Breaking NFL News, Rumors and Al's Inside Scoop on the NFL Draft and Free Agency
The latest Breaking Football Sports News (free-agent signings, trades, coaching changes etc.) will be posted in this section as they happen, along with the latest rumors and Al's Inside Scoop on the draft and free agency.
We will have all the Breaking free agent signings posted as the market opens at 12:01am est on Friday
Moss and the Patriots...Adam Schefter of the NFL Network is reporting that Randy Moss and the Patriots may already have a deal in place.
Quick Hits...The Titans have re-signed WR Justin Gage and released WR David Givens...the Colts released DT Anthony McFarland and ILB Rob Morris...the Saints have released K Olindo Mare and Tampa gave DE/DT Kevin Carter and DE Greg Spires their walking papers.
Quick Hits...The Lions signed former Vikings FS Dwight Smith...the Bills waived HB Anthony Thomas, LB Coy Wire, OG Aaron Merz and CB Jeremetrius Butler...the Browns have released DE Orpheus Roye.
Carr Released...The Carolina Panthers have released QB David Carr.
Muhammed Signs...Muhsin Muhammed has officially signed with the Carolina Panthers.
Jet Free Agent Targets...The New York Jets are reportedly targeting Steelers OG Alan Faneca and Cardinals DE/OLB Calvin Pace in the upcoming free agent market.
Holcombe Cut...The Minnesota Vikings released QB Kelly Holcombe today for salary cap reasons.
Chiefs release Law...The Kansas City Chiefs released four players including CB Ty Law, ILb Kendrell Bell,
DT James Reed and TE Jason Dunn today to relieve their salary cap.
Al's Draft Scoop...Flacco to Miami?...Talk is cheap these days especially regarding the NFL Draft where smokescreens are a plenty, especially when scouts and NFL personnel talk about their own teams intentions in the Draft, but I have reason to believe that the Dolphins will pass up Matt Ryan with the first overall pick. A very good friend of mine in the scouting industry told me this morning that the talk around the scouting community is if the Dolphins aren't able to trade their first round pick, they will take either Chris Long or Vernon Gholston to play the rush end (or OLB) in their 3-4 scheme or use the pick on OT Jake Long of Michigan. My source also told me that he expects the Dolphins to take a quarterback with their pick in the second round, with that quarterback being none other than Deleware's Joe Flacco. The talk around the scouting community is that Dolphins vice president of football operations Bill Parcells is said to be enamored with Flacco, a New Jersey native just like Parcells.
Muhammed a Panther...The Panthers are expected to finalize a contract with Muhsin Muhammed sometime today.
Al's Free-Agency Scoop...The Philadelphia Eagles are targeting CB Asante Samuel and S Gibril Wilson in the upcoming free agency period, with the hopes of landing one of them when the market opens on Friday.
Al's Draft Scoop...Cornerback Dominique Rogers-Cromartie's draft stock is shooting up the boards with another good showing at an NFL event. Cromartie first made a good impression on the scouts during the week of the Senior Bowl practices in Mobile, where he showed the scouts he was much more than a small school sleeper prospect from Tennessee State. On Tuesday, Cromartie blew the scouts and NFL personnel away with his performance in everything he did at the Combine. Cromartie turned in the best time (6.74) in the 3 cone, the best time (11.06) in the 60 yd long shuttle, had the best (38.5) vertical jump, the best (10'11") broad jump measurement and ran the third best forty time being clocked at 4.33. To top it off Cromartie displayed outstanding footwork and was very fluid and impressive in the on field drills for the defensive backs. Cromartie wasn't considered to be one of the top four cornerbacks for the upcoming draft when the college season ended, but more of a second to third round prospect with a chance to crack the first round with a good showing at the workouts. But that was then, and as of now, Cromartie is running neck and neck with Leodis McKelvin of Troy for the right to be the first corner to come off the board in April. The other top cornerback prospects were either shorter or slower than originally expected, or in Aquib Talib's case, a little too tight in the hips in the defensive back drills, which will hurt his stock when the NFL teams stack their boards in early April. All in all, Dominique Cromartie has great blood-lines (the cousin of Antonio Cromartie), untapped potential and is considered to have a very high ceiling, which is exactly what NFL teams look for in the first round of the Draft. Since Cromartie has much better ball skills than Leodis McKelvin of Troy, It leads me to believe that Cromartie has a legitimate chance to be the first corner to come off the board in the upcoming Draft. One thing is for certain, Cromartie made himself a ton of money on Tuesday.
Salisbury Axed at ESPN...ESPN hired former Vikings WR Cris Carter and released Sean Salisbury on Tuesday.
