.
There are spots up for grabs at left end
(Jared DeVries vs. Ikaika Alama-Francis)
and at tackle.
Minnesota Vikings
Mission accomplished: The Jared Allen
trade could turn out to be one of the coups
of the NFL offseason, but the Vikings
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17
Carolina Panthers
Mission accomplished: The Panthers
Atlanta Falcons
Mission
accomplished:
Atlanta
addressed its biggest need finding
Michael Vicks replacement selecting
QB Matt Ryan with the third overall pick
in the draft. The Falcons have already
signed Ryan to a six-year, $72 million contract to make sure he wont miss any camp
time because of a holdout. RB Michael
Turner, the top free-agent running back
available this offseason, was signed to add
some power to the backfield, and he should
remove pressure from Ryan once hes
granted the starting job, which could be as
early as Week One.
Unfinished business: It was a major surprise that the Falcons didnt spend a single
pick on a defensive tackle during the draft.
They have some depth at the position but
2008 OFFSEASON
JUNE 2008
Arizona Cardinals
Mission accomplished: A lack of depth
was a major factor behind the teams
defensive meltdown late last season. With
that in mind, the Cardinals made that their
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JUNE 2008
need for major change following a disastrous 2007 campaign, beleaguered head
coach Scott Linehan added six new coaches to his staff, led by offensive coordinator
Al Saunders, who has created a positive
buzz with his ties to the Greatest Show on
Turf era when he coached under Mike
Martz. Energetic new executive V.P. of
player personnel Billy Devaney has also
helped to lighten Linehans load. First-
KKR GROUP
2008 OFFSEASON
18
Serious business: QB Jeff Garcia is not the only Buc who is unhappy with his current contract
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league-low 219 points last season, the Niners reached out to Mike Martz to become
the teams fourth offensive coordinator in
the past four seasons. Considering Martzs
well-earned reputation for assembling lively, freewheeling, pass-heavy offenses, at
least the Niners wont be as dreadfully boring as they were in 07. The team also
appeared to add a host of useful parts via
free agency, most notably DE Justin Smith
and WRs Isaac Bruce and Bryant Johnson,
who could blossom in a starting role after
being stuck behind Larry Fitzgerald and
Anquan Boldin in Arizona.
Unfinished business: What promises to
be a most intriguing starting QB competition involving former first-round pick Alex
Smith, Shaun Hill and newcomer T.J.
OSullivan is just beginning to materialize.
Although players such as Bruce, Johnson
and RB DeShaun Foster must certainly be
considered serviceable, it seems like the
Niners did surprisingly little, especially via
Seattle Seahawks
Mission accomplished: The Seahawks
JUNE 2008
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DAN PARR
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
JAMES D. SMITH
19
WR Randy Moss
DE Jared Allen
DT Albert Haynesworth
DE-OLB Terrell Suggs
CB Asante Samuel
CB Nnamdi Asomugha
CB Marcus Trufant
OG Alan Faneca
