Also the Titans have a few big games on their schedule including the Hall of Fame game and the first game in the new Cowboys stadium!
ESPN will kick off its 2009 Monday Night Football preseason schedule with a rematch of Super Bowl XLIII when the defending champion Pittsburgh Steelers host the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday, Aug. 13 at 8 p.m. ET.
ESPN's Mike Tirico and analysts Ron Jaworski and Tony Kornheiser will call four NFL preseason games during the month of August -- one on Thursday and three on Mondays -- before their regular-season debut on Monday, Sept. 14. All MNF preseason games will begin at 8 p.m. ET.
The NFL's exhibition season begins Aug. 9 in Canton, Ohio, where the Buffalo Bills will play the Tennessee Titans in the Pro Football Hall of Fame game. The Dallas Cowboys will play for the first time in their new $1.1 billion stadium Aug. 21, facing the Titans.
Quarterback Kurt Warner and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald -- who played collegiately at the University of Pittsburgh -- will lead the defending NFC champion Cardinals against Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers at Heinz Field in the August 13 game.
On Monday, Aug. 17, Eli Manning and the NFC East champion New York Giants will host the Carolina Panthers, winners of the NFC South in 2008, at Giants Stadium on ESPN.
A week later, the Baltimore Ravens will host the New York Jets at M&T Bank Stadium as Jets first-year coach and former Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan returns to Baltimore.
On August 31, ESPN will close out its preseason schedule when the Minnesota Vikings face the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Carson Palmer back for fantasy owners?
Bengals starting quarterback Carson Palmer says his elbow is "100 percent" and ready to go for the 2009 season.
Cincinnati started offseason workouts on Monday, which was the first opportunity for Palmer to work with the team since his injury last fall that caused him to miss 12 games but didn't require surgery. The Bengals will keep Palmer on a "pitch count" all the way through training camp only as a precautionary measure.
"I'm 100 percent," Palmer said. "I've been cleared. My elbow feels great and I just have to keep going and get the small mechanical things that I normally do this time of year."
Palmer is coming off a season-ending injury for the second time in four seasons. But Palmer says his body feels rejuvenated with the additional rest, and that he is ready to try to lead the Bengals to a successful season.
Palmer has been throwing three times a week near his home in Southern California. Several of the Bengals' young receivers have joined him for the sessions, including Jerome Simpson, a second-round draft pick last year.
"I saw that old Carson Palmer I used to look at when I was younger," Simpson said. "He has that strong arm, and he's just throwing the ball around and having fun. There was some zip on it. He overthrew me one time, and I hadn't seen that for a long time. I was surprised, but it showed me he's getting back to the old Carson now."
Palmer's younger brother, Jordan, is a backup Bengals quarterback and worked out with him at the sessions in California. Jordan Palmer was reminded of how his brother overcame injuries in the past, including a severe knee injury in the 2005 playoffs that required reconstructive surgery. Palmer left knee was hurt on his first pass in a playoff loss to Pittsburgh, but he didn't miss any games in 2006.
"It's in his nature," Jordan Palmer said. "And that's why he's the man. He's ready to roll, and I think he'll be back and stronger than ever. I think he's really excited about this year. It was important for him to come into it healthy, and that's where he is now."
Palmer, 29, threw for just 731 yards, three touchdowns and four interceptions in four games in 2008. The Bengals finished 4-11-1 as a team last season.
Cincinnati started offseason workouts on Monday, which was the first opportunity for Palmer to work with the team since his injury last fall that caused him to miss 12 games but didn't require surgery. The Bengals will keep Palmer on a "pitch count" all the way through training camp only as a precautionary measure.
"I'm 100 percent," Palmer said. "I've been cleared. My elbow feels great and I just have to keep going and get the small mechanical things that I normally do this time of year."
Palmer is coming off a season-ending injury for the second time in four seasons. But Palmer says his body feels rejuvenated with the additional rest, and that he is ready to try to lead the Bengals to a successful season.
Palmer has been throwing three times a week near his home in Southern California. Several of the Bengals' young receivers have joined him for the sessions, including Jerome Simpson, a second-round draft pick last year.
"I saw that old Carson Palmer I used to look at when I was younger," Simpson said. "He has that strong arm, and he's just throwing the ball around and having fun. There was some zip on it. He overthrew me one time, and I hadn't seen that for a long time. I was surprised, but it showed me he's getting back to the old Carson now."
Palmer's younger brother, Jordan, is a backup Bengals quarterback and worked out with him at the sessions in California. Jordan Palmer was reminded of how his brother overcame injuries in the past, including a severe knee injury in the 2005 playoffs that required reconstructive surgery. Palmer left knee was hurt on his first pass in a playoff loss to Pittsburgh, but he didn't miss any games in 2006.
"It's in his nature," Jordan Palmer said. "And that's why he's the man. He's ready to roll, and I think he'll be back and stronger than ever. I think he's really excited about this year. It was important for him to come into it healthy, and that's where he is now."
Palmer, 29, threw for just 731 yards, three touchdowns and four interceptions in four games in 2008. The Bengals finished 4-11-1 as a team last season.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Titans vs. Steelers open 2009 season!
The Pittsburgh Steelers get their opening-night showcase as Super Bowl champions. The oldest rivalry in football has a first-week renewal in prime time. An old AFL-style doubleheader closes out the weekend.
