Eagles pay "Shady" McCoy

Posted by Michael David Smith on May 17, 2012, 6:29 PM EDT

Getty Images

After a relatively quiet negotiation, the Philadelphia Eagles and LeSean McCoy have struck a deal on a big-time contract extension.

The Eagles have announced that McCoy has agreed to terms on a new deal, and a league source tells PFT’s Mike Florio that it’s a five-year, $45 million contract, which goes through the 2017 season, with $20.765 in full guarantees.

McCoy is coming off back-to-back outstanding seasons. Last year he carried 273 times for 1,309 yards and 17 touchdowns, plus another 48 catches for 315 yards through the air. In 2010 he carried 207 times for 1,080 yards and seven touchdowns, plus 78 catches for 592 yards. In his two seasons as a starter he has averaged 5.0 yards a carry and scored 29 total touchdowns.

At just 23 years old, McCoy has a good chance of remaining at the top of his game for his entire five-year contract — rare for an NFL running back getting a long-term deal. Not many NFL running backs are able to cash in on lucrative long-term contracts anymore, but McCoy’s is a contract that could work out well for both sides.

UPDATE: The contract includes a signing bonus of $8.5 million and base salaries of $615,000 in 2012, $3.25 million in 2013, $8 million in 2014, $10.25 million in 2015, $7.15 million in 2016 and $7.85 million in 2017.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TTR is looking for more writers!

Rolando McClain sentenced to 180 days in jail

Posted by Josh Alper on May 17, 2012, 4:04 PM EDT

AP

The day started off with bad news for Raiders linebacker Rolando McClain and it is ending the same way.

McClain was found guilty on all charges in the trial stemming from his December assault on an Alabama man and Michael Casagrande of the Decatur Daily reports that he has beensentenced to 180 days in jail as a result. McClain had been charged with third-degree assault, reckless endangerment, menacing, and unlawful discharge of a firearm, all of which are misdemeanor charges and McClain was sentenced to 45 days in jail for each charge.

Antonio Gates healthy for first time in years

Posted by Josh Alper on May 17, 2012, 6:13 PM EDT

AP

It has been a rough couple of years for Chargers tight end Antonio Gates.

He missed six games in 2010 and three games, along with parts of others, last year because of a foot injury. He’s still been productive — 17 touchdown catches — but his presence in the lineup has been missed for the last two seasons. Gates has been very positive recently about the progress the injury has been making and it seems to be showing at Chargers workouts.

Panthers rookie: I played in the SEC, NFL speed is not overwhelming

Posted by Michael David Smith on May 17, 2012, 5:07 PM EDT

AP

Rookies frequently report after their first NFL practices that the biggest adjustment they’ll have to make is getting accustomed to the speed of professional football. But Panthers rookie receiver Joe Adams doesn’t see it that way.

Adams, a fourth-round draft pick out of Arkansas who says he has run a 4.25-second 40-yard dash, told Panthers.com that he has no trouble adjusting to NFL speed.

“It’s not overwhelming at all. I played in the SEC, where guys are pretty much this fast,” Adams said. “Now, they’re probably not this big.”

Football in the SEC isn’t really as fast as football in the NFL, but Adams certainly showed in the SEC that he’s fast enough for the NFL. He’s best known for an incredible punt return against Tennessee in which he dodged six tacklers before breaking into the clear and turning on the jets.

“A lot of people come up and ask me if I’m the guy that returned those punts,” Adams said. “And every time someone realizes who I am, they always bring up Tennessee. . . . That probably was the craziest punt return I’ve ever had. I remember breaking all those tackles and all the fans screaming. Afterwards, I went home and watched it on highlights. It was on ESPN for a couple of weeks. I was pretty amazed at the things that I did.”

So Adams is amazed at his own speed. But not the speed of the NFL.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TTR is looking for more writers!

Niner lose rookie OLB Fleming to torn ACL

49ers fifth-round OLB Darius Fleming tore his left ACL during his first minicamp practice.

Fleming's injury was of the non-contact variety, bending his knee awkwardly. Initial reports suggested a hamstring injury, but an MRI confirmed a torn ACL. Fortunately for the former Notre Dame star, Fleming signed a four-year, $2.264 million contract one day before the injury. Fleming will likely spend his rookie season on injured reserve.

Source: Ian Rapoport on Twitter

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TTR is looking for more writers!

