15 Oct 2008

QUOTE:   "If wisdom were offered me with this restriction, that I should keep it close and not communicate it, I would refuse the gift."  SENECA

FROM KEVIN ACEE OF THE SAN DIEGO TRIBUNE…Raiders running back Michael Bush was almost a Charger before the Raiders backed out just before the 1 p.m. deadline, sources said. According to a Bay Area source, the sides were close on terms, believed to be a second-day pick, before the Raiders pulled the deal. Asked about the negotiations, Chargers General Manager A.J. Smith neither confirmed nor denied there had been talks. Smith has worked a deal three of the past four trading deadlines, including high-profile swaps of draft picks for receiver Keenan McCardell in 2004 and receiver Chris Chambers in 2007.Smith also traded Toniu Fonoti to the Vikings for a seventh-round draft pick in 2005.The Chargers likely were interested in Bush for depth behind LaDainian Tomlinson. Current backup Darren Sproles becomes an unrestricted free agent after this season. The Chargers would like to keep Sproles, but he is expected to test the market before deciding whether to stay in San Diego. Bush (6 feet 1, 245 pounds) was a fourth-round pick in 2007, but he did not play last year while recovering from a broken leg suffered in his final season at Louisville. This season, he has 202 yards on 47 carries. He also has nine receptions for 89 yards, including seven for 80 yards against the Chargers last month. Asked if he worked on any trades this year, Smith said, "We are always exploring possibilities to get better."

Now, having worked at the Hotel for some time, there was NEVER NEVER NEVER a chance for the Raiders to trade running back Michael Bush to the Chargers.   I am not doubting Kevin Acee’s report here, I am not doubting there was talk here, but what I am saying is the Raiders never want to trade to a AFC West opponent.  They don’t even want to trade to teams on the schedule.  If we tried to make a trade, we had to eliminate all the teams we played in the division, as well as the teams we played that coming season.  Now, the Chargers are really admitting here that they need a healthy back.  All the LT talk about him being back and ready to go is just talk.  He is not the same LT and the Chargers, as indicated from their interest in Bush, seem to want and crave a big back to play with Darren Sproles.  Bush is the right back for the Norv Turner offense and this move would make sense in a logical world.  But one thing we know for sure, the Hotel has no room for logic. 

FROM GARY ESTWICK OF THE TENNESSEAN…It would be hard for me to understand the reason," Titans defensive back Vincent Fuller said when asked about Jones' ongoing problems during Fuller's radio show on 106.7-FM. Under terms of the trade that sent Jones to Dallas in the spring, the Titans were obligated to surrender a draft pick if Jones got into trouble and became unable to play. Had Jones, 25, spent his first season back in the NFL without being suspended again, the Titans would have received a sixth-round pick from Dallas, in addition to the fourth-round pick they received. Dallas announced it did not plan to take disciplinary action against Jones, who started all six games this season. He now will miss at least four games, according to the NFL. "We respect and support the decision of the commissioner," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said in a statement. "We move forward with a very clear knowledge as to what the process will be for a possible re-instatement. Adam is well aware of where he stands and what he has to do."

Can this end all the talk about Adam Jones?  When does a journeyman player who has never grown up deserve this kind of attention and interest?  Look, I love talent more than anyone and have at times forgiven character for talent, but this one is just bizarre.  Ask anyone in the Titans organization and they would have told you they expected to pay the Cowboys back.  They expected Pacman to fall off the wagon of good behavior.   I wish we talked more about the great players present and past in the NFL who give their time and their money to kids who need help, to kids who need an education, and less time to a journeyman player who does not even have enough respect or love for the game to stay out of trouble.  Let’s all move on.  The Cowboys just got better as team. 

FROM NICHOLAS COTSONIKO OF THE DETRIOT FREE PRESS…At the Lions' weekly news conference Monday, general manager Martin Mayhew spoke about the NFL trade deadline. He said he didn't want to send a message to the team that the season was over with 11 games to go. He said it wasn't better for anyone to give up.  Mayhew said Monday that the Lions didn't plan to trade anyone and weren't shopping Williams; the Lions traded Williams on Tuesday. Williams always said he wanted to be in Detroit; as soon as he joined Dallas, he said he was happier than when he got his first bike. Mayhew said putting Kitna on injured reserve was purely a medical issue and Kitna didn't protest; Kitna told Free Press columnist Mitch Albom that he was healthy Friday, the Lions told him not to travel to Sunday's game at Minnesota and they were considering giving him a couple weeks to heal, putting him on IR or trading him. Mayhew said Tuesday that he wasn't lying about trading Williams or posturing Monday.  He might be technically correct about the lying part. He did allow Monday that it would take "something that's very interesting" for him to trade Williams, and this was certainly very interesting -- first-, third- and sixth-round picks from the Cowboys for Williams and a seventh-round pick. He said Monday that he didn't have any firm offers, and apparently the first one came while he spoke.

