Volume 8, #XX, 2012-07-20
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Hi Folks,
Good morning to you. Our thoughts and prayers this morning go out to the folks touched by the shooting in Colorado. We’ve promised to bring you the news and notes with this email so let’s get to that.
J
SITE NEWS
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1. TEN – WR Kenny Britt arrested for DUI
2. DAL – WR Dez Bryant could face suspension
3. SD – RB Jackie Battle agrees to terms
4. ATL – Peter Konz has chance to win starting job
5. PHI – Nick Foles could have chance at No. 2 QB job
6. ARI – Rob Housler will be given chance to be impact player
7. TB – Michael Smith looking for starting job
8. MIA – WRs hoping QB competition does not last long
9. BUF – Stevie Johnson looking to improve his yards after catch
10. DET – Riley Reiff may not be signed before camp
11. TB – No favorite in RB job
12. TB – Mark Barron agrees to terms
13. SD – DT Aubrayo Franklin agrees to terms
14. PHI – Thought CB Asante Samuel was in decline
15. DAL – Will resume talks with Morris Claiborne Monday
TEN – WR Kenny Britt arrested for DUI
Source: The Tennessean – Jim Wyatt
Tennessee Titans WR Kenny Britt was arrested and charged with DUI Friday, July 20.
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Britt avoided a suspension last year because his transgressions happened during the lockout. This is Britt’s eighth arrest since he became a pro in 2009. He won’t escape a suspension this time. Between his three offseason knee surgeries, a likely suspension, and the propensity to keep doing these kinds of things, Britt is looking like a WR3/WR4 pick in the 7th-10th round range at best.
DAL – WR Dez Bryant could face suspension
Source: ESPNDallas.com – Todd Archer
Dallas Cowboys WR Dez Bryant could face a one-game suspension for his arrest for misdemeanor family violence.
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Bryant has had enough off-field incidents now to get the wrong kind of attention from commissioner Roger Goodell. The Cowboys have no clear-cut number three receiver, so there might be an opening night starting job up for grabs this summer in Dallas. Bryant should not be taken earlier than the fourth round until this is resolved.
SD – RB Jackie Battle agrees to terms
Source: Chargers.com
The San Diego Chargers have agreed to terms with free-agent RB Jackie Battle (Chiefs) on a one-year deal. Financial terms were not disclosed.
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Battle joins Ronnie Brown and seventh-round pick Edwin Baker as offseason additions to the team’s running back corps. Only one of the three of them and 2011 third-stringer Curtis Brinkley is likely to make the team with fullback LeRon McClain also able to be a backup ball carrier.
ATL – Peter Konz has chance to win starting job
Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution – D. Orlando Ledbetter
Atlanta Falcons C Peter Konz is a serious candidate to win the starting right guard position during training camp.
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Right guard was a real sore spot on the offensive line for the Falcons last year. Konz could be an upgrade over Garrett Reynolds if free agent Vince Manuwai can’t regain his old form. The Falcons offensive line being settled and gelling might be the most important story of their training camp this year.
PHI – Nick Foles could have chance at No. 2 QB job
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer – Jeff McLane
Philadelphia Eagles QB Nick Foles will enter training camp as the No. 3 quarterback but is expected to be given the chance to compete with QB Mike Kafka for the No. 2 quarterback job.
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Kafka is probably the favorite with Foles having no experience in the NFL or in the Eagles system. If he can beat out Kafka, look for the 2010 fourth-round pick to get cut.
ARI – Rob Housler will be given chance to be impact player
Source: The Arizona Republic – Kent Somers
The Arizona Cardinals will give TE Rob Housler every opportunity to become a breakout player this season. He was a part of a lot of plays during offseason workouts because the coaching staff wanted to get him as much experience as possible.
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Housler has good speed and size, and he could benefit from the coverage that Larry Fitzgerald draws with regularity. He is a deep sleeper in redraft leagues, not worth selecting, but monitoring as a potential early season waiver wire pickup.
TB – Michael Smith looking for starting job
Source: The Tampa Tribune – Roy Cummings
Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB Michael Smith said he is going to training camp looking to win the starting running back job and make an immediate impact on offense.
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Smith is a speedy smaller back who could win a few change of pace touches. We like his competitive fire, but he won’t pass LeGarrette Blount or Doug Martin on the depth chart in training camp.
