The Tiger Report: 05/24/12

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Jim Brown continues to criticize Trent Richardson and Holmgren

Posted by Evan Silva on May 24, 2012, 7:10 PM EDT

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Cleveland Browns Hall of Fame running back Jim Brownwasn’t thrilled with the team’s selection of Trent Richardson in last month’s first round, and he made those feelings clear on the draft’s first day.

Though Brown has upset the fanbase in front of which he once thrived, he’s not backing down from his evaluation of Richardson as an “ordinary” talent.

“I think the kid is a good working back, and if you’ve got everything else around him he can play his role,” Brown told ESPN Cleveland. “But when it comes to outstanding, I don’t see anything outstanding about him. It’s not said in a cruel manner. He’s very efficient, and that’s what you want.”

Pressed further on his evaluations by ESPN Cleveland’s Tony Grossi, Brown even questioned club president Mike Holmgren’s commitment to the team.

“What have I said about the Browns other than the fact that Richardson is an ordinary back?” Brown asked, rhetorically. “There’s so much I could say. So you tell all those people that want to look at me, look at what you’ve got. You’re sitting on a mess. You’ve got a guy that doesn’t give interviews except in other cities. I ask all the people in Cleveland, do you get the impression that Mr. Holmgren wants to be there? If you do, then tell me.”

In the interview with Grossi, Brown went on to say Richardson lacks “special” running back traits while reiterating that Richardson’s “speed and quickness” is “ordinary.”

“He’ll work hard for you, and he’s kind of an all-around back,” Brown said. “But if you look at Cleveland, I would have gotten me a couple of receivers.”

Seahawks QBs splitting reps three-ways

Posted by Josh Alper on May 24, 2012, 5:59 PM EDT

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Pete Carroll is doing more than paying lip service to the idea that the Seahawks have a three-way competition for the quarterback job.

John Boyle of the Everett Herald passes along word that the team is giving equal reps toMatt Flynn, Tarvaris Jackson and Russell Wilson at their Organized Team Activities this week. Carroll and General Manager John Schneider have been pushing the open competition all offseason, Schneider did it Wednesday on PFT Live in fact, and it seems they are sticking to their word.

For now, at least. It’s important to remember that this is just the OTA period of the offseason and teams are spending it getting some idea of what they have on hand heading into training camp and the season. This caveat could be attached to just about any story about who looks good, who looks bad and just about anything else that gets tweeted into the universe from practices around the league, but it has a lot of bearing on the Seahawks competition.

Once they get to training camp (or even minicamp in June), the team will have to pare things down to at most two quarterbacks because they won’t have enough reps to keep the three-way dance going. Wilson still has to be considered the least likely to wind up as the starter, but if he does enough to push himself to the number two spot it will make things interesting for Jackson.

Patriots come to terms with Chandler Jones

Terry McCormick - National Football Post

The New England Patriots announced Wednesday that first-round pick Chandler Jones has agreed to his rookie contract.

Jones, a defensive end from Syracuse, was the 21st overall pick in the draft. Terms of the contract were not disclosed, but under the new collective bargaining agreement, the deal is for four years with an option for a fifth season

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Sergio Kindle in a make-or-break year

Posted by Mike Florio on May 24, 2012, 1:43 PM EDT

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The Ravens have a lengthy history of making great decisions on draft day(s). That’s what makes the rare errors even more glaring.

In 2010, they stopped the slide of linebacker Sergio Kindle, a move that at the time was regarded as a potential steal. Two years later, Kindle has made minimal contributions. He now faces what could be a critical season with the franchise.

And he knows it.

“Make or break year?” Kindle said Wednesday, via Aaron Wilson of the Carroll County Times. “Perhaps, always. I feel like that every year. Just because I haven’t proved anything yet.”

He hasn’t proved anything yet in part because he missed all of his rookie season after falling down stairs and fracturing his skull. (Getting a DUI that year didn’t help, either.) As a result of the injury, he has permanent hearing loss in his right ear, which makes hand signals necessary to help him pick up the defensive calls.

“The hearing hasn’t changed but I’m more acclimated to everything now,” Kindle said. “We’re working on something to help deal with that on the field, but it’s in the makings right now.

“I’ve been recovered for a year now but I’m great now. I was good all of last year, but I had to take precaution coming in. This year, I got my guns blazing. It’s no holds barred. Whatever they put on the bar I’m lifting it.”

Kindle, the 43rd overall pick in 2010, appeared in only two regular-season games last season. This year, the Ravens would benefit significantly from Kindle making a contribution, given the Achilles tendon injury suffered by Terrell Suggs. If Kindle isn’t able to do that, it may be time for the Ravens to move on.

Avril and Lions still apart on money, but he's not worried

Posted by Michael David Smith on May 24, 2012, 10:56 AM EDT

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The Lions and defensive end Cliff Avril still have quite a bit of work to do if they’re going to come to terms before the July 16 deadline for franchise players to sign long-term contract extensions.

Albert Breer of NFL Network reports thatAvril is asking for about $2 million a year more than the Lions are offering. Avril is looking for a four-year, $42 million deal with most of that money guaranteed, and although the Lions are engaged in talks and have offered several contract proposals, none of the proposals are enough for Avril to be willing to sign.

The good news for both sides is that everyone seems to recognize that there’s no personal acrimony even if they disagree about what a fair contract would constitute.

