Winslow Skips Out on New Team

by | May 14, 2009 | NFL News

Newly acquired Kellen Winslow Jr. skipped out on the Bucaneers first voluntary wokouts on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week.

Winslow, acquired from the Browns in February and given a $42 million contract with over $20 million guaranteed, apparently informed the Bucs he would miss the practices, and team officials and players didn’t seem concerned.

Quarterback Luke McCown, likely battling for the starting spot, offered this gem:

“Kellen is a professional, he’s a Pro Bowler, he knows how to get his body ready.  I talk with Kellen weekly and make sure we’re on the same page.”

Really?  A quick chat on the phone to make sure you’re “on the same page” sure is going to help your timing on routes.

Former Buc Warren Sapp, like Winslow a former Miami Hurricane, offered a different view:

“So when your team fires up OTA’s and you’re not here, I guess you’re being misunderstood again, right? Your past don’t equal your future, but it will damn sure give me some reflection of what you might do. I’ll leave it at that.”

Apparently Winslow’s excuse for missing the workouts is that he is moving his family to Tampa.  Apparently, despite two months notice and several million dollars in his pocket, and this week just happens to be the only time Winslow could move his family.

New offense, new coach, unsettled quarterback situation, and one of the guys expected to be featured in the offense–a guy who has a checkered past when it comes to being able to stay on the field during the regular season, and who said after the trade that he was ready for a new beginning and that as “I stand here before you now, I think I’m a changed man,” and he’s already skipping practices with a lame excuse.

Yep, good luck in Tampa Bay this season.  You might need it.

Favre not coming to Vikings … unless he does

by | May 8, 2009 | NFL News

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

In the story that will not die, Brett Favre might still be joining the Minnesota Vikings.

A day after Yahoo Sports said he told Brad Childress thanks, but no thanks, a site called thevikingage.com cites ESPN saying that Favre sent the Vikings x-rays and that if the team is satisfied with what it sees, he’ll sign with them.

Personally, I just wish he’d either sign or not sign. It’s been more than a year since he first announced his retirement. It’s been a soap opera ever since.

Prisco says what many are thinking

by | May 6, 2009 | NFL News, NFL Random Thoughts

Whether he is or not I don’t know, but CBSSportsline.com’s Pete Prisco often comes off as an arrogant jerk. I also frequently disagree with his takes, though he’s an interesting read, likeable or not.

But while many NFL beat writers, local and national, are tip-toeing around the Brett Favre-to-Minnesota rumors – some even expressing excitement about the possibilities (not everyone) – Prisco is the first to say loudly what I think many are thinking – that if Brad Childress, Zygi Wilf and the Vikings hitch their wagons to the aging one-time superstar QB it’ll be a mistake.

Has anyone watched the last two seasons? He was great in 2007 for Green Bay until it mattered in the frigid NFC Championship game. That afternoon I remember thinking for the first time ever that it looked like he didn’t want to be there.

He recovered during the early part of his first foray in New York last year, but he injured his arm and he nearly single-handedly derailed the Jets’ chances at the playoffs during the final third of the season.

I’ve had more chances than many to watch Favre. As a lifelong follower of the purple he’s led many-a-comeback in the last minute against the team he apparently wants to play for. I hated him as a rival player. I admired him as a competitor. But his time has come. Last year the retire-unretire schtick was getting old – this year it’s reached the point of downright sad.

I think Prisco is right on this one. It’s time to stay retired, Brett.

“The gunslinger has no bullets left,” Prisco writes. “He shoots blanks.”

If he ends up signing in Minnesota I hope he proves Prisco wrong. But I think it’s the writer who got this one right.

Multiple reports: Lions take Stafford

by | Apr 24, 2009 | NFL News, NFL Random Thoughts

It was probably inevitable – two disciples of the Matt Millen era in Detroit continued his legacy of building around skill-position players Friday night as multiple reports have come out indicating that the Lions have, in fact, inked quarterback Matthew Stafford to a six-year, $72 million deal with nearly $42 million of it guaranteed.

While drafting Stafford makes more sense than taking wide receivers in the first round three seasons in a row, we at Zoneblitz have long been on record believing Detroit should be waiting a year to grab a franchise QB while instead focusing on its long ignored issues on the offensive and defensive lines.

Experts’ opinions on Stafford are mixed. Some believe his strong arm and field-general skills make him the next great quarterback. Others question why, despite being surrounded by fantastic talent at Georgia, he couldn’t take the team further.

Detroit fans have to be hoping they won’t be asking themselves that same question 10 or 12 years down the road.

The signing leaves the St. Louis Rams on the clock.

Cutler helps but Bears pay steep price

by | Apr 2, 2009 | 2009 Trades, NFL News, NFL Random Thoughts

Jay Cutler will immediately be the best quarterback the Chicago Bears have lined up under center since … Jim McMahon? Sid Luckman?

The team is unproven, at best, and more than likely more like putrid at wide receiver with Devin Hester, Rashied Davis, Earl Bennett and possibly Marty Booker competing for playing time. Cutler will make them a little better, but expecting too much from him in that regard, to borrow a bad cliche, is expecting him to put lipstick on a pig.

The Bears are also less than stellar at offensive tackle. John Tait retired. John St. Clair moved onto Cleveland as a free agent. Last year’s top pick Chris Williams will likely fill one spot. The Bears signed Frank Omiyale and Kevin Shaffer and are rumored to be interested in aging and oft-injured tackle Orlando Pace. But Williams is coming off a back injury and the other three potential options, well, nobody is going to be immortalizing them in bronze in Canton anytime soon.

Chicago certainly upgraded the quarterback position and Cutler is young enough where he is the equivalent of a first rounder – and possibly the equivalent of a first and third rounder. But wow – they gave up two firsts, a third and Kyle Orton. That’s a steep price to pay.

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John Elway Plays Pot to Jay Cutlers Kettle

by | Mar 21, 2009 | Contract Squabbles, NFL News

John Elway told something called The Pueblo Chieftain that he is “saddened” by the feud between his former team, the Denver Broncos, and their rising star quarterback Jay Cutler.

I wonder how sad he was back in 1983, when he refused to play for the team that drafted him?  Back in 1983, he used his status as a minor league baseball player in the Yankees organization to hold the Baltimore Colts, who had picked Elway first overall out of Stanford, hostage, because he felt they could not allow him to be successful.

The Colts got QB Mark Herrmann, the rights to OL Chris Hinton, and a first round pick–and remained a basement dwelling team for the better part of 15 years, until Peyton Manning came along.

While successful in getting his way, it was one of (if not THE) first example of what has become all too common in the NFL these days–players who, according to the collective bargaining agreement, should have little say in where they play (whether due to draft rights being held, or due to the fact that they already signed a contract) pissing and moaning until they force their way out.

The only situation in the NFL as galling (or more) than Elway’s situation was Eli Manning weaseling his way out of San Diego on draft day.  At least both of those moves appeared motivated by the talent on the team’s involved–neither of those situations is bad as Kobe Bryant demanding that the Charolette Hornets trade him to a team in a bigger market, simply so his star would shine brighter.

In this area, I tend to think that the owners need to take a stand.  Cutler is under contract–unless they get a king’s ransom of a trade offer for him, one that makes them a better team immediately, I think they should not move Cutler, and force his hand.  If the realationship is really damaged beyond repair, then I suggest that Bus Cook’s latest headline grabber make his way down to Mississippi, and help Brett Favre on the tractor.