05/31/08
- [Etc] Comeback signals are mixed for QB Crouch
- [CFL] Winnipeg released DB Willie Amos. The Blue Bombers had only recently signed on May 27th.
- [CFL] The Toronto Argonauts signed cornerback DeJuan Groce, who got into 42 games (20 starts) for the St. Louis Rams. (TheStar.com)
05/30/08
- [Carolinan Panthers] Fonoti could be a find for Panthers
- [Carolina Panthers] Fonoti takes over as first team right guard
- [AFL] L.A. Avengers sign quarterback Sam Keller
- [Green Bay Packers] Brandon Jackson Bulks Up
- [Etc] Raiders pair to lead fair (John Parrella)
05/29/08
- [CFL] Barron Miles ducks “old” tag with BC Lions by not messing up
- [AFL] Rampage profile: Offensive lineman Josh Sewell
- [CFL] TJ Hollowell: A Rookie Again
05/28/08
- [New England Patriots] DL Le Kevin Smith is participating in the team's passing camp this week. (KFFL, Boston Globe)
05/27/08
- [CFL] Blue Bombers sign Amos
- [Etc] A few Huskers made Pete Prisco's list of team-by-team Underrated/Overrated:
Bills Overrated- DE Chris Kelsay. The Bills gave him a new contract before last season and he rewarded them with 2½ sacks. He plays hard, but that doesn't get the quarterback down enough.
Lions Underrated- C Dominic Raiola. Playing for the Lions, he gets overlooked when it comes to Pro Bowl voting. But he's a tough, feisty, smart player who is the best of the Lions' offensive linemen.
Texans Overrated- RB Ahman Green. There are some who think he's still an elite runner. I don't. So he gets the nod here on a tough team to find an overrated player.
Chargers Underrated- DT Ryon Bingham. He had his best season in 2007, which led to the Chargers giving him a contract extension. He started two games last season and can play both nose tackle and end in the 3-4. He's a great backup who could start on some teams. (CBS Sportsline)
05/26/08
- [St. Louis Rams] Rams to Incognito: Grow up, but don't slow down
- [CFL] A CFL QB Q&A from The Hamilton Spectator: Hamilton Ti-Cats QB Casey Printers called BC Lions DB Barron Miles the toughest defenseive back, saying "He understands how to read quarterbacks' eyes."
05/25/08
- [AFL] The Grand Rapids Rampage dropped a heartbreaking 52-48 decision at the hands of the Arizona Rattlers. Grand Rapids had put itself in position to win its game against Arizona with just over five minutes to play when quarterback James MacPherson hit tight end Josh Sewell on a 34-yard touchdown pass. It was Sewell's second catch of the season and first touchdown.
However, the Rattlers took back the lead in the game, when former Michigan State University quarterback Jeff Smoker plunged in from 1 yard out with 35 seconds to play.
05/22/08
- [AFL] Chicago Rush FB Dan Alexander needs 15 rushing yards to become the fourth player in AFL history to rush for 200 yards in consecutive seasons. Alexander also stands 21 yards from becoming the eighth player in AFL history to rush for 900 career. (OurSportsCentral.com)
05/20/08
- [Chicago Bears] Bears restructure Mike Brown's contract, get protection vs. injury
- [Chicago Bears] Bears get protection from Brown deal
05/13/08
- [Baltimore Ravens] Rice, Ross, Daniels vie for backup job
- [IFL] Katy Ruff Riders WR Jammal Lord caught two of the TDs and ran for another in a 79-62 loss to the CenTex Barracudas. (FortBendNow.com)
05/11/08
- [New Orleans Saints] Rookies Arrington, Nicks aim to prove Saints made right decisions
- [Oakland Raiders] Keller happily fights for spot as NFL QB
05/10/08
- [Oakland Raiders] Keller works out for the Raiders
- [Oakland Raiders] San Ramon Valley High product Sam Keller continued to get extensive work during his tryout, which ends Sunday. He made some good throws but wasn’t as sharp as on Saturday.
He had one pass batted down by defensive lineman Tranell Morant of Arizona.
“You either produce or don’t produce,” Keller said. “They either like you, or they say, `get out of town.’ I’m going to enjoy my three days and see what happens.” (Silver & Black Illustrated)
- [Philadelphia Eagles] It's Stewart Bradley's world...
