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Email Update 7/18/02 Volume 3 Issue # 34
1. Footballguystalk.com Message Board Down
2. Jets Sign Josh Evans
3. Eagles Sign LB Kirkland as Insurance
4. Butler Retires
5. Dale Carter Suspended Again
6. Houston Signs Wells
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Footballguystalk.com Message Board Down
Our ISP told us that we were using too many resources on the server
we share with 7 others. So without notice, they turned us off. Now
admittedly some of us are long-winded, but we haven't begun to get
busy on the boards this season. It's obvious though that we once
again need a bigger faster machine. And in the morning, I plan on
doing just that...securing a dedicated server just for the message
boards. And not some little wimpy thing, but something with some
backbone. A server that can handle many months worth of messages and
25,000+ members easily. Unfortunately this means a little chaos for
a few days, but we should be fully migrated to the monster before
Monday. We apologize for the inconvenience.
and now over to Scott Luebke for tonight's update.
David
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Jets Sign Josh Evans
Clipped from an article by Christopher Hunt of www.nydailynews.com,
July 18, 2002
It's like deja vu all over again for the Jets. For the second time in
three months, they have signed a defensive tackle with a history of
drug violations.
The Jets landed free agent Josh Evans with a four-year contract
yesterday. Evans, 29, a seven-year veteran, had 77 tackles and a
career-high 5 1/2 sacks for the Tennessee Titans last season after
returning from a one-year suspension. The deal was all but signed in
March before Jets general manager Terry Bradway learned of Evans'
fourth suspension, which was successfully appealed. Evans was
reinstated by the NFL last week.
"It's been rough, man," Evans said. "I think it's just another thing
God put in my life to make me stronger and it definitely took me to
the bottom. But I knew the light was going to shine one day and
finally the light came back on."
The 280-pound Evans sat out the entire 2000 season after violating
the league's drug policy for a third time.
In April, the Jets signed Larry Webster, another repeat drug
offender. Webster and Evans play the same position, but Evans'
quickness gives him the edge for a starting spot.
Jets coach Herm Edwards said Evans' and Webster's checkered past were
not an issue. "They made some mistakes and they paid the price for
it," he said. "They can say to some of those young players, 'Hey,
I've been down that road, you don't really want to go down that
road.'"
[[[[[[[[[[[[[ OUR VIEW ]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]
If Evans can keep himself out of trouble, he will be a welcome
addition to the Jets defense. Evans is a repeat offender of the
league's substance abuse policy, which leads us to believe the
Jets are gambling a little too much on this free agent pickup. Look
for the Jets to struggle throughout the early part of the season
because of a large number of player movements throughout the
offseason.
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Eagles sign LB Kirkland as insurance
Clipped from an article by Paul Sheridan of www.philly.com, July 18,
2002
The Eagles' eventful off-season quest for an experienced middle
linebacker ended yesterday with the signing of two-time Pro Bowler
Levon Kirkland to a one-year contract.
Since the acrimonious series of events that ended with the departure
of starter Jeremiah Trotter, the Eagles have endorsed Barry Gardner
while looking for a veteran to challenge and potentially beat out
Gardner. Last month, after they lost in the bidding for veteran Hardy
Nickerson, it appeared the Eagles would have to go with Gardner and a
group of rookies as depth.
Then, on Friday, the 33-year-old Kirkland said he was "shocked" to be
released by the Seattle Seahawks, the team he signed a three-year,
$7.5 million free-agent contract with just a year earlier.
"I don't know what was happening there," Kirkland's agent, Mason
Ashe, said. "They called me first and told me what they were thinking
about. I was surprised. When I called Levon, he was shocked."
The Eagles were just as surprised. They signed Kirkland without
taking the time to bring him in for a visit. Kirkland still had not
spoken to head coach and general manager Andy Reid, who is on
vacation with his family.
"This is funny for me," Kirkland said last night in a conference call
with Philadelphia reporters. "It's a situation where I don't really
know the coaches and I don't know the plays."
The timing of Kirkland's release helped the Eagles get him for just
the veteran minimum salary of $750,000 - or about half what they
offered Nickerson, who chose to play in Green Bay instead. With
training camps opening next week, most teams are trying to find the
salary-cap space to sign their draft picks. Those teams have already
spent whatever money they had allotted for free agents.
"He's the bargain of the year," Ashe said.
That's especially true if he starts, and it appears very likely that
he will. Kirkland has started 123 consecutive NFL games. While Reid
and others in the Eagles organization have consistently professed
confidence in Gardner, the team's pursuit of a veteran speaks for
itself. With expectations for the team higher than they have been in
a decade, the pressure would be enormous on Gardner, a four-year
veteran who played mostly on special teams last year.