That's how the NFL will begin the 2009 season, starting with as juicy a matchup as possible: Pittsburgh hosting the Tennessee Titans, who merely had the league's best record in 2008 and who beat the Steelers 31-14 at Heinz Field in the 15th game of the season.
Opening kickoff is Thursday night, Sept. 10 on NBC, which also gets the 178th meeting between the Bears and Packers, in Green Bay on Sunday night, Sept. 13.
For those surprised that the Cowboys, who open their palatial new stadium this season, are not featured in a night game in Week 1, well, baseball got in the way. So Dallas, the NFL's biggest TV draw, which is moving to Arlington, Texas, near the Rangers' ballpark -- the Rangers are home that weekend -- will have to wait until the second week, when the Cowboys are expected to host the Sunday nighter.
"We have the chance to get on the national game the second weekend with not being able to get on the first weekend," Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones said Monday at the owners meetings. "We're having to work with the league on some things."
The Cowboys and Lions get to keep their traditional Thanksgiving hosting slots.
The Lions go back to meeting the Packers that day, a matchup that occurred every year from 1951-63 and will happen for the 19th time. The Raiders will be at the Cowboys following that, and the NFL Network night game will feature the New York Giants at Denver.
"The Thanksgiving game is a tradition and we're proud to have it and to continue it in the new stadium," Jones said. "It's very important to us."
Commissioner Roger Goodell acknowledged there continues to be discussions about rotating the Thanksgiving afternoon contests.
"We did not feel it was appropriate at this time," he said, adding the league's competition and broadcast committees were looking into the matter.
The Monday night doubleheader on ESPN on Sept. 14 will feature Buffalo, with Terrell Owens, at New England, with, the Patriots hope, a returning Tom Brady. That game will be followed by San Diego at Oakland -- all original AFL franchises.
While the AFL began play in 1960 and is not 50 years old until 2010, the NFL has chosen to observe the 50th season of play by those franchises. The celebration of that league, which merged with the NFL in 1966 and began play as one entity in 1970, begins with the Sept. 14 doubleheader.
Goodell said he was hopeful a proposal for an expansion of the regular season to either 17 or 18 games could be presented to the owners at the May league meetings in Fort Lauderdale. The league is considering dropping one or two preseason games and extending the regular schedule, but remaining within the current 20-game format, although not likely before 2011.
To do so will involve discussions with the players union and the league's media partners. Of course, the collective bargaining agreement with the players expires after the 2010 season, so a longer schedule is just one of many issues in getting a deal done with the NFLPA.
"I haven't made a decision on whether we'll have a 17-game or 18-game season. We'll have a good feeling on it when we come out of these meetings," Goodell said. "We have to sit down with our partners and go through negotiations. We think our content continues to be more valuable to our partners."
In other news, Goodell announced Monday the parameters of the league's new TV deal with DirecTV. According to ESPN Senior NFL Analyst Chris Mortensen, the NFL will receive $1 billion per year for four years, up $700 million from the previous deal.
In the new deal, DirecTV is expected to add expanded elements to its NFL Sunday Ticket package.
Also, the Titans and Bengals each were awarded four compensatory picks in April's draft for free agents they lost in 2008.
In all, half of the 32 teams received compensatory selections, which are given from the third through seventh rounds of the draft.
Goodell also mentioned possibly creating a developmental league: "I would like to explore that in the next negotiations."
The commissioner does not expect an uncapped season to occur next year; the current CBA calls for one.
"I don't believe that will be the case," he said, noting the NFL's calendar for a CBA begins in March.
He noted that nearly three-quarters of the teams did not raise ticket prices this year, and that the NFL has been hit by the economic downturn. The league trimmed its staff by 15 percent and many teams have laid off employees -- even as free agents reap millions in guaranteed salary.
"It's definitely hitting us on our revenue side," he said of the economy. "The risks become greater in that kind of a climate and your revenues become challenged. There's a lot of uncertainty out there."
That's how the NFL will begin the 2009 season, starting with as juicy a matchup as possible: Pittsburgh hosting the Tennessee Titans, who merely had the league's best record in 2008 and who beat the Steelers 31-14 at Heinz Field in the 15th game of the season.
Opening kickoff is Thursday night, Sept. 10 on NBC, which also gets the 178th meeting between the Bears and Packers, in Green Bay on Sunday night, Sept. 13.
For those surprised that the Cowboys, who open their palatial new stadium this season, are not featured in a night game in Week 1, well, baseball got in the way. So Dallas, the NFL's biggest TV draw, which is moving to Arlington, Texas, near the Rangers' ballpark -- the Rangers are home that weekend -- will have to wait until the second week, when the Cowboys are expected to host the Sunday nighter.
"We have the chance to get on the national game the second weekend with not being able to get on the first weekend," Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones said Monday at the owners meetings. "We're having to work with the league on some things."
The Cowboys and Lions get to keep their traditional Thanksgiving hosting slots.
The Lions go back to meeting the Packers that day, a matchup that occurred every year from 1951-63 and will happen for the 19th time. The Raiders will be at the Cowboys following that, and the NFL Network night game will feature the New York Giants at Denver.
"The Thanksgiving game is a tradition and we're proud to have it and to continue it in the new stadium," Jones said. "It's very important to us."
