DAILY PLAYER UPDATE #8 07/02/2009

Jets- Calvin Pace
NFL suspended Jets OLB Calvin Pace four games for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing substances.

It's a big blow to the Jets' defense. Pace is New York's top pass rusher, and early impressions of backup Vernon Gholston's second offseason aren't promising. Pace will be eligible to return in Week 5 against the Dolphins. Flexible coach Rex Ryan could adjust by using Bart Scott and Bryan Thomas outside with Jamaal Westerman and David Harris inside during Pace's time off. It's either that or Gholston is going to have to play a lot early in the season.

Jets- Vernon Gholston
According to Adam Schefter's Twitter page, "signs from OTAs were not encouraging" for Jets 2008 first-round pick Vernon Gholston.

Non-contact OTA practices should be where Gholston excels because he's 6'3/260+ and can fly. The new Jets coaching staff has been positive about Gholston's progress, but unbiased observers don't seem quite as upbeat.

Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter

Broncos- Brandon Marshall
NFL insider Adam Schefter writes on his Twitter page that the Broncos are willing to listen to offers for Brandon Marshall.

The Broncos "won't make them, but will take them," Schefter says, adding that he believes the club would part with its top receiver for a first-round pick. Denver already traded its 2010 top pick to move up in the second round of this year's draft for CB Alphonso Smith. Marshall is a holdout risk as he recovers from hip surgery, wants a new contract, and has demanded a trade.

Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter

Browns- Willie McGinest
Free agent Willie McGinest wants to return to the Patriots, but there have been no formal talks between the two sides.

The Patriots may not want McGinest back at this point in his career. He'll probably garner interest from some teams later in the summer, but for now the Patriots don't seem interested.

Source: Boston.com

Rams- Keith Null
Rookie QB Keith Null will get "plenty of opportunities" to nail down the third quarterback job.

Null reportedly displayed a decent arm at minicamp and will need to pick up the offense in training camp to lock up the job.

Source: St Louis Post-Dispatch

Titans- LenDale White
LenDale White says he's going to keep the weight off over the next few weeks by working out in Denver with his Uncle and his cousin, Chauncey Billups.

White weighed in at a slim 229 pounds last week, but he's been known to balloon up during down time. The former USC bruiser guaranteed that he won't return for training camp over 230 pounds. Jeff Fisher is happy with his attitude and made no mention of White's weight loss causing him to lose power. We'll see if it affects his goal-line abilities as he scored 15 touchdowns last season.

Source: Nashville Tennessean

Jets- Brett Favre
A league spokesman denies speculation that the NFL has already approved the mass production of Brett Favre Vikings jerseys.

"We wait until there is a player contract that has been approved," Brian McCarthy said. "Nothing has transpired from here." Reebok is believed to have produced screens of the No. 4 jerseys, but they could be destroyed if Favre doesn't end up with the Vikings. He's almost certain to, though, and the merchandise could threaten the single-season record for jersey sales.

Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press

Dolphins- Vontae Davis
Vontae Davis was cleared Thursday of a traffic charge stemming from a June incident that is thought to have been a case of mistaken identity.

Prosecutors confirmed that someone used Davis' ID when police arrested the person for "unnecessary vehicular noise" and driving with an invalid license on June 9. Police have not since found the actual criminal.

Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter

Falcons- Michael Vick
Though Michael Vick officially submitted a revised bankruptcy plan on Thursday, the judge has yet to rule on the proposal.

A judge rejected Vick's original plan back in April, but this one is believed to have a better chance of being accepted. The plan ensures that creditors will receive money even if Vick's NFL career remains in jeopardy.

Source: Associated Press

Browns- Phil Dawson
Based on what he's hearing, NFL insider Adam Schefter predicts that Phil Dawson will not kick for the Browns this season.

Pushing for a new contract, Dawson has been skipping voluntary workouts all offseason. With no resolution in sight, Schefter expects to see a "standoff" between the two sides later this summer. The Browns signed rookie free agent kicker Parker Douglass but could eventually turn to an available veteran such as Matt Stover or John Carney.

Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter

Bills- Jairus Byrd
Chris Brown of buffalobills.com believes rookie Jairus Byrd "has a legitimate chance" to start at free safety this season.

Even if Byrd doesn't win the starting job by Week 1, he'll have the opportunity to unseat Ko Simpson during the season. The Bills are looking for a true playmaking centerfielder, and Byrd racked up 17 interceptions and 53 pass breakups in three years at Oregon.

Source: buffalobills.com

Dolphins- Jason Taylor
A Virgin Islands jury has awarded Jason Taylor and two partners $1.5 million in a botched sale of a private island.

The jury determined that the seller was in breach of contract for the 158-acre island, so Taylor will receive his share of the deposit plus expenses. And they say fans can no longer identify with the lives of superstar athletes?