This was a trade Mayhew had to make.  If he were to franchise Williams this off-season, than my thought of the best deal he could make would have involved a first round pick, as well as something later.  But what the Lions received was basically the 1st and 3rd franchise tender compensation.  And no one normally pays that for a wide out.  So, this is a good first step for the Lions and they just need to use these picks on the pieces that win games:  the offensive line!!!!!

FROM KENT BAAB OF THE KANSAS CITY STAR…When it didn’t happen, it left a team trying to move forward after its best player wanted out and a coach whose biggest responsibility now might be holding the team together during an increasingly complicated season. It appears to be wearing on Edwards. He was uncharacteristically short with reporters Tuesday and bristled when asked what Gonzalez’s trade request says about Edwards, team president/general manager Carl Peterson and the organization. “It doesn’t say anything about me,” Edwards said. “It doesn’t say one thing about me. It has nothing to do with me. You need to ask the player that. That’s not for me to answer. I’m not going to answer for a football player. I don’t have to do that. I answer for the decisions that I make, what comes out of my mouth. You’re asking the wrong guy. You need to ask him. “I have enough problems.” The Chiefs’ 1-4 record already gave Edwards plenty of headaches even without the Gonzalez factor. The coach spent the weekend in his office at the team’s practice facility, reliving Kansas City’s first five games on film and waiting to see if another team would bite on a trade. “That’s what young guys are going to have to learn about professional football,” Edwards said. “There’s always going to be some distractions every week, some bigger than others, and you can’t bring it to work. You’ve got to stay focused on your job. “Hopefully these guys can understand the importance of not letting distractions really cloud what we have to do.”

The bottom line here is that Tony Gonzalez only wanted to play in New York and for the Giants.  The Buffalo Bills wanted to pursue him, but he was not interested in finishing his career in another small market city.  And the hard thing for Gonzalez, as it has been for most of the veteran players on the Chiefs, is they are not buying what Herm Edwards is selling.  They are not hearing and responding to the “lets build something together”--That campaign might work for Lowes Building Supplies, but it is not going over in the Chiefs locker room.  And it is no wonder that the head coach is a little testy.  He coaches a bad team, he has no quarterback and his prospects of winning are not very good anytime soon.   And when the ultimate salesman cannot sell anyone any longer, then things tend to get a little testy. 

FROM JIM THOMAS OF THE ST LOUIS POST DISPATCH…The Rams are working on an agreement with Jim Haslett's agent that would bring Haslett back as the team's head coach in 2009 if the team goes 6-6 over the final 12 games of this season.  Haslett already has one victory under his belt, thanks to the Rams' 19-17 upset victory Sunday over Washington in his debut as Rams head coach. Haslett was named as Scott Linehan's replacement on Sept. 29 when Linehan was fired after an 0-4 start this season and an 11-25 record over two-plus seasons.  According to a team source, the agreement "has yet to be executed" and some negotiations took place as recently as a couple of weeks ago. In addition, any agreement would need the approval of the league office, in part to make sure that it didn't violate the Rooney Rule, which calls for interviewing minorities for head-coaching vacancies. If the agreement is finalized, Haslett and the Rams now need to finish 5-6 over the final 11 games for Haslett to be guaranteed a return as head coach next season. There are no provisions about the agreement being voided if the franchise is sold, in part because a team source said no sale is on the horizon. Haslett would get additional money in 2009 if the team goes 6-6 or better under his watch, according to two sources. These were among the issues discussed by Haslett and the Rams early on Sept. 29 after Linehan was fired. Haslett didn't formally agree to become head coach until about 10:30 that morning, some nine hours after Linehan's firing. Haslett told the media later that day only that some questions had to be answered before he agreed to take over.

