07/31/04
- [Dallas Cowboys] Dave Volk, who played guard with the Amsterdam Admirals in NFL Europe this off-season, has been temporarily moved to defensive tackle because of depth reasons. (DallasCowboys.com)
- [Green Bay Packers] The Packers offense got a chance to work as an 11-man unit near the end of practice and focused mainly on screen passes. Dahrran Diedrick, a free agent running back out of Nebraska who participated on the Packers' practice squad a year ago, received much of the work as he was the only true running back taking part in drills. (Packers.com)
- The Vikings are not close to a deal with second-round linebacker Dontarrious Thomas (Auburn), and he could miss several days of training camp while negotiating continues. Among the issues the Vikings are dealing with is the contract of Buffalo defensive end Chris Kelsay, who was picked last season in the same draft spot as Thomas. Teams generally base negotiations on the previous year's contracts.
Kelsay signed a four-year contract worth $2.745 million, including a $1.375 million signing bonus.
Although some details are unclear, it is believed Thomas and the Vikings have disagreed about whether Kelsay's contract was the appropriate value for the No. 48 pick. It appears they also have different ideas about how Kelsay should apply to this year's negotiations.
Kelsay was in camp and in a Buffalo uniform this time last year. (The Star Tribune)
- On Thursday, Toniu Fonoti failed to report for the Chargers' first practice of training camp because he didn't know when camp started, team officials said.
Fonoti, who will be fined for his absence, arrived at the team's training camp facility last night and would be present at practice today (Saturday), according to his wife, U'Ilani. He is expected to report close to the weight desired by team officials – around 360 pounds – after what she called a "frustrating" offseason dispute over his weight, including issues about a training regimen and diet that were not sensitive to his Samoan ethnicity. More on this story, and possibly too much, is Here.
- Training camp: Saturday-the big man cometh (Fonoti)
- Treu begins training camp as Raiders starting center
- Fonoti misses first drills of camp amid family rift
- Will Rulon reign again?
- C. Tyler Prochnow, president of a Kansas City-based sports, entertainment and marketing company, will pursue an Arena Football League team for Kansas City if voters approve a proposal that would build a new downtown arena.
Prochnow, flanked at a Friday news conference by former Chiefs star Neil Smith and Mayor Kay Barnes, said he will pursue a franchise only if the proposed Sprint Center is approved in Tuesday's election.
Smith, a six-time Pro Bowler with the Chiefs and a member of two Super Bowl championship teams with Denver, believes the Arena League would succeed in Kansas City.
"This is a football city," said Smith, who lives in the area. "When you look at the waiting list of fans wanting to get into Arrowhead, this gives them an opportunity to see football. It also gives fans something to come out after the (NFL season), when it's a dead period... not taking anything away from baseball, but it gives fans something to do."
Earlier this week, Kansas City Chiefs president/general manager Carl Peterson said the Chiefs, who explored fielding an Arena League team a few years ago, would like to be involved with a team in the new arena. Four Arena League teams are owned by NFL franchises — Dallas, Denver, New Orleans and Atlanta — and Prochnow said he'd welcome the Chiefs as a partner in an Arena League venture. (KC Star)
07/30/04
- [Oakland Raiders] At Friday's camp DT John Parrella moved around unlike a man 10 months removed from a serious groin injury. (Contra Costa Times)
- [Atlanta Falcons] A report from Friday's camp-- "LB Demorrio Williams always appeared to be around the play. During one instance, Williams fought off FB George Layne and wrapped up Dunn in the hole, thwarting an attempted lead play before it started." (AtlantaFalcons.com)
- [Chicago Bears] On Thursday Mike Brown left evening practice because of dehydration; he returned Friday.
- [Green Bay Packers] A look at the Packers' 2004 offense, from retired Packer Leroy Butler-- "Offensively, that's where the Packers' strength is. They've got all five front line guys back, which could be trouble for the NFC, really for anybody on the schedule. Ahman Green, who I think is the best running back in the league, not just because he's my boy, but statistically he's the best running back and Brett Favre are both in wonderful shape."
- Neil Smith invests in effort for KC arena football
- Vering set to wrestle in Athens
- Hochstein knows it's all on the line this year
- [New Orleans Saints] Keyuo Craver's offseason program ended in June when Saints coach Jim Haslett tossed him out of minicamp and told him not to come back until he had his weight down and his head screwed on right. Craver also served a four-game suspension last season for his second violation of the NFL's substance-abuse policy.(The Times-Picayune)
Now, a month later, Craver appears to have at least settled the weight issue. At a press conference Haslett said: "I saw Keyuo Craver and he looks good, looks like he's ready to go... his weight was around the 215 range, he is now about 195." (NewOrleansSaints.com)
- 07/28/04 - Defensive End Battle Should Be Intense (Kelsay)
07/27/04
- [Green Bay Packers] In a Fantasy Football analysis of the Packers, The Sporting News rated Ahman Green as the team's only 5-star player.
