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Email Update 7/16/02 Volume 3 Issue # 32
IN THIS ISSUE
1. Dolphins courting Ex-Titan Josh Evans
2. Darnay Scott visits Jaguars: Bobby Shaw now on the sidelines?
Also -- Jags lust for Kirkland?
3. Gannon gets his just deserts
4. Josh Evans talks signal Dolphin's dissatisfaction with Daryl
Gardener
5. Warren Sapp and Bucs talk contract extension
6. The Packers replace Allen Rossum with Ex-Falcon Darrien Gordon
7. DT Sam Adams, Bengals start serious negotiations
8. Quote of the Day: Brian Griese's Lawyer on Griese's latest
traffic ticket
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Dolphins courting Ex-Titan Josh Evans
Clipped from the Jim Wyatt article, posted on tennessean.com 7/16/02
"The longer former Titans defensive tackle Josh Evans remains
available, the more chance other teams have to make a bid for his
services.
The Dolphins have joined the Titans and Jets as teams interested in
Evans, who successfully won an appeal with the NFL last week and was
cleared to play this season. Evans was facing another suspension for
violation of the league's substance-abuse policy.
Evans recently visited the Dolphins, though his agent, Jeff Deutsch,
said he hasn't discussed a contract with them and Evans has yet to
take a physical for them.
''But they have expressed some interest,'' Deutsch said.
Deutsch said Evans, who has been working out in south Florida, has no
other visits lined up.
Deutsch said discussions continue with the Jets, and wouldn't rule
out meeting with the Titans and General Manager Floyd Reese at some
point. Reese and Deutsch are expected to talk on the phone today."
[[[[[[[[[[[[[ OUR VIEW ]]]]]]]]]]]]]
Evans may have won his appeal, but hold off on drafting him (if your
league includes IDP's) until we see where he lands (and what
shape he is in).
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Darnay Scott visits Jaguars: Bobby Shaw now on the sidelines? Also --
Jags lust for Kirkland?
Clipped from the jacksonville.com story by Bart Hubbuch, posted
7/16/02.
"Signaling their dissatisfaction at No. 2 wide receiver, the
Jaguars brought in veteran free agent Darnay Scott for a visit
yesterday.
Scott, a seven-year pro released by the Cincinnati Bengals last week,
did not work out but met with coach Tom Coughlin and other members of
the staff. The Jaguars didn't open contract negotiations because
Scott still intends to visit other clubs, senior vice president of
football operations Paul Vance said.
The Jaguars also could have interest in veteran outside linebacker
Levon Kirkland, who was abruptly released by the Seattle Seahawks
last week. Kirkland is attractive to the Jaguars after they lost out
on free agent linebacker Keith Mitchell to the Houston Texans last
week.
The Jaguars are looking for a replacement for departed linebacker
Kevin Hardy and are reluctant to go into the season with former
seventh-round pick Danny Clark as the starter.
The 6-foot-1, 204-pound Scott caught 57 passes for 819 yards and two
touchdowns last season but was considered expendable after the
Bengals signed veteran free agent Michael Westbrook.
Scott missed the 2000 season with a broken leg but has caught at
least 50 passes in each of the past six years. He is the fourth-
leading receiver in Bengals history.
The Jaguars have been in the market for a No. 2 receiver opposite
Jimmy Smith after releasing Keenan McCardell in June. The club signed
free agents Patrick Johnson and Bobby Shaw, but the Jaguars' interest
in Scott indicates that neither Johnson nor Shaw has been overly
impressive in preseason workouts."
[[[[[[[[[[[[[ OUR VIEW ]]]]]]]]]]]]]
This report should put a hold on any plans you may have had about
drafting Shaw as a sure-fire sleeper. Take a wait-and-see approach on
Shaw and Scott until we know how serious the Jaguar's flirtation
with Scott really is.
For leagues with IDP's, the news that Levon Kirkland might be
replacing Kevin Hardy should draw many owner's interest.
Remember, the Jags are tight against the cap, so keep Kirkland on the
back burner for now. But, IF he signs with the Jags, IF he can get
back into peak condition during training camp and IF he can duplicate
or better last season's numbers�
/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/
Gannon gets his just deserts
Clipped from the Steve Corkran article posted on bayarea.com, 7/16/02
"Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon signed a six-year, $54 million
contract Monday, according to a source close to Gannon and confirmed
by a Raiders source.