This is critical for Jim Haslett to have any chance to win the locker room.  He needs to waive this agreement much like Neville Chamberlain waived the Munich agreement.  It might not mean anything and it might not all work out, but this gives him some power and substance to deal with some of the malcontents on the team.  He is the new chief and he needs the paperwork to back the power up—even if the paper work has no substance. 

FROM BARRY SVRLUG AND JASON LA CANFORA OF THE WASHINGTON POST…The moves came after a day in which coaches and team officials put free agents through workouts at Redskins Park before preparations begin today for Sunday's game against the Cleveland Browns. The team also signed veteran safety Mike Green to take Doughty's place both on defense, where the Redskins were left with only rookies at strong safety, and special teams.  Vinny Cerrato, the Redskins' executive vice president for football operations, declined to comment on the moves. They were made, though, to address three distinct situations.   Alexander, who led the league in rushing in 2005, received an opportunity because Betts went down with a sprained left knee in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 19-17 loss to St. Louis. Alexander, 31, took a red-eye flight from the West Coast and landed yesterday morning, Zorn said, working out early in Ashburn.  "He looks fit," Zorn said. "He's got a lot of want-to in his attitude."  After winning the MVP award in 2005, when he scored a then-record 27 rushing touchdowns, Alexander endured a precipitous fall, playing 23 games in 2006 and '07, when he averaged 3.5 yards per carry. The Seahawks cut him last spring, and he tried out with Detroit, New Orleans and Cincinnati but did not land a spot. Zorn and running backs coach Stump Mitchell worked with Alexander in Seattle. Zorn said he talked to Alexander about his potential role, which would be to back up Clinton Portis, the NFL's leading rusher. Betts, the regular backup, is expected to be out as long as four weeks.

Clearly Jim Zorn knows Alexander and remembers when he was a good player.  It will be interesting to see if Alexander is enjoying football more than he did last year.  It will be interesting to see if he is willing to make the hard runs and fight for the extra yards.  And what is a little alarming here for the Skins is that they are not that deep in talent and the more injuries that creep up will affect them down the road.  Winning in September is wonderful, but you have to win in November and December.  Reed Dougherty was playing well for them and he will be another guy that is not easy to replace. 

FROM PAUL DOMOWITCH OF THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS…That thud you heard yesterday was Andy Reid's approval rating dropping another 10 points. The NFL trading deadline came and went without the Eagles adding any of the offensive firepower their fans have been clamoring for. Tight end Tony Gonzalez? Never made it out of Kansas City. Wide receiver Roy Williams? Traded to the dastardly Dallas Cowboys. Ugh. Chad Ocho Cinco and T.J. Houshmandzadeh?  Still in the witness protection program in Cincinnati. Knowing the incompetent Bengals, they probably think the trading deadline is next Tuesday. The day wasn't a total waste for the Eagles. They did make a couple of roster moves, releasing running back/fullback Tony Hunt and signing linebacker Tracy White. White, who was released by Green Bay last week after two-plus seasons, was acquired primarily to give their special-teams coverage units a boost. Hunt's release hardly was a surprise. The Eagles switched the 2007 third-round pick out of Penn State from running back to fullback only 2 weeks before the start of the season, even though he had very little experience as a blocker. Reid and offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg were hopeful he'd eventually get the hang of it, but he never did. Last week, they switched defensive tackle-turned-fullback-turned-defensive tackle Dan Klecko back to fullback and moved Hunt back to running back. The only reason Hunt wasn't released last week was because they needed a third running back against the 49ers. With Brian Westbrook sidelined with two fractured ribs, they had only Correll Buckhalter, Lorenzo Booker and Hunt. Hunt was on the field for only four snaps Sunday against the 49ers.

The Eagles have a plan and they have a vision.  And nothing will deter or sidetrack them off this vision.  But the critical part of their plan is to draft very well, to make sure the second and third round picks are hits and can become quality players since they have traded out of the first round the last two years.  And to me, this is where the Eagles plan is not working.  I know, they have a great public relations machine, and they have every employee interviewing for every GM job in the league.  But look at their team and look at their drafts.  Perception and reality are the not the same.  They have not been able to hit with the offensive lineman they have drafted.  Spending a high two for offensive lineman Winston Justice has been the biggest flaw of all.   I mean, I was there when we drafted Tra Thomas.  But the bad picking does not stop with Justice.  Look at their team, and then look at their drafts.  And remember, it does not matter if they start, it matters how they play.  If the Eagles want to stick with this plan, they need to improve how they draft and learn from their mistakes.  The draft is killing the Birds, not the trade deadline. 