RB Marion Barber
LB Lance Briggs
RB Michael Turner
DE Justin Smith
LB Karlos Dansby
OT Jordan Gross
DE Antwan Odom
OT Flozell Adams
OT Stacy Andrews
LB Calvin Pace
OG Jason Brown
S O.J. Atogwe
DT Corey Williams
DE Chris Canty
S Ken Hamlin
OL Damien Woody
TE L.J. Smith
PK Josh Brown
WR Dont Stallworth
QB Derek Anderson
S Madieu Williams
WR D.J. Hackett
S Gibril Wilson
P Dustin Colquitt
RB Julius Jones
LB Landon Johnson
PK Rob Bironas
WR Bernard Berrian
WR Javon Walker
DE Travis LaBoy
TE Alge Crumpler
OG Jacob Bell
C Jeff Faine
CB Drayton Florence
WR Andr Davis
DL Tommy Kelly
OG Jake Scott
DE Bobby McCray
DT Jovan Haye
OT David Stewart
LB Michael Boley
WR Jerry Porter
LB Kawika Mitchell
WR Bryant Johnson
S Yeremiah Bell
OG Justin Smiley
LB Demorrio Williams
DT Rod Coleman
S Eugene Wilson
DE Marques Douglas
LB Reggie Torbor
QB Josh McCown
RB DeShaun Foster
PK Jason Elam
OG Maurice Williams
FB Leonard Weaver
CB Domonique Foxworth
LB Tedy Bruschi
DE Kevin Carter
RB Derrick Ward
DE Jevon Kearse
LB Clark Haggans
OT Max Starks
RB Chris Brown
LB Victor Hobson
DE Antonio Smith
DT Darwin Walker
WR David Patten
OG Larry Allen
S Dwight Smith
LB Boss Bailey
S Will Demps
WR Justin Gage
S Chris Crocker
WR Devery Henderson
LB Danny Clark
QB Todd Collins
S Marlon McCree
WR Ernest Wilford
WR Isaac Bruce
WR Nate Washington
LB Dan Morgan
CB Eric Green
RB Ron Dayne
RB T.J. Duckett
WR Darrell Jackson
WR Marty Booker
ST Brendon Ayanbadejo
S C.C. Brown
FB Tony Richardson
RB Tatum Bell
RB Aaron Stecker
2007 TEAM
Patriots
Chiefs
Titans
Ravens
Patriots
Raiders
Seahawks
Steelers
Cowboys
Bears
Chargers
Bengals
Cardinals
Panthers
Titans
Cowboys
Bengals
Cardinals
Ravens
Rams
Packers
Cowboys
Cowboys
Lions
Eagles
Seahawks
Patriots
Browns
Bengals
Seahawks
Giants
Chiefs
Cowboys
Bengals
Titans
Bears
Broncos
Titans
Falcons
Titans
Saints
Chargers
Texans
Raiders
Colts
Jaguars
Bucs
Titans
Falcons
Raiders
Giants
Cardinals
Dolphins
49ers
Falcons
Falcons
Patriots
49ers
Giants
Raiders
Panthers
Broncos
Jaguars
Seahawks
Broncos
Patriots
Bucs
Giants
Eagles
Steelers
Steelers
Titans
Jets
Cardinals
Bears
Saints
49ers
Vikings
Lions
Texans
Titans
Falcons
Saints
Texans
Redskins
Chargers
Jaguars
Rams
Steelers
Panthers
Cardinals
Texans
Lions
49ers
Dolphins
Bears
Texans
Vikings
Lions
Saints
2006 TEAM
COMMENTS
Patriots
Vikings
Eagles
Seahawks
Jets
Cowboys
Bears
Falcons
49ers
Cardinals
Panthers
Bengals
Cowboys
Bengals
Jets
Ravens
Rams
Browns
Jets
Eagles
Rams
Browns
Browns
Vikings
Panthers
Raiders
Chiefs
Seahawks
Panthers
Titans
Vikings
Raiders
Cardinals
Titans
Rams
Bucs
Jaguars
Texans
Raiders
Titans
Saints
Bucs
Titans
Falcons
Jaguars
Bills
49ers
Dolphins
Dolphins
Chiefs
Bucs
Bucs
Dolphins
Dolphins
49ers
Falcons
Jaguars
Seahawks
Broncos
Patriots
Bucs
Giants
Titans
Cardinals
Steelers
Texans
Patriots
Cardinals
Panthers
Saints
Lions
Broncos
Texans
Titans
Dolphins
Saints
Giants
Redskins
Broncos
Dolphins
49ers
Steelers
Retired
Cardinals
2 yrs. / $5 mil.
5 yrs. / $17.5 mil. / $4.3 mil. SB
2 yrs. / $4.75 mil.
4 yrs. / $14 mil.
1 yr. / $1.15 mil. / $300,000
1 yr. / $2 mil.
2 yrs. / $4 mil.
3 yrs. / $9 mil.
1 yr. / $2 mil. / $500,000 SB
4 yrs. / $13 mil. / $6 mil. SB
2 yrs. / $6 mil.