The deal negates the four-year, $16 million contract Gannon signed in
1999 and restructured at least once.
He was scheduled to make a base salary of $2 million this season and
count $3.75 million or so against the Raiders salary cap because of
the prorated portion of an earlier signing bonus.
Raiders senior assistant Bruce Allen did not return phone calls. A
call to Gannon's home went unanswered.
The source close to Gannon, 36, said Gannon's new contract calls for
him to receive approximately $5 million as a signing bonus and an
average of $8 million overall each of the next three seasons. That
places him in a category among the league's top-paid quarterbacks,
joining the likes of the Indianapolis Colts' Peyton Manning and the
Arizona Cardinals' Jake Plummer.
Gannon was scheduled to make only $5 million in the 2003-05 seasons.
That presumably prompted him to skip numerous voluntary meetings,
workouts and formal practices. Gannon attended Oakland's second and
final minicamp June 12-14 -- its only mandatory one -- but did not
speak with the media.
Also, Gannon's reworked deal counts approximately $2 million less
against the cap than his old one. That frees up more cap room for the
Raiders to sign another key free agent between now and the regular-
season opener Sept. 15."
[[[[[[[[[[[[[ OUR VIEW ]]]]]]]]]]]]]
Three Pro-Bowls in three years � do you think Gannon is kind of
good? Smartest move the Raiders have made the entire off-season.
/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/
Josh Evans talks signal Dolphin's dissatisfaction with Daryl
Gardener
Clipped from the Jason Cole article on miami.com, posted 7/16/02
"With less than two weeks remaining before training camp, the
Dolphins are concerned and frustrated with defensive lineman Daryl
Gardener.
So concerned they are preparing for the possibility of releasing him.
One person close to Gardener said he ''is an emotional wreck''
because of a number of personal issues.
The team is debating whether to dock Gardener a $200,000 workout
bonus because he might have failed to participate in enough offseason
programs.
Gardener was unavailable for comment.
The Dolphins brought unrestricted free agent defensive lineman Josh
Evans in for a visit Friday, raising eyebrows of those in and around
the team.
Training camp opens July 25, although Gardener and most other veteran
players do not have to report until July 28.
''The coaches aren't happy right now [with Gardener],'' a source said.
Dolphins vice president of football operation Rick Spielman said he
did not want to discuss Gardener's personal issues and described the
visit by Evans as typical. Coach Dave Wannstedt was unavailable for
comment.
''We sat down and just talked,'' Spielman said of meeting with Evans.
``We were doing our due diligence on a player we consider to be very
talented, just as we would with anybody at any position.''
Spielman said he has not offered Evans a contract.
Meanwhile, Gardener reportedly failed to reply to requests to call
Wannstedt and other members of the organization over the past few
weeks�"
[[[[[[[[[[[[[ OUR VIEW ]]]]]]]]]]]]]
Paul Harvey's signature comment, "Now you know the REST of
the story.", definitely applies to this saga. If you have Daryl
Gardener or the Miami Defense on your squad, keep an eye on this one.
/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/
Warren Sapp and Bucs talk contract extension
Clipped from the Rick Stroud article posed on sptimes.com, 7/16/02
"Warren Sapp never will wear another NFL uniform if talks on a
contract extension for the Bucs Pro Bowl defensive tackle are
successful.
Sapp, 29, has two years remaining on a contract that is scheduled to
pay him $5.250-million this season and $6.6-million in 2003.
Agent Drew Rosenhaus introduced the topic in a meeting with Bucs
general manager Rich McKay last month.
Rosenhaus said talks will continue during training camp, which begins
July 29 at Disney's Wide World of Sports.
"I think that would be the goal, that would definitely be the goal to
allow Warren to finish his career as a Buccaneer," Rosenhaus said
Monday. "He loves Tampa, he's very, very happy as a Buc. He should be
a lifer."
Playing much of last season with a torn rotator cuff in his right
shoulder, Sapp had six sacks, the fewest since his rookie year.
