Raiders QB Russell will have to compete for starting job

According to the Oakland Raiders Coach Tom Cable, quarterback JaMarcus Russell, who was formerly the No. 1 overall pick of 2007 draft, will not be guaranteed with a starting job as the team considers the best thing for all quarterbacks in Raiders jerseys is a competition. That is to say, Russell will have to compete with some other quarterbacks for the starting job in 2010 season.

"I have not put a lot of thought into this at this point," Cable said when asked about naming Russell the starter. "JaMarcus is working and doing the things he should be doing right now. He’ll get himself prepared to compete for the job. I think that’s the only way to look at it. That would help our football team right now, getting into more of that competition. I’m for having guys go at it and battle for the job."

Currently the Raiders have three other quarterbacks on their roster: Charlie Frye, Bruce Gradkowski and J.P. Losman. And there are still possibility that the team may acquire quarterback outside the team.

Former Eagles RB Westbrook confirmed Eagles won’t keep QB Vick

Now running back Brian Westbrook was a free agent after being released by the Philadelphia Eagles. He began to understand more about NFL business and believes that the Eagles will not keep quarterback Michael Vick.

Westbrook seemed a bit disappointed with the decision made by the Eagles, who drafted him but released him after nine seasons.

"I was a little bit surprised. Thinking they maybe would give me an opportunity to renegotiate things," Westbrook said. "For [the Eagles], it’s always business, it’s always money. … We left it on good terms. I wouldn’t say they were bad terms at all."

As they did not hesitate to release a nine-year Eagle, it is almost sure that the Eagles will think less in getting rid of a one-year guy, who did not show much value during the only season in Philadelphia. So Westbrook said “definitely” Vick will put on another team’s NFL jerseys and predicted that the quarterback would be traded as that could not only save the Eagles a lot of money but also could bring them some wanted player as the price for Vick.

Lions are open to everything that helps improve team

The Detroit Lions finished the past 2009 season 2-14 and had totally 30 losses in the previous two seasons. They were bad enough and eager to have improvements. So it’s no surprise that they are willing to offer the No. 2 pick in the draft as the price for a trade and they have intention to pursuit free agent running back LaDainian Tomlinson.

“We’re open to just about everything,” Detroit coach Jim Schwartz said Thursday at the NFL scouting combine. “Whether you keep the second pick or whether you trade down, it doesn’t change what you have to do—that’s make good decisions in the draft. There are blue chip players available a lot of different spots in the draft.”

Ranking 24th in the league with 101 yards per game and improving from 0-16 in 2008 to only 2-14 last year, the Lions are in need of upgrading their running back. Having Tomlinson put on Lions jersey is not a bad idea, so we can expect the two sides to start negotiation in near future.

Former Patriots FB Tatupu passed away at 54

Although he was never a superstar as an NFL player, he has been liked and will be remembered by many New England Patriots fans. 54-year-old Mosi Tatupu, father of Seattle Seahawks linebacker Lofa Tatupu, died Tuesday at Sturdy Memorial Hospital in Attleboro.

“I know that I share a heavy heart today with Patriots fans everywhere who have learned of Mosi Tatupu’s passing,” team owner Robert Kraft said in a statement. He was a dominant special teams player and a punishing rusher who loved the Patriots as much as the fans did.”

Tatupu was an eighth-round pick by the Patriots in 1978 and played 13 of his 14 NFL seasons in the Patriots jerseys, with last season being spent with the then Los Angeles Rams. Rushing for 2,415 yards and 18 touchdowns in his career, Tatupu had his best season in 1983 with 578 rushing yards.

Tatupu was beloved by Patriots fans for his play on kickoff and punt teams and even had his own cheering section known as “Mosi’s Mooses.” He made to Pro Bowl in 1986 as a special teams player and was also on the Patriots 50th anniversary team last season.

