Random tidbits 6-9
Posted: Fri Jun 8, 2007 7:49 pm
A few things from around the league...
--Daunte Culpepper was removed from MIA training facility today in the manner the Titans dealt with McNair last year. I know the Jags were actively pursuing him and the Ravens and Rams both had enough interest to be legit destinations. Asking price earlier this week was a 4th rounder, but no way the Dolphins get that straight up; it will be conditional at best. I heard his knee is still no more than 75% of pre-injury and probably won't ever be better than that. Regardless, he won't be a Dolphin any minute now.
--Also from MIA, Lorenzo Booker has a real shot at winning the starting RB job over Ronnie Brown. Brown showed up 15 pounds heavy and with a poor attitude, and his nonchalance has clearly rubbed Cam Cameron the wrong way. Booker has shown excellent burst and a willingness to lower the shoulder, something Brown hasn't done yet. The guy I talked to said the new offensive staff is calling him "Out of Bounds Brown" because that's where he runs on every carry.
--Jimmy Kennedy is headed to Denver, and this says more about how much the Rams like their rookies Adam Carriker and Clifton Ryan than it does anything for Denver. Ryan has been consistently awesome and Carriker has the ability to dominate at the 3-gap where they're playing him. Kennedy becomes the latest in a surprisingly long list of confirmed Penn State flops. Just off the top of my head I can think of 10 in the last 15 or so years. He's now trying to win the job as Sam Adams' backup and he might not get it.
--Kelly Herndon got a nice offer from DET, but he wants a guarantee he'll have a starting job to lose before he signs anywhere. He's not going to get that IMO, though WAS seems like a great fit and he's headed there Monday.
--On the WAS CB front, Shawn Springs is 50/50 going to be on that team opening week. His roster bonus and cap accelrators are huge, and they are quite concerned about his nagging groin injury. He's training like he's scared of it. He's likely to be the biggest name of the bevy of summer cap-hit/usurped vet cuts.
--some 2nd year guys who have made giant strides this offseason: Daniel Bullocks/S/DET, Marvin Phillip/C/PIT, Travis Wilson/WR/CLE, Eric Winston/RT/HOU, Brandon Marshall/WR/DEN, Nate Salley/S/CAR, Jason Allen/CB/MIA. All of those guys were seen as disappointments last year but now appear to have figured out the NFL game and should be much better players. Salley and Allen in particular, both of whom will start. Bullocks will start too but the raves are higher on the other two.
--Tyler Thigpen has impressed the MIN coaching staff big-time. My Vikings guy told me Thigpen knows the playbook better than Jackson already and has the best arm they've seen since Randall Cunningham, both very strong and very accurate on deep throws. He and the two WR rookies (Allison and Rice) have tangible chemistry. Jackson had better live up to Coach Childress' expectations quickly or else this kid is going to get on the field.
--Daunte Culpepper was removed from MIA training facility today in the manner the Titans dealt with McNair last year. I know the Jags were actively pursuing him and the Ravens and Rams both had enough interest to be legit destinations. Asking price earlier this week was a 4th rounder, but no way the Dolphins get that straight up; it will be conditional at best. I heard his knee is still no more than 75% of pre-injury and probably won't ever be better than that. Regardless, he won't be a Dolphin any minute now.
--Also from MIA, Lorenzo Booker has a real shot at winning the starting RB job over Ronnie Brown. Brown showed up 15 pounds heavy and with a poor attitude, and his nonchalance has clearly rubbed Cam Cameron the wrong way. Booker has shown excellent burst and a willingness to lower the shoulder, something Brown hasn't done yet. The guy I talked to said the new offensive staff is calling him "Out of Bounds Brown" because that's where he runs on every carry.
--Jimmy Kennedy is headed to Denver, and this says more about how much the Rams like their rookies Adam Carriker and Clifton Ryan than it does anything for Denver. Ryan has been consistently awesome and Carriker has the ability to dominate at the 3-gap where they're playing him. Kennedy becomes the latest in a surprisingly long list of confirmed Penn State flops. Just off the top of my head I can think of 10 in the last 15 or so years. He's now trying to win the job as Sam Adams' backup and he might not get it.
--Kelly Herndon got a nice offer from DET, but he wants a guarantee he'll have a starting job to lose before he signs anywhere. He's not going to get that IMO, though WAS seems like a great fit and he's headed there Monday.
--On the WAS CB front, Shawn Springs is 50/50 going to be on that team opening week. His roster bonus and cap accelrators are huge, and they are quite concerned about his nagging groin injury. He's training like he's scared of it. He's likely to be the biggest name of the bevy of summer cap-hit/usurped vet cuts.
--some 2nd year guys who have made giant strides this offseason: Daniel Bullocks/S/DET, Marvin Phillip/C/PIT, Travis Wilson/WR/CLE, Eric Winston/RT/HOU, Brandon Marshall/WR/DEN, Nate Salley/S/CAR, Jason Allen/CB/MIA. All of those guys were seen as disappointments last year but now appear to have figured out the NFL game and should be much better players. Salley and Allen in particular, both of whom will start. Bullocks will start too but the raves are higher on the other two.
--Tyler Thigpen has impressed the MIN coaching staff big-time. My Vikings guy told me Thigpen knows the playbook better than Jackson already and has the best arm they've seen since Randall Cunningham, both very strong and very accurate on deep throws. He and the two WR rookies (Allison and Rice) have tangible chemistry. Jackson had better live up to Coach Childress' expectations quickly or else this kid is going to get on the field.