MIA – WRs hoping QB competition does not last long
Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel – Omar Kelly
Miami Dolphins WR Brian Hartline said the wide receivers are hoping the quarterback competition does not take too long because they need to build a chemistry with the starting quarterback. ‘You need situations where he throws a bad ball, but you bail him out. You need to gain confidence in that, and vice versa. You run a bad route, but he’s got your back. You want to start feeling that. You want to [have a chemistry] where he just throws the ball up and you begin to make plays for each other. That helps grow the chemistry and a bond,” Hartline said.
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Ryan Tannehill has already been put on the back burner. We expect the David Garrard vs. Matt Moore decision to be done before the third preseason game, but whoever the winner is won’t be worth drafting except in the deepest of leagues. The outcome also won’t change the marginal value of the Miami wide receiver corps.
BUF – Stevie Johnson looking to improve his yards after catch
Source: BuffaloBills.com – Chris Brown
Buffalo Bills WR Stevie Johnson said he worked this offseason on trying to improve his yard after catch stats. He recorded 342 yards after the catch last season but only averaged 4.5 yards after each catch. Johnson said he believes his groin injury affected his ability to create yards after the catch.
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Johnson was still productive through his injury, but there’s no doubt that he can be even better if he stays healthy this year. He is available outside of the top 20 receivers, showing the value at the position this year.
DET – Riley Reiff may not be signed before camp
Source: Detroit Free Press – Carlos Monarrez
The Detroit Lions are working on signing first-round draft choice OT Riley Reiff but there is a chance an agreement may not be reached until after the start of training camp. Reiff and his agent may be waiting for the Minnesota Vikings to sign OT Ryan Kalil before signing with the Lions.
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Reiff and other prospects in the early 20s of the first round are trying to get partial or full guarantees of the fourth year of their contract. No. 25 pick Dont’a Hightower got no such guarantee, so Reiff and no. 24 pick David DeCastro may have to give in on this point before they sign.
Source: PewterReport.com – Mark Cook
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Greg Schiano said neither RB LeGarrette Blount or RB Doug Martin are considered the favorite for the starting running back job. Schiano said the reps at running back will be given out in an appropriate manner.
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Martin is still the running back with the more well-rounded skillset and the bigger commitment from the coaching staff and organization. Their ADP should not be as far apart as it is, but that’s more because Blount’s is too low than it is about Martin’s being too high.
TB – Mark Barron agrees to terms
Source: NFL Network – Michael Lombardi
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have agreed to terms with first-round draft choice FS Mark Barron on a four-year deal worth $14.5 million.
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After Robert Griffin III signed, the rest of the early first-round picks and teams had no excuses left to drag their heels on getting contracts drawn up and signed. With training camps beginning next week, look for the rest of the top eight to fall into place very soon.
SD – DT Aubrayo Franklin agrees to terms
Source: KFFL.com
The San Diego Chargers have agreed to terms with free-agent DT Aubrayo Franklin (Saints) on a one-year deal. Financial terms were not disclosed.
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Franklin can take some quality snaps at nose tackle against the run in the Chargers 3-4 defense. He was a bust as a 4-3 defensive tackle in New Orleans last year.
PHI – Thought CB Asante Samuel was in decline
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer – Jeff McLane
The Philadelphia Eagles traded CB Asante Samuel this offseason because head coach Andy Reid thought Samuel’s play was on the decline and that he no longer fit the Eagles’ defensive scheme.
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The Eagles basically let the league know that they would trade Samuel for anything before Atlanta dealt for him, so this is not really a revelation.
DAL – Will resume talks with Morris Claiborne Monday
Source: DallasCowboys.com – Josh Ellis
The Dallas Cowboys will continue to negotiate with first-round draft choice CB Morris Claiborne Monday, July 23, in hopes of signing him before the start of training camp. The two sides still have to agree on the offset language in the contract.
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No. 7 pick Mark Barron signed today with no offset language, and No. 9 pick Luke Kuechly also has no offset language in his contract. This should get done soon with no offset language. Claiborne still hasn’t practiced with the team yet as he is recovering from wrist surgery.
That’ll do it for today, Folks. Thanks for reading and I hope you have a great weekend.
Peace,
J