Barth signs 4-year deal to stay in Tampa

Posted May 17, 2012 @ 2:17 p.m. ET

By PFW staff

PK Connor Barth, who was given the franchise tag earlier in the offseason, agreed on Thursday to a four-year contract with the Buccaneers. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the deal is worth $13.2 million and includes $4 million guaranteed.
Set to enter his fifth season in the NFL, Barth has emerged as one of the league’s best kickers. He has hit 83.9 percent of his field goals in his career and has never missed an extra point. In 2011, Barth made 26-of-28 field goals, an accuracy of 92.9 percent. It ranked as the best accuracy rate of any kicker last season who didn’t play his home games in a dome.
"For the Bucs organization, (GM) Mark Dominik, coach (Greg) Schiano and everyone to believe in me, to know that I'll be their kicker for the next four years, is awesome," Barth said in a team-issued statement. "It's just an amazing opportunity and I want to continue to perform like I have and live up to their expectations. I want to thank everyone - the fans, everybody, the team behind me — and I'm looking forward to getting back on the field."


The way we see it
This appears to be a win-win situation for all parties. Barth does not kick off for the Bucs — those duties are handled by P Michael Koenen — so Barth can focus on field goals. He gets the security of a long-term deal and the Bucs are happy to have a solid placekicker in the fold for 2012 and beyond.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TTR is looking for more writers!

Patriots offering Welker less long-term than last year

Posted by Michael David Smith on May 17, 2012, 1:31 PM EDT

Getty Images

Patriots receiver Wes Welker has signed his franchise tender and is in the fold for the 2012 season, but that doesn’t mean he’s satisfied with the way negotiations on a long-term contract have gone.

In fact, Welker says the Patriots are now offering him less money than the two-year, $16 million, fully guaranteed deal they offered during the 2011 season.

“There have been talks, but nothing that’s brightened anything at all,” Welker said, via the Boston Herald. “It’s actually gotten worse.”

Still, Welker doesn’t sound like he has any second thoughts about signing the franchise tender, which guaranteed his base salary of $9.5 million this year and also guarantees that next year he’ll either get a 20 percent pay raise, get to test unrestricted free agency, or get a long-term contract done with the Patriots.

“The ball’s in their court. I just want to play,” he said. “At the end of the day, if it’s one year, $9.5 million, it’s one year, $9.5 million. I’m good with that.”

Welker said he didn’t want to miss the start of organized team activities and that he thinks a good offseason followed by a good season will give the Patriots little choice but to show him the money.

“That’s kind of my mindset,” Welker said. “To go out and show them I deserve it.”

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TTR is looking for more writers!

Greg Cosell: Newton and Stafford on the Rise

NFL analyst and Senior Producer of NFL Films, Greg Cosell's opinions and evaluations are widely respected around the league.  So it when he brings credit or criticism to light regarding players, many people sit up and listen.  This week he wrote a piece regarding the league's two premier young guns, Cam Newton and Matthew Stafford.

After their play last year no one should be surprised, but his column is not about a knee-jerk reaction. Instead, as par for the course, it is well thought out and detailed.  Check out this edition of Cosell Talks right here.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TTR is looking for more writers!

Roddy White not happy with 65th ranking in Top 100

Posted by Michael David Smith on May 17, 2012, 11:20 AM EDT

Getty Images

In NFL Network’s annual ranking of the Top 100 players in the league, as voted on by a poll of active players, Falcons receiver Roddy White has dropped from No. 24 to No. 65. He’s not happy about that.

White said on NFL Network Wednesday night that he is glad his fellow players still consider him one of the 100 best of his peers, but he isn’t happy that he dropped so far.

Lawrence Taylor auctioning off Super Bowl ring

Posted by Josh Alper on May 17, 2012, 12:13 PM EDT

Getty Images

The 2011 Giants got their Super Bowl rings on Wednesday night, just as one of their forbears was putting one of his own baubles up for auction.

Lawrence Taylor is auctioning off the Super Bowl XXV ring he got after the Giants beat the Bills 20-19 in 1991. Bidding on the auctioncurrently stands at $37,982. According to Jorge Castillo of the Newark Star-Ledger, the ring is valued at $75,000-$100,000. Castillo’s attempts to reach Taylor’s agent for comment about the auction were unsuccessful.

Thursday morning one-liners

Posted by Evan Silva on May 17, 2012, 8:05 AM EDT

Getty Images

The Patriots have signed rookie WR Jeremy Ebert.

Jets OL Vladimir Ducasse is practicingstrictly at right tackle.

Bengals QB Andy Dalton is getting strongerthis spring.

The College Football Hall of Fame has added an ex-Steeler.