But the 6-foot-2, 303-pound Sapp has been the centerpiece of the Bucs
defense, making five straight Pro Bowl appearances. His 64 1/2 sacks
are 14 shy of the club mark held by Hall of Fame defensive end Lee
Roy Selmon.
[[[[[[[[[[[[[ OUR VIEW ]]]]]]]]]]]]]
The Buc's D without Warren Sapp? Perish the thought!
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The Packers replace Allen Rossum with Ex-Falcon Darrien Gordon
Clipped from an article by the AP, posted 7/16/02 on sportserver.com.
"Veteran punt returner Darrien Gordon has signed with the Green
Bay Packers.
Gordon averaged 14.1 yards on 31 runbacks for Atlanta last season. In
eight seasons in the NFL, he's averaged 12.3 yards on 279 punt
returns. Gordon replaces Allen Rossum, who joined the Falcons as a
free agent this offseason.
Gordon has been to three Super Bowls, with San Diego in 1995 and
Denver in 1998 and '99.
He was San Diego's top draft pick (No. 22 overall) in 1993 and he led
the AFC in punt return average in 1994 and 1996. He was a starting
cornerback in his years with the Chargers."
[[[[[[[[[[[[[ OUR VIEW ]]]]]]]]]]]]]
The Packers addressed a major need with this move. The Packers
Defense/Special teams was already looking very solid heading into
2002, this news only enhances their status as an elite unit.
/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/
DT Sam Adams, Bengals start serious negotiations
Clipped from an article by Len Pasquarelli, posted on espn.go.com on
7/16/02.
"Having defined their mutual interest earlier in the day, the
Cincinnati Bengals and free-agent defensive tackle Sam Adams
officially commenced contract negotiations Tuesday night, and the
eight-year veteran run-stuffer is already mulling financial
parameters.
As first reported by ESPN.com last week, Adams visited with
Cincinnati officials and coaches Monday night and Tuesday morning,
and his interest in the team seems more legitimate than most
outsiders might have predicted. Because the Bengals possess more cap
room than any of the other clubs pursuing Adams, some speculated he
was merely using Cincinnati to enhance offers elsewhere.
But the stout defensive tackle apparently liked what he saw and also
what he heard from former Seattle teammate and current Bengals
quarterback Jon Kitna.
"I'm looking for a home, not a pit stop," Adams said. "There are some
places that you don't fit in but, after meeting with some people
here, I definitely think I fit here. I thought that last year even,
when I watched them play. It's an excellent defense."
So impressed was Adams that, when he heard the Bengals were prepared
to make a first contract offer to agent Eugene Parker, he delayed his
flight home to the Seattle area. He did eventually catch a later
flight, and no deal will occur Tuesday, but the two sides are deep
into discussions and Adams would prefer a decision sooner rather than
later.
Sources close to Adams told ESPN.com two weeks ago that he figured to
sign a one-year deal with either the Oakland Raiders or the Denver
Broncos or return to the Baltimore Ravens on a multiyear contract
before training camps opened later this month.
It now appears the chance of going back to Baltimore, where Adams
played the last two seasons and was voted to the Pro Bowl squad each
of those years, has been reduced to a long shot. The Washington
Redskins, who have former Ravens defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis
to help recruit Adams, appear out of the running for his
services�"
[[[[[[[[[[[[[ OUR VIEW ]]]]]]]]]]]]]
Great news for the Bengal's D if they can get this deal done.
Attracting top-flight talent has been a problem for the Bengals in
the past � Adams might change all of that with a stroke of a pen.
A huge blow to the Raven's D if Adams signs on the dotted line
with Cincinnati.
/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/
Quote of the Day: Brian Griese's Lawyer on Griese's latest
traffic ticket
""It was a minor fender bender - nothing," said Griese's
attorney, Harvey Steinberg. "There were no injuries. Mr. Griese is
anxious for training camp to begin" July 25."
[[[[[[[[[[[[[ OUR VIEW ]]]]]]]]]]]]]
After an off-season of bad press, the last thing Griese needed was to
plow into a motorist who was stopped out of respect for a funeral
procession! We're sure Griese IS anxious for the relative safety
of the playing field�
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That's a wrap. Thanks, Mark Wimer
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