Devin Hester A No Show For First Practice; Holdout On?
(7/23 1:35 PT)
The Facts:
Hester did not report to camp on Tuesday night before midnight as players were required to do and missed team meetings this morning, but he officially became a contract holdout with the start of practice at 3 p.m.Reported by the Chicago Sun-Times
Diehards Line:
According to ESPN's NFL Live, this indeed is a contract holdout. Hester, who was expected to run with the first team offense in initial workouts (opposite Brandon Lloyd), instead will continue waiting for the new contract he's wanted all offseason from a remote location. While local observers have suggested that a new deal for Hester will be complicated, it won't get any easier if he goes out and has a productive season as a receiver while continuing his assault on the record books as a returner. ... Stay tuned.
class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr1')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Devin Hester A No Show For First Practice; Holdout On?
(7/23 1:35 PM PT)
The Facts:
Hester did not report to camp on Tuesday night before midnight as players were required to do and missed team meetings this morning, but he officially became a contract holdout with the start of practice at 3 p.m.
Diehards Line:
According to ESPN's NFL Live, this indeed is a contract holdout. Hester, who was expected to run with the first team offense in initial workouts (opposite Brandon Lloyd), instead will continue waiting for the new contract he's wanted all offseason from a remote location. While local observers have suggested that a new deal for Hester will be complicated, it won't get any easier if he goes out and has a productive season as a receiver while continuing his assault on the record books as a returner. ... Stay tuned.
The Facts:
The NFL had members of its security department at Vikings headquarters on Tuesday to interview Vikings officials regarding the tampering charges the Green Bay Packers filed against Minnesota for "inappropriate dialogue" with Brett Favre, according to people with knowledge of the situation.
Diehards Line:
According to the report, it's believed that Vikings HC Brad Childress and OC Darrell Bevell were questioned. The fact the Vikings were asked for their side of the story a day before the team was to report to training camp and less than two weeks after the Packers filed the charges could be an indication the league is hoping to resolve the issue quickly. It marked the latest twist in the Favre-Packers summer soap opera that now involves Green Bay's NFL neighbors. ESPN reported Tuesday night that Favre -- who retired in March, then decided he wanted to unretire -- "clearly prefers to play for the Vikings."
class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr3')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Raiders Tell LaMont Jordan To Stay Home
(7/23 12:56 PM PT)
The Facts:
The Raiders have asked Jordan not to report for training camp, a league source tells us. But the Raiders haven’t released Jordan, or traded him.
Diehards Line:
As PFT's Mike Florio notes, the problem with that is the Raiders can’t keep him away. They either need to let him report to camp, trade him, or cut him. Florio went on to advise readers that Jordan will try to get the situation resolved quickly. Among the teams mentioned as possible destination are the Lions and Chargers. But nobody seems especially excited about the notion he'll be available soon.
class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr4')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Jeff Garcia Excused From First Two Days Of Camp
(7/23 12:22 PM PT)
The Facts:
Garcia has be excused from the first two days of training camp as he attends his father's 35th-year anniversary reunion for his junior college championship. "The only person that has been excused is Jeff Garcia," said GM Bruce Allen. "He's going to be at his father's 35th-year anniversary reunion for his junior college championship, so he'll mss the first two days."
Diehards Line:
Garcia, 38, made the Pro Bowl in his Buccaneer debut. He and his agent, Steve Baker, have been attempting to get a new deal in place for Garcia, but to no avail. ... It's safe to say his missing the first two days of camp has nothing to do with the contract. The Bucs' apparent interest in Brett Favre (see previous item)? We'll see about that.
class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr5')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Chargers Release Eric Parker
(7/23 11:59 AM PT)
The Facts:
Adam Schefter of NFL Network is reporting that the Chargers have released Parker. The Chargers had indicated that they were not planning to bring him back this season, so it’s no surprise that he was released just before veterans are to report for training camp.