“I’m fortunate enough to play football for a living, first off,” Avril said. “I’m thankful for that. But I know it’s a business. I knew that from Day 1. I have to do what’s right for my family. I’m a businessman. I can’t be mad. If they lowball you, you can’t be mad, because you ask yourself, if you were them, what would you do initially? So I’m not mad. It’s not personal. I just want to be here long term.”

Avril likes Detroit well enough that he decided to stay in Detroit and work out with a personal trainer in the area during the offseason, while his teammates are working out at the team facility. Eventually, if a long-term deal can’t get worked out, he’ll sign the franchise tender and play the 2012 season at a guaranteed base salary of $10.6 million, knowing that next year he’ll either get franchised again with a pay raise of at least 20 percent, or he’ll work out a long-term deal with the Lions, or he’ll test the market as an unrestricted free agent. None of those are bad options.

So even though the team and the player are $2 million apart, one way or another things are going to work out. Avril sounds content with that.

Avril is a big part of what the Lions do defensively. He is a very good fit for their wide nine scheme with his quick first step and his overall athleticism. However, I think he is well aware of that fact that he is in the best place, for the success of his career. I don't see the Lions paying much more than this offer for him with guys like Willie Young, Lawrence Jackson, Everette Brown, and Ronnell Lewis waiting in the wings for playing time. Ultimately I expect them to met somewhere above where they are at now, and he will continue to produce in this system.

Patrick Peterson: I am a corner first, returner second

Posted by Michael David Smith on May 24, 2012, 9:51 AM EDT

Cardinals cornerback and punt returner Patrick Peterson came in at No. 55 in NFL Network’s unveiling of the Top 100 players in the league, as voted on by their peers, and he says that’s a great place to be as a rookie. But he also says he wants to be in the Top 10 some day, and to do that he needs to be viewed primarily as a shutdown cornerback who returns punts on the side.

Peterson’s rookie season was one of the best seasons any punt returner has ever had, with 44 returns for 699 yards and four return touchdowns, including a 99-yarder in overtime that was one of the most spectacular plays of the NFL season. Peterson knows that’s the primary reason he made the Top 100, but he also knows the reason the Cardinals took him with the fifth overall pick in the NFL draft is that they want him to be an elite starting cornerback.

“I feel pretty good for my first season being at No. 55 but hopefully as my career progresses I’ll be looking to be in that Top 10 category somewhere,” Peterson said. “I definitely believe I made it through the record I set — tying the NFL record [for punt return touchdowns in a season]. I believe that’s primarily what got me in the Top 100. But this year I’ve been working more on my coverage skills and trying to be more of a shutdown cornerback versus that elite punt returner.”

Peterson started all 16 games at cornerback last season, but he struggled to adjust to the pro passing game. He acknowledges that he needs to improve in pass coverage.

“I expect to be a whole lot better,” Peterson said. “I can’t wait to get out there for the first game and showcase what I’ve been working for this offseason, finally put it to work and show the world what I can do.”

Peterson has already shown the world (or at least the portion of the world that watches the NFL) what he can do as a punt returner. If he can make the same kind of impact as a cornerback this year, he’ll be a whole lot higher than No. 55 on the Top 100 list next year.

Winslow says Seattle is a "perfect fit"

Posted by Michael David Smith on May 24, 2012, 8:54 AM EDT

New Seahawks tight end Kellen Winslow has had time to do little other than unpack his bags in Seattle, but he says that after meeting briefly with head coach Pete Carroll, he knows he’s on the right team.

“It’s been great,” Winslow said on ESPN’s NFL 32. “It’s a perfect fit. Coach Carroll is upbeat, he’s energetic, so it’s going to be perfect. I’m looking forward to working with the whole team, Matt Flynn, Zach Miller, just being a piece of the puzzle.”

So why was Tampa Bay the wrong fit? Winslow said he sensed that new Buccaneers coach Greg Schiano didn’t think highly of him, and didn’t appreciate the fact that Winslow likes to work out on his own during the offseason rather than attend Organized Team Activities.

“I don’t want to say anything bad about coach Schiano,” Winslow said. “It just wasn’t a good fit, I guess. When a new regime comes in sometimes that’s what happens. That’s just what it is. Sometimes they want their guys that they think will fit the team and that’s what happens. And you know what? It worked out, for both sides. . . . I guess they didn’t feel comfortable with me not being there, but it worked out for the best for both sides.”

Carroll has already given Winslow the usual speech about the importance of competition, and Winslow bought what Carroll is selling.

“I can be myself out here — it’s going to be fun,” Winslow said. “I’m totally excited. Everybody’s real nice here and I’m excited to play for the 12th Man.”

Steve Smith talks about players mismanaging their money

Posted by Mike Florio on May 23, 2012, 7:58 PM EDT

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Plenty of NFL players burn through plenty of money, plenty of times in a given year. Panthers receiver Steve Smith isn’t surprised by this dynamic, and he has a few ideas as to why it happens.

“Mismanagement of money doesn’t change because you have a lot of money, there are a lot of guys out there that make a lot of money and that make a little money and still live paycheck to paycheck,” Smith told WFNZ in Charlotte on Wednesday. “You know, ignorance of how the financial game works or managing money doesn’t exclude you because you have a lot of it, it just enables you to make bigger and dumber mistakes because you have a lot of money.”

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