"Ahman Green, RB. His favorite superhero is Batman, but he also runs like The Flash with the power of Superman. That gives Green a strong case to be among the top three overall picks in fantasy drafts.
"Why? His 20 combined TDs were second only to Priest Holmes last season. His 2,250 combined yards from scrimmage were third behind LaDainian Tomlinson and Jamal Lewis. Green is in his prime at 27 and is the focal point of the Packers' offense, as both a runner and receiver.
"Green also was healthy and durable for all 16 games, and after a rainy Week 10 Monday night Lambeau loss vs. the Eagles made him get rid of that slippery black sleeve, he went seven straight games without dropping the rock.
"Green not only is great himself, but he certainly boosts the numbers of Brett Favre and all the receivers, who draw more favorable looks. "Green" Bay isn't named after Ahman, but as he should have another monster season, that just might become the new local legend."
- [Denver Broncos] The Broncos have signed their sixth-round draft pick C Josh Sewell. Sewell is the final draft pick out of Nebraska to sign; terms of the deal were not disclosed.
- [San Diego Chargers] G Toniu Fonoti skipped last month's minicamp but is expected to attend trainging camp, according to Chargers general manager A.J. Smith. (North County Times)
- Bob Brown's enshrinement adds to legacy of Raiders' front five
- Marriage, Workouts Highlight Kelsay's Offseason, Prepares For Second Season in Buffalo
- Frost Trying Out For Bucs
- [Green Bay Packers] Because of the unexpected retirement of RB Ricky Williams, the Dolphins are now in a desparate search for a veteran Back and are openly seeking trades; meanwhile the Packers posess what is arguably the deepest backfield in the league.
A Green Bay source told The Wisconsin State Journal the Packers are willing to listen to trade overtures for the backup to Ahman Green. But the same source said the price for Najeh Davenport likely would be a conditional first- or second-round pick that would increase to multiple first-rounders or a first- and second-rounder if Davenport were to attain unspecified performance plateaus. (Miami Herald)
Dahrran Diedrick is regarded as the Packers fourth-string running back, and therefore the odd-man out. If the Packers did ship Davenport to Miami, it would all but guarantee Diedrick a spot on the roster.
- Long in San Francisco for NFL workout (OurSportsCentral.com)
07/26/04
- Pack shifts offensive focus to Green
- [Cincinnati Bengals] The Bengals claimed punter Eddie Johnson off waivers Monday (Vikings). Johnson will contend with rookie free agent Kyle Larson and incumbent Kyle Richardson. (The Cincinnati Enquirer)
- [San Francisco 49ers] After being named as Special Teams MVP of the NIFL, Omaha Beef P Chace Long traveled to San Francisco for a workout with the Forty-Niners. This season he was 61 of 63 on point after attempts and 39 of 62 on field goal attempts, including 11 from over 40 yards out. He is regarded as one of the best kickers in indoor league history.
- [Olympics] Former Jamaican sprint queen Merlene Ottey, who now represents Slovakia, turned in a top performance to win the 100 meters at an EAA Permit Meet in Estonia last week.
Ottey, 44, ran a creditable 11.18 seconds to beat a field that included Jamaica's Peta-Gaye Dowdie, who finished sixth in 11.67. The IAAF Web site reported that no female had ever been able to achieve such a time at Ottey's age.
Her time was also a new Slovakian national record and was the fastest time Ottey had run since representing Jamaica at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. (Sun-Sentinel)
07/25/04
- Coverage: Presnell, Tanks celebrate early days; Ironton’s Presnell paid tribute in film. (Thanks Jim!)
07/24/04
- [New England Patriots] The Boston Herald's short evaluation of LG Russ Hochstein-- "Positives: Steady and consistent. Negatives: Won't overpower anybody. Outlook: Starting job is probably his to lose."
- [New York Giants] From The Star-Ledger (New Jersey)-- "Some surprises." With the new coaching staff, new players probably have a better-than-usual shot at making an impact. Free agent rookie LB T.J. Hollowell had his moments but will have to contribute on special teams.
- [Oakland Raiders] The release of troubled center Barret Robbins (failed physical) means the Raiders will probably turn to Adam Treu, who started in place of his AWOL teammate in the Super Bowl. Treu arguably won the starting job last season but was deemed as too valuable as a long-snapper by then head coach Bill Callahan (who's now coaching some mid-western university). Treu's key competition could be rookie Jake Grove, the Raiders' second-round draft pick from Virginia Tech. (News Service Reports)
- [NBA-Atlanta] From the Atlanta Hawks official site- "The depleted Hawks were also without Kimani Ffriend, who left the squad on Friday for unknown reasons."