Quick Hits...Randy Moss is reportedly close to signing a multi-year deal with the Patriots...The Lions are reportedly the front runners to land LB Jonathan Vilma (a perfect fit for the Lions scheme)...the Niners re-signed NT Isaac Sopoaga to a 5 year deal.
02/26...FA News & Cuts...Arizona Cardinals DE/OLB Calvin Pace has stated that he will sign with either the New York Jets, Miami Dolphins or San Francisco 49'ers in the upcoming free-agency period...the Redskins released WR Brandon Lloyd...Kansas City released WR Eddie Kennison...New England released LB Oscar Lua...and the Jets gave CB Andre Dison and OG Adrian Clarke their walking papers.
Foster to Niners...The San Francisco 49'ers are reportedly on the verge of signing HB DeShaun Foster.
Official 40 times...The official 40 times have been posted for the DB's...Top 10 times...Tyvon Branch 4.31 Orlando Scandrick 4.32...Dom Cromartie 4.33...Tracy Porter 4.37...Michael Grant 4.37...Terrence Wheatley 4.37 Leodis McKelvin 4.38...Jonathan Wilhite 4.38...Mike Jenkins 4.38.
Rogers-Cromartie...Cromartie was very fluid, was able to flip his hips smoothly and displayed outstanding footwork in the DB's on-field drills today...he also ran a 4.33 official forty time today.
DB's 40 times...Tom Zbikowski 4.52 & 4.56, D.J. Wolfe 4.64 & 4.65...Antoine Cason 4.49
Leodis McKelvin...Leodis McKelvin's broad jump results...9'11" and 10'1"...3 cone drill 7.11.
Cromartie...Cromarties second attempt at the 40 resulted in another great time (4.34 -40).
DB's 40 Times...Trae Williams 4.52 & 4.53, Nehemiah Warrick 4.57, David Roach 4.50, D.J. Parker 4.66.
DB's 40 Times...Aquib Talib 4.47 & 4.48, Antuan Molden 4.40, Terrell Thomas 4.49, Tracy Porter 4.45 & 4.44.
Dominique Cromartie...Cromartie ran a lightning fast 4.28 unofficial forty in his first attempt at the Combine.
DB's 40 Times...Kenny Phillips 4.55, DaJuan Morgan 4.52, DeJuan Tribble 4.59.
DB's 40 Times...Tyvon Branch 4.29, Justin King 4.31, Josh Barrett 4.33, Leodis McKelvin 4.40, Marcellous
Johnson 4.43, Brandon Flowers 4.58, Chevis Jackson 4.58.
Al's Draft Scoop...Even though Darren McFadden has been the talk of the town since Sunday when he ran a 4.33 forty, his draft stock still remains a question mark because of his character concerns. The only team that might take a chance on him in the top five is the Raiders because of Al Davis's love for speed. Don't think for a minute that the Falcons would even consider him with their pick, especially after all that owner Arthur Blank has been through with the Michael Vick fiasco. The possibility still exists that McFadden could still fall out of the top 10 altogether, unless the Jets or Bengals take a chance on him with the Bengals being the least likely due to their insistence of cleaning up their act on draft day and passing on the character concern prospects.
Browns and Anderson close...The Cleveland Browns and Derek Anderson's reps have reportedly made significant progress in contract negotiations and could have a deal in place before the FA deadline on Friday night.
Cowboys/Javon Walker..The Cowboys are reportedly interested in acquiring Wr Javon Walker from the Broncos.
Bryant gets axe in Detroit...The Detroit Lions have released CB Fernando Bryant today.
Gholston vs Long...The battle for the right to be the first 4-3 DE or 3-4 OLB to be taken in the 2008 Draft was very close between Vernon Gholston and Chris Long with Gholston having a bit of a better day overall...Gholston ran a better 40 time 4.67 to Long's 4.75, was better in the broad jump 10'5" to Long's 10'4" and recorded a better vertical 35.5" to Long's 34"...Gholston also recorded 37 reps at 225 pounds on the bench while Long didn't participate...Gholston also participated in the linebacker drills and did a good job of convincing the scouts that he can drop into coverage while Long skipped that drill as well...Long had a better time in the 3 cone drill being timed at 7.02 to Gholston's 7.12 and had a better time in the short shuttle being timed at 4.21 to Gholston's 4.40.
Highsmith dropping...LB'er Ali Highsmith of LSU ran a pair of super dissapointing 40 times being clocked at 4.96 and 5.02...Highsmith would be a good fit in a Tampa 2 scheme...but not at that speed.