1 yr. tender / $1.417 mil.
1 yr. / $1.48 mil.
1 yr. tender / $2.017 mil.
Seahawks
Broncos
Bears
Ravens
Texans
Jets
Lions
Saints
20
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JUNE 2008
Back
to the
bargaining table
CHIP SOMODEVILLA / GETTY IMAGES
By
MIKE WILKENING
SENIOR EDITOR
ver since they voted 30-2 to extend the Collective Bargaining Agreement in March 2006
just beating an NFL Players Associationimposed deadline and keeping a salary cap in
place for several more years but giving players a larger share of revenues NFL owners have wanted nothing more than to reopen
negotiations with the NFL Players Association on the next CBA.
How badly the owners want out of the current agreement
was laid bare on May 20, when they unanimously voted to
terminate the final two years of CBA, making 2010 the final
league year covered by the agreement and 2009 the final
league year in which a salary cap will be in place.
For all intents and purposes, the beginning of the uncapped
2010 league year has become a deadline of sorts for both
sides the point of no return, as NFLPA executive director Gene Upshaw called it. NFL owners, who hastily ratified
the current agreement two years ago as the prospect of an
uncapped year in 2007 loomed, would prefer keeping a cap,
while Upshaw has repeatedly said an uncapped year would
make it impossible for him to sell his membership on a cap
ever again.
Under the current CBA, players will receive 59.5 percent
OWNERS, PLAYERS
HAVE MANY ISSUES
TO OVERCOME
IN NEXT SET OF
CBA NEGOTIATIONS
of total revenue in the next two years. The owners, who will
spend almost $4.5 billion on player costs this year and will
almost certainly spend more in 09, when the salary cap
reaches $123 million, are seeking relief.
A Collective Bargaining Agreement has to work for both
sides, the NFL said in a statement, upon the owners decision to shorten the CBA. If the agreement provides inadequate incentives to invest in the future, it will not work for
management or labor. And, in the context of a professional
sports league, if the agreement does not afford all clubs an
JUNE 2008
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21
QUIET DISSENT:
Players, owners are taking measured approach to deal with labor strife
he NFL owners are now weeks
removed from their move to opt out
of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, the same one they almost
rubber-stamped a little more than two
years earlier. And the feeling is the same:
Were not terribly close to a solution that
would ensure financial harmony, and
everything could break open with a
salary-cap-free year in 2010.
Although keeping peace is less important in most right-minded peoples agendas, it does play into what are likely to be
some sticky negotiations between the
sensitive players union and the suddenly
challenged owners group, which now realized it got a bit bilked with the previous
deal. Overseeing it all is commissioner
Roger Goodell, who knows his tenure still
can be counted in months and must shepherd this thing through to a safe place.
The roles of the two sides will remain
familiar. The feisty players, far less a
power than their baseball counterparts,
will try to keep a foot wedged in the door
that they opened wide in 2006; the owners will try to impart their hegemonistic
will, using the argument that with rising
salaries, stadium costs and franchise
debt, too much of the money is allocated
to the players.
To extend the king-and-court metaphor,
the owners claim now that the players are
incurring none of the burden of building
the environment in which they flourish,
duct policy in place, the owners are likely to push for the
right to recoup bonuses paid to players whom are judged to
have violated their contracts.
Upshaws future with the NFLPA Upshaws contract
runs until he reaches age 65 in August 2010, but he has
vowed to stay on as the NFLPAs leader until this latest round
of labor talks ends. In April, Ravens PK Matt Stover attempted to start the process of finding Upshaws replacement by
March 2009, but Stover quickly backed off.
I think the players will stay together right now, a league
source recently told PFW. It sends a big message to players
when its 32 to zero. What the owners are basically saying is,
We are ready for a fight. The players message needs to be,
ERIC EDHOLM
MIKE WILKENING
22
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JUNE 2008
JERRY MAGEE
BARRY JACKSON
RADIO-TV
JUNE 2008
FA N TA S Y FOOTBALL
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23
Feature
BLUNDA
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Broken record: Can Tom Brady (left) and Randy Moss possibly top their eye-popping 07 campaigns?