Now, Kirkland could give the Eagles a rock-solid veteran while they
make a Super Bowl push this year. If Gardner does win the job, he
will have to do so at the expense of a respected veteran. That should
help both his confidence and his credibility with the fans.
"The Eagles didn't promise Levon anything," Ashe said. "But he's a
guy who believes that if there's a competition, he'll come out on
top."
"We are always looking to add quality players to create competitive
situations throughout our team," Reid said in a statement released by
the Eagles. "Levon is one of those players, and we are fortunate to
be able to add him to our strong linebacking corps. His veteran
experience makes that linebacking unit an even stronger group."
Kirkland said he briefly considered retirement after the Seahawks
released him, but he decided he still had the desire to play after 10
years in the NFL. As for his weight, which was cited in reports about
Seattle's decision, Kirkland said it should not be an issue.
"I don't like to talk about my weight," he said. "I didn't like to
talk about it when I was younger, either... . Watch me play and I
don't think you'll worry about my weight."
There were reports that the 6-foot-1 Kirkland weighed 308 pounds at
one point last year. He told Comcast SportsNet yesterday that he is
at 290 now. His playing weight has been listed at 270 or 275.
"He played at about the same weight the last five or six years," Ashe
said, declining to specify that weight.
Eagles trainer Rick Burkholder was a key to getting the deal done so
quickly, Ashe said. Burkholder, who worked in Pittsburgh while
Kirkland was with the Steelers, was able to sell Kirkland on
Philadelphia. Because he was familiar with Kirkland's history,
Burkholder could confirm to the Eagles that the linebacker was
effective, regardless of his weight.
Kirkland broke into the league with the Steelers in 1992. He was one
of two inside linebackers in the Steelers' 3-4 defense, and emerged
as a star because of his rare combination of size and quickness.
After nine years in Pittsburgh, he spent just one year in Seattle's 4-
3 scheme, playing as a true middle linebacker.
"It's no different," Kirkland said. "You go out and tackle the man
with the ball."
Whether Kirkland or Gardner is the starter, he is likely to play on
first and second downs in running situations. Defensive coordinator
Jim Johnson said last month that he would use Carlos Emmons and Shawn
Barber in passing situations. Trotter was a three-down player, and
it's possible that Nickerson would have been able to stay on the
field on passing downs.
Still, if Kirkland is a less versatile player than Nickerson, he has
a bigger reputation as a hitter, especially against the run. And,
like Nickerson, he is considered a leader in the locker room and on
the field.
"I'm thankful for the opportunity," Kirkland said. "It could be a
case where no one calls and I leave the game. But the Eagles were
very interested in me and they're a team that is close to getting to
the ultimate game."
[[[[[[[[[[[[[ OUR VIEW ]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]
With the loss of Jeremiah Trotter, the middle linebacker position was
the main question mark for the Eagles on defense. Kirkland will give
the Eagles defense a consistent presence in the middle of the field
to defend the pass and stop the run. The Eagles will once again be
among the best defenses in the NFL.
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Butler Retires
Clipped from an article by Tom Silverstein of www.jsonline.com, July
18, 2002
His shoulder still fractured but his pride firmly intact, LeRoy
Butler will step up to a podium at Lambeau Field this afternoon and
publicly bid farewell to a game from which he gave as much as he
received.
Butler, a fixture in the Green Bay Packers machinery the past 12
seasons, told the Journal Sentinel Wednesday that he was retiring
because a broken bone in his left shoulder still hadn't mended and
might not be whole in time for the start of the regular season Sept.
8.
After examining him July 5, team doctors could not guarantee that his
shoulder, which was fractured Nov. 18 against Atlanta, would be sound
enough for contact by the time training camp ended. In fact, the
fractured portion, located in his shoulder socket, is perilously
close to a major nerve and would present a major medical risk if not
completely healed.
"I can't hit anybody right now," said Butler, who turns 34 on
Friday. "There's a nerve there. If you sever that nerve you can lose
feeling in your whole left side. If you're 23, it's a difficult thing
to come back from."
Butler, a five-time all-pro selection and four-time Pro Bowl pick,
was planning on rehabilitating the shoulder through training camp and
getting himself ready for the start of the regular season, but with
no guarantee he would pass his physical he decided to call it quits.
Just a few weeks earlier he had agreed to a $1.5 million pay cut and
was scheduled to make $750,000, the minimum for a player of his
experience.