Panthers will let DE Peppers go free

As defensive end Julius Peppers expected, the Carolina Panthers announced Tuesday that they have no plan to place franchise tag on him, letting Thursday’s deadline pass by and Peppers make his own choice about his future career as an unrestricted free agent.

“With the magnitude of the contract, the tender that it would take to franchise him and how it fits into the big picture with our team, we made the decision to not franchise him,” Panthers GM Marty Hurney said. “Obviously, it’s a very difficult decision because he’s a tremendous player.”

Thus after March 5, Peppers will have the right to sign with any team he likes to play for. Seeming happy to learn that the Panthers would not tag him, Peppers released a statement through his agent on the same day, saying that he felt good to have the opportunity to visit with other teams and his next goal will be to find the right match for his skill set. Forget the eight seasons he played in Panthers jerseys, and try to believe his new phase of career will be better, or at least as good as he has expected.

Becoming free agent again, WR Owens becomes friends with QB McNabb

It had been known for years that there are feuds between wide receiver Terrell Owens and Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb. But recently Owens, becoming an unrestricted free agent this offseason, said that he is friends with McNabb now.

"I can honestly say I appreciate those years and Donovan and I are friends and, actually we were just hanging out last night as a matter of fact," McNabb said. "So it was one of those things where, again, it started off well, it didn’t end well. Sometimes, I wish it could have ended on a positive note."

During the two seasons Owen played in Eagles jerseys, he was unhappy with his contract, with management, coaches and former Eagles defensive end Hugh Douglas and eventually chose to leave the City of Brotherly Love. Well, after three seasons with the Dallas Cowboys and one uneventful, unproductive season with the Buffalo Bills, he becomes a free agent again and need to get along well with any possible chance to a new deal. Possibly he could be an Eagle again, and then good terms with the team’s star quarterback are absolutely necessary.

Questions to be answered this week

Usually, a lot of questions would be asked about the NFL and their players during the offseason. When there is no game, some begin to rest, some are to reconsider their choices and some get ready to compete for their chances.

The first of all questions to be answered: who will be the most impressive at the Combine that begins Wednesday in Indianapolis? Draft prospects are timed, measured, tested, interviewed, and thoroughly scrutinized. And quarterbacks Jimmy Clausen and Sam Bradford are now the hottest topics.

The next question is about franchise tag and the answer will come out no later than Thursday. Whether Saints safety Darren Sharper, Raiders defensive end Richard Seymour and Patriots defensive tackle Vince Wilfork will be tagged or enter free agents market? Both teams and players need to make imminent decision. Also, Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers and Cardinals linebacker Karlos Dansby is likely to be free agents but there are still other possibilities.

Then there are questions about who are to leave their current teams. As teams are looking to avoid paying imminent roster bonuses, some prominent veterans could be released and some others may put on new teams’ NFL jerseys after being traded.

WR Moss does not expect to stay with Patriots

The New England Patriots wide receiver Randy Moss believes that the Patriots won’t be regretful if he takes off Patriots jersey to find new job elsewhere in 2010 season, although there is still one year left on his current three-year, $27 million contract with the Patriots.

Moss told reporters that he believes so because he knows what the team is considering about the finance. The Patriots will have to pay $6.4 million in base salary to Moss if he finishes the last season on the contract.

"I understand the beast, the nature of it. I think that just with what I think and what I know I don’t think they’re going to re-sign me back. So, after this season if there is not a lockout I’ll be looking for a new team," the Boston Globe quoted Moss as saying. "I got a lot of respect for the Patriots and what they did for me and my family. So, the only thing I can do is just play this year out and see what my future holds after that."

The 33-year-odl receiver caught 83 passes for 1,264 yards and 13 touchdowns last season, including four TD passes in the final three weeks of the regular season.

Vikings LT McKinnie has to pay NFL $4,000 for missing Pro Bowl game

The Minnesota Vikings left tackle Bryant McKinnie had his reasons to miss the Pro Bowl game, but he still has to pay back the league for the absence. According to what the NFL announced on Friday, McKinnie is required to play $4,285 reimbursement for expenses incurred that week in Miami.

