05/31/05
- [Tampa Bay Buccaneers]The Bucs signed rookie linebacker Richard Glover Jr. Glover, 6 feet and 232 pounds, had 80 tackles and three forced fumbles as a senior at New Mexico State last season. His father, Richard Sr., played for Bucs defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin at Nebraska from 1970-72. (St. Petersburg Times)
- [MLB]Nate Ravitz, RotoTimes.com: Dan Johnson finally got his long-deserved trip to Oakland when Erubiel Durazo went on the disabled list. Rather than quibble about the fact that Johnson should have gotten the call not because of an injury but because he's a better player than Durazo or Scott Hatteberg, let's just enjoy it. Despite a slow start, Johnson hit .324 with eight homers and 41 RBI in 47 games with Triple-A Sacramento - this after dominating the Pacific Coast League in 2004. As of this writing, Johnson is 1-for-13 without an RBI, but don't worry. If the A's leave him alone, he'll hit. With a little bit of luck, he'll hit well enough to stay in the lineup when Durazo returns.
- [Kansas City Chiefs]Warfield still not free
- [Dallas Cowboys] Minicamp note- Linebacker Scott Shanle may have surged past Bradie James at linebacker. He lined up in front of James, and Parcells likes Shanle's aggressive style. (Dallas Morning News)
05/29/05
- [CFL]From CFL.ca: "The Hamilton Tiger-Cats announced the signing of import [non-Canadian] kicker Chuck Tack. Tack, a 6-5, 245-pound native of Des Moines, Iowa, spent two seasons at Nebraska University (1997-1998)."
Tack, a Husker walk-on in 1998, actually spent 1998-1999 with Nebraska (correction to the above) as a 6-5, 215-pound kicker but never lettered. According to a Google search, Tack, who attended Millard South in Omaha, eventually graduated from Nebraska-Omaha in 2004, though it is presumed that he did not play football with the UNO Mavericks.
- [CFL]More to the rumor of Scott Frost's CFL possibilities from the Toronto Sun:
"And the mystery quarterback is?
"When the Argos commence training camp today, a new fourth quarterback -- who hasn't been publicly identified -- will be on the field.
"The rumblings are that it will be Scott Frost, who hasn't played quarterback since his final season at the University of Nebraska in 1997. He began a pro career in the National Football League thereafter as a safety after the New York Jets drafted him in the third round in 1998."
05/28/05
- [CFL]The Toronto Sun reports that due to a "saga over Michael Bishop", the team is looking for a quarterback who "will be signed in time for the start of training camp tomorrow."
"One rumour had the team considering Scott Frost, who starred for the University of Nebraska in 1997 before embarking on a career in the NFL as a safety. He was followed at Nebraska by Eric Crouch, whom the Argos have courted for two years, but Frost still has quarterback aspirations and is considered an excellent athlete."
In March, Tom Osborne told students in Wood River that Frost may be "looking at the possibility of playing quarterback in Canada".
- [Philadelphia Eagles]Eagles focusing on positive side of life (Buckhalter)
- [MLB]Johnson excited about his A's debut
- [MLB]Former Husker slugger finally debuts in majors
- [MLB]Since Jamal Strong’s return to the lineup, Tacoma has gained five games in the division standings and the offense has been much more consistent. Strong’s importance to the Tacoma offense is noted by Rohn as a large part of what the Rainiers want to do at the plate.
"It’s big time," said Rohn. "You get your table-setter on and you get him and Choo out there with Snelling and Christianson and Rifkin hitting behind them, you get a chance to drive in some runs.
"Jamal has made some nice adjustments at the plate and is swinging the bat real well right now."