Commissioner Roger Goodell acknowledged there continues to be discussions about rotating the Thanksgiving afternoon contests.
"We did not feel it was appropriate at this time," he said, adding the league's competition and broadcast committees were looking into the matter.
The Monday night doubleheader on ESPN on Sept. 14 will feature Buffalo, with Terrell Owens, at New England, with, the Patriots hope, a returning Tom Brady. That game will be followed by San Diego at Oakland -- all original AFL franchises.
While the AFL began play in 1960 and is not 50 years old until 2010, the NFL has chosen to observe the 50th season of play by those franchises. The celebration of that league, which merged with the NFL in 1966 and began play as one entity in 1970, begins with the Sept. 14 doubleheader.
Goodell said he was hopeful a proposal for an expansion of the regular season to either 17 or 18 games could be presented to the owners at the May league meetings in Fort Lauderdale. The league is considering dropping one or two preseason games and extending the regular schedule, but remaining within the current 20-game format, although not likely before 2011.
To do so will involve discussions with the players union and the league's media partners. Of course, the collective bargaining agreement with the players expires after the 2010 season, so a longer schedule is just one of many issues in getting a deal done with the NFLPA.
"I haven't made a decision on whether we'll have a 17-game or 18-game season. We'll have a good feeling on it when we come out of these meetings," Goodell said. "We have to sit down with our partners and go through negotiations. We think our content continues to be more valuable to our partners."
In other news, Goodell announced Monday the parameters of the league's new TV deal with DirecTV. According to ESPN Senior NFL Analyst Chris Mortensen, the NFL will receive $1 billion per year for four years, up $700 million from the previous deal.
In the new deal, DirecTV is expected to add expanded elements to its NFL Sunday Ticket package.
Also, the Titans and Bengals each were awarded four compensatory picks in April's draft for free agents they lost in 2008.
In all, half of the 32 teams received compensatory selections, which are given from the third through seventh rounds of the draft.
Goodell also mentioned possibly creating a developmental league: "I would like to explore that in the next negotiations."
The commissioner does not expect an uncapped season to occur next year; the current CBA calls for one.
"I don't believe that will be the case," he said, noting the NFL's calendar for a CBA begins in March.
He noted that nearly three-quarters of the teams did not raise ticket prices this year, and that the NFL has been hit by the economic downturn. The league trimmed its staff by 15 percent and many teams have laid off employees -- even as free agents reap millions in guaranteed salary.
"It's definitely hitting us on our revenue side," he said of the economy. "The risks become greater in that kind of a climate and your revenues become challenged. There's a lot of uncertainty out there."
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Titans lose CB Chris Carr to Baltimore
Carr signed a 2-year, $5 million deal Wednesday, while cutting Rolle saves the team $4.1 million under the salary cap.
Carr is expected to back up Fabian Washington and Domonique Foxworth and return kicks. The four-year veteran played for the Oakland Raiders from 2005-07 and the Tennessee Titans last year.
Rolle has spent the past four seasons with the Ravens, playing 48 games. He was diagnosed with epilepsy in 2007 but returned to play in six games that season.
Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome says he expects other teams to be interested in Rolle, but he hasn't ruled out bringing him back to Baltimore.
Carr is expected to back up Fabian Washington and Domonique Foxworth and return kicks. The four-year veteran played for the Oakland Raiders from 2005-07 and the Tennessee Titans last year.
Rolle has spent the past four seasons with the Ravens, playing 48 games. He was diagnosed with epilepsy in 2007 but returned to play in six games that season.
Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome says he expects other teams to be interested in Rolle, but he hasn't ruled out bringing him back to Baltimore.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Tennessee Vols land the nation's top recruit!
When Lane Kiffin was announced as the new coach at Tennessee, he vowed that he and his staff would go out and get the best players in the country.
Little did anyone expect that Kiffin and Co. would go out in three months and sign the nation's No. 1 player.
But in a press conference at the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame, the Vols did just that in landing running back Bryce Brown.
"I asked God to reveal it to me," Brown said. "He gave me the sign. When I first went there (on official visit) I wasn't feeling it. I had a lot of concerns about Tennessee and the offense. When I went back, I got the sign. God told me that I was a Volunteer. I just felt it."
Bryce Brown picked Tennessee on Monday.
That feel came mostly from seeing Tennessee work out Friday night inside Neyland Stadium.
"It was very important," Brown said of his unofficial visit over the weekend. "When I went there the first time, I just didn't get a good feel offensively of what they wanted to do. Seeing spring practice and seeing the offense work, it's exactly what I was looking for. They have a lot of coaches with NFL experience and I felt that they could help me best get prepared for the next level."
Like Brown's entire recruitment, Monday's announcement was full of suspense and some drama. It started 10 minutes late and Brown pulled out a Miami hat that he had been seen wearing Sunday and Monday.
But as it appeared he might be saying he was a Hurricane, Brown turned and handed the hat to his older brother Arthur Brown and donned a Tennessee hat declaring he was a Vol.
The quest for Brown, who said Kansas State finished second, has centered mostly around friend/handler Brian Butler. But the Vols, led by offensive coordinator Jim Chaney and running backs coach Eddie Gran, took a different approach recruiting Brown and his parents.
Brown, who said his position coach would be was a key element to his decision, obviously likes Gran.