- 07/22/04 - San Diego Chargers] The Chargers are more encouraged about guard Toniu Fonoti's appearance. Fonoti drew a fine from the club -- it's being reviewed by the NFL -- for skipping the mandatory June minicamp. Chargers' general manager AJ Smith said Fonoti, who was weighing close to 400 pounds, is working with a personal trainer in the Houston area.
"He's just trying to lose some weight," said Smith, of the former El Camino High player. "Now I'm hearing that from an agent, but I believe it to be true."
07/20/04
- [NBA-Atlanta] Kimani Ffriend was signed by the Atlanta Hawks to play in the summer league Rocky Mountain Revue. A year ago Ffriend had been signed by the Knicks to play in a summer league last season.
- [CFL-Winnipeg] Tony Ortiz is no longer a Winnipeg Blue Bomber. The 27-year-old 'import' linebacker, who had spent the season up to this point on either the practice roster or the suspended list, is on his way home to Dallas.
"He can't hang around," head coach Dave Ritchie said. "Practice roster doesn't make $90,000 like it does in the NFL. It's a dollar game. He's married and got a baby. It's too bad. If he doesn't get a job, or something happens, he'll come back." (Winnipeg Sun)
- [CFL-Ottawa] Patrick Kabongo will likely spend the 2004 season on the Renegades' practice roster while learning the offensive guard position.
"We're going to be patient with him, see where he's at," coach Joe Paopao said of Kabonga, a native of Zaire, Africa who moved to Montreal when he was three and grew up in Pointe St. Charles -- aka the tough end of town.
"It's hard to coach a guy to be 6-foot-20, or whatever he is," added Paopao, shaking his head in amazement at the gigantic stature of the newest addition to the team's practice roster. "It's like, 'Hey coach, is he going to play the whole left side or the whole right side?'
Kabongo says he can help provide a winning attitude he learned at college. "There's nowhere like Nebraska ... it's indescribable," said Kabongo, selected 19th overall by the Renegades in the 2003 college draft. "I'd love to bring that winning feeling here.
- Kabongo tackling offensive duties
- Ortiz runs out of patience
- 07/19/04 - Jenny Benson, FC Energy start UEFA Women's Cup in Lithuania
- 07/18/04 - Gardner wrestles into winning form
- 07/17/04 - Gardner wins first international tournament since 2001
07/16/04
- Kabongo reports to Ottawa Renegades.
- Drop a Penny for the tales of Heyns
07/15/04
- Sam Ramsamy's nasty remark to Penny Heyns
- Patrick Kabongo, who was released by the Detroit Lions in June, has reported to the Ottawa Renegades who drafted Kabongo in the 3rd round of the 2003 CFL draft. It was previously reported that Ottawa would move the defensive tackle to the offensive line, but the Renegades official site noted that "early plans indicate that Kabongo will split time working with both the offensive and defensive lines." The Ottawa Sun called the 6'7" 340 lbs Patrick a "small building-sized man" who "should join the Renegades practice roster next week". (OttawaRenegades.net; The Ottawa Sun)
- From DallasCowboys.com: Second-year pros Keith O'Neil and Scott Shanle will get their opportunities at linebacker, but can mostly help their cause, like O'Neil did last year, by making plays on special teams. Shanle was "claimed off waivers last December from St. Louis, but never played in a game. Expect him to get an opportunity to prove himself during the preseason."
- A special note- Ironton, Ohio is planning a special celebration for the NFL's oldest former player ahead of what will be his 99th birthday. July 24th has been declared "Glenn Presnell Day", his birthday is July 28th. (Thanks Jim!)
Info on the celebration from RiverCities eZine
07/14/04
- With the first practice of training camp scheduled for two weeks from today, the Falcons have signed two of their seven draft choices after linebacker Demorrio Williams and safety Etric Pruitt agreed to deals Tuesday. Williams, a fourth-round selection signed three-year contract with a signing bonus of about $345,000, making his deal worth a little more than $1.3 million.
- On Tuesday, the San Diego Chargers officially announced the signing of DT Ryon Bingham, a seventh-round draft choice, to a three-year deal.
- Green guns for 2,000
- Green lights camp fire: Kids hit hard with questions
- Harvey hardly saw it coming
- 07/13/04 - Harvey toils in anonymity
- 07/12/04 - Vering tackles wrestling goals
- 07/11/04 - Olympian Vering credits hometown for work ethic
07/10/04
- Gardner finally healthy as he tries for Olympic repeat
- Metcalf Makes Olympic Volleyball Team
07/09/04
- Penny Heyns: swimming upstream
- Sliding Harvey doesn't believe in ‘slumps'.