Source: Associated Press

Redskins- Jason Campbell
Redskins GM Vinny Cerrato emphasized that it's "yet to be determined" if Jason Campbell can be a franchise quarterback.

"We hope he can play 16 games like he played the first eight last year. Consistency throughout," said Cerrato. The team's offseason actions -- flirting with Jay Cutler and Mark Sanchez while refusing to extend Campbell's contract -- clearly indicate a lack of faith in Campbell as the long-term answer.

Source: NFL.com

Colts- Marvin Harrison
Talent evaluators around the league are reportedly rating free agents Amani Toomer and Joe Horn higher than Marvin Harrison.

According to NFL Network's Jason LaCanfora, there is widespread belief that Marvin "may be done." Toomer is reported to be high on several teams "emergency lists," but we have a hard time believing Horn is actually garnering any interest, much less a greater share than Harrison.

Source: profootballtalk on nbcsports.com

Titans- Jared Cook
Titans agreed to terms with third-round TE Jared Cook on a four-year contract. The deal includes a signing bonus of close to $700,000.

Cook made the biggest impression among Titans rookies during OTAs. Though he's a potential mismatch for opposing defenses, he's currently just third on the depth chart. With Bo Scaife a free agent after the season, though, Cook could easily lay claim to being the most valuable tight end prospect in Dynasty leagues.

Source: Nashville Tennessean

Rams- Chris Draft
Chris Draft recently revealed that he's currently running as the Rams' starting middle linebacker.

Larry Grant and David Vobora are competing for the strong-side job, with rookie James Laurinaitis backing up Draft. We expect Laurinaitis to unseat Draft in training camp, pushing the veteran into a reserve role.

Source: Ross Tucker on Twitter

Bills- Trent Edwards
Chris Brown of Buffalobills.com believes the Bills will use the no-huddle offense 50 percent of the time "at best."

It's still a higher estimate than we originally expected. Much will depend on opponent and the Bills defense's ability to create turnovers and 3-and-outs to ensure adequate rest. Even if the team does use a 50/50 split, it still has plenty of potential to boost the fantasy numbers of Trent Edwards, Terrell Owens and Lee Evans.

Source: buffalobills.com

Chiefs- Matt Cassel
Beat writer Kent Babb observed that the Chiefs didn't practice many plays out of the spread formation in OTAs.

Babb also noted that the offensive braintrust prefers "to at least enter the season using Cassel in a Pro Style, drop-back look." While the Chiefs figure to run plenty of multiple receiver sets, it's worth a reminder that the shotgun was responsible for much of Cassel's 2008 success. He's going to be a risky fantasy pick if he remains under center where he has trouble reading the pass rush.

Source: Kansas City Star

Marshall Rants At Denver During 07 Arrest

"A statement Brandon Marshall made during his 2007 DUI arrest indicates the Denver Broncos wide receiver may have been interested in a trade long before the Broncos coaching change.

According to an Oct. 22, 2007, Denver Police report, Marshall went on a rant about the city.

"Why aren't you guys out looking for (Darrent) Williams' killer?" Marshall told a police officer after he was pulled over when he was caught weaving and driving the wrong way down 14th Street near Auraria Parkway.

According to the police report, Marshall went on to say, "I hate Denver. I hope I get traded.""

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Calvin Pace Suspended for Performance Enhancing Substances

"Jets linebacker Calvin Pace has been suspended without pay for the team's first four regular-season games of 2009 for violating the NFL policy on performance enhancing substances.

According to an NFL spokesperson, Pace's suspension begins Saturday, Sept. 5. He is eligible to return to the Jets' active roster on Oct. 5 following the team's Oct. 4 game against the New Orleans Saints.

Pace is eligible to participate in all preseason practices and games.

"This is a situation that resulted from an over-the-counter dietary supplement that contained a substance that I did not know violated the League's policy," Pace said in a statement released by the Jets. "I am responsible for what I put into my body and I should have paid closer attention to the League's guidelines."

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DAILY PLAYER UPDATE #7 07/01/2009

Jets- Mike Fladell
Jets waived/failed physical OT Mike Fladell.

As the transaction suggests, Fladell didn't pass his physical.

Source: Newark Star-Ledger

Cardinals- Edgerrin James
Agent Drew Rosenhaus writes on his Twitter page that free agent Edgerrin James is "in great playing shape" and "excited about this season."

As NFL news slows to a halt, we always have Rosenhaus to count on for updates. James, who turns 31 in August, is reportedly down to 216 pounds. He's listed at 220. Edge may still have to wait for injuries to strike before finding a team, though with Brian Westbrook ailing Philly wouldn't be a bad fit.

Source: Drew Rosenhaus on Twitter

Vikings- Percy Harvin
Former Vikings receiver Cris Carter reportedly unleashed on a player he caught dozing off during Carter's speech at the Rookie Symposium.