"I like Coach Gran a lot," Brown said. "His philosophy is a lot like Brian's [Butler]. He expects nothing but the best from you, and that is what I am used to.
"I wanted to go to a place where I knew the coaches would push me and make me work the hardest every day. I learned yesterday at church when there is a lot of pressure on me, that is when I am at my best."
And Tennessee fans hope Brown is at his best on the field this fall.
Little did anyone expect that Kiffin and Co. would go out in three months and sign the nation's No. 1 player.
But in a press conference at the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame, the Vols did just that in landing running back Bryce Brown.
"I asked God to reveal it to me," Brown said. "He gave me the sign. When I first went there (on official visit) I wasn't feeling it. I had a lot of concerns about Tennessee and the offense. When I went back, I got the sign. God told me that I was a Volunteer. I just felt it."
Bryce Brown picked Tennessee on Monday.
That feel came mostly from seeing Tennessee work out Friday night inside Neyland Stadium.
"It was very important," Brown said of his unofficial visit over the weekend. "When I went there the first time, I just didn't get a good feel offensively of what they wanted to do. Seeing spring practice and seeing the offense work, it's exactly what I was looking for. They have a lot of coaches with NFL experience and I felt that they could help me best get prepared for the next level."
Like Brown's entire recruitment, Monday's announcement was full of suspense and some drama. It started 10 minutes late and Brown pulled out a Miami hat that he had been seen wearing Sunday and Monday.
But as it appeared he might be saying he was a Hurricane, Brown turned and handed the hat to his older brother Arthur Brown and donned a Tennessee hat declaring he was a Vol.
The quest for Brown, who said Kansas State finished second, has centered mostly around friend/handler Brian Butler. But the Vols, led by offensive coordinator Jim Chaney and running backs coach Eddie Gran, took a different approach recruiting Brown and his parents.
Brown, who said his position coach would be was a key element to his decision, obviously likes Gran.
"I like Coach Gran a lot," Brown said. "His philosophy is a lot like Brian's [Butler]. He expects nothing but the best from you, and that is what I am used to.
"I wanted to go to a place where I knew the coaches would push me and make me work the hardest every day. I learned yesterday at church when there is a lot of pressure on me, that is when I am at my best."
And Tennessee fans hope Brown is at his best on the field this fall.
Titans sign another defensive back
Tennessee signed restricted free agent cornerback Jarrett Bush to an offer sheet Friday, giving the Green Bay Packers seven days to either match the contract or allow him to go to the Titans.
If the Packers don’t match, signing Bush won’t cost the Titans a draft pick as compensation. Green Bay had tendered Bush so low that the team only asked for right of first refusal.
Bush has one start in 46 games in three seasons with the Packers. He would provide depth to a Titans secondary that lost Eric King to free agency and could lose Chris Carr to free agency.
Bush was signed by Carolina as an undrafted free agent out of Utah State in 2006 and claimed by Green Bay off waivers in September 2006.
If the Packers don’t match, signing Bush won’t cost the Titans a draft pick as compensation. Green Bay had tendered Bush so low that the team only asked for right of first refusal.
Bush has one start in 46 games in three seasons with the Packers. He would provide depth to a Titans secondary that lost Eric King to free agency and could lose Chris Carr to free agency.
Bush was signed by Carolina as an undrafted free agent out of Utah State in 2006 and claimed by Green Bay off waivers in September 2006.
The Cutler/Denver Saga continues...
Denver Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler said Sunday night that he will not report to the team's first meeting on Monday and has formally asked to be traded. He confirmed that a Saturday meeting with first-year coach Josh McDaniels ended badly from his perspective while McDaniels offered another viewpoint on Sunday night.
"I went in there with every intention of solving the issue, being a Bronco, moving forward as a Bronco," Cutler said. "We weren't in there but about 20 minutes, [McDaniels] did most of the talking and as far as I'm concerned, he made it clear he wants his own guy. He admitted he wanted Matt Cassel because he said he has raised him up from the ground as a quarterback. He said he wasn't sorry about it. He made it clear that he could still entertain trading me because, as he put it, he'll do whatever he feels is in the best interest of the organization.
"At the end of the meeting, he wasn't like, 'Jay, I want you as our quarterback, you're our guy.' It felt like the opposite. He basically said that I needed to tell him if we can't work this out, to let him know," Cutler added. "I thought he was antagonizing me and that was disappointing because I was ready to move on, committed as a Bronco. Really, I figured we'd hash things out, shake hands, laugh a little and move forward. What happened [Saturday] was the last thing I expected. If I didn't think it could be fixed, I never would have come back to Denver. It was painfully obvious to me and Bus [Cook, his agent] it's not something they want to fix."
Consequently, Cutler instructed Cook, who also attended the meeting, to formally request a trade. The quarterback said he left town late Sunday and would skip McDaniels' first team meeting on Monday as they begin their offseason program.
Broncos owner Pat Bowlen told the Denver Post on Sunday that he was disappointed with how Cutler has handled the situation. In a telephone interview with ESPN, McDaniels was reluctantly expansive on the story.
