Preseason - August
9/2/05
- Hard to figure out the Seahawks signing of former Bengals
receiver Peter Warrick, a player that makes his living out of
lining up in the slot, to a one-year deal that could cost $2.2-million
with incentives, many of which are accessible. Already forced
to use an excellent slot receiver in Bobby Engram on the outside
in a starting role, the Seahawks somehow saw fit to bring in
Warrick rather than simply moving Engram to the slot in three
and four wide receiver sets while lining Jerome Pathon or Joe
Jurevicius on the outside. Warrick's a good player that will
help the Seahawks as a receiver and a potential punt returner,
but it says here they would have been wiser using the cap space
locking up some of the team's younger players to long-term contracts.
- 49ers receiver Rashaun Woods appears to have saved his job
with his performance last night against the Chargers. The 2004
1st round pick was fighting for a back-up position at wide receiver
after missing most of the pre-season with a partially torn quadriceps
muscle and came through with an eight reception performance
that will almost certainly result in his inclusion on the team's
opening day roster. Nonetheless, he will need to overtake one
of Brandon Lloyd, Arnaz Battle or Johnnie Morton to see regular
snaps on offense.
- Keeping with the 49ers, it is likely center Jeremy Newberry
will open the season in the starting line-up after being a question
mark for much of the pre-season because of pain in his right
knee. With little cartilage remaining, Newberry will need to
play through pain during the season but will require surgery
at some point to correct the problem. Look for the 49ers to
limit his practice repetitions in order to reduce Newberry's
workload with the hope he can make it through the season. Don't
underestimate the impact his presence has on the ability of
the 49ers offensive line, given his Pro Bowl capabilities and
line calls.
- During the 2001 season, the Rams starters on the offensive
line were Orlando Pace, Tom Nutten, Andy McCollum, Adam Timmerman
and Ryan Tucker. This season's starters appear to be Pace, Nutten,
McCollum, Timmerman and Rex Tucker, Ryan's brother and former
Bears guard. Interesting and potentially ominous.
- There is plenty of face-saving that goes on amongst NFL executives
and management but this week there were two examples of franchises
that were willing to admit their mistakes and move on. In New
England, the Patriots released a pair of 2004 4th round picks,
running back Cedric Cobbs and safety Dexter Reid, and 2002 2nd
round pick Rohan Davey. In Denver, the Broncos chopped running
back Maurice Clarett, picked by the team in the 3rd round of
this year's draft.
- Keeping with the Patriots, the team unexpectedly removed
wide receiver Bethel Johnson form the physically-unable-to-perform
list this week. With a full compliment of players at the position
and the team's recent interest in Peter Warrick and Peerless
Price, it would appear the team has decided Johnson's fate without
seeing him play in the pre-season and that has to be considered
ominous for the team's 2003 2nd round pick. With Deion Branch
and David Givens starting, the players fighting for a back-up
spot include former Bear David Terrell, recently acquired Andre
Davis, return specialist Tim Dwight, Tim Brown, P.K. Sam and
Johnson.
- Coaches in Pittsburgh must be concerned about the performance
of the team's offence during the pre-season and their ability
to turn things around when the season starts. Quarterback Ben
Roethlisberger has had an abysmal pre-season, displaying poor
accuracy and an inability to keep the offence moving. Injuries
to the team's top two running backs, Duce Staley and Jerome
Bettis, has not helped matters but can't fully explain Roethlisberger's
numbers in the pre-season - 16 of 36, 145 yards, no touchdowns
and two interceptions.
- Interesting exchange of words through the media this week
between former Falcons coach Dan Reeves and Falcons owner Arthur
Blank. Reeves, for whatever reason, felt the need to mention
that it was Blank's idea, and not his, to acquire Price from
the Bills for a 1st round pick and award him with a $37-million
contract. Worse yet, Reeves contended the team shouldn't have
signed Price because the Falcons weren't a very good football
team and didn't have the ability to get him the ball, a barely
veiled shot at quarterback Michael Vick. Blank countered the
next day that he wasn't involved in personnel decisions and
that this was the responsibility of the football operations
group. Nonetheless, it has to be mentioned that the Falcons
made a huge mistake on Price and clearly overpaid for running
back Warrick Dunn when he was a free agent, an acquisition Dunn
himself has claimed that Blank was involved in, partially because
of Dunn's extensive community involvement.
- Texans coach Dom Capers has clearly opened up competition
at this year's training camp, a surefire signal the coach feels
his job is on the line. As the pre-season closes out, signals
are that a number of decisions on the team's starters are going
to be based on production, not potential or draft position.
Left tackle Seth Wand has been unseated by veteran retread Victor
Riley while rookie 6th round pick C.C. Brown apparently has
beaten out Glenn Earl at strong safety. In addition to those
moves, 2003 2nd round pick Fred Weary may not win a roster spot
at the back-up guard position, Tony Hollings has stumbled at
back-up running back and may lose that spot to rookie 4th round
pick Vernand Morency and the team may dedicate a roster spot
to returner Reggie Swinton.
- Word out of Chicago is that general manager Jerry Angelo
feels comfortable enough with the Bears roster to hold off on
placing quarterback Rex Grossman on injured reserve until the
team experiences injury problems. Grossman's opinion is that
he will be ready by mid-season, although that view seems somewhat
optimistic based on the original prognosis.
- The signals out of Dallas couldn't be clearer as to which
quarterback will open the season as the team's back-up to Drew
Bledsoe and it isn't going to be Drew Henson. Parcells reiterated
this week that Henson wasn't ready and the Cowboys coach chose
to use Tony Romo ahead of Henson during the team's final exhibition
game against the Jaguars.
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