McKinnie has said that he did not put on Pro Bowl jersey for the NFC all-star team because of injury on his foot. And also there was miscommunication about his desire to withdraw from the team. Thus he skipped most of the team practices and obligations, and was then dismissed from the NFC all-star squad.

The results for McKinnie’s also included forfeiting his $22,500 game check. Additional action from the league could be taken after the league’s competition committee reviews the matter so as to avoid similar things in future Pro Bowl games.

Titans guard Amano received multiyear contract

The Tennessee Titans made an announcement Wednesday that they have agreed to a multiyear contract with veteran guard Eugene Amano, who is a key piece to the team’s offensive line and started 41 games in his past six NFL seasons.

Over the last two years the Titans’ offensive line has ranked second in the league in rushing yards (4,791) and is tied with the Indianapolis Colts for the fewest sacks allowed. For last year only, the offensive line paved the way for running back Chris Johnson to become just the sixth player in NFL history to gain 2,000 yards in one season and became the first NFL team to allow 15 or fewer sacks and average more than five yards per carry.

By signing Amano the Titans avoided losing him in free agent market as the guard was to become an unrestricted free agent March 5 if without contract. But in order to keep the team’s offensive line one of the best in NFL, the Titans should also sign veteran center Kevin Mawae, who is entering his 16th NFL season and will also become an unrestricted free agent March 5 if without contract. However, the center has said that he does not expect to wear back the Titans jersey as the team seems also weighing backup center Leroy Harris.

Vikings fans want Favre to stay

In order to persuade quarterback Brett Favre to stay with the Minnesota Vikings, a group of Vikings fans used advertising space on a digital billboard near Favre’s home to send message, hoping the 40-year-old quarterback could make his mind to continue wearing No. 4 Vikings jersey for another season.

“Hey No. 4, do Minnesota fans love you and want you back next year? You Brettcha!” the message reads.

The group of more than 122,000 people has also collected photos, videos and posted messages from the fans to mail to Favre, and the plan was made by Jay Tappe of Minneapolis one day after the Vikings lost the NFC championship game to the New Orleans Saints.

“We never really got to give Brett a good send-off or a standing ovation or anything, because they finished the season on the road,” Tappe said. “My thought was to put up a billboard that he sees every morning.”

The plan also includes raising fund through a website, vikesfans4favre.com and getting Vikings defensive end Jared Allen to record a video encouraging fans to join the cause. By so far, they have raised $2,600. It was enough to keep the billboard up for the month and the remaining money will be donated to the foundation of Favre’s wife to help disadvantaged women in their fight against breast cancer. And Allen is one of Favre’s biggest fans who welcomed the legendary quarterback to Vikings after Favre got out of retirement and signed with the Vikings.

WR Stallworth will try his chance with new team

One day after wide receiver Donte’ Stallworth was reinstated to the NFL, his old team Cleveland Browns announced that the team released him. One day after being released, his agent told media that the receiver will work out for another NFL team on Wednesday.

“He is in the best shape he’s been in since I’ve been representing him,” Rosenhaus said. “His reinstatement was a very smooth process. He’s developed a very good rapport with (NFL Commissioner) Roger Goodell.” Rosenhaus did not identify the team Stallworth will visit.

Stallworth pleaded guilty in June to DUI manslaughter for striking and killing a pedestrian with his car in Miami Beach, Fla., drawing a suspension from the league. The 29-year-old receiver caught 17 passes for 170 yards and one touchdown while playing the 2008 season in Browns jersey. Since entering the NFL as the 13th pick of first round in 2002 by the New Orleans Saints, he has had 296 receptions for 4,383 yards and 32 touchdowns.

