Rams will receiver visits of draft quarterbacks

With the first overall draft pick in hand, the St. Louis Rams is getting prepared for the April 22nd draft picking. As a preliminary collection of the possible best rookies’ information, they are going to host two college quarterbacks this week. The two are the No. 1 overall pick Sam Bradford and No. 13 overall pick Colt McCoy.

According to reports from the NFL.com, Bradford from Oklahoma will best the first to make the visit. He is scheduled to arrive on Tuesday and stay until Wednesday, and the next day the Rams are scheduled to receiver visit of Texas’ McCoy, who will stay until Thursday. Each quarterback has his own advantages and disadvantages. Bradford has ideal height and good mobility and won the Heisman Trophy as a redshirt sophomore in 2008, but he is just coming off a shoulder injury on his throwing arm and in need of adding weight to withstand the pounding in professional games. By comparison, McCoy has less strength with his arm. He is accurate in short passing game but needs to improve the accuracy in long passes down the field and toward the sideline. However, McCoy is a natural leader with high character and can control the game with his intelligence.

As the Rams released veteran quarterback Marc Bulger earlier this month, they seem determined to get a best replacement from the draft, and by so far it seems that Bradford is more likely to have the chance of putting on Rams jersey as the No. 1 overall quarterback, but McCoy is also having big chance as he gave pretty good impression to the team during last week’s private workout with the Rams.

WR Holmes may miss four games with suspension

According to reports, wide receiver Santonio Holmes may not be allowed to play four of the regular-season games in 2010 season as the league is likely to give him a four-game suspension for some kind of policy-violation. However, that did not prevent the New York Jets to make decision of trading him from the Pittsburgh Steelers.

A possible policy that Holmes violated is the NFL’s substance-abuse policy and it remains uncertain if he has tested positive for prohibited substance, so it could be another type of violation. He has history of receiving suspension for having public incidents involving drugs—the receiver was suspended by his then team, the Steelers for one game after being cited for marijuana possession in 2008. He is also currently involved in a case of attaching a woman in an Orlando night club and that could also cause suspension for violating behavior rules.

The former Super Bowl MVP’s off-field issues simply reduced his value on trade market and the Steelers only got a fifth-round draft pick from the trade with the Jets while Holmes was a first-round draft pick in 2006. However, finishing last season with 1248 receiving yards and five touchdowns, Holmes is still expected to play some important role in green and white Jets jersey just as he did while playing in black and gold Steelers jersey.

RFA LB Johnson will stay with Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs succeeded in retaining restricted free agent linebacker Derrick Johnson, who has spent all of his first five seasons with the Chiefs since putting on NFL jersey as a first-round draft pick in 2005.

Johnson, 27, was the former leader of the Chiefs’ defense but fell out of favor last season, starting just three games and compiling a career-low 37 tackles. He did begin to see more time late in the year, though, and returned two interceptions for touchdowns in a Week 17 win over the Denver Broncos. By keeping him in the Chiefs jersey, the team expects Johnson to be in the running for a starting spot next to Demorrio Williams in the 2010 season.

Along with Johnson, offensive lineman Ikechuku Ndukwe also signed restricted free agent tender with the Chiefs. Since being acquired from the Miami Dolphins before the 2009 season, Ndukwe has been used by the Chiefs as a rotational player, playing in 12 games and starting three. He is expected to remain a versatile backup both at guard and tackle for the 2010 season.

Raiders will let QBs Russell and Gradkowski compete for starting job

The Oakland Raiders will let quarterbacks JaMarcus Russell and Bruce Gradkowski compete for the starting job, at least it is what the team’s head coach Tom Cable plans to do. It seems that the competition has already started.

The former first-round pick Russell actually failed to live up to expectation last season. He should just feel lucky that he still have another chance to compete for the starting job at quarterback as he is no longer the coach’s favorite. If he wants to be a starting quarterback again, he really needs to spend as much time as possible on studying his divisional opponents and self-scouting his own game in the film room.

As for Gradkowski, who is in his second year of wearing the Raiders jerseys, he will not just wait for the coach to announce the result of competition. Having proved that he can win on the road with 80.6 QB rating, 6 TDs, 3 INTs, he will definitely make the best use of the opportunity to show that he can also lead the Raiders to winning season.