"I don't want to take up a roster spot and collect a check just to do
that," Butler said. "This way they can go on with their lives. Most
guys would collect it and get the check, but I didn't want to do
that."
Later Thursday, the Packers announced Butler's retirement and began
preparations for a news conference. Neither Sherman nor any of the
coaches were made available for comment.
The injury might have made Butler's decision more palatable, but it
didn't make it any easier. For the past 12 seasons Butler showed up
on time at training camp and went about his business like an artisan.
Every year was another opportunity for him to master the game he
loved.
As abrupt as the end seemingly comes, Butler was prepared for the
worst when he suffered a rare broken scapula while lowering his
shoulder into 240-pound running back Maurice Smith. The force of the
blow from Smith's helmet was so great that it fractured the shoulder
blade in several places.
The injury ended a streak of 116 consecutive games played and left
him 15 games behind Bart Starr for the club record for games played.
He fully expected to return and take a shot at winning a second Super
Bowl, but in the back of his mind he knew it could be the end of the
road.
"I've been thinking about it: what if it didn't heal?" Butler
said. "Me and the head coach met and talked about it. It's not like
they wanted me out. He wanted me to play. I still know I can play.
People will see me tomorrow and say I'm healthy. I probably could
play, except I can't hit anybody. If this was basketball I could
play. Or baseball. One doctor said it was a miracle I made it this
far."
Asked if he was sad that his career came to an end this way, Butler
said, "No. Hell, no. Not when you're not supposed to be here this
long. I thought about it a long time. I remember sitting in a
wheelchair as a kid wishing I could play kick ball. When I was
finally able to play I was just happy to do that. And when I competed
in high school, I thought I was fortunate then, too.
"I had so much fun and for me to be (upset) would be selfish because
I had so many blessings. Twelve years with the same team is unheard
of."
Butler said he would like to remain with the team as a consultant if
Sherman would allow him. His desire is to work with the younger
players on both sides of the ball so he can help them see the game as
clearly as he did during his lengthy career.
It's hard to imagine Sherman won't find a spot for one of the
smartest players he coached.
The leading candidate to replace Butler is fourth-year pro Antuan
Edwards, a former first-round draft choice.
But Edwards has been a disappointment and he is coming off major knee
surgery. Thus, Sherman might have to turn to third-round draft choice
Marques Anderson, who was drafted with Butler's eventual retirement
in mind. Anderson has many of the qualities Butler possesses -
brains, cornerback instincts, tackling ability - but he is just a
rookie.
Butler said he spoke to starting safety Darren Sharper and Edwards on
a three-way call and told them both they are going to have to fill
his leadership and playmaking skills.
"I told Antuan, he's the man now," Butler said.
During his 12 seasons in Green Bay Butler not only established
himself as one of the premier players at his position but as an icon
in the community. His playful demeanor, intense love of the game and
brutal honesty with reporters solidified his relationship with the
fans.
Perhaps more than anything it was Butler's loyalty to the Packers
organization that appealed to the masses. He retires having played
for just one team, a rarity in the National Football League these
days and a testament to his commitment to the Packers.
"That's a rare place he's in," former general manager Ron Wolf
said. "And he's a special player. There were only three guys who went
all the way through with me when I was there and he was one of those.
You couldn't ask for anyone better than LeRoy Butler. It will be
different without him running around."
A second-round draft choice of the Tom Braatz-Lindy Infante regime in
1990, Butler overcame prodigious odds to make it to the professional
level.
As a child growing up in a dilapidated housing project in
Jacksonville, Fla., he was forced to wear leg braces because his feet
were too weak to prop him up. He overcame the condition and went on
to star at Robert E. Lee High School and earn a scholarship to
Florida State.
But he almost didn't make it there because of Proposition 48, which
required him to meet certain academic requirements in order to play
football. He eventually qualified and went on to become a first-team
All-American.
"I felt I was blessed," Butler said. "Every day I felt blessed."
When he got to the pros, his combination of size and speed made him a
dangerous weapon on the field because he could rush the passer or
drop back into coverage.
When Ray Rhodes became the defensive coordinator in 1992, Butler's
career took off and he became one of the most productive players in
league history.
From 1993-'98, when he went to four Pro Bowls, he had 16 sacks and 27
interceptions. He finished his career two interceptions short of
becoming the NFL's first player to total 40 interceptions and 20
sacks in a career.
Two years ago, a Hall of Fame committee named him a starter on the
all-1990s team. He is a solid candidate to make the Pro Football Hall
of Fame.