Linebacker 40 Times...Xavier Adibi 4.71, Steve Allen 4.84, Alvin Bowen 4.83, Jordan Dizon 4.70, J0-Lonn Dunbar 4.85, Tavares Gooden 4.53, Larry Grant 4.71, Gary Guyton 4.50, Geno Hayes 4.69, Erin Henderson 4.73, Stanford Keglar 4.63, Jerod Mayo 4.56, Steve Octavien 4.68, Phillip Wheeler 4.73, Wesley Woodyard 4.54.
Chris Long...Chris Long has decided to skip the Linebacker drills at the Combine but will go through the drills at his scheduled pro day....Long ran a very fast 7.02 3 cone drill.
Dan Connors...ILB Dan Connors left the Combine because he came down with a bad case of the flu.
Keith Rivers...OLB Keith Rivers tweaked his ankle and won't be running the forty with his group...the ankle that Rivers tweaked is the same one he had surgically repaired in 2007.
Official 40 Times...Cliff Avril 4.51, Quentin Groves 4.57, Chris Long 4.75, Vernon Ghoston 4.67.
Losman to Chiefs or Dolphins?...Rumors are circulating that both the Chiefs and Dolphins have talked to the Bills about acquiring the services of QB J.P. Losman.
More 40 times...Frank Okam 5.32, Nick Hayden 5.10, Bruce Davis 4.72, Jason Jones 4.77, Carlton Powell 5.04
Atyba Rubin 5.17, Jeremy Thompson 4.73.
Chris Long...Chris Long ran a 4.77 forty in his second attempt.
Gholston ...Vernon Gholston recorded a 35.5" vertical jump and recorded a 4.57 and a 4.64 forty earlier.
More 40 times...Marcus Howard ran a blistering 4.47 forty (the fastest recorded today)...other 40 times... Pat Sims 5.06, Dre Moore 4.88, Derrick Harvey 4.80.
Chris Long - Chris Long ran a 4.72 forty in his first run (unofficial time)...he also recorded a 34" vertical.
More 40 times...Trevor Laws 5.08, Lawrence Jackson 4.81, Kendall Langford 4.97, Frank Okam 5.32.
Vernon Gholston ran a 4.57 and a 4.64 unofficial forty times.
40 times - From group #1 (all times are unofficial)...Calias Campbell 5.03, Shawn Crable 4.56, Sedric Ellis 5.32,
Quinton Groves 4.52, Kentwan Balmer 5.30, Cliff Avril 4.56.
Huff on Block?...Rumors are swirling that the Oakland Raiders are willing to part with S Michael Huff.
Quick Hits...The San Diego Chargers signed former Niners ILB Derek Smith to a 2 year contract...TE Desmond Clark has re-signed with the Bears...San Francisco has signed RS/CB Allen Rossum...Patriots LB Teddi Bruschi is reportedly considering retirement.
Henne and Flacco Shine...The two most impressive Qb's in the passing drills on Sunday were Chad Henne of Michigan and Joe Flacco of Deleware according to one of the scouts in attendance...Brian Brohm of Louisville also threw the ball well, but not with the same velocity and rotation as Henne and Flacco.
Trade Rumors...The Houston Texans have reportedly been in trade discussions with several teams at the Combine to acquire a veteran halfback.
02/24...Chris Johnson - Chris Johnson ran the fastest official time in the RB group timing at 4.24 in the forty.
Darren McFadden - Darren McFadden's fastest official time in the forty was adjusted from 4.27 to 4.33.
Ray Rice - Ray Rice tweaked his hamstring during his first attempt at the forty yard dash and is done for the Day.
Simpson Wow!...WR Jerome Simpson of Coastal Carolina recorded an amazing 11'4" broad jump.
Running backs - Notable forty times from the Combine.....Updated ...Darren McFadden 4.33 & 4.33, Chris Johnson 4.29 & 4.24, Jamaal Charles 4.36 & 4.39, Rashard Mendenhall 4.37 & 4.43, Kevin Smith 4.43 & 4.56, Jonathan Stewart 4.48 & 4.49, Ray Rice 4.44, Felix Jones 4.47, Steve Slaton 4.44 & 4.45, Matt Forte 4.51 & 4.46, Jacob Hester 4.60 & 4.64, Leon Hart 4.67 & 4.69.
Darren McFadden - McFadden ran an unofficial time of 4.27 in his first attempt in the forty yard dash.
Bills interested in Flowers...The Buffalo Bills are reportedly very interested in CB Brandon Flowers of Virginia Tech and were the first team to interview him this morning...the general perception is the Bills will invest their first round pick on a big receiver, but the Bills also need to shore up the CB position and Flowers is considered the top Cover 2 Corner in this draft.
