Chiefs also preached "Kill the head and the body will die"

Posted by Michael David Smith on July 13, 2012, 3:15 PM EDT

Among the many incendiary statements that former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams used to fire up his players was, “Kill the head and the body will die.” There’s been a great deal of debate about what Williams meant when he talked about killing the head, but there’s no doubt about this: He wasn’t the only one in the NFL who used that phrase.

In fact, players walking into the Kansas City Chiefs’ defensive line room in 2008 were greeted with that slogan painted in huge letters: “KILL THE HEAD & THE BODY WILL DIE.”

Seahawks cut ties with Mike Williams

Posted by Josh Alper on July 13, 2012, 4:59 PM EDT

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Wide receiver Mike Williams revived his career with a big 2010 season for the Seahawks, but he won’t be around for a third year in Seattle.

The Seahawks announced Friday afternoon that they have released Williams. The 10th overall pick of the 2005 Draft had 65 catches for 751 yards for the Seahawks in 2010, his first season with the team after failed stints in Oakland and Tennessee following his departure from Detroit as one of Matt Millen’s many draft misses. The big season got Williams a new contract in Seattle, but he caught just 18 passes in 2011 and is trying to come back from a fractured fibula suffered late last season.

“We would like to thank Mike for his contributions over the past two seasons and we wish him well in the future,” said General Manager John Schneider in a release from the team.

The move solidifies Sidney Rice, Doug Baldwin and Golden Tate as the top three receivers with the Seahawks. Williams’ departure means that Ben Obomanu, Ricardo Lockette, Kris Durham and Deon Butler are left in the competition for spots behind them on the depth chart.

Injuries and weight issues have hampered him throughout his career, but his size will likely make him intriguing enough to get looks around the league. Williams wasn’t able to work in the spring because of his leg injury, though, and he’ll have to show he’s healthy before he lands with another team.

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Brees' deal is done, worth $100 million

Posted by Michael David Smith on July 13, 2012, 1:45 PM EDT

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As a tumultuous offseason heads toward training camp, the New Orleans Saints finally have some good news:  Drew Brees’s deal is done.

Brees, the franchise quarterback who was absent all offseason after he and the Saints couldn’t come to terms on a new contract, has agreed to sign a five-year, $100 million deal, according to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen.

Florio has confirmed the news.

The deal includes $40 million in the first year and a guaranteed $60 million in the first three years of the contract. That’s the biggest guarantee for any contract in NFL history. After protracted negotiations, Brees has done very well for himself.

Florio also has confirmed the numbers, adding that there are $22 million more in “rolling” guarantees as the contract unfolds.

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Ravens waiting three years to get McAdoo on the field

Posted by Darin Gantt on July 13, 2012, 9:32 AM EDT

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By the time Michael McAdoo is well again, it will be three years since he’s played football.

But the Ravens are perfectly willing to wait to give him another chance.

The pass-rushing outside linebacker sat out 2010 because of NCAA violations at North Carolina and last year on injured reserve with a knee injury. That’s where he’ll be again this year after tearing his Achilles in offseason workouts.

“I finally had a chance to get out there on the field to prove myself,” McAdoo told the Ravens’ official website. “I thought it was going well, getting the hang of the plays, getting in the system, and getting some extra eyes and extra looks. Then for me to go down, it just hurt.

“I realize that and all I can do is keep fighting. I can’t give up just because I have an injury. I can’t feel sorry for myself because nobody else is going to feel sorry for me.”

For their part, the Ravens have seen enough potential that they’re willing to wait.

“He’s not a guy we’ll give up on,” coach John Harbaugh said. “He’s just going to be a project for us. He’s going to get another year in the weight room and in the meetings and try to see if he can be a player next year.”

McAdoo just turned 22 years old, and showed flashes at UNC that he could be a pass-rusher. That’s a rare enough commodity that teams are willing to wait.

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Friday morning one-liners

Posted by Josh Alper on July 13, 2012, 8:49 AM EDT

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Looking at how the Bills might balance the usage of running backs Fred Jackson andC.J. Spiller.

Will QB David Garrard provide the Dolphinswith what they got from Chad Pennington?

Analyzing the Patriots’ decision to pass on WR Josh Gordon in the Supplemental Draft.

The Jets signed T Paul Cornick, who was an FCS All-America at North Dakota State.

Dolphins in discussions with league about altering their logo

Posted by Mike Florio on July 13, 2012, 7:40 AM EDT

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In 1997, one of Florida’s NFL teams made a dramatic shift in logo and uniform design, ditching pastel creamsicle duds and the flamboyant Zorro helmet sticker for a stunning pewter and red combination.

Come 2013, another Florida team could be making a change, but not as dramatic.

Ben Volin of the Palm Beach Post reports that the Dolphins are “well into discussions” with the league office on a “fresh new look” for 2013.  The NFL and the Dolphins have been “trading emails for several weeks,” swapping mock-ups of possible changes to the cartoon Dolphins wearing a white helmet with an orange “M” on the side, in front of an outline of the sun.

NFL to work with the Army on helmet sensor technology

Posted by Darin Gantt on July 13, 2012, 7:10 AM EDT

AP

The NFL is already working with the military on changing the culture of dealing with concussions.

Now they’re pairing up on the technology as well.

According to a report in Stars and Stripes, the military’s independent news source, the NFL wants to put sensors in player helmets to gather data on concussions. The Army has been putting blast sensors in helmets since 2007, and will use 45,000 of them to monitor head injuries suffered by bomb blasts in Afghanistan.

Kurt Warner: Kolb will start, but needs to learn Whisenhunt's offense

Posted by Michael David Smith on July 13, 2012, 6:16 AM EDT

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Former Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner had three good seasons playing in Ken Whisenhunt’s offense in Arizona, and he says Kevin Kolb can have plenty of good seasons playing in that offense, too. It’s just that Kolb has to learn the offense first.

Warner said on NFL Network that Kolb is expected to win the starting job in training camp despite having a disappointing season in 2011. The problem with Kolb last season, Warner says, is that Kolb never really grasped Whisenhunt’s offense.

Matt Schaub get's green light to practice

Posted by Mike Florio on July 12, 2012, 11:00 PM EDT

AP

After missing six weeks of the 2011 regular season, the postseason, and all of the offseason training program with a foot injury, Texans quarterback Matt Schaub is back, baby.

According to Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com, Schaub has gotten the “green light” to practice when training camp begins.

The go-ahead came from Dr. Robert Anderson, who repaired the Lisfranc injury suffered when former Buccaneers defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth brought Schaub down during a game  last November.

John McClain of the Houston Chronicle said during an appearance last week on PFT Live that the team won’t be giving Schaub a new contract until he proves that he’s healthy.  A league source has since told PFT that there have been “early discussion” on a new deal, but that it likely won’t be finalized until after the season, at the earliest.

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Jimmy Graham uses altitude training for pre-camp edge

Posted by Darin Gantt on July 12, 2012, 7:48 PM EDT

Reuters

Jimmy Graham soars over opponents on a regular basis.

So it’s no surprise the Saints tight end is getting some pre-training camp work in at altitude.

Graham has spent part of the last two summers in Steamboat Springs, Colo.

“The week before (training) camp I make sure I’m in Steamboat,”Graham told Luke Graham of the Craig Daily Press. “It’s to get those extra red blood cells. I can tell a big difference.