"I was always playing the position I wasn't supposed to play," Butler
said. "I wasn't cut up. I wasn't a guy like a track star. I wasn't a
real fast guy. I wasn't what you would call a safety.
"A safety is supposed to be 6-2, 220 pounds. Here I'm 5-11, 206 and
doing some of the things they were, sacking quarterbacks and making
tackles. I was doing stuff I had no business doing."
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The Packers will miss Butler's veteran leadership in the
secondary
this season. With Mike Mackenzie, Tyrone Williams and Darren Sharper
in the defensive backfield, look for the Packers to be among the
league's top pass defenses. The Packers have done a lot to
improve the defense this offseason with the signing of DE Joe Johnson
and LB Hardy Nickerson.
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Dale Carter Suspended Again
Clipped from an article by John Clayton on www.espn.com, July 18, 2002
Saints cornerback Dale Carter has been suspended indefinitely by the
NFL after a low amount of alcohol was found in his system twice this
spring.
Carter, who was suspended from April 25, 2000, to Nov. 6, 2001 for
violation of the substance abuse policy, could be back this season if
he applies for reinstatement and league drug counselors and
commissioner Paul Tagliabue grant his request.
At the very least, Carter will miss six games. It could be longer
depending on what the commissioner and the counselors say.
According to a source, Carter stumbled during rehabilitation
following his bankruptcy proceeding. The level of alcohol found in
his system was significantly less than the legal limit, but there is
a no-tolerance policy for alcohol for past violators. Beer was said
to be the substance found in his system this spring.
Carter signed a seven-year, $28 million contract with the Saints
during the offseason. To help him on his new team, the Saints also
signed his brother, wide receiver Jake Reed.
Throughout the offseason, Carter has been a solid performer in the
team's offseason program.
The 32-year-old Carter has played 126 games during his nine-year NFL
career and, despite missing a year and a half, is considered one of
the most talented cornerbacks in the league. He played seven seasons
with the Chiefs before the Broncos made him the highest paid
cornerback in the league.
He's been to four Pro Bowls.
The move to the Broncos turned into a disaster when he was suspended.
Denver released him last November, and he finished out the season
playing for the Vikings.
Michael Hawthorne moves into a starting role, along with Fred Thomas,
for the Saints.
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Did you expect Dale Carter to stay out of trouble? What is going to
happen next�Brian Cox will stay out of trouble? Well, the Saints
defense will be much different this year with the losses of Joe
Johnson, La'Roi Glover and Keith Mitchell. The Saints were a top-
five defense entering the 2001 season�not this year.
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Houston Signs Wells
Clipped from an article by Len Pasquarelli of www.espn.com, July 18,
2002
The expansion Houston Texans, who this weekend will become the first
NFL team to open camp, will also become the first franchise to get
all its draft choices under contract.
The team Thursday evening reached agreement with tailback Jonathan
Wells, a fourth-round choice from Ohio State, on a three-year, $1.255
million contract. The deal includes a $350,000 signing bonus and base
salaries of $225,000 (2002), $300,000 (2003) and $380,000 (2004). The
2002 cap figure is $341,667.
That accord leaves the Texans with just one of its league-high 12
draft choices, second-round wide receiver Jabar Gaffney of Florida,
still to sign. And league sources said Thursday night that Gaffney,
expected to be a starter as a rookie, is close to an agreement and
will almost certainly consummate his contract on Friday.
Houston got off to a quick start, of course, in the signing derby by
reaching an agreement with quarterback David Carr, the first player
selected overall, before the draft. But the sheer volume of
bargaining that faced chief negotiator Dan Ferens was daunting, and
lately it seems the Texans have been finishing a deal almost daily.
Wells is one of several rookies who will challenge for starting jobs
with the expansion club. The former Buckeyes standout missed much of
the early offseason work because of a league rule that precludes a
rookie from joining a team until his school has held its commencement
exercises, and Ohio State has a late graduation date.
But the Houston coaches like Wells' size, speed and toughness and
feel that he could start by the middle of the season. The two most
experienced tailbacks on the roster are James Allen and Travis
Prentice.
In four college seasons, Wells rushed for 2,418 yards and 27
touchdowns on 479 carries. His best season was his senior year, when
he ran for 1,331 yards and 16 touchdowns. He also has some experience
returning kickoffs.
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Wells is a solid rookie running back who will challenge veteran James
Allen for some playing time. The Texans will have a good run
blocking offensive line. If Wells can showcase his skills in the
preseason, he could be a quality sleeper pick later in most drafts.
Not much fantasy value at the current time.
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That's all folks,
Scott Luebke
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