"I really have wanted to avoid a he-said, she-said thing but it's only fair for us to present the Bronco side of the story rather than let things get taken out of context," McDaniels said. "There's been a pattern here for the past two weeks the way things [have been represented] in our communications. I don't think anythng that happened [Saturday] was out of the ordinary. At the end of the meeting, Jay said he had thought about things quite a bit and requested a few more hours to mull things over. He said he wanted to talk to Bus on how to proceed. He was gonna call me on my cell phone and that never happened. Instead, Bus called [GM] Brian [Xanders].
"Again, I think that's been a pattern. I couldn't get [Cutler] to talk to me for two weeks or to talk to Mr. Bowlen. Then when he came here this weekend, we couldn't get a one-on-one meeting, just me and him alone. He wanted Bus in there, so I had Brian sit in, too. And it was the four of us. There wasn't any yelling, none of that. I can't believe we get to a totally different [interpretation].
"It's an unfortunate set of circumstances that has cropped up, a potential distraction and we've done our best to limit that. The main message I want to get out is that we're excited to start our offseason program [Monday]. It's an exciting time for us."
Cutler won't be present at the team meeting.
"I certainly went back there, expecting I'd be there [Monday] but not now," Cutler said. "It's not mandatory. I'll attend every mandatory mini-camp and training camp but that's it. Really, it's best for me to move on. As coach said, he needs every eye in the meeting room to be on him and not me."
As McDaniels pointed out, Cutler had a completely different expectation when he left their private meeting on Saturday.
Cutler said: "You know, even after the meeting, I hung around town, kind of expecting him to call me and say, 'Hey, let's just me and you get away and have lunch or a cup of coffee' and mend things, but that didn't happen. So, I get it, really, it's a business. I'm disappointed beause I love being a Bronco but I think it's run its course."
McDaniels admitted that the team got involved in trade discussions for Cassel, who instead was dealt to the Kansas City Chiefs. However, he said any perception Cutler felt that the team could still trade him was misleading.
"That's what we have communicated ever since the deal with Cassel didn't happen," McDaniels said. "Other teams have called but we're not interested in getting draft picks for Jay. I never made a statement [Saturday] that 'you can be traded at any time.' They asked a question and I told them it was the time of year when people inquire about your team. Your job, as a head coach and general manager, is to listen and not bypass any opportunity to help your team improve. I think most people [in the NFL] feel the same way. You make smart, educated decisions that are best for your football team."
Cutler feels like McDaniels lost his credibility with him when he initially denied to the quarterback that the Broncos tried to acquire Cassel only to admit it later.
"Before this trade for Cassel thing ever came up, in the two weeks or so I had spent with McDaniels, he was basically telling me that he came to Denver because he wanted to coach me and that we needed to trust each other," Cutler said. "He's never been critical to me. But trust now? How can I trust him now?"
He also explained that his house being put up for sale was "nothing more than a coincidence."
"I had already shown my house privately to some interested buyers a couple of months ago," Cutler said. "I've really been looking to buy 40 to 70 acres of land there."
As for ignoring phone calls from McDaniels and Bowlen, Cutler said: "Josh and I have exchanged text messages. We had a conference call. And if Pat wanted to speak to me, why didn't he come to the meeting on Saturday?"
Cook said that as an agent he was "totally in shock" that it has gotten so ugly.
"I would have bet my house going into Saturday's meeting that everyone would be shaking hands and smiling," Cook said. "I thought it was going to get worked out. But it was very clear to me that Jay Cutler is not their choice to be quarterback of that team."
Yet Cook admitted that when he called Xanders to request a trade on Saturday night, the team's general manager said it wasn't going to happen and that "Jay should show up Monday."
That wasn't going to happen, either.
"I went in there with every intention of solving the issue, being a Bronco, moving forward as a Bronco," Cutler said. "We weren't in there but about 20 minutes, [McDaniels] did most of the talking and as far as I'm concerned, he made it clear he wants his own guy. He admitted he wanted Matt Cassel because he said he has raised him up from the ground as a quarterback. He said he wasn't sorry about it. He made it clear that he could still entertain trading me because, as he put it, he'll do whatever he feels is in the best interest of the organization.
"At the end of the meeting, he wasn't like, 'Jay, I want you as our quarterback, you're our guy.' It felt like the opposite. He basically said that I needed to tell him if we can't work this out, to let him know," Cutler added. "I thought he was antagonizing me and that was disappointing because I was ready to move on, committed as a Bronco. Really, I figured we'd hash things out, shake hands, laugh a little and move forward. What happened [Saturday] was the last thing I expected. If I didn't think it could be fixed, I never would have come back to Denver. It was painfully obvious to me and Bus [Cook, his agent] it's not something they want to fix."
Consequently, Cutler instructed Cook, who also attended the meeting, to formally request a trade. The quarterback said he left town late Sunday and would skip McDaniels' first team meeting on Monday as they begin their offseason program.
Broncos owner Pat Bowlen told the Denver Post on Sunday that he was disappointed with how Cutler has handled the situation. In a telephone interview with ESPN, McDaniels was reluctantly expansive on the story.
"I really have wanted to avoid a he-said, she-said thing but it's only fair for us to present the Bronco side of the story rather than let things get taken out of context," McDaniels said. "There's been a pattern here for the past two weeks the way things [have been represented] in our communications. I don't think anythng that happened [Saturday] was out of the ordinary. At the end of the meeting, Jay said he had thought about things quite a bit and requested a few more hours to mull things over. He said he wanted to talk to Bus on how to proceed. He was gonna call me on my cell phone and that never happened. Instead, Bus called [GM] Brian [Xanders].