Strong is hitting .295 for the year after a sluggish start. The 26-year-old boasts a .374 on-base percentage and has 11 steals in 14 attempts, while playing a solid center field. Bill Bavasi, are you paying attention? (InsideThePark.com)
05/27/05
- [Dallas Cowboys] During Friday's minicamp sessions, linebacker Scott Shanle lined up with the first team instead of Bradie James, and second-year linebacker Kalen Thornton started in front of first-round rookie Demarcus Ware. (Dallas Morning News)
- [MLB]Dan Johnson recalled from Sacramento
- [Detroit Lions]Mariucci optimistic, evasive (Rathman)
- [San Diego Chargers] The Chargers could extend the contract of guard Toniu Fonoti before he becomes an unrestricted free agent after the season. Those negotiations might not get serious until fall, however. (Union Tribune)
- [MLB]Stern getting up to speed again
- [CFL] With a wealth of import and non-import talent to choose from on the defensive side of the ball, it appears the Esks are endeavouring to convert Patrick Kabongo into an offensive lineman. The six-foot-six, 315-pound Kabongo arrived via trade from Ottawa last August and was billed as a defensive tackle. Kabongo is currently lined up behind veteran right tackle Chris Morris on the depth chart. (Edmonton Sun)
- [Tennessee Titans] The Titans had made it through the mini-camp practices with very few and only minor tussles until Thursday’s wrap-up.
Two separate incidents, including a skirmish that started between defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch and tight end Ben Hall that ended up with several offensive linemen in the fray with Vanden Bosch on the ground. (NashvilleCityPaper.com)
- [Dallas Cowboys]Ex-Cuero star Finley admires Williams, seeks spot next to him
- [Kansas City Chiefs]Chiefs missing Shields, Roaf, Waters on the line
05/26/05
- [af2]The Bakersfield Blitz of the af2 recently signed OL/DL Dan Vili Waldrop who has previously been with the Lincoln Capitols (NIFL) and was a member of the Peoria Rough Riders (UIF) for a short stint this year.
Waldrop could start right away as a replacement for OL/DL Shawn King, who has been suspended for one game. A native of Wilmington, California, Waldrop stands at 6'5", 335 pounds and spent four seasons with the Huskers. He was selected a preseason All-Big 12 at offensive tackle in 2002 by collegefootballnews.com and spent two years as a starter. (OurSportsCentral.com)
- [Etc]Vanden Bosch to Flip Coin for Storm vs. Red Dogs Game
- [MLB]Royals' Harvey could resume activities soon
- [NFL Europe]Eric Crouch, NFL Europe Diary
- [Philadelphia Eagles]Correll Buckhalter says he has healed
05/25/05
- [Kansas City Chiefs] It is two months until training camp, and cornerback Eric Warfield doesn't know if he'll be suspended for his third DUI.
Warfield said his lawyer contacted league officials last week to get an update on his status, but it was unknown if — or when — he would sit. Warfield faces a possible suspension of as many as four games under the NFL's substance abuse policy.
Warfield's house arrest ends next week. He has been sober since September, and has felt noticeably better during offseason conditioning.
"I haven't come in hung over or smelling like a brewery or anything," he said. (KC Star)
- [MLB]Red Sox outfielder Adam Stern (thumb) will join the minor league PawSox today and will begin his 20-day rehabilitation assignment tomorrow in Durham. (Projo.com)
05/24/05
- [AFL]By mid February, AFL "rookie" Dan Alexander of the Nashville Kats was ranked 2nd in the league in rushing. Despite the ranking, he was placed on waivers in April and was only re-signed by the Kats last week. The fact that he's missed most of the season (has only played in 1 game in the last 10 weeks) due to being injured and teamless didn't stop the league from naming him to the 11-player All-Rookie Team.
- [Kansas City Chiefs]When asked if Eric Crouch was "going to be at training camp?", Chiefs head coach Dick Vermeil simply replied: "I don’t know; it is too soon to determine." (KCChiefs.com)
- [Etc]Thunder Collins goes NFL
The Peoria Rough Riders of the UIF issued a press release stating that RB Thunder Collins has received an invite to join an NFL club. Which team exacly "cannot be mentioned due to details in his contract yet to be finalized". However the Peoria Journal Star reports that Collins "is believed to headed for a tryout with the Atlanta Falcons or Philadelphia Eagles; and team officials say he's been invited to attend a minicamp".