24
THE
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GREAT
JUNE 2008
DEBATE
DAN PARR
NO
By
MATT SOHN
mount importance. Its just that upholding the games integrity shouldnt extend
any further than efforts to ensure fair and
honest competition. Hence, the leagues
steroids and related substances policy is
an absolute necessity. In fact, this is one
area where the punishment a fourgame suspension for the first violation
is too lax.
Theres little contention that illegal
performance enhancers such as anabolic
steroids and human growth hormone give
their users an unfair advantage, but
theres even less contention that the only
thing marijuana enhances is stomach
capacity at the team buffet table. So
unless new information comes out that
EPO was a staple of Michael Irvin and
Co.s pill-popping regimen, those partyhardy Cowboys deserve their untainted
legacy. (Ironically, EPO wasnt even
banned by the NFL until 2007.)
Until Goodell begins signing the paychecks, the individual teams should be
the only entities even allowed to take
penal action for players conduct.
Of course, the underlying issue is that
theres no rationality for teams or the
league to do so. Goodells belief that
players deviant behavior away from the
field is detrimental to the league as a
whole is simply illogical, unsubstantiated
rhetoric.
It shouldnt be the NFLs mission to be
a paradigm of moral purity. Its a business, and as is the case with any business,
generating revenue is agenda No. 1. In
the NFL, revenue is directly linked to the
publics interest, and public interest is
directly related to the product on the
field. Few Bengals fans have renounced
their allegiance to the team because
numerous players rap sheets are longer
than their stat sheets, but a great majority
have lost much of their enthusiasm
because of the teams on-field struggles,
struggles that at least partially can be
pinned on the suspensions of Thurman
and Chris Henry.
I firmly believe that when Goodell
intensified the leagues conduct policies,
his heart was in the right place. Unfortunately, his head wasnt.
WWHI
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5
practices thus far, which is a big
departure from where he left off at
the end of last season. Russells
development as a rookie was crippled by a lengthy contract holdout
that lasted into the regular season.
He is primed to enter the 08 campaign under a vastly improved set
of circumstances that are more
conducive to winning. There were
widespread reports that Russell
had gained weight in the offseason
to the point where he was teetering on 300 pounds. Those stories
seem hard to believe, we hear,
considering how well Russell has
been moving around in workouts.
Plus, he recently told reporters he
weighs 269 pounds and would like
to drop five before the season.
DENVER BRONCOS
While RB Travis Henrys hamstring injury lingers longer than
N F C lE A S T
DE James a speculative
pickup for Redskins
There are many who questioned
the wisdom of trading a seventhround pick to the Vikings for
banged-up DE Erasmus James,
but there is some sense to the
deal. The choice is dependent on
James making the team, and if he
does that, theres a good chance
his value will be greater than that
of a seventh-round pick.
When healthy, James could
rediscover his pass-rushing
skill, which he has not
shown to date in the NFL
as he did in college. Hes
reunited with Redskins DL coach
John Palermo, who coached
James at Wisconsin, and Palermo
is a noted teacher who is wellrespected. James joins a DE rotation that includes Phillip Daniels,
Andre Carter, Demetric Evans,
Chris Wilson and Alex Buzbee
Rob Jackson, Tommy Davis and
Kevin Huntley are considered
long shots to make the team
one that likely will land five players
on the 53-man roster. Daniels and
Carter are sure bets, and Evans is
considered a valuable reserve;
James likely would have to beat
out either Wilson or Buzbee, two
speed rushers who opened eyes
last season, to earn a roster spot.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
There was a bit of a draft-weekend buzz that the Eagles selection
of three offensive linemen, all of
whom played tackle in college,
was a statement about what the
team thought of its OL depth,
namely with OT Winston Justice,
who has shown little of the
promise he held as a 2006
second-round pick. But
Eagles sources say they
are far from ready to cut
their losses with Justice,
who has spent the offseason getting bigger and stronger. Justice
does need to strengthen mentally,
too, but he said recently during the
teams OTAs that head coach
Andy Reid never challenged his
toughness or anything like that.
