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Email Update 7/1/02 Volume 3 Issue # 17
IN THIS ISSUE
1. Roman Phifer deal may put LB in Patriots uniform for 2 more years
2. Falcons ex-DE Kerney working to learn LB position in new scheme
3. Bear's free agent signings almost finished
4. Saint's probable roster heading into training camp
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Roman Phifer deal may put LB in Patriots uniform for two more years
Clipped from the 7/1 bostonherald.com article
Linebacker Roman Phifer may play in New England for two more years.
According to ESPN.com, the four-year, $9.27 million contract that the
veteran linebacker recently signed may ensure he plays more than one
additional season with the defending Super Bowl champions.
The 11-year veteran, according to NFL Players Association documents,
received a signing bonus of $1 million as part of the new pact. But
the contract also guarantees portions of his base salaries in the
2003 and 2004 campaigns, providing an additional $1 million the
Patriots would have to pay if they released Phifer after the 2002
season.
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Nothing but good news for the Patriots here. Phifer provides veteran
leadership in the locker-room and can still play the game, too.
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Falcons ex-DE Kerney working to learn LB position in team's new scheme
Clipped from the accessatlanta.com report by Ken Sigura.
Patrick Kerney is like the boy whose family has moved to a new
neighborhood across town.
As a Falcons defensive end for the past three seasons, Kerney has
played alongside the defensive linemen, gone to position meetings
with them and hung out with them.
A favorite pastime of his has been playing backgammon with linemates
Shane Dronett, Travis Hall and Brady Smith.
But Kerney is now a linebacker. It's his new identity.
He even chose to room with two of his new peers at the upcoming
training camp -- Keith Brooking and Chris Draft. His old buddies are
kidding him with the "What, we're not good enough for you anymore?"
treatment.
"So I have to tell them, 'Go easy on me. I'm struggling with an
identity crisis. Don't make it any harder for me,' " Kerney said.
As the team's passing camp finishes Tuesday, Kerney has enough to
worry about. New coordinator Wade Phillips' defensive alignment has
given Kerney a new job
The Falcons have long been a 4-3 team, meaning four defensive linemen
and three linebackers. Phillips is switching to the NFL's defense du
jour, the 3-4, with three linemen and four linebackers. The Baltimore
Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers and Houston Texans also will use it this
season.
Kerney and his backup, rookie Will Overstreet, will play rush
linebacker, on the weak side away from the tight end. Overstreet is
also a converted defensive end, having played on the line at
Tennessee. But Kerney and Overstreet were quick at defensive end,
which is why they were the obvious choices to move back. Rather than
playing in a three-point stance on the line, they will line up off
the line of scrimmage and stand upright. On the strong side, backup
linebacker John Thierry is also a former lineman. Strongside starter
Matt Stewart has always been a linebacker.
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It sounds like the Falcons are working hard on their new defensive
philosophy under Wade Phillips. Keep an eye on their progress in the
pre-season, as there could be some IDP sleepers to be found here.
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Bear's free agent signings almost finished
Clipped from the 7/1/02 suntimes.com article by Brad Biggs
Three restricted free agents remained after the extension of Warrick
Holdman, and at the time, the club mentioned two big payouts
remaining. Booker walked away with $6.5 million in bonus money this
season, a nice start to a $28 million deal. Strong-side linebacker
Rosevelt Colvin and left guard Rex Tucker are waiting, eager to have
such an accounting problem. The first one who jumps will bag the big
contract. The other most likely will enter his final season in a
Bears uniform.
So, while on the subject of money, the bet here is Tucker is the one
to stay. With Colvin's camp seeking money in line with the five-year,
$23 million contract (including a $6.5 million bonus) given to the
Pittsburgh Steelers' Jason Gildon, count on Tucker to be an anchor
along the line for several seasons to come.
Right tackle James Williams, 34, is preparing for his 12th season and
his contract is up after 2003, the same time right guard Chris
Villarrial's deal expires.
While the Bears seemingly have a wealth of young talent waiting along
the line with youngsters Bernard Robertson, Marc Colombo, Mike Gandy
and Damion Cook, Tucker was a Pro Bowl alternate in his first season
as a starter. The fourth-year pro from Texas A&M made a competition
with Jerry Wisne during last summer's training camp no competition at
all. He has signed a one-year tender for $1.227 million, like Colvin.