In his final game with Peoria on Saturday, Collins rushed 27 times for 92 yards and two touchdowns and had three catches for 40 yards and a TD. (PJStar.com)
05/23/05
- [NFL Europe]College football stars regroup in NFL Europe (Crouch)
- [NFL Draft]From NLScouting.com: "Nebraska senior safety Daniel Bullocks recently stated that he was timed at 4.39 in the 40 this past spring... he is the brother of New Orleans Saints second-round choice Josh Bullocks... oddly enough, although it would be hard to believe, considering the position his brother Josh was taken, #40 overall, most insiders know that growing up and all through high school before they both signed with Nebraska... that Daniel and not Josh was known as the football standout... as he was always a little bigger, faster and more physical... should he prove to still be all of those things... the senior version of the Bullocks brothers might just eclipse his siblings draft status".
- [Coaches]Turner Gill's new role in player development
- [Detroit Lions]Lions here for charity (Raiola, Schlesinger)
- [Chicago Bears]Green & Brown Happy About Safety Swap
05/22/05
- [Etc]05/22/05 - USOC has Rulon riled
05/20/05
- [Chicago Bears]Mike Brown said his switch to strong safety from free safety won't be difficult.
"It's really not that big of a deal," Brown said. "It's just usually strong safety comes down more often (in run support) than the free safety but it just depends on what's called (on defense)."
Brown also shrugged off the suggestion it would be difficult for him to make such a switch after his surgery for a torn Achilles, which has healed enough that he was able to practice Friday. He made an interception of a pass thrown by reserve quarterback Craig Krenzel early in the first practice.
"For all those people who are doubting me, I'm 100 percent," Brown said. "I'm probably faster than I've been ever in my life. It's just I know a lot of people are doubting if I'm going to have the same skills or be able to do the same things. But I guess I won't be able to prove it until we step out on the field Sept. 11." (AP)
- [AFL]The Nashville Kats of the Arena Football League re-signed RB/LB Dan Alexander. Alexander had been placed on waivers by the Kats in April.
- [NFL Europe]Last month, TheHogs.net began interviewing some of the (Redskins) players from NFL Europe, and to a man, every one sung the praises of Europe. Dahrran Diedrick of the Rhein Fire said: “That’s one of the reason I wanted to come over here. I probably never would have had the opportunity to go to Europe otherwise." (TheHogs.net)
- [UIF]The UIF's Peoria Rough Riders are dealing with the longest losing streak in the league- and disappearing players. "Players have disappeared off the UIF team's roster at an alarming rate the last two weeks" according to PJStar.com. Among those "apparently gone - or at least not listed on the Peoria roster" is Dan Vili Waldrop. Besides Waldrop, the Rough Riders have two other Huskers, Thunder Collins and Larry Henderson.
- [MLB]The Boston Red Sox transferred OF Adam Stern from 15- to 60-day DL.
05/19/05
- [Tampa Bay Buccaneers]Rookies and Vets Working Together in Bucs Camp (Ruud)
- [Tampa Bay Buccaneers]Bucs linebackers coach Joe Barry planned to ease second-round pick Barrett Ruud into the rotation by having him play strongside linebacker.
After all, he didn't want to dump the responsibility of making defensive calls in the huddle on the Nebraska rookie.
But Barry has changed his mind. Ruud is backing up Shelton Quarles at middle linebacker, Ryan Nece is behind Brooks at weakside linebacker and Marquis Cooper is behind Jeff Gooch at strongside linebacker.
"I love our starters," Barry said. "But we've got three really good players behind them." (St. Petersburg Times)
- [Carolina Panthers]Recruits Unlimited, founded by Minter, tests prep players
- [NFL Europe]Eric Crouch's NFL Europe Diary
05/18/05
- [Etc]Fryar has message
- [MLB]Dan Johnson: 'I'm chomping at the bit'
05/17/05
- [Chicago Bears]Mike Brown feels he's faster, more explosive than ever
05/16/05
- [Carolina Panthers]Rucker gladly faces new season
- [AFL]Bruising fullback has big first half (David White)
05/15/05
- [Tampa Bay Buccaneers]Tampa Bay's 'Answer Man' summarizes Buccaneer-Huskers (Question #11)
- [Houston Texans]NFL lineman Zach Wiegert puts more on the line than football
05/13/05
- [Green Bay Packers]Fans still line up for Ahman Green
- [Oakland Raiders]Oakland signs linebacker Foreman
- Foreman might be expecting to start. When the St. Paul Pioneer-Press asked him about playing for the Vikings, his hometown team, the linebacker indicated he was unwilling to accept a secondary role.