Raiders signed back three free agents

The Oakland Raiders made an announcement on Tuesday that they have signed back unrestricted free agent defensive tackle William Joseph and restricted free agents linebacker Ricky Brown and fullback Luke Lawton. None of the three managed to play through last season without missing a game.

Joseph played 14 games over the past two seasons, all for the Raiders, although he was cut by the Raiders for three times and became a free agent twice. Fortunate to him, each time he was eventually able to wear back the Raiders jersey to play for the team again.

Brown played only five games at strongside linebacker last season as he suffered a season-ending ankle injury on Week 5. Gaining enough health back to play football again, he has the chance to start at the middle linebacker if the Raiders decide not to bring back restricted free agent Kirk Morrison.

As for Lawton, he missed the final two games of last season and will miss another two at the beginning of next season because he has been given a two-game suspension by the league for using performance enhancing substances.

DE Peppers wants to thank DT Gilbert for jersey number

Joining the Chicago Bears on a $91.5 million, six-year contract, defensive end Julius Peppers was also offered to continue wearing No. 90 NFL jersey, a number that was previously worn by Bears defensive tackle Jarron Gilbert. Gilbert did not say anything about having to change jersey number, but Peppers is determined to thank him through proper ways.

"I hit him up about it, but it was kind of late because they had already announced that I was going to get it,’ Peppers told Vaughn McClure of the Chicago Tribune. "When I talked to him, he was like, ‘It’s all good.’ I told him I appreciated it and that I had to do something to show my appreciation. (Gilbert) told me not to even worry about it, but I’m going to hook him up anyway. What am I going to get him? I don’t know yet. I’m still trying to decide, think about what’s going to be good. I didn’t even meet him yet. I’m going to meet him and see what he likes and then try to hook him up with something.”

Peppers is the second player to take away Gilbert’s jersey number in one year but could be the first to thank him for doing that. Wearing No. 90 at San Jose State before he was drafted by the Bears as a third-round pick last year, Gilbert had to change to No. 73 because the number 90 was already worn by linebacker Joey LaRocque. He wore back NO. 90 after LaRocque was released but had to give it up again when the Bears signed Peppers from the free agent market.

Former Seahawks DE Tapp will compete for starting job in Philadelphia

25-year-old defensive end Darryl Tapp officially said goodbye to free agency two days after a trade between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Seattle Seahawks. A three-year contract will keep him in the Eagles jersey through the 2012 season and he will have a chance to compete for the starting job at left defensive end.

“I think a change of scenery will be good,” Tapp said. “I guess last year I had 2 1/2 sacks, but honestly in my eyes, I feel like it was my best year. I had 2 1/2 sacks and 18 quarterback hits. Last year was just a difficult situation with the circumstances that we had in Seattle. So, stats don’t always tell the story. It’s what you see on the surface.”

During the four seasons with the Seahawks, Tapp totally had 18 sacks, two interceptions, eight forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries in 64 games. And his competitors for the starting job include Victor Vbiamiri and Juqua Parker. If he wins the job, he will co-work with Pro Bowl right end Trent Cole on defensive line.

Packers extended contracts with safety Collins and NT Pickett

The Green Bay Packers finally fulfilled their promises to two of their free agents by signing two long-term contract extension with safety Nick Collins and nose tackle Ryan Pickett to secure the services of the two cornerstones in the team’s defense.

The team did not release details of either deal. Collins’ agents, Dave Butz and Alan Herman, confirmed a report on the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Web site that Collins’ deal was for three years and $23.4 million. Unrestricted free agent Pickett received the franchise tag earlier this offseason when negotiation on the contract extension was still going on, so the deal that was agreed on Friday should be a great one.

“The Packers always try to be proactive in our discussions with our current players and we are pleased we were able to come to an agreement with Nick,” Packers general manager Ted Thompson said in a statement. “Nick has been an impact player for us, and we look forward to having him continue his career as a Packer.”

Having 13 interceptions the last two seasons, Collins was selected to his second straight Pro Bowl last season despite unhappiness with his contract status, and Pickett has been a vital part of what was one of the league’s best run defenses since putting on Packers jersey as a free agent before the 2006 season.