Bills ink Stephon Gilmore

Posted by Josh Alper on May 17, 2012, 9:54 AM EDT

Getty Images

In another sign that we’re living in a different NFL, a second top 10 draft pick from April has agreed to a contract more than a week before Memorial Day.

The Bills announced Thursday that they have signed cornerback Stephon Gilmore, the 10th overall pick in the first round. Like all the other first rounders, Gilmore’s deal is for four years with a team option for a fifth year. According to Albert Breer of NFL.com, the total value of the four years is about $12.1 million and the option would cost the Bills whatever the transition tag for cornerbacks is in 2015. Linebacker Luke Kuechly was the first top 10 pick to agree to a contract.

It is hard to imagine a Buffalo starting defense in Week One that doesn’t include Gilmore. His mix of size and speed give him an edge over the other Bills cornerbacks and the team’s talk about putting him on tight ends like Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski at points this season. Gilmore earned heaps of praise from the Bills after their rookie minicamp, which only adds to the likelihood that Aaron Williams and Terrence McGee are fighting to start opposite Gilmore this season.

The Bills have now signed seven of their nine draft picks. Guard/tackle Cordy Glenn and wide receiver T.J. Graham remain unsigned.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TTR is looking for more writers!

Video: Best NFL Offense - Lions vs Eagles

A great video segment by Pro Football Weekly, where they will be debating who has the best offense in the NFL.  The first backet pins the Lions against the Eagles.  Enjoy.



Of course I am a Lions fan, but for the first time in a long long time, can I honestly say that I feel the Lions win here.

The points made by both guys in the video are excellent, but a few key points to acknowledge.  Matthew Stafford who has shown he can make it through a full season now, is going into his 4th season, but last year was really an extension of his rookie season in terms of games played.  I expect He will make another big stride this year in terms of further minimizing mistakes and even more of a connection with Calvin.  Additionally the Lions only need the slightest hint of a running game this year to provide a huge element to the offense that was virtually non-existent last year due to injuries.  You add that, and I am not sure that there is a team in the league that can compare on that side of the ball.

One last note, don't forget about Titus Young.  I expect him to emerge as one of the top young receivers in the game this season, putting them over the top.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TTR is looking for more writers!

Burfict not a lock to make Bengals squad

Matt Bowen - National Football Post

From my perspective, the Bengals had one of the top draft classes last month. Dre Kirkpatrick, Kevin Zeitler, Devon Still, Brandon Thompson, Mohamed Sanu, etc. Plenty of talent (and upgrades) for Marvin Lewis to work with this season.

Burfict needs to make the most of the limited opportunities he will see as an undrafted rookie.

But what about undrafted LB Vontaze Burfict? There is a lot of discussion about the ASU product. Much more than I ever expected to see for an undrafted player. His draft stock plummeted after a poor 2011 season paired with below average workouts in Indy and at his pro day. That’s enough to drop you off team’s draft boards when you aren’t in prime shape to showcase your skill set in front of pro scouts.

Cincy scooped him up after the draft and now I’m curious to see if he can stick with the Bengals and make an opening day roster in the NFL.

Here’s what Lewis said about that on NFL Network’s Total Access (via Pro Football Talk): “I don’t know what down side there is. I think he’s a young man who has fallen from graces everywhere. Through the draft process, obviously at Arizona State, he didn’t play very well as a senior player. But when you watch some of the things he did on tape, he has the hips, the snap, he has the ability to play under and through blocks, and that’s what you’re looking for in a linebacker. We’re providing the opportunity for Vontaze. He’ll continue to get better. He’s changing his body physically from the body that played in the ’11 season at Arizona State. He’s a much lighter player now again, and I’m pleased with what he did last week in our rookie camp. I want to see him continue to get better and it’ll be fun next week when we get the full team out here in OTAs.”

That sounds good in mid May. But for Burfict, his opportunities will most likely be limited. That’s how it works with any undrafted player. They won’t see the amount of reps of the draft picks and they have to realize the minimal investment the club has made in them. No big bonus checks here for Burfict.

That’s why everyday is an interview for the LB in Cincinnati.

Burfict needs to make plays (consistently), show his value as a coverage man on special teams and give Lewis and the Bengals staff a reason to keep him around. And it all starts with reps. Those are gold for any undrafted player in camp and under the lights of the preseason schedule. The time of the year when rookies earn a roster spot.

Maybe Burfict can make the squad in Cincy. I don’t know that yet. No one does. But if the LB wants to see an NFL paycheck, he needs to show up when the opportunity is there.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TTR is looking for more writers!