"I'm too old to be backing up," he said.
05/12/05
- [Kansas City Chiefs]Will & Senia Shields Named Philanthropists of the Year
- [NFL Europe]Eric Crouch's NFL Europe Diary
05/11/05
- [Green Bay Packers]Ahman Green Pleads Not Guilty
05/10/05
- [Green Bay Packers]D.A. Confirms Ahman Green will Face Charges
05/09/05
- [New York Giants] "The way people make teams, naturally, is to be an outstanding something," Giants' coach Tom Coughlin said. "Maybe a great special-teams performer, a run-and-hit guy or a return man, or something very special about that."
Coughlin pointed out unheralded Giants such as linebacker Jim Maxwell, cornerback Curtis Deloatch and linebacker T.J. Hollowell, who made the team last year for just that reason. (The Journal News)
05/08/05
- [Carolina Panthers]Draft party was memorable (Rucker, Minter) (5th item)
- [New Orleans Saints] With the NFL's lowest-rated defense last season, Josh Bullocks apparent ball skills are much-needed. "I have great range and great hands," Bullocks said. "I have a feel for the ball and I'm able to go get the ball. I have a knack for it. I feel I can go and get the ball at any time."
A sidenote-- A description of Bullocks in the article read: "Josh Bullocks, a safety from Nebraska, who had 10 interceptions two years ago before switching from cornerback to safety and getting just two last season." (The Advocate)
In fact, Bullocks has played the free safety position since his freshman year at Nebraska- including 2003, when he had the 10 interceptions. Assumingly the Saints themselves are, in fact, aware that Josh is a safety and not a cornerback two years removed.
05/07/05
- [MLB]Minor Leaguer Jamal Strong of the Tacoma Rainiers was 1-for-4 with a double and two RBIs in his first game back from a 10-game suspension for violating baseball's performance-enhancing drugs policy. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
- [UIF]Dan Vili Waldrop was one of seven new players practicing with the Peoria Rough Riders on Wednesday. Waldrop played for the NIFL's Lincoln Capitols in 2004. (Peoria Journal Star)
05/06/05
- [NFL Europe]While in Germany, Crouch learns the language at safety
- [NIFL]In its bid to get better quickly, the 0-4 Lincoln Capitols of the NIFL recently signed 34-year-old former NFL running back Derek Brown, whose presence in the backfield seems a good challenge for Everett's No. 1-ranked rushing defense (19.8 yards per game).
The 5-foot-9, 190-pound Brown was a standout at Nebraska from 1990-1992 before rushing for 1,383 yards in five seasons with the New Orleans Saints. Brown shined against River City, rushing for 79 yards and three touchdowns on 24 carries.
Kareem Sears, a 6-foot-5, 275-pound defensive end who played on two national championship teams at Nebraska, returned to the field for the Capitols last week. Sears broke his ankle late last season, but made a promising 2005 debut last week against River City. (HeraldNet.com)
05/05/05
- [Free Agency]Darren DeLone said he is set to attend an NFL Combine on May 22 in Atlanta. He’s been told by pro scouts he has a chance to make a roster via free agency.
"I’ve heard I do," DeLone said. "Coaches don’t really want anything to do with you when you have stuff like this going on in your life. Now maybe everything will be set straight." (The Oklahoman)
- [St. Louis Rams: Cornerback DeJuan Groce appears to be headed back to taking over punt return duties. Groce was an excellent returner at Nebraska, averaging 15.6 yards per return and taking five punts back for touchdowns. Those exploits earned him All-American honors as a return specialist his senior season.
Groce had 19 opportunities in 2003 to keep the return job, but struggled to hold on to the ball and averaged just 7.1 yards per return. But with the apparent improvement to all of the special teams units, Groce should have better blocking than he did in his first go-round.