"Again, I think that's been a pattern. I couldn't get [Cutler] to talk to me for two weeks or to talk to Mr. Bowlen. Then when he came here this weekend, we couldn't get a one-on-one meeting, just me and him alone. He wanted Bus in there, so I had Brian sit in, too. And it was the four of us. There wasn't any yelling, none of that. I can't believe we get to a totally different [interpretation].
"It's an unfortunate set of circumstances that has cropped up, a potential distraction and we've done our best to limit that. The main message I want to get out is that we're excited to start our offseason program [Monday]. It's an exciting time for us."
Cutler won't be present at the team meeting.
"I certainly went back there, expecting I'd be there [Monday] but not now," Cutler said. "It's not mandatory. I'll attend every mandatory mini-camp and training camp but that's it. Really, it's best for me to move on. As coach said, he needs every eye in the meeting room to be on him and not me."
As McDaniels pointed out, Cutler had a completely different expectation when he left their private meeting on Saturday.
Cutler said: "You know, even after the meeting, I hung around town, kind of expecting him to call me and say, 'Hey, let's just me and you get away and have lunch or a cup of coffee' and mend things, but that didn't happen. So, I get it, really, it's a business. I'm disappointed beause I love being a Bronco but I think it's run its course."
McDaniels admitted that the team got involved in trade discussions for Cassel, who instead was dealt to the Kansas City Chiefs. However, he said any perception Cutler felt that the team could still trade him was misleading.
"That's what we have communicated ever since the deal with Cassel didn't happen," McDaniels said. "Other teams have called but we're not interested in getting draft picks for Jay. I never made a statement [Saturday] that 'you can be traded at any time.' They asked a question and I told them it was the time of year when people inquire about your team. Your job, as a head coach and general manager, is to listen and not bypass any opportunity to help your team improve. I think most people [in the NFL] feel the same way. You make smart, educated decisions that are best for your football team."
Cutler feels like McDaniels lost his credibility with him when he initially denied to the quarterback that the Broncos tried to acquire Cassel only to admit it later.
"Before this trade for Cassel thing ever came up, in the two weeks or so I had spent with McDaniels, he was basically telling me that he came to Denver because he wanted to coach me and that we needed to trust each other," Cutler said. "He's never been critical to me. But trust now? How can I trust him now?"
He also explained that his house being put up for sale was "nothing more than a coincidence."
"I had already shown my house privately to some interested buyers a couple of months ago," Cutler said. "I've really been looking to buy 40 to 70 acres of land there."
As for ignoring phone calls from McDaniels and Bowlen, Cutler said: "Josh and I have exchanged text messages. We had a conference call. And if Pat wanted to speak to me, why didn't he come to the meeting on Saturday?"
Cook said that as an agent he was "totally in shock" that it has gotten so ugly.
"I would have bet my house going into Saturday's meeting that everyone would be shaking hands and smiling," Cook said. "I thought it was going to get worked out. But it was very clear to me that Jay Cutler is not their choice to be quarterback of that team."
Yet Cook admitted that when he called Xanders to request a trade on Saturday night, the team's general manager said it wasn't going to happen and that "Jay should show up Monday."
That wasn't going to happen, either.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
The Days of our Lives (Denver Edition)
After a contentious conference call between quarterback Jay Cutler and the Denver Broncos' brass on Monday, the situation has gone "from bad to worse", according to a source close to the situation. The call was supposed to be a meeting of the minds between Cutler and the Broncos' brass, in particular new head coach Josh McDaniels. The two got sideways Feb. 28 when word broke that McDaniels, the former New England offensive coordinator who replaced Mike Shanahan after 14 seasons, engaged in discussions about acquiring Matt Cassel from the Patriots in a three-way trade. Cutler had maintained the Broncos initiated the talks. McDaniels publicly said he was approached about a deal.
The conference call was anything but genial and the two sides are now further apart than prior to it, the source said. The source added that the Broncos' tone of the conference call was as if Cutler created the situation by asking for the trade and not the other way around.
A Broncos source with knowledge of the discussions said that two sides did not grow further apart in Monday's conference call and that issues were discussed openly and it was re-emphasized to Cutler he will not be traded.
The first source said McDaniels wouldn't confirm or deny whether the Broncos initiated the trade talks. The Broncos did, though, tell Cutler that every player on the team could be traded and he could be traded at any time. Still, Denver owner Pat Bowlen also stated in the conversation that Cutler will not be traded. The Broncos publicly said Cutler will not be traded last week as the Cutler trade frenzy was in full force.
After the phone call, the first source said Cutler would rather be traded now if Denver isn't going to commit to him long-term. The first source maintains Cutler was totally on board with McDaniels until the trade talks story broke and that trust is Cutler's biggest problem with McDaniels and the organization.
The first source said Cutler is still mulling over whether he will show up for the team's offseason conditioning program, which begins Monday. The Broncos' source stated that Cutler needs to meet with McDaniels in person to keep the situation moving in the right direction.
Bill Williamson covers the AFC West for ESPN.com.
The conference call was anything but genial and the two sides are now further apart than prior to it, the source said. The source added that the Broncos' tone of the conference call was as if Cutler created the situation by asking for the trade and not the other way around.