Instead, Reid prescribed more
time in the weight room for his
player. To be fair, Justice has
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25
Worth a flier: The Redskins hope Erasmus James can bolster pass rush
DALLAS COWBOYS
Much has been made of SS
Roy Williams absence from organized team activities, plus his
admission that he wasnt entirely
comfortable in last seasons defensive scheme, but there also has
been a little bit of dismay by the
staff that FS Ken Hamlin has
missed the same workouts
as a minor protest to his
one-year franchise tender
and the lack of a long-term
deal. That said, the expectations are that Hamlin and
Williams will show up without issue
when the workouts no longer are
voluntary. In the meantime, the
Cowboys have temporarily promoted Patrick Watkins and Courtney
Brown to the starting lineup, and
the pair have looked relatively
comfortable running the defensive
schemes in shorts and helmets.
Theres less concern about thirdyear man Watkins, obviously, who
was thrown into the fire and started nine games as a rookie, than
there is over Brown, who moved
from cornerback last season.
Spies say Brown clearly has the
ball skills for the position but has a
long way to go before hes ready to
contribute in a major way.
N F C lN O R T H
Frazier becomes
man in spotlight
on Vikings defense
If the Vikings are going to make
the jump into the upper echelon of
teams in the NFC, the formula
appears clear: Theyll be doing it
with a stout running game and with
defense. A similar approach provided some impressive statistics
last season the team was first
SPORTPICS
JUNE 2008
DETROIT LIONS
WR Calvin Johnson was shy
with the media as a rookie, but he
also was a bit overwhelmed by a
voluminous playbook and hindered
by an early back injury that never
really went away. And Johnson
admitted recently that he was
unprepared to deal with the sheer
length of the NFL season,
which grinds away with little
offseason in the summer all
the way through January.
But many feel that the second-year receiver is in a
good position to break out after
what Johnson termed as a just
OK rookie season in which he
caught 48 passes, averaged 15.8
yards and caught four TD passes.
They say his demeanor in practice
is more professional and focused,
there appear to be no ill effects
from the back injury and that he
will be featured prominently in the
new design of the offense. In Mike
Martzs system, Johnson and Roy
Williams often were doubleteamed or bracketed by safeties,
forcing QB Jon Kitna to throw
underneath to slot WRs Shaun
CONTINUED ON PAGE 26
26
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JEFF FISHBEIN
N F C lS O U T H
Mularkey getting
feel for new Falcons
cornerstone Ryan
WWHI
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25
McDonald and Mike Furrey. However, the strong emphasis on the
run game in the new scheme
should open things up outside,
assuming opponents respect the
run game with a safety playing
down in the box sometimes.
CHICAGO BEARS
Although Brian Urlachers contract differences with the Bears
were thrust more into the limelight
because of his decision to stay
away from organized team activities, we continue to hear
that teammate Tommie
Harris contract stalemate is
considered more of a priority at present. In both cases,
though, nothing noteworthy
seemed imminent on the contract
front heading into June. On Thursday, May 29, however, Urlacher
abruptly changed his stance about
Matt Ryan underwent an extensive check of his personality, background and athletic ability before
the draft, but the evaluation
process in Atlanta is just beginning. Ryan, the Falcons new face
of the franchise, will have at least
one set of eyes on him during all team activities. I
watch (Ryans) huddle presence, I watch what he
does, Falcons offensive
coordinator Mike Mularkey
told PFW this week. We as a staff
constantly are evaluating everybody, so I look at: Is he the first
one in the classroom? Is he the
first one in the weight room? Who
does he hang with? I am constantly watching him. Mularkey said the
team is throwing the whole ball of
wax at Ryan during the ongoing
offseason practices so that he can
begin the process of tailoring the
offense to the rookie sometime
down the road.