Combine Quick Hits - WR James Hardy of Indiana ran a 4.47 forty which is very impressive for a receiver of his size...WR Devin Thomas ran a pair of lightning fast forties clocking in at 4.32 and 4.34...QB Josh Johnson of San Diego ran an impressive 4.40 forty...Limas Sweed of Texas ran a pair of good times (4.46,4.53) for a big receiver.
Woodson/Doucet Shelved - Kentucky Qb Andre Woodson isn't working out today because he tweaked his hamstring..
Doucet isn't working out due to an undisclosed injury.
Nelson Impresses - Kansas State WR Jordy Nelson ran a pair of good forty times for a big receiver clocking in at 4.48 and 4.51...Nelson also recorded a 31" vertical.
Impressive 40 times - WR's - Dexter Jackson 4.29, DeSean Jackson 4.31, Andre Caldwell 4.31, William Franklin 4.32, Devin Thomas 4.34
Manningham Dissapoints...Michigan Wr Mario Manningham ran a pair of dissapointing forty times today clocking in at 4.59 and 4.62...On the Game film, Manningham has much better on-field game speed.
Glenn Dorsey Checks In...Glenn Dorsey finally showed up at the Combine and checked in late after rumors were circulating that Dorsey was planning on skipping the Combine due to a possible injury he suffered in training.
Combine - Quick Hits...Purdue TE Justin Keller stole the show on Saturday perforning well in the receiving drills and had the fastest forty times (4.53, 4.54) at the Combine...he also recorded a 38" vertical...Texas TE Jermichael Finley ran slower (4.85) than expected but was the most impressive TE in the receiving drills...Finley runs much faster than his forty time when you turn on the game tape...Tennessee TE Brad Cottam ran a very impressive forty time (4.63) considering his size 6-7.5 271....The Top 10 performers from Saturdays session.
Quick Hits...Shaun Rogers will reportedly be traded by the Detroit Lions within the next week with the Broncos and Redskins being two of the four teams interested in his services...the Lions are reportedly interested in Bucs CB Brian Kelly...Tampa is reportedly interested in Panthers HB DeShaun Foster and Seahawks WR D.J. Hackett...Lane Kiffin has reportedly been removed from all draft, free-agency and coaching related decisions...the Raiders are reportedly ready to part with K Sebastien Janikowski...the Falcons are reportedly interested in acquiring Broncos HB Mike Bell.
02/23...Chris Long...Chris Long was measured at 6-3 272...Long is an ideal size for a DE in a 4-3 front, but too small to play DE in a 3-4...Long could play OLB or the rush-end position in a 3-4 if he proves to the scouts and NFL personnel in attendance that he has the athletic ability to make the drops necessary at the next level.
Dorsey Injured?...Rumors are flying that the reason Glenn Dorsey is skipping the Combine is because he may have re-injured his knee in training for the Combine or has some kind of medical condition...His Grandmother passed away recently which set him back in his training according to Dorsey, but there was no indication that he would skip the Combine altogether...speculation has begun that Dorsey is skipping the Combine because of a medical condition.
Kearse out in Philly..Adam Schefter of the NFL Network is reporting that the Eagles will release Jevon Kearse.
Sleeper QB Josh Johnson of San Diego was measured at 6-2.6 213 on Friday which was an inch shorter but 15 pounds heavier than what scouts expected...Johnson is a player to watch in his workout on Sunday.
Quick Hits - The New Orleans Saints have re-signed WR Terrance Copper to a 2 year deal...the New York Giants are said to be interested in signing Seahawks CB Marcus Trufant in the upcoming free-agency period...the Minnesota Vikings are reportedly interested in signing Wr Jerry Porter or Wr Bernard Berian...the Washington Redskins are reportedly one of four teams that have shown interest in acquiring DT Shaun Rogers from the Lions.
02/22...Quick Hits - Michigan Ot Jake Long was able to post 37 reps at 225 lbs on the bench today which was the most reps of any of the offensive lineman that lifted today...Oregon Qb Dennis Dixon has decided to run the 40 yard dash at the Combine despite the fact that he is still less than 100%...The Steelers have released Jerame Tuman and Allen Rossum...and...The NFL has notified Pacman Jones that he remains suspended indefinitely.
Wayne Huizenga has sold 50% of the Miami Dolphins to Steve Ross a New York Builder...Huizenga has reportedly assured Bill Parcells that he will stay on as part-owner of the Dolphins for the duration of his contract.
Zach Thomas a Saint?...R