WR Stallworth lost his chance in Browns

As people have guessed, wide receiver Donte’ Stallworth lost his job in the Cleveland Browns a few days after the NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said Stallworth would be reinstated after the Super Bowl game.

Goodell made his statement on Friday, and it took only three days for the Browns to make the decision of releasing the troubled wide receiver. The team released a one sentence statement on Monday stating the team had terminated Stallworth’s seven-year, $35 million contract that was signed in 2008. Stallworth already received a $4.5 million bonus before he struck 59-year-old crane operator Mario Reyes the morning of March 14 in Miami.

Stallworth pleaded guilty June 16 to DUI manslaughter, a second-degree felony, and was suspended by Goodell two days later. The 29-year-old receiver caught 17 passes for 170 yards and one touchdown while playing the 2008 season in Browns jersey. Entering the league as a first round draft pick in 2002, Stallworth played with the New Orleans Saints, Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots before joining the Browns.

Bears WR Hester expects cooperation with new coordinator

The Chicago Bears wide receiver Devin Hester is expecting to work with new coordinator Mike Martz, who may help the Bears improve their offense. Being known for his offense that puts up big numbers in the passing game, Martz was hired by the Bears earlier this month.

"That’s a guy a receiver would love to work with, the type of coach who spreads the receivers out," Hester told the Chicago Sun-Times. "If he brings that offense he had in St. Louis, we’re going to be a tough team to beat."

Martz seems to have the same expectation, saying that he likes what he sees of the Bears’ receiving unit, which has been maligned but has potential up-and-comers in Johnny Knox and Devin Aromashodu.

Although the unit is in lack of experience, Martz believes that there’s plenty of talent there. He indicated that he could use Hester in the slot. And he is also expecting a lot from the Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, who had failed to meet expectation since taking off his Denver Broncos jersey to become a Bears quarterback.

Vikings seem destined to suffer more than others

The Minneapolis front yard seems a colder place than it was last week when it was covered by snow and there hung a purple Vikings flag at half-staff as the Minnesota Vikings lost their NFC champion to the New Orleans Saints, a woeful memory to all those who were watching the game in their beloved purple and while Vikings jerseys.

After losing four Super Bowls in the 1970s, the Vikings are now 0-5 in NFC championship games. No matter if the loss was because of the too-many-men-in-the-huddle penalty that infamously preceded Brett Favre’s interception or the three lost fumbles earlier, the Vikings familiarly lost the most critical game despite dominating the Saints in total yardage. Many Vikings supporters can’t help feeling like their sports-fan souls are somehow destined to suffer as much as or more than any others.

“It kind of feels like it doesn’t it?” said Randy Komorouski of Rosemount. “I grew up with all the Super Bowl losses, so, yeah, it’s like they’re snakebite a little bit.”

As the Saints are to fight for their first Super Bowl Championship against the Indianapolis Colts this weekend, what the Vikings fans all could do is to keep their hope for next season. Some day they will make it, just believe it.

Cardinals signed an LB from CFL

After playing four seasons in the Canadian Football League, outside linebacker Stevie Baggs will try his career in NFL by signing a one-year contract with the Arizona Cardinals.

Changing the Saskatchewan Roughriders jersey to the Cardinals jersey, Baggs must be confident that he could have big time in the NFL. He had 12 sacks last season, tied for most in the CFL. Overall, he had a career-high 55 tackles. With experience and records, he is believed by someone to be another Ray Lewis.

Baggs’ experience included playing collegiately at Bethune-Cookman, playing for the CFL’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Edmonton Eskimos before signing with Saskatchewan. Well, I guess he will do as good job in a different league, at least I hope so.

Saints RB Bush is overcoming his youth while career continues

When putting on the New Orleans Saints jersey in 2006 as the second pick of first round, Reggie Bush was just 21 years old. But just in his very first season, he helped lead the Saints to the NFC title game, and three years to now, he is still playing important role in leading the Saints to the Super Bowl.