CAROLINA PANTHERS
Panthers QB Jake Delhomme
accomplished a small but significant feat in his ongoing rehabilitation from Tommy John surgery this
week at the teams offseason workouts. Delhomme
threw about 40 passes to
receivers, which was more
than he had thrown at a
Carolina minicamp earlier in
May, and he told reporters that his
arm felt fine, although he admitted
to being a bit rusty mentally. The
ninth-year veteran was knocked
out three games into the 07 season when he injured his right
elbow, and the Panthers offense
was not the same without him. Its
no secret that the teams ability to
bounce back from a disappointing
7-9 campaign still rests on Delhommes repaired right elbow. Carolina didnt acquire an experienced
veteran to back him up and is
counting on Matt Moore, who
made three starts as an undrafted
rookie at the end of last season, to
step in if Delhomme were to suffer
another serious injury.
JUNE 2008
N F C lW E S T
Haley will have
more control over
Cardinals offense
Our sources in the desert were
hardly surprised by head coach
Ken Whisenhunts recent disclosure that he planned on offensive
coordinator and close friend Todd
Haley handling most of the Cardinals offensive play-calling for the
2008 season. Its been common
knowledge since the day Haley
they always come back. Ted Thompson and John Dorsey left but came
back. John Schneider was never
gone for too long. There has not been
a lot of turnover there. Most of their
staff has been in place since Ron Wolf
brought them in.
I thought (Redskins head coach)
Jim Zorn would at least have two
years in Washington, but the Bill
Cowher watch is on. Hes been out of
coaching for two years. I would think
he would be ready to coach again.
Whats going to be interesting
this year is seeing what kind of effects
a defensive headset is going to have
on the game. All the offensive coaches
have been stealing signals for the past
10 years, especially in the West Coast
offense. Offenses gained a big advantage with the no-chuck rule. I think
youll see a shift of power back in favor
of defenses this year. It will level the
playing field.
(Eagles GM) Tom Heckert
came real close to losing his job in
Philadelphia. I dont know how he kept
it. He has done a very average job. He
was the front-runner for the GM job in
Atlanta, but he interviewed so poorly
that (Falcons brass) had no choice but
A U D I B L E S
Brian Urlacher
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Despite the fact hes currently
rehabilitating from minor surgery
on his right knee in early May, we
hear the Seahawks ORG job is
Rob Sims to lose. Sims, who
struggled more often than not as
the teams starting left
guard last season, wasnt
initially too keen about
switching to the right side
from the left side, which will
now be occupied by 11thyear vet Mike Wahle. But we hear
it didnt take long at all for new
Seahawks O-line coach Mike
Solari to get the third-year vet
fired up about his change of
scenery. Solari likes mobile guys
who can pull and cut off linebackers, and Sims can do that kind of
thing very well, a team source told
PFW. His problem has mostly
been his recognition skills. Sims
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27
SPORTPICS
JUNE 2008
MARK ANDERSON
ARENA
FOOTBALL
28
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JUNE 2008
C F L P R E V I E W:
RICK MATSUMOTO
TORONTO ARGONAUTS
2008
PREDICTIONS
GREY CUP WINNER:
Winnipeg
Blue Bombers
RUNNER-UP:
B.C. Lions
MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER:
Joe Smith
B.C. LIONS
COMEBACK PLAYER:
Anthony Calvillo
MONTREAL ALOUETTES
EAST DIVISION
No. 1 QB Kevin Glenn rather than seldomused backup Ryan Dinwiddie. Glenn
watched from the sideline after breaking
his left arm in the East Division final
against Toronto, and Winnipeg fell to
Saskatchewan.
The Bombers hopes of a return to the
championship game in 08 got a huge lift
when GM Brendan Taman managed to resign DE Tom Canada and all-star OT Dan
Goodspeed just hours before they were
eligible to become free agents. Then
Taman re-signed OL Matthew Sheridan a
few days later.
HAMILTON TIGER-CATS
New general manager Bob OBillovich,
who once held a similar post with Toronto,
attempted to fill one of coach Charlie
Taaffes most glaring needs, the defensive
secondary, by re-signing Lawrence Gordon, Jykine Bradley and Sandy Beveridge
and adding Chris Thompson from Edmonton. However, Thompson arrived at the
expense of receiver Brock Ralph, who
requested a return to Edmonton after his
daughter was diagnosed with autism.