Diehards Line:
The 29-year-old Parker, who has spent his entire six-year career in San Diego, still wants to play somewhere this season. As PFT's Michael David Smith notes, there has been speculation that the Browns could be interested in acquiring Parker, although it’s unlikely that any team would give him the $1.85 million salary he would have been due this season with the Chargers.
class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr6')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Giants WR Steve Smith Big Winner In Shockey Trade?
(7/23 11:19 AM PT)
The Facts:
Daily News staffer Ralph Vacchiano believes the biggest key to the Giants' post-Jeremy Shockey success could be Smith, a second-round pick out of USC who coincidentally returned from an 11-week absence due to shoulder and hamstring injuries the same week Shockey got hurt.
Diehards Line:
It took him a few weeks to get back into a rhythm, but in the final five games -- starting with the regular-season finale against New England -- Smith had 17 catches for 181 yards. Kevin Boss will likely take over the starting job from Shockey (who was traded to the Saints), with Darcy Johnson and Michael Matthews filling the second TE role. But Smith could end up picking up the majority of the catches Shockey left behind. Shockey's absence also could create more of a need for a fourth receiver, such as rookie Mario Manningham or third-year pro Sinorice Moss.
The Facts:
Acquiring Favre has at least been discussed in the front office. Bucs GM Bruce Allen last week asked QB Chris Simms how he thought Favre would fare in the Bucs offense with limited practice time. "He asked me questions about Brett Favre," Simms said. "He asked if I felt Brett would be able to come back and be good here if he didn't have a lot of reps in training camp."
Diehards Line:
The Packers reportedly have been gauging interest about trading for Favre and have contacted at least one NFC opponent. The Bucs run a version of the West Coast offense but Gruden's system has evolved to the point where Favre may need at least a full training camp to pick it up. ... Interesting that they would ask for Simms' input. Wonder if Jeff Garcia has heard this one?
class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr8')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Clinton Portis To Sit Out Hall Of Fame Game
(7/23 10:31 AM PT)
The Facts:
When the Redskins open the NFL preseason in the Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio, Portis is unlikely to be in their backfield. HC Jim Zorn said that Portis is unlikely to see against against the Colts on Aug. 3.
Diehards Line:
Portis didn't play in any of the Redskins' preseason games last season. In 2006, he separated his shoulder in the team's pre-season opener. That being the case, we'll not complain about Portis' exhibition absence.
class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr9')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Goodell Pushing For Brett Favre Resolution
(7/23 8:38 AM PT)
The Facts:
Following up on the ongoing story. ... Commissioner Roger Goodell has been briefed by Packers general manager Ted Thompson on the status of the team's approach with Favre. Sources have told ESPN's Chris Mortensen that Thompson reaffirmed to the commissioner that the organization wants to "move on" without Favre. Consequently, Goodell encouraged the GM to accelerate the process by surveying teams around the league to determine if there is a trade partner, the sources said.
Diehards Line:
According to Mortensen, the commissioner made it clear to Thompson that Favre will be reinstated as an active player if he makes the request. Goodell also has spoken with Favre, the sources said, telling the veteran passer that he was willing to assist in the process, if necessary. Several teams in the AFC and NFC confirmed they were contacted by the Packers. Favre's contractual rights belong to the Packers until his current deal expires after the 2010 season. ... Given the recent reports suggesting Favre might be having second thoughts about his comeback, the commissioner wish might already have been granted. Stay tuned.
class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr10')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Brian Westbrook Wants $10 Million Per Year?
(7/22 10:19 PM PT)
The Facts:
Per a league source, Westbrook is looking for a new deal that pays him $30 million over the first three years.
Diehards Line:
According to PFT's Mike Florio, Westbrook apparently picked his new agent, Todd France, based on the fact that France was the only one who would guarantee that he could get Westbrook a certain level of compensation. Florio added that multiple other agents withdrew from the running once it became clear that Westbrook was after. ... Westbrook is scheduled to report for training camp Thursday, we'll see how serious he is about getting a new deal then.
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