Well, we know it wasn't Percy Harvin. Carter, the symposium's final speaker, reportedly told the rookie that, "if you don’t want to listen to people who know more than you and who can help you navigate through what lies ahead, odds are you won’t be in the league for long." It'll be interesting to see if the player is exposed later on. We're betting he will be.

Source: NFL.com

Redskins- Chad Rinehart
Redskins offensive line coach Joe Bugel has noticed a "night and day" change in 2008 third-round pick Chad Rinehart.

Rinehart gave Washington nothing as a rookie, but the team hopes he'll provide depth at guard. The Skins have done poorly developing their offensive line draft picks of late. There was concern last year that Rinehart would bust, but Bugel now says "he's going to be a real good football player for us."

Source: Washington Post

Rams-Alex Barron
Beat writer Bill Coats expects Alex Barron to remain the Rams' starting left tackle when the season opens.

Barron, 27, is in a contract year and could significantly increase his 2010 market value if he performs well on Marc Bulger's blind side. Rookie Jason Smith's superior strength will come in handy at right tackle, although he'll likely move to the left side eventually. It just may not happen this season.

Source: St Louis Post-Dispatch

Rams- Adam Carriker
Rams DT Adam Carriker is reportedly fully healthy for the first time since suffering a torn labrum in December of 2007.

Carriker, who showed off his strength and quickness in OTAs, will key Steve Spagnuolo's defensive line along with last year's first-rounder Chris Long. He also has the luxury of sticking to one position this season -- left defensive tackle.

Source: St Louis Post-Dispatch

Titans- Jared Cook
Beat writer Jim Wyatt calls Jared Cook the most impressive Titans rookie thus far.

First-rounder Kenny Britt has been slowed by a hamstring injury, so it shouldn't come as any surprise that the third-rounder has stood out the most. A freakish athlete, Cook has combined unique playmaking ability with bad drops this offseason.

Source: Nashville Tennessean

Jenkins considers himself starter for dallas

"Mike Jenkins considers himself the Cowboys' starting right cornerback, according to a blog post on his Web site.Throughout organized team activities, second-year players Jenkins and Orlando Scandrick split work with the first-team defense while competing to start opposite Terence Newman.On Monday, Jenkins posted an entry titled "My Job to Keep" to www.mikejenkins 21.com."Heading into training camp, I'm the starter at right cornerback, and my job is to maintain that position," Jenkins' blog post read. "It's my job to lose, but there's a guy behind me with nothing to lose. If he makes a mistake, it's not going to cause him to lose his job. If I make a mistake, the coaches are going to take a long, hard look at me in that position."Neither player could be reached for comment, but Scandrick's agent, Ron Slavin, said Tuesday that he was aware of Jenkins' blog. He maintained that a winner hasn't been declared between Jenkins and Scandrick."

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Willie Mcginest considers return

"Free agent linebacker Willie McGinest continues to eye the Pats as a possible landing spot, the 15-year veteran linebacker told Albert Breer of sportingnews.com.

McGinest, who was part of three Super Bowl championships with the Patriots [team stats] before leaving as a free agent for Cleveland in 2006, expressed his desire to play one more season.

"Yeah, I've talked to (quarterback) Tom (Brady), (defensive end Richard) Seymour and some other guys there," McGinest said. "Those guys are lifelong friends, and I've heard some people say that it'd be a good fit. Why wouldn't you want to be a part of that? And with all the history I have, what we accomplished in the playoffs, that wouldn't be a bad way to finish up.""

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Eli Ready To Lead Young Giants 'O'

"It was more a challenge than a reminder when general manager Jerry Reese said this offseason that Eli Manning is "not a veteran any more, he's a Pro Bowler -- we'll put some of this on his back."

With so much talk about the tall and talented receivers the Giants lost, Reese wanted everyone to consider the great asset he believes Manning can and must be.

"We're going to put more of the onus on him," Reese said.

And how did Manning respond?

"I think you got a quarterback going into his sixth year and . . . some young receivers," Manning told The Post yesterday. "It's my job to make sure those guys are on the same page and my job to be a leader and take control of the offense and the passing game.

"As a quarterback you're always going to be a leader, but now I'm one of the older guys on the offense."

Manning was speaking over the phone from Memphis, where he was accompanied by two of his younger teammates, receiver Domenik Hixon and safety Kenny Phillips, to film a Reebok commercial.

Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer are gone, and the replacements as starters are Hixon and Steve Smith, with Sinorice Moss, Mario Manningham and rookies Hakeem Nicks and Ramses Barden comprising a glaringly unproven receiver corps.

Enter Manning, who says he is embracing Reese's plea to pick up all aspects of his game.

"It doesn't put me in an awkward situation by any means," Manning said. "When you lose some veteran guys, Plaxico and Amani, guys who've been around, now it's a younger receiver corps there's more put on the quarterback. You got to make your players better.""

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