NFL Free Agency

[Ned]

According to Dr. Z, Briggs is the best outside linebacker in the NFL, tied in his rating scale with you-know-who from San Diego.

I would keep him rather than the draft choices. That is why the Bears want more, I think.

[snoopy369]

So I have a question.

Am I the only person who's thinking...

"Let's trade Lance Briggs for Asante Samuel!!"

(And perhaps a lowish draft pick to the Bears since Uber OLB is worth slightly more than Somewhat Uber CB)

I mean, i'm just saying...

[-Jrabbit]

It wouldn't mean a thing without new contracts for both. And since Asante will be more expensive, I think it's safe to say this won't happen.

Too bad though. He can't intercept Rex if he's on on the Bears...

[Koyaanisqatsi]

You're welcome to him. I'm not expecting great things from Asante this year anyway...yeah, his interception numbers stood out, but until his contract year he wasn't getting those, and in order to make the picks last year he gambled a whole lot more. He's better than any other corner in NE but that isn't saying much (Hobbs may have more upside.) He's definitely not worth the top five or ten contract he's looking for.

[Lord Avalon]

Panthers sign David Carr as backup for Delhomme.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2827930

[Ned]

Backup?

I smell a QB controversy very soon in Carolina.

[SlowwHand]

Used Carr: Panthers get former No. 1

GO CARR!

[SlowwHand]

Ricky Williams applies for reinstatement

By DAVE GOLDBERG, AP Football Writer
April 6, 2007


NEW YORK (AP) -- Ricky Williams, the former NFL star who played in Canada last season after being suspended for a year for substance abuse, has applied for reinstatement.

Williams' agent, Leigh Steinberg, said the running back, who will turn 30 in May, had sent a letter asking that he be allowed to return to the Miami Dolphins.

The NFL confirmed that Williams had sought reinstatement, for which he will be eligible after April 27, when he will have been suspended for a year. Dolphins spokesman Harvey Greene said the team had no comment because Williams is not yet eligible for reinstatement.

Williams, a former Heisman Trophy winner at Texas, was originally drafted by New Orleans when then-coach Mike Ditka gave up all his picks in the 1999 draft to get his rights. He was traded to Miami for two first-round draft picks after the 2001 season and rushed for 1,853 yards for the Dolphins in 2002 and 1,372 the next season.

But he abruptly retired shortly before training camp in 2004, then returned in 2005 to back up rookie Ronnie Brown. Williams rushed for 743 yards and a 4.4 yard average that year.

The suspension, handed down last year by former commissioner Paul Tagliabue, was Williams' fourth.

Williams' previous positive drug tests were for marijuana, which he acknowledged using. The latest test apparently involved a substance other than marijuana and may have been related to his interest in holistic medicine.

Steinberg said Williams has been teaching yoga in California since returning from Canada last December.

"He's told me that his interest in eastern philosophy has overcome his desire for mind-altering substances and has given him another outlet," Steinberg said. "He's in outstanding shape and he hasn't taken a lot of hits for a running back. I think he's still at the top of his game."

During the 2005 season, Williams laughingly described himself as weird and compared his career to a roller coaster. But he also dispelled his reputation as an aloof, selfish pothead, winning praise from teammates and winning the south Florida media's annual postseason Good Guy Award, given to the player most cooperative with reporters.

Williams has gained 7,097 yards in 1,757 carries during his NFL career and rushed for 47 touchdowns.

Last season with Toronto in the CFL, he ran for 526 yards on 109 carries and caught 19 passes for 127 yards. He missed two months because of a broken arm.



Updated on Friday, Apr 6, 2007 5:46 pm EDT

[Lord Avalon]

Atlanta signed Joey Harrington to back up Vick.

[-Jrabbit]

Time to get tough on thugs...

The NFL has suspended Pacman Jones for the 2007 season under the leagues new discipline policy.

Bengals receiver Chris Henry will miss eight games.

Jones repeated problems hurt, but his failure to disclose an arrest from last off-season probably did him in. The length of suspension will allow his pending case in Las Vegas to work itself out. One of the best young defenders in the NFL, Jones will attract plenty of interest if the Titans don't want him when he applies for reinstatement in a year. That's assuming Jones isn't in jail.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Titans gonna need a CB (though they probably already knew that).

And the Bengals knew that at least one of their players this year was going to be suspended . They are turning into this generation's version of the old Raiders.

[Lord Avalon]

Good for Goodell.

[SlowwHand]

The Bears start Grossman because he's more their prototype for the position.
At 6'3" Griese is too tall.

[-Jrabbit]

If he was just a little shorter, he'd be as good as Michael Vick!

[Ned]

Originally posted by SlowwHand
The Bears start Grossman because he's more their prototype for the position.
At 6'3" Griese is too tall.

You make a good point.

One wonders how a short QB could ever be drafted high in the NFL?

That said, Jim McMahon was an excellent NFL QB until he was savaged by that Green Bay thug.