- In a fantasy football evaluation of the Carolina Panthers personel, The Sporting News' rated DE Mike Rucker as a Four-star player-- "Where's the ceiling for this guy? Presumably, we haven't seen it yet. He racked up nine sacks in his breakout third season in 2001 and had 10 sacks in 2002. Last season, he tallied a career-high 12 sacks and even picked off a pass. Rucker is among the elite at his position. However, the fact that he is surrounded by big names with the Panthers and doesn't get a lot of league-wide publicity means he still can be had later than the Warren Sapps and Jevon Kearses of the fantasy world."
Mike Minter was given a two-star rating-- "Minter doesn't the recognition he deserves for being a John Lynch-like option on a physical defense. He can lay a good lick, he racks up tackles like a linebacker and he even picks off the occasional pass or recovers a fumble now and then. He won't carry your defense, but he is a serviceable DB option."
07/08/04
- Bingham, a 6-3 303-pound lineman is seen as a John Parrella type of player and is expected to compete for time as the backup nose guard. It is a vital position on the team as Jamal Williams is the current starter and no backup is currently in sight. He was taken by the Chargers in the 7th round of the 2004 NFL Draft, 204th overall. Terms of the deal were not immediately available. (SDBoltReport.com)
- Chargers Sign Ryon Bingham.
- In a deviation from the common Top Running Back lists, Fox Sports examined the top running back "package" of the NFL where "a great starting RB alone is most important" as well as "solid backups".
The conclusion: The Ahman Green-led Packers. "The NFL's top group sports one of football's best two runners in Ahman Green. But he'll get even more rest than last season not due to fading skills, but Najeh Davenport (420 yards, 5.5 yards/carry in 2003) allows the Pack to rest Green without sacrificing production. The 6-1, 245 pound backup enjoyed 2-3 normal series each game in '03 and his workload is expected to increase even more this year to keep Green fresh for the playoffs. Just in case, third-stringer Tony Fisher also plays well in Green Bay's straight ahead, inside running attack."
A fourth running back on the Packers' roster is Dahrran Diedrick who impressed coaches at mini camp earlier this year and even worked out with the first team. However, Davenport and Fisher's position as #2 and #3 on the depth chart appears to be solid and Diedrick may be the odd man out. Unless the Packers decide to keep four RBs on the roster Diedrick may be looking to spend another season on the practice squad if he remains with the Packers.
07/07/04
- Shields and Wistrom Make TSN's List of NFL Good Guys.
- Eagles RB Preview (Buckhalter).
07/06/04
- [CFL-Ottawa] The Renegades expect to welcome Patrick Kabongo to the team as early as this weekend. The 6-foot-6, 320-lb. defensive lineman, a former University of Nebraska starter GM Eric Tillman selected in the third round of the 2003 Canadian college draft, was cut by the Detroit Lions. Kabongo, a native of Montreal, will be converted to an offensive lineman. He'll likely spend the rest of this season developing on the practice roster. (Ottawa Sun)
- Phoenix Mercury guard Anna DeForge named WNBA Player of the Week.
07/05/04
- Kansas City first-baseman Ken Harvey, hitting .328 in his second season as a Major Leaguer, was added to the All-Star roster as a reserve by Yankees manager Joe Torre. Harvey will be the lone Royal in the game. Story & Roster
- The Seattle Times examined the top Mariners prospects "who have either just arrived or are close to wearing a Mariners uniform". Of OF Jamal Strong the paper comments "With more than 230 stolen bases in 4˝ minor-league seasons, his legs are valuable tools. Can hit for average but has no power."
- Argos quarterback Damon Allen left early in the fourth with an unspecified injury and was replaced by Michael Bishop, whose first pass attempt was intercepted.
Down 19-9 the Argos were attempting another comeback when, with two minutes remaining and the ball on Montreal's 45-yard line, Bishop's pass into the end zone was intercepted by Alouettes safety Barron Miles.
- As reported earlier, Correll Buckhalter has a small part in the upcoming film "White Men Can't Jump". More detailson the movie are available Here .
- Teammates and Friends Beat Odds (Vanden Bosch)
07/02/04
- The Sports Forecaster put their own spin on the usual "Top NFL Players" rankings and came up with a list of the "guys who take charge in critical situations, the field generals, the foxhole types who make the players around them better" but have never won a Super Bowl. Ranked at #20 was Chiefs OG Will Shields, "old enough to have blocked for Joe Montana but is still a Pro Bowl caliber player and an offensive line anchor". At #13, Panthers S Mike Minter who "has kept the Panthers defense glued together for seven years".
- Dion Booker was released by the AF2's Peoria Pirates after having been signed just two weeks ago. (Peoria Journal Star)
07/01/04
- Among the candidates on the Bulls' short list of free agents are guard Bob Sura, centers Adonal Foyle and Mikki Moore, and small forwards Brian Cardinal, Stephen Jackson, Toni Kukoc, Brian Skinner and Eric Williams. (Daily Southtown, Chicago Sun-Times)