- [Seattle Seahawks] Kicker Josh Brown knows he has big shoes to fill with Rams
05/09/08
- [Cincinnati Bengals] Agent says Purify 'very excited'
- [New Orleans Saints] Getting to Know: Carl Nicks
05/08/08
- [Philadelphia Eagles] Bradley parlays great game into starting job
- [Cincinnati Bengals] Prosecutors seek to revoke Purify probation
- [Cincinnati Bengals] Bengals officially sign Purify
*Contrary to the Omaha World Herald's reporting Wednesday that the Bengals had "declined to offer (Purify) a free-agent contract"
- [Minors] The minor league Pensacola Pelicans have released LHP Aaron Marsden
- [Etc] Jon Kitna said he didn't watch the recent NFL draft. He has stopped watching the two-day affair, in part, because of his disappointment after watching "every minute" of the draft in 1996, when no one selected him out of Central Washington.
"I knew more about Lawrence Phillips than probably Lawrence knew about himself," Kitna said. (Freep.com)
Comment: Kitna is only slightly exaggerating. A shortened sampling of ESPN's 1996 draft coverage is available here; though the video only provides a very small portion of the coverage on Phillips (YouTube limits videos to 10 minutes).
- [MLB] Alex Gordon homers in Royals' victory over Angels
- [Detroit Lions] Lions' Bullocks concentrating on getting healthy
05/07/08
- [Carolina Panthers] Fonoti tries redemption song
- [Chicago Bears] Breaking Down the Draft: Chicago Bears (Zackary Bowman)
- [Cincinnati Bengals] Purify close to an NFL contract
- [New England Patriots] Bo Ruud up for any challenge
- [Baltimore Ravens] CB Fabian Washington is projected as the team's nickel cornerback going into the team's training camp. He will compete with CB Samari Rolle for a starting cornerback spot. (SportingNews.com)
05/05/08
- [Baltimore Ravens] Fabian Washington embracing fresh start
- [Carolina Panthers] The Panthers like the way guard Toniu Fonoti has worked to get himself back into football shape and there are some who feel like he could be a dynamite free agent pickup.
A member of the San Diego Chargers starting offensive line in 2002 and 2004, Fonoti lost a battle with a weight problem - there were times he approached 400 pounds - and quickly found himself out of the league.
Now he's back to his old college weight (around 330) and looking good.
"He has a very good chance (to make the team)," Fox said. "He's a guy that performed at a very high level. He was a fairly high draft pick that played on a very, very good offensive line. Then his weight got away from him a little bit and I think he realizes that. He's come in in excellent condition." (Gaston Gazette)
- [Carolina Panthers] From Carolina Panthers head coach John Fox following the team's final mini-camp practice, On guard Toniu Fonoti:
"He's a guy that performed at a high level. He was a fairly high draft pick that played on a very, very good offensive line (in San Diego). Then his weight got away from him a little bit. I think he's realized that, and he's come in in excellent condition."
- [Philadelphia Eagles] Bradley is Birds' middleman
05/04/08
- Minicamp photos updated
- [New York Jets] The Jets announced they have waived C Brett Byford from the team. (KFFL)
- [Chicago Bears] Bear Report Audio: CB Zack Bowman
- [New England Patriots] Rookie LB Bo Ruud worked at strongside inside linebacker.(Boston.com, KFFL)
05/02/08
- [Green Bay Packers] Dagunduro tries out with Packers
- [Tampa Bay Buccaneers] Ex-SRV star Keller to Buccaneers
- [Detroit Lions] OL Chris Patrick, who was recently released by the Packers, will be trying out for the Detroit Lions at the team's rookie minicamp. (MLive.com, KFFL)
05/01/08
- [Kansas City Chiefs] Lely's Octavien excited for chance with Chiefs
- [New York Giants] The Super Bowl champs released S Andrew Shanle who was on the practice squad in 2007.
- [New England Patriots] With their final pick of the draft, which came in the sixth round (No. 197 overall), the Patriots picked linebacker Bo Ruud of Nebraska, the younger brother of Buccaneers linebacker Barrett Ruud. Bo projects to be an inside linebacker in the 3-4.
In the fifth round, the Patriots were keeping a close eye on Nebraska defensive back Zackary Bowman and began working the phone lines in hopes of striking a deal to select him. A tentative deal was in place with the Jaguars at No. 153 if Bowman was available. It appeared as if things would work out, but the Bears snared Bowman at No. 142 and the deal was off. (Boston.com)
- [Chicago Bears] Chicago could have a real steal in Nebraska's Zackary Bowman. If he can overcome his college injuries to stay healthy, he has the potential to be a top cornerback. (Vinnie Iyer- Sporting News)
- [NFL Draft] A proud papa Ruud