OBillovich also signed WR Tony Miles
after Toronto decided not to offer him a
new contract. However, the receiving corps
took a hit when the Ticats released Jason
Armstead. Former B.C. Lions pivot Casey
JUNE 2008
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29
Printers, the CFLs Most Outstanding Player in 2004 with B.C., begins his first full
season as the starting quarterback after
signing with Hamilton in the middle of last
season.
The defense will revolve around
dynamic MLB Zeke Moreno, who was one
of the top finds anywhere in the league
last year.
The Ticats are hoping they have found
another Rob Hitchcock in DB Dylan Barker, who was the first overall pick in the
Canadian college draft out of the University of Saskatchewan. The hard-hitting
Hitchcock retired last year.
SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS
WEST DIVISION
B.C. LIONS
The main offseason move for Lions general manager/head coach Wally Buono
was releasing veteran QB Dave Dickenson, who missed much of last season with
his third concussion in two years.
Having made that decision, Buono then
re-signed potential free agent Jarious
Jackson, who had vaulted from thirdstringer to starter after No. 2 pivot Buck
Pierce also went down with a shoulder
injury. Jackson led the Lions to a first-place
division finish, but the team faltered in the
West final, losing to Saskatchewan. Jackson and Pierce will battle it out for the
starters role.
Buonos second major task was to get
RB Joe Smiths signature on a new longterm pact. That came after Smith, who won
the rushing title with 1,510 yards, tested
the NFL waters.
Geroy Simon, whose 1,293 yards on
72 catches made him the leagues receiving leader, heads the CFLs top passcatching corps, which also includes
Jason Clermont (1,158 receiving yards
last season) and Paris Jackson (962
receiving yards).
KYLE CLAPHAM
MONTREAL ALOUETTES
CALGARY STAMPEDERS
Theres hope in Calgary that new coach
John Hufnagel, a one-time Stampeder
quarterback, can develop the enigmatic
Henry Burris into a more consistent passer.
Much was expected of Burris when the
Stamps
lured
him
away
from
Saskatchewan after the 2004 season, but
he hasnt been able to get them beyond
the first round of the playoffs.
Besides Hufnagels experience at that
position, Burris also will receive tutoring,
as well as competition for his job, from
Dave Dickenson, who was signed after he
was let go by the Lions. Dickenson
received medical clearance to resume
playing but likely will see action only if Burris falters.
While the Calgary offense was inconsistent last season, it was potent when all
cylinders were running in unison leading the league in most offensive categories. The defense was another matter. It
was the leagues most porous, giving up a
league-high 53 touchdowns and 516
points. The addition of veteran LB JoJuan
Armour should help matters.
EDMONTON ESKIMOS
The heat is on head coach/general manager Danny Maciocia not to miss the playoffs for a third consecutive year.
With that clearly in mind, Maciocia was
active in the offseason. He cut three veterans WR Trevor Gaylor, RS Tony Tompkins and DT Charles Alston and traded
RB Tyler Ebell and WR A.J. Acree to Toronto for CB Jordan Younger.
He also picked up DE Fred Perry
(Saskatchewan), OT Garrick Jones (Calgary), DB Tay Cody (Hamilton), WR Brock
Ralph (Hamilton), DT Dario Romero (Montreal) and QB Jason Maas (Hamilton).
Despite the Eskies struggles, Ricky Ray
still is considered to be the leagues best
Week Two
Thursday, July 3
Hamilton at Toronto, 7 p.m.
Calgary at Edmonton, 10 p.m.
Friday, July 4
Winnipeg at Montreal, 7 p.m.
Saskatchewan at B.C., 10 p.m.
Week Three
Thursday, July 10
Calgary at Montreal, 7 p.m.
Toronto at Edmonton, 10 p.m.
Friday, July 11
B.C. at Winnipeg, 8 p.m.