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This is a situation that would impact most, fantasy-wise, on next
season. Tucker is a big part of the line, so pay attention if you are
a Anthony Thomas owner in a keeper or dynasty league.
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Saint's probable roster heading into training camp
Clipped from the 7/1 report on theadvocate.com report by Sheldon
Mickles.
Closer to home, much closer to home, the New Orleans Saints, who are
eager to get back on the field after their 7-9 finish last season,
will gather in Thibodaux for the third consecutive summer on July 26.
The first practice will be held the next day at 9 a.m., the official
start to what promises to be an extremely interesting -- and
important -- training camp for the Saints.
Three months of off-season preparations ended for the Saints last
week, so it's not too early to take a look at how the roster will
take shape once the pads go on and the hitting begins.
During the minicamp that ended last weekend, Saints coach Jim Haslett
said he already has a potential roster filled out.
His only problem: there were 56 names on the list and three more
would have to be trimmed to make up the 53-man roster that will be
submitted to the league office on Sept. 1.
Of course, Haslett's preliminary roster is subject to change --
especially when you consider that the Saints will likely bring in a
veteran running back to serve as a backup to second-year pro Deuce
McAllister.
As it is, the Saints will have to scratch 40 names off their current
roster -- and the hit list will grow even more if they decide to
bring in a few players either before or during training camp.
With that said, as the countdown to camp begins, here's an early
guess -- and it's strictly a guess -- at which 53 players will
eventually make it to the Sept. 8 regular-season opener against the
Tampa Bay Buccaneers:
WIDE RECEIVER (6): Joe Horn, Jerome Pathon, Dont� Stallworth, Jake
Reed, Jimmy Robinson, Michael Lewis.
After the top three, it's really a guessing game. Reed is a solid
leader in the locker room, while Robinson and Lewis will have the
opportunity to open some eyes in camp.
TIGHT END (3): David Sloan, Boo Williams, Lamont Hall.
This position shouldn't be too difficult to trim down. Sloan and
Williams are the receiving threats. Hall sticks around for his
blocking.
OFFENSIVE LINE (9): Kyle Turley, Wally Williams, Jerry Fontenot,
LeCharles Bentley, Victor Riley, Kendyl Jacox, Bubba Miller, Spencer
Folau, Tutan Reyes.
Versatility is the key for the offensive line and the Saints have
plenty of it with this group. Williams, Bentley, Jacox, Miller, Folau
and Reyes can all play two positions.
RUNNING BACK (6): Deuce McAllister, Terrelle Smith, Moran Norris,
Fred McAfee, James Fenderson.
That's only five names, the sixth spot goes to whomever General
Manager Mickey Loomis signs in late July or early August.
QUARTERBACK (3): Aaron Brooks, Jake Delhomme, Jeff Lewis.
If Lewis doesn't look that good in training camp, sixth-round draft
pick J.T. O'Sullivan could be one of the wildcards on Haslett's list.
DEFENSIVE LINE (7): Charles Grant, Norman Hand, Grady Jackson, Darren
Howard, Willie Whitehead, Kenny Smith, Martin Chase.
The Saints appear set here, but don't be too surprised if seventh-
round draft pick Derrius Monroe, a defensive end, makes some noise in
camp.
LINEBACKER (6): Sedrick Hodge, Charlie Clemons, Darrin Smith, Bryan
Cox, James Allen, Curtis Holden.
This is another position where a question mark comes into play, but
Holden gets a shaky nod over Roger Knight to provide extra depth on
special teams.
DEFENSIVE BACK (10): Dale Carter, Fred Thomas, Sammy Knight, Jay
Bellamy, Michael Hawthorne, Ken Irvin, Keyuo Craver, Mel Mitchell,
Richard Newsome, Fakhir Brown.
Even though they won't be playing the pass-happy St. Louis Rams and
San Francisco 49ers twice a year any more, the Saints feel like you
can never have enough defensive backs. And this area definitely
needed more quantity and quality.
SPECIALISTS (3): John Carney, Toby Gowin, Kevin Houser (deep snapper).
Gowin may be on the bubble if the Saints like what they see in Dirk
Johnson, a free agent who was impressive during the NFL Europe season.
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An interesting speculation about the 2002 season. It sounds like a
few dynasty league deep sleepers, like rookie quarterback J.T.
O'Sullivan, have a shot to make the final Saints roster.
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That's it! Thanks, Mark Wimer.
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