Although he failed to be even the Saints’ second-leading rusher in 2009 and has been bothered by left knee injuries for parts of the last three seasons, Bush remains capable of brilliance: he exploded for 217 all-purpose yards in the Saints’ divisional-round win vs. the Cardinals, bursting away for an 83-yard punt return for a score and breaking tackles and sprinting away from the Arizona defense on his way to a 46-yard TD run.

When Bush won the Heisman Trophy as a junior at USC in 2005, Saints head coach Sean Payton predicted that youth was a hurdle he had to overcome early in his career. And now Bush is to turn 25 by March, Payton said “Reggie’s developed his overall understanding of what we are doing.”

Bengals Lb Maualuga received suspended sentence for DUI

Saying that he would plead not guilty a few days ago, the Cincinnati Bengals rookie linebacker Rey Maualuga has changed his attitude now to plead guilty to a DUI charge. He received a suspended sentence on Tuesday.

Four days ago Maualuga was arrested after hitting a parking meter and two parked cars in northern Kentucky. The police charged him with drunken and careless driving. After the linebacker pleaded guilty and received the sentence, the charge was dropped. As a result, Maualuga had his driver's license suspended for 90 days and was ordered to participate in an alcohol and drug education program. He was also required to pay $884 in a fine, plus court costs and make restitution for damages from the accident. The probation is for two years.

Putting on his Bengals jersey last year as a second-round draft pick out of USC, Maualuga quickly became a starter and a fan favorite for his hard-hitting play. After the sentence, Maualuga apologized for disappointing his fans by making a terrible decision to drive under the influence.

Browns and Dolphins exchanged vice presidents

There was a trade done between the Miami Dolphins and the Cleveland Browns on Monday, but no player need to change their NFL jerseys as the trade was unusually for team officials, with former Dolphins senior vice president of football operations being Browns’ vice president of football administration and replacing Dawn Aponte, who is to do Thomas’ job with the Dolphins.

The trade was made partly because both vice presidents’ new bosses were the bosses who they used to work for.

Thomas spent last 12 seasons with the Dolphins and got the job of vice president recently. The Browns’ executive vice president of business operations, Bryan Wiedmeier, was president of the Dolphins while Thomas worked there as vice president.

As for Aponte, she had been working with the Browns for one year and was the club’s chief negotiator on contracts. Before joining the Browns, she worked as the NFL’s management council and also worked for the New York Jets with Bill Parcells, who is now the Dolphins’ president.

Favre could have real retirement now

Leading the Minnesota Vikings to a 12-4 season but a regretful loss to the New Orleans Saints in NFC championship game, Brett Favre is now taking his time to decide what to do for next season. Remain in the No. 4 purple Vikings jersey? Or just keep his promise for the first time in his NFL career to have a real retirement? I think, the latter is a much better idea for the 40-year-old quarterback.

I don’t mean he is too old to play football anymore. At his age, his performance during 2009 season was amazing and impressive. And the Vikings do enter postseason thanks a lot to his help. But I just think it would be good for him to follow former Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner, who announced retirement last Friday at age 38 after 12 years of NFL career. Favre has been staying long enough in the NFL, and 18 years of NFL career has made his name well-known among each team’s fans, in good or bad sense. To be honest, every knows he is a great quarterback, and that’s why he should leave now, at the time people still believes he is a great player, but not at a time when people begin to say “well, what can we expect from a man at his 40s?” if he shows any tendency to drop behind those rising young stars.

For a better life and family happiness, Favre should take his time to rest well before doing anything a 40-year-old man fits to do. Mid-aged man should not expect to heal as fast as those 20s if he gets injured. And it’s time to give chance to those younger quarterbacks who have made every effort to get a starting job, like Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels, who were supposed to compete for the spot, until Favre came after training camp in mid-August. Leave now before they acquire the job by performing better during regular season, and Favre, you will face much less embarrassment.