"He had such terrific numbers coming out of college, we'll give him every opportunity," head coach Mike Martz said. (StLouisRams.com)
- [Seattle Seahawks: After ripping through a lead-by-example stint on the blocking sled with spring-loaded pads, defensive end Grant Wistrom flexed his muscles and offered, "I'm strong. I work out."
Much of Wistrom's offseason has been dedicated to rehabilitating injuries to his left leg and foot that forced him to miss all of training camp last summer and then seven games during the regular season -- a torn arch, a broken tibia and a sprained knee ligament.
It's just that Wistrom hasn't followed a normal routine while hitting the beach in Hawaii.
"I spend a lot of time running in the sand, playing a lot of volleyball," he said. "I also do a lot of surfing. So you've got the lower body workout in the sand and the upper body workout in the water."
Wistrom smiled by adding, "I highly suggest it, if you have the means."
No problem for Wistrom, who got a $14 million signing bonus as part of the contract he signed with the Seahawks last offseason. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
- [NFL Europe]Eric Crouch's NFL Europe Diary
05/04/05
- [Houston Texans] Texans give Kris Brown new five-year deal
05/03/05
- [NFL Europe]Ask the Pros - Eric Crouch answers
- [AFL]Storm FB/LB David White became the Storm’s fourth all-time leading rusher in Week 11’s win over Orlando. With his three carries for 25 yards, White surpassed Lynn Bradford with 298 yards. Bradford amassed 289 yards in his career with Tampa Bay. White also ran for a touchdown and had a Storm season-high 20-yard run against Orlando. (OurSportsCentral.com)
05/02/05
- [Chicago Bears] Undrafted free agent CB Willie Amos performed very well during his tryout with the Chicago Bears over the weekend. Amos logged a pair of interceptions during the post-draft minicamp. (ChicagoBears.com, KFFL)
- [Tampa Bay Buccaneers] FB Steve Kriewald was one of 19 players to tryout for the Bucs in last weekend's minicamp. However, Kriewald was not among the four players to earn a contract with the team.
- [Philadelphia Eagles]Andrews, Buckhalter glad to be back from injuries
- [Oakland Raiders]Raiders' top pick knows pressure (Fabian Washington)
- [Tampa Bay Buccaneers]Bucs family tree built on experience (Ruud)
05/01/05
- [St. Louis Rams] One no-show for the Rams' camp was guard Richie Incognito, who underwent kneecap surgery on Thursday in Birmingham, Ala. Incognito will be sidelined four to six months and was kicked out of Nebraska due to anger management issues, but that didn't stop the Rams from taking him in the third round.
"We just feel eventually we're going to get a real good player there," Martz said. "When he's back, he's back. Maybe we lose him for the season but we're prepared for that." (AP)
- [Jacksonville Jaguars] What do you see? Gene Smith was asked by a reporter who shuffled alongside the Jaguars' director of college scouting.
"Watch the guy from Nebraska," Smith said, never taking his eyes off the field. "He's got something to him. The other defensive end, Davis, is showing quickness off the edge."
Smith was speaking of two undrafted free agents: defensive ends Benard Thomas of Nebraska and Jim Davis of Virginia Tech. Imagine that, two undrafted free agents were first out of Smith's mouth. (Jaguars.com)
- [Tampa Bay Buccaneers]Ruud: In the Right Place
- [MLB]Harvey leaves Royals feeling grand
- [Oakland Raiders]Raiders' top pick has faced adversity before
- [Carolina Panthers]Minter: T. Davis has a lot to learn
- [Kansas City Chiefs]Warfield on long way home
- [Oakland Raiders]Raiders minicamp good first impression for CBs (Washington)
- [Tampa Bay Buccaneers] The Bucs have signed FB Steve Kriewald to a tryout contract, so that he can participate in the team's minicamp this weekend.
Of note, New Mexico State linebacker Rich Glover, son of the former Husker, was also signed to a conract tryout by the Bucs. (Buccaneers.com, KFFL)