Tebow already winning over Jets locker room

Posted by Mike Florio on May 16, 2012, 7:23 PM EDT

AP

Jets starting quarterback Mark Sanchez has Joe Namath in his corner.  Jets backup quarterback/personal punt protector Tim Tebow enjoys the support of a guy who has slightly more pull in the locker room.

Cornerback Darrelle Revis sees something special in Tebow.  “He’s a born leader, he really is,” Revis said Wednesday, via Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com.  “Very few athletes have the gift he has.  He tries to lead by example all the time.  He tries to be positive, which is awesome, and that [has resulted] in his success on the field. . . .

“Some people have it, some guys don’t.  It’s the passion within, wanting to be a leader, wanting to win. You see it all the time, eating lunch, walking down the hallway.  You see it.”

Revis didn’t say whether Sanchez is one of the people who have it, or one of those who don’t.  But given that Revis has never said anything like that about Sanchez in three-plus years together and that Revis is saying it now after less than two months with Tebow in town is telling.

“He’s a playmaker, he makes plays, he wins games,” Revis said of Tebow.  “He’s one of those guys.  He’s very positive.  He has passion for whatever he does.  You can see it on him.”

With Revis talking that way, it’s going to be even harder to keep Tebow off the field.  Or to use him only on special teams.  Unless Sanchez plays like Namath in 1968, it seems like it will be only a matter of time before plenty of guys in the the locker room openly are questioning why Tebow isn’t leading the team on a full-time basis.

Brees frustrated with Saints lack of effort

Posted by Michael David Smith on May 16, 2012, 6:40 PM EDT

Getty Images

Saints quarterback Drew Brees has been waiting all offseason to get a long-term contract done, and he’s getting sick of waiting.

Brees said in an interview with WWL radio that he’s growing increasingly frustrated with what he sees as the Saints dragging their feet in getting a new agreement worked out.

“This is a big time for our team, especially when you look at what’s happened in this offseason, missing our head coach, Sean Payton,” Brees said. “There should be a sense of urgency and yet it seems like there’s not.”

In any deal it takes two sides to negotiate, and Brees says he feels like he and his agent are trying harder to get the deal completed than the Saints are.

“We’ve reached out on a number of occasions and at times I’ve been frustrated by the lack of response,” Brees said.

From the Saints’ perspective, they know that they have him as their exclusive franchise player and therefore don’t have to worry about him signing with another team. The Saints may figure that they can just hold the line and eventually Brees will give in and accept the one-year franchise tender, or accept a long-term deal worth less money than Brees thinks he deserves.

But Brees says that, contrary to the claims of Saints owner Tom Benson about the sides being close, the Saints haven’t offered him anything in the ballpark of the kind of contract he’d be willing to sign.

“Maybe not as close as people would be led to believe,” Brees said. “I would say that the numbers that have been thrown around by ESPN and some of these other places, at times, have been pretty heavily inflated.”

Brees says he has always done everything asked of him by the Saints, and now it’s time for the Saints to reward his loyalty with a “reasonable” and “appropriate” contract, which he says the Saints so far haven’t offered him.

“It’s been extremely frustrating for me,” Brees said. “The negotiation shouldn’t have been this difficult.”

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TTR's 2nd Annual Mock Draft Contest!

Richardson says he won't change his running style in the NFL

Posted by Michael David Smith on May 17, 2012, 6:47 AM EDT

AP

Running backs can wear down quickly in the NFL, but the most talented running back to enter the league in years says he can’t let that fact change his physical running style.

Browns rookie Trent Richardson said on NFL Network’sTotal Access that he won’t avoid contact and will continue to run through tackles, and he thinks he can do that as a workhorse back for a 16-game season.

“I’m not going to change my game,” Richardson said. “That’s who I am. That’s how I got here, that’s how I made the progress to be who I am today. So when it comes down to it, I’m still going to do what I do. I have a lot of pride in my football and the football skills God blessed me with. I’m just here to make a big difference on this team, so I’m trying to get everybody on the same page.”

Richardson said staying healthy in the NFL will be more about what he does off the field than avoiding contact on the field.

“Just make sure I stay in that training room as far a recovery-wise and make sure I’m eating the right stuff, taking care of my body,” Richardson said. “Really outside of the game just make sure I’m staying on schedule; keeping progress, building on and staying in the weight room.”

The Browns didn’t draft Richardson wanting to change his running style, but they did draft Richardson hoping he’ll stay healthy enough to carry the load for several years. They’ll have to hope taking care of himself off the field will be enough to allow him to keep up his physical style on the field.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TTR's 2nd Annual Mock Draft Contest!