Cardinals QB Leinart does not worry about his starting job

With the retirement of quarterback Kurt Warner, the Arizona Cardinals’ next choice of starting quarterback could only be Matt Leinart unless they sign a veteran like Jake Delhomme or Derek Anderson to compete with Leinart for the starting job. That means there is still possibility for Leinart to lose his starting job; however, he seems not to worry about that much.

"It’s my time and I know that," Leinart told KTAR-AM. "I’m working my butt off to get ready. … Competition makes you better, I’m aware of that. To be honest with you, I’m not really worried about anything. I don’t know if that’s cockiness or not. I’m confident that I can do it. I’ve been in the system for three years. To me it doesn’t really matter because I’m focused on my job.”

Leinart also said that he would take the doubts from doubters as his motivation to do a better job at his position. With such confidence, Leinart is taking his time to prove his ability to be a starter in the fifth year of wearing Cardinals jersey.

Seahawks QB Wallace was traded to Browns

On Monday night, the Seattle Seahawks confirmed that they have made a deal with the Cleveland Browns, trading backup quarterback Seneca Wallace to Browns for an undisclosed 2011 draft pick. The trade is also considered to be one part of Browns current team president Mike Holmgren’s plan of restructuring Browns with players from his former team, the Seahawks.

“This will give Seneca a chance for a fresh start,” Seattle general manager John Schneider said in a statement. “The Browns front office’s familiarity with his abilities will give him an opportunity to compete for playing time. We wish him nothing but the best.”

Formerly the Seahawks head coach, Holmgren took Wallace as one of his favorite players, and that could be the major reason why he made effort to bring Wallace to Cleveland. So, putting on the Browns jersey, what Wallace could do for the new team?

Being drafted by the Seahawks as a fourth-round pick in 2003, Wallace has spent his entire seven-year career with the team and has played in totally 46 games, starting 14 games at quarterback with 25 career touchdowns. He was used sometimes at wide receiver and returner and had four pass catches for 76 yards and 214 rushing yards. His best season was 2008 when he started eight games with 1,532 throwing yards and 11 touchdowns. He was also given starting job last season for two games when original starter Matt Hasselbeck was sidelined with injury. Therefore, what the Browns brought to their offensive line was a versatile player who has considerable experience as a starter. Not a bad deal.

Tim Tebow sold autograph for Tim Tebow Foundation

The former Florida quarterback Tim Tebow has not decided which team’s NFL jersey to put on for his pro career, but he has already been considered to be a super-star-like player whose autograph is wanted by many people even at high price.

According to the Florida Times-Union, Tebow appeared Saturday at Palm Beach Autograph, and an estimated crowd of 1,500 people were in attendance to pay $160 for a Tebow autograph. Per the reports, part of the proceeds will go to the Tim Tebow Foundation. Besides the autograph, event attendees could also chip in $75 for photos with Tebow.

“It’s an honor to have people want to want you and want to have your autograph and want to be around you. That’s special to have an opportunity to sign for people, but it’s more special to be able to do things like we’re doing and being able to really just brighten kids’ days in really their darkest hour of need, which is a lot of what my foundation is about.” Tebow said. “I’m just so excited that I have the opportunity to do this and just make a difference in kids’ lives.”

Even not a pro NFL player yet, Tebow has been busy with public-service activities. Before the autograph-signing event, he went to Jacksonville’s Brooks Rehabilitation Center on Friday to visit a teenager who was shot by another teen in January. In preparation for his NFL career, he is also scheduled to conduct individual workouts for the Buffalo Bills and the Seattle Seahawks following his Pro Day workout.

Colts retained LB Brackett with five-year deal

The Indianapolis Colts linebacker Gary Brackett has wished that he could finish his NFL career as a Colt, and that may come true- the Colts have offered him a new contract that will keep him in the Colts jersey for the next five years, just a few hours after the 29-year-old linebacker officially became an unrestricted free agent.

“Obviously, this is a great place to play and when you get a chance to stay a Colt for life, you usually jump at it,” Brackett said during a news conference at the team’s complex. “That’s why I wanted to do everything within my power to make this my home.”