FROM RICH CIMINI OF THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS…He was lucky to get in the game. Removed from the sub packages - his role in the previous games - Gholston didn't play until the third quarter, when he spelled the banged-up Bryan Thomas (calf). As soon as Thomas was able to return, it was back to the bench for Gholston, who registered zero tackles in 13 plays.  The Jets expected growing pains from Gholston, who is learning a new position, but they probably never imagined this: Only one tackle. Obviously, they'd never admit it.  "When I'm going to be concerned is when we're not making progress, and when we're not seeing him get better, week-in, week-out," Eric Mangini said. "That, to me, is a concern."   Gholston was drafted sixth, two picks after McFadden, who was rated one spot ahead of Gholston on the Jets' draft board, a person familiar with the team's thinking said at the time. If the Raiders hadn't selected McFadden, who has rushed for 302 yards and a 5.1 average, he'd be taking handoffs from Brett Favre.  "If I were the Jets, I would've done everything I could to get McFadden or (Jonathan) Stewart," an opposing personnel director said this week, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

The Jet source “who is familiar with Jet thinking is back”….I love it. And now the Jets are admitting that they would have taken McFadden in the draft if he was there.  Why do that now?  Why show your hand ever?  This pick of Gholston was one I did not like before the draft.  It has nothing to do with the Jets, it has EVERYTHING to do with Gholston.  And this summer, with the limited amount he has played, he looks lost, he looks very tentative and he looks to stay away from contact.  The fact that the Jets overpaid him (don’t believe me, call the Jags) makes Gholston’s lack of production even harder to handle.  And one thing for all the Jet fans out there, this team is your team for the next two years.  Because of the moves this past off season, the team has committed cash and cap and cannot make many changes.  You think Isaiah Thomas locked the Knicks in cap hell, the Jets are not that far behind. 

FROM JOHN WAWROW OF THE ROCHESTER DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE…The Bills traded underperforming defensive tackle John McCargo to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for an undisclosed draft pick on Tuesday. The second of Buffalo's two 2006 first-round draft picks, McCargo had difficulty gaining a regular role in the team's defensive line rotation and had dropped to fourth on the Bills' depth chart behind Spencer Johnson. The deal was announced by the Bills about 90 minutes after the NFL's trade deadline passed. Buffalo (4-1) is coming off its bye week and had expressed interest in acquiring Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez, who remained with Kansas City. The move did not come as a surprise as McCargo appeared in only four games this season, and after he was left inactive for Buffalo's season opener against Seattle. He was credited with only two tackles this season.

Both teams play a similar style in that they are a gap control team.  And McCargo was one of those players that was always on the ground and lacked balance to keep his feet.  He was not very effective and he at least will give the depleted Colts defensive tackle group a bigger body. 

FROM RAY RATTO OF THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE…Now this will not be a defense of Nolan or his regime. He has had 54 games to show far more progress than this, and winning every third game isn't close to cutting it. His players are starting to show the telltale signs of losing heart. They look disorganized, confused and directionless in every area, and, worst of all, this season is exactly what those snot-nosed media creeps foresaw for them when the season began.  But there's more. Nolan has not looked comfortable in his own skin since he got here, as though he spends too much time in his own head wondering how he looks while he's coaching. Stylistically as well as tactically, he was simply too twitchy to wield the power he had been given. In other words, there is simply too little evidence to suggest that he has earned the right or even the blind optimism to keep the job. It might not be time this week, but the time is coming, and the 49ers are always good at seeing the time has come after it already has passed. Here, though, is the problem everyone wants to avoid when the subject arises. Firing Nolan takes someone to do it, and, frankly, it's hard to see who would. Consider the candidates:

Every time I watch the 49ERS on defense I ask why?  Why does a head coach who made his living coaching defense not get that part of the game fixed?  They have spent money, draft picks and changed coaches to help the defense and still it is one of the worst in the NFL.  I really believe in time, when Mike Nolan looks back on his days in SF, he will regret not getting the defense to fit his style and personality as his biggest regret.  As for their drafting?  Wow, they are bad and cannot even get their one this year on the field.  Their drafting is for another column…