A Broncos source with knowledge of the discussions said that two sides did not grow further apart in Monday's conference call and that issues were discussed openly and it was re-emphasized to Cutler he will not be traded.
The first source said McDaniels wouldn't confirm or deny whether the Broncos initiated the trade talks. The Broncos did, though, tell Cutler that every player on the team could be traded and he could be traded at any time. Still, Denver owner Pat Bowlen also stated in the conversation that Cutler will not be traded. The Broncos publicly said Cutler will not be traded last week as the Cutler trade frenzy was in full force.
After the phone call, the first source said Cutler would rather be traded now if Denver isn't going to commit to him long-term. The first source maintains Cutler was totally on board with McDaniels until the trade talks story broke and that trust is Cutler's biggest problem with McDaniels and the organization.
The first source said Cutler is still mulling over whether he will show up for the team's offseason conditioning program, which begins Monday. The Broncos' source stated that Cutler needs to meet with McDaniels in person to keep the situation moving in the right direction.
Bill Williamson covers the AFC West for ESPN.com.
L.T. signs 3-year deal with the Chargers!
Tomlinson will be a Charger for three more years after signing a contract extension this morning.
In addition to not taking a pay cut in 2009, Tomlinson receives an unspecified guaranteed amount of money in 2010, the source said. The amount might not be large enough to guarantee Tomlinson can't be cut next year, but it gives him some security for the 2010 season.
A trade off, Tomlinson reduced his salaries in 2010 and 2011. He was scheduled to make $8 million next year and $9.275 million in 2011. The final three years of his old contract was worth $24 million over three years.
"This is a good day for the Chargers and for Chargers fans," owner Dean Spanos said. "It was important for me to get this done so L.T. could continue his career here in San Diego where he means so much to our team, our fans and our community. The alternative was just unthinkable. He belongs in San Diego."
Tomlinson said, "I love San Diego and being a part of this team with my teammates. My No. 1 priority was to stay here in San Diego. I truly believe this is the place that gives me the best chance to be successful and win a championship. I want to finish the job we started when I got here eight years ago. My heart has always been in San Diego. I couldn't imagine putting on another uniform.
"I really appreciate the role Dean played throughout this process. He made it work for everyone and I appreciate his friendship more than he knows."
Tomlinson was slowed during the regular season with a toe injury, then hurt his groin in the season finale. He was forced out of an overtime playoff win against the Indianapolis Colts and sat out against the Steelers, the first game he'd missed due to injury in his brilliant eight-year career.
It was the second straight year his postseason was cut short by injury. That, coupled with the fact Tomlinson turns 30 this summer, raised questions about how long he would be a Charger. The team said it needed salary cap relief in order to sign other players to contract extensions, and it zeroed in on Tomlinson's deal.
In addition to not taking a pay cut in 2009, Tomlinson receives an unspecified guaranteed amount of money in 2010, the source said. The amount might not be large enough to guarantee Tomlinson can't be cut next year, but it gives him some security for the 2010 season.
A trade off, Tomlinson reduced his salaries in 2010 and 2011. He was scheduled to make $8 million next year and $9.275 million in 2011. The final three years of his old contract was worth $24 million over three years.
"This is a good day for the Chargers and for Chargers fans," owner Dean Spanos said. "It was important for me to get this done so L.T. could continue his career here in San Diego where he means so much to our team, our fans and our community. The alternative was just unthinkable. He belongs in San Diego."
Tomlinson said, "I love San Diego and being a part of this team with my teammates. My No. 1 priority was to stay here in San Diego. I truly believe this is the place that gives me the best chance to be successful and win a championship. I want to finish the job we started when I got here eight years ago. My heart has always been in San Diego. I couldn't imagine putting on another uniform.
"I really appreciate the role Dean played throughout this process. He made it work for everyone and I appreciate his friendship more than he knows."
Tomlinson was slowed during the regular season with a toe injury, then hurt his groin in the season finale. He was forced out of an overtime playoff win against the Indianapolis Colts and sat out against the Steelers, the first game he'd missed due to injury in his brilliant eight-year career.
It was the second straight year his postseason was cut short by injury. That, coupled with the fact Tomlinson turns 30 this summer, raised questions about how long he would be a Charger. The team said it needed salary cap relief in order to sign other players to contract extensions, and it zeroed in on Tomlinson's deal.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Ravens make promises...
Baltimore says it will go get a big name free agent and speculation is revolving around top notch receivers. Rumor has it, Torry Holt and Marvin Harrison have been asked to speak to the GM Ozzie Newsome. Baltimore could be a dangerous team by adding a top receiver to pair with Derrick Mason. Joe Flacco is really happy right now!
Sunday, March 8, 2009
T.O. finds new home in Buffalo!
Owens only took two days to find a new home. His departure from Dallas and arrival in Buffalo only shows everyone that if you are talented and one of the top five guys at your position, you can find a place to play. For everything negative Owens brings to the table, he produces results everywhere he goes. Statistically speaking he is in the top three in nearly every receiving category for his career. My honest opinion is he will produce in Buffalo also and be a good fantasy option. Lee Evans is either smiling because T.O. will take his double coverage or upset that Owens will want the ball every play. Either way, Buffalo just gained one of the best producers receivers ever!