According to reports, the five-year contract will offer Brackett a pay $33 million, including a $12 million signing bonus and is likely to make him the team’s highest-paid linebacker in a decade. It’s lucky enough for Brackett to be able to stay with the Colts after becoming unrestricted free agent, and such a big contract is easily taken as the reward for Brackett’s performance during the seven seasons he has spent all only with the Colts.

Colts have rarely made offers to retain unrestricted free agent linebackers. Since the end of the 2002 season, they have allowed four linebackers to leave as unrestricted free agents, including Mike Peterson, Marcus Washington, Cato June and David Thornton.

Bills re-signed safety Scott with a two-year contract

On a day full of news about teams releasing players or making tender offers, the two-year contract the Buffalo Bills offered to safety Bryan Scott sounded so favorable by confirming a long-term relationship between a team and one of its players.

Scott’s agent, Edward Johnson, said the two sides are still completing the final details of the deal, which was reached prior to the start of the NFL’s free agency period, which opens on Friday. The seven-year veteran proved his value by giving consistent performance on an injury-depleted defense last season except for missing seven games because of injuries.

Entering the third season of wearing Bills jersey, Scott opened the season as a starting strong safety before missing his first five games of last season with sprained left ankle. But when a rash of injuries hit the team’s linebackers, he came out in time to fill in and started six games at weak-side linebacker. Then he missed another two games, the final two of the regular season, because he sustained a head injury.

Bears seem interested in free agent DE Peppers

According to latest reports, the Chicago Bears were spot talking with Carl Carey, representative for free agent defensive end Julius Peppers. As it happened just a few days before the March 5 deadline for free agency, people could not help guessing what’s going on between the two sides.

Carey has no other active NFL client than Peppers. If the Bears were talking with him about signing Peppers, they would be on the hook for tampering NFL rules that do not allow conversations between the agents for looming free agents and potentially interested teams before the deadline day for free agency. Violation of tampering rules can result in fines and forfeiting draft picks for a franchise.

The 6-7, 283-pound defensive end was not designated with a franchise tag by the Carolina Panthers for 2010 season, so it’s almost sure that he will take off Panthers jersey by the end of the last league year to be an unrestricted free agent. And it has been reported that he is already on the free-agent watch list of several teams like the Washington Redskins, New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles.

Jaguars signed WR Williamson back after Holt’s departure

Wide receiver Troy Williamson wore back the Jacksonville Jaguars jersey Tuesday, not long after he was released by the team last month. Thanks to Torry Holt, who was released later than Williamson and left a hole to the Jaguars’ offensive line.

Williamson was formerly a first-round draft pick by the Minnesota Vikings and was traded to the Jaguars after spending 3 three seasons in Minnesota. If not being signed back by the Jaguars, he would have become a restricted free agent on Friday.

Earning the starting job last year, Williamson however did not keep that job for long and lost it to Holt after sustaining a season-ending shoulder injury in Week 2. Having 87 receptions for 1,131 yards and four touchdowns in his five-year career, Williamson will be given a chance to compete for the starting job again with Mike Walker.

Judge dismissed two charges against Steelers kicker Reed

The Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Jeff Reed now does not have to face charges of simple assault and resisting arrest, but he still has to face two other charges of disorderly conduct and public drunkenness.

All the charges were caused by an incident that happened on October 18 last year outside of a bar near Heinz Field. According to reports by the Associated Press, Reed allegedly took a “fighting stance” when officers tried to cite another man in Steelers jersey, tight end Matt Spaeth, for disorderly conduct because Spaeth was seen urinate in a parking lot. When a police officer ordered Reed to go back into his vehicle, Reed was alleged to raise his fists at the officer.

The judge said that “something was there” between Reed and police on Oct. 18, 2009, several hours after the Steelers beat the Cleveland Browns 27-14, but it didn’t rise to the level of simple assault or resisting arrest.

A decision will be made in six weeks on whether to hold Reed for trial on charges of disorderly conduct and public drunkenness. And the judge wants Reed to perform 40 hours of community service instead of fine. If Reed is willing to do that, the judge would consider dropping the remaining two charges.

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.