Saturday, July 12
Saskatchewan at Hamilton, 4 p.m.
Week Four
Thursday, July 17
Hamilton at Calgary, 9 p.m.
Friday, July 18
Winnipeg at B.C., 10 p.m.
Saturday, July 19
Montreal at Saskatchewan, 7 p.m.
Sunday, July 20
Edmonton at Toronto, 4 p.m.
Week Five
Thursday, July 24
Calgary at Winnipeg, 8 p.m.
Friday, July 25
Edmonton at Hamilton, 7 p.m.
Montreal at B.C., 10 p.m.
Sunday, July 27
Toronto at Saskatchewan, 7 p.m.
Week Six
Thursday, July 31
Hamilton at Montreal, 7 p.m.
B.C. at Edmonton, 10 p.m.
Friday, August 1
Winnipeg at Toronto, 7 p.m.
Saturday, August 2
Saskatchewan at Calgary, 8 p.m.
Week Seven
Thursday, August 7
Toronto at Hamilton, 7 p.m.
Week Eight
Thursday, August 14
Hamilton at Winnipeg, 8 p.m.
Friday, August 15
Montreal at Toronto, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, September 28
Saskatchewan at Montreal, 1 p.m.
Week 15
Friday, October 3
B.C. at Toronto, 7 p.m.
Calgary at Saskatchewan, 10 p.m.
Saturday, October 4
Montreal at Hamilton, 1 p.m.
Winnipeg at Edmonton, 4:30 p.m.
Week 16
Week Nine
Thursday, August 21
Saskatchewan at Edmonton, 9 p.m.
Friday, August 22
Calgary at B.C., 10:30 p.m.
Week 10
Friday, August 29
B.C. at Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, August 31
Winnipeg at Saskatchewan, 3 p.m.
Monday, September 1
Edmonton at Calgary, 4 p.m.
Toronto at Hamilton, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, October 10
Toronto at Winnipeg, 7:30 p.m.
Edmonton at B.C., 10:30 p.m.
Monday, October 13
Hamilton at Montreal, 1:30 p.m.
Saskatchewan at Calgary, 4:30 p.m.
Week 17
Friday, October 17
B.C. at Edmonton, 9 p.m.
Saturday, October 18
Montreal at Toronto, 3 p.m.
Winnipeg at Calgary, 6:30 p.m.
Sunday, October 19
Hamilton at Saskatchewan, 3 p.m.
Week 11
Week 18
Friday, September 5
Calgary at Edmonton, 9 p.m.
Saturday, September 6
B.C. at Hamilton, 4 p.m.
Sunday, September 7
Toronto at Montreal, 1 p.m.
Saskatchewan at Winnipeg, 4 p.m.
Friday, October 24
Calgary at Hamilton, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 25
Edmonton at Saskatchewan, 6:30 p.m.
Toronto at B.C., 10 p.m.
Sunday, October 26
Winnipeg at Montreal, 1 p.m.
Week 12
Week 19
Friday, September 12
Winnipeg at Toronto, 7 p.m.
Montreal at Calgary, 10 p.m.
Saturday, September 13
Hamilton at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
Saskatchewan at B.C., 10 p.m.
Thursday, October 30
Saskatchewan at Toronto, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, October 31
Montreal at Edmonton, 9 p.m.
Saturday, November 1
Hamilton at Winnipeg, 2 p.m.
BC at Calgary, 5 p.m.
Week 13
Divisional Semifinals
Friday, September 19
Winnipeg at Hamilton, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, September 20
Toronto at Calgary, 6:30 p.m.
B.C. at Saskatchewan, 9:30 p.m.
Sunday, September 21
Edmonton at Montreal, 1 p.m.
Sunday, November 9
TBD
Week 14
Friday, September 26
Edmonton at Winnipeg, 8 p.m.
Saturday, September 27
Calgary at Toronto, 7 p.m.
Hamilton at B.C., 10 p.m.
Divisional Finals
Sunday, November 16
TBD
East Final
TBD
West Final
TBD
30
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