--Larry Johnson is desperately trying to avoid getting hit with the franchise tag next summer, that's wh yhe is threatening to hold out now, to get a deal done. Anyone who knows LJ at all knows that if they tag him, he will never play another down for them. Could be real interesting how hard he tries this year if no deal is done. He's not exactly the best teammate or most mature guy in the world.
--The Bears are completely gaga over Mark Bradley, their oft-injured WR. He's 100% and he's "blowing away" their pretty good CBs in drills. They are hoping he usurps Muhsin Muhammad because Bradley can get downfield and make things happen in the open field. And the Devin Hester experiment is taking another turn--they've got a couple of formations where he's in the backfield with Ced Benson, and apparently Hester has a pretty good arm.
--You're going to see the 1st rounders starting to sign pretty much en masse over the next 2-3 weeks. The 3 guys who are expected to hold out: Brady Quinn, Darrelle Revis, and Reggie Nelson, pretty much in that order of likelihood. Revis and Nelson have more leverage as they are both expected to start right away. Quinn has not passed either Charlie Frye or Derek Anderson on the depth chart, so he's basically wasting his rookie year if he holds out.
--more Browns: they cut Antonio Perkins in large part because Gary Baxter looks like he'll be ready to play Week 1, which would be amazing. Anyone who saw how his knees look like they deflated had to have thought his career was over, myself included. But he's running near-full speed already. Also, the OL has melded together very well and the competition between Joe Thomas, Kevin Shaffer, and Rex Tucker for the 2 starting T positions is fierce. The DL is another story, however. Early fantasy tip #1--start whatever RB is facing the Browns.
--lots of teams are looking for DL help, esp. teams that play Cover-2 or Tampa-2. The Bears, Bucs, and Panthers are all trying to add quicker guys to fill their rotations. It's very critical for the Panthers, who are heavily weighing cutting the heavily weighing Kris Jenkins and his heavy contract. They are very disappointed in Maake Kemoeatu, who appears to be one of those guys who got complacent after scoring the fat FA $$.
--the Vikings are shopping their excess RBs, Ciatrick Faison, Artose Pinner, and Mewelde Moore. I know the Texans offered a 6th rounder for Fason; I guess the Vikes are holding out for more. And expect lots of packages with both Taylor and Peterson in the backfield--both guys have shown a willingness to block for one another and great hands out of the backfield. My humble opinion--the Vikings are above-average QB play and adequate WR play away from being the best team in the NFC. Too bad they're almost certain to get neither...
--the Cardinals are making the switch to the 3-4, but it might look kinda strange. They're toying with using 3 safeties as their every down base D and using Adrian Wilson as an extra LB and blitzer a la Polamalu in PIT, with Terrence Holt playing behind him in deep coverage. Antrell Rolle has looked more comfortable, perhaps enough that it's time for the inevitable "Rolle is about to blossom..." thread, for you long-time NBA gen boarders
Also, they love how Al Johnson has come in and taken over the OL.
--finally my Lions: yes, the Daunte Culpepper rumors are legit.
But I expect him to wind up in St. Louis as soon as Bulger's new deal is done.