Thursday, March 5, 2009
more T.O. drama...
A news article from my blog reader at ESPN.com
Terrell Owens has been on three different NFL teams, and despite the fact that he's been tremendously productive with all of them, they have all eventually decided that he's just not worth the trouble.
So here's the big question: Will there be a fourth team for Owens?
My knee-jerk reaction is that yes, of course there will be a fourth team, because NFL history has shown time and time again that no matter how much of a disruption, nuisance, or attention whore someone happens to be, there's always someone out there who will roll the dice on immense talent.
But keep a few things in mind. First, Terrell Owens is 35 years old, and if this offseason has shown us anything, it's that old guys don't always get the money they want. I can see a lot of teams saying, "Hey, it might be fun to have Terrell Owens out there catching passes for us," but I can't see a lot of teams who will guarantee him big-time dollars to do it. That could be an issue.
Owens has also said that he wanted to end his career with the Cowboys. He's shown time and time again that he's very sensitive to criticism. Maybe this is the thing that makes him say to himself, "This just isn't worth it anymore."
I don't know. Again, I tend to think that some team out there will convince themselves he's worth a shot, but I see a lot of stumbling blocks along the way. I think it's likely, though not necessarily a given, that Terrell Owens plays football for someone in '09.
As for who that might be, one team immediately comes to mind, and it might be the one team in the NFL with an owner crazier than Jerry Jones. I speak, of course, of the Oakland Raiders. Al Davis loves to make a splash, he loves a vertical passing game, he has a high tolerance for guys with behavioral issues, and he will spend money. Cap room would be an issue, but it seems like teams always find a way to figure these things out.
Just a thought. I'm sure we'll mention this once or twice again before the day is over.
Terrell Owens has been on three different NFL teams, and despite the fact that he's been tremendously productive with all of them, they have all eventually decided that he's just not worth the trouble.
So here's the big question: Will there be a fourth team for Owens?
My knee-jerk reaction is that yes, of course there will be a fourth team, because NFL history has shown time and time again that no matter how much of a disruption, nuisance, or attention whore someone happens to be, there's always someone out there who will roll the dice on immense talent.
But keep a few things in mind. First, Terrell Owens is 35 years old, and if this offseason has shown us anything, it's that old guys don't always get the money they want. I can see a lot of teams saying, "Hey, it might be fun to have Terrell Owens out there catching passes for us," but I can't see a lot of teams who will guarantee him big-time dollars to do it. That could be an issue.
Owens has also said that he wanted to end his career with the Cowboys. He's shown time and time again that he's very sensitive to criticism. Maybe this is the thing that makes him say to himself, "This just isn't worth it anymore."
I don't know. Again, I tend to think that some team out there will convince themselves he's worth a shot, but I see a lot of stumbling blocks along the way. I think it's likely, though not necessarily a given, that Terrell Owens plays football for someone in '09.
As for who that might be, one team immediately comes to mind, and it might be the one team in the NFL with an owner crazier than Jerry Jones. I speak, of course, of the Oakland Raiders. Al Davis loves to make a splash, he loves a vertical passing game, he has a high tolerance for guys with behavioral issues, and he will spend money. Cap room would be an issue, but it seems like teams always find a way to figure these things out.
Just a thought. I'm sure we'll mention this once or twice again before the day is over.
Top Players on the move
Kurt Warner signs two-year deal worth $23M with Arizona, Laverneus Coles signs deal with Cincinnati to replace TJH. Ray Lewis also stayed in Baltimore for another three years. The news for players on the way out, Terrell Owens was cut this morning by the Cowboys, and the rumor mill is churning with reports St. Louis will cut Torry Holt this week after he asked to be released. The rumored destination is of course Dallas!
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
More free agent news!
Tennessee Titans missed out the big free agent I thought they should have pursued in TJH. TJ signed with Seattle yesterday filling a huge void they had at receiver. The Titans however signed free agent Nate Washington from Pittsburgh ti fill the receiver hole. I think this is a big help for us. We also signed Jevon Haye from Tampa to become our new defensive tackle. Haye is a three year starter from a good Tampa defense.
Tampa signed Derrick Ward from NYG, and to me this was a great sign. Tampa should get immediate impact at running back from him.
Tampa signed Derrick Ward from NYG, and to me this was a great sign. Tampa should get immediate impact at running back from him.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Titans free agent news!
The Titans have lost another free agent this morning. Brandon Jones has signed with the 49ers, making the Titans wide receiving corp more depleted than before.
In some good free agent news, the Titans resigned Kerry Collins for two more years as well as nickle back Vincent Fuller. The Titans also have two bigger name free agents coming to Nashville this week. Nate Washington, wide receiver, from the Steelers will be her today and Chris Canty, starting defensive tackle, for the Cowboys will also be here this week.
I really hope they take some of that Haynesworth money and get a big name WR like maybe TJH from Cincinnati!
In some good free agent news, the Titans resigned Kerry Collins for two more years as well as nickle back Vincent Fuller. The Titans also have two bigger name free agents coming to Nashville this week. Nate Washington, wide receiver, from the Steelers will be her today and Chris Canty, starting defensive tackle, for the Cowboys will also be here this week.
I really hope they take some of that Haynesworth money and get a big name WR like maybe TJH from Cincinnati!
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