FanHouse

Bills Release Kevin Everett; TE to Receive NFL Disability Benefits

Dan — 2008-05-13T12:06:00 00:00

Filed under: Bills, AFC East, NFL Injuries, Buffalo

The Buffalo Bills released tight end Kevin Everett this morning, but that does mean the two sides will be parting ways.

"Kevin will always remain a Buffalo Bill in the same way that Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas and so many others before him are held in the highest regard by our franchise," the team said in a statement Tuesday.

Everett's release opens the door for him to receive several NFL disability benefits, including a one-time payment under the player health reimbursement plan. He will also be able to apply for additional long-term injury benefits, and should be well taken care of for the foreseeable future.

Although Everett may never return to 100%, his recovery is nothing short of remarkable. Not only did doctors believe he would never walk again, initial reports indicated that the severity of his injuries were considered life-threatening. Yet, less than a year later, Everett has regained most of the feeling from his neck down and has also learned to walk on his own once again.

"The Buffalo Bills continue to be moved by Kevin Everett's heartwarming story of his recovery," the team's statement read. "His progress from September 9 of last year through today is nothing short of a miracle, and is a tremendous example of faith, family and hard work."

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Mario Who? Giants' D.J. Hall Makes Biggest First Day Impact

Dan — 2008-05-10T09:01:00 00:00

by Dan

Filed under: NY Giants, NFC East, New York

Tom Coughlin and the New York Giants certainly do have an interesting dilemma facing them this offseason. For the first time in many years, they won't be struggling to find quality depth at the wide receiver position. Instead, they'll be struggling to find enough room on their roster for the impressive amount of depth they suddenly do have.

And although it's only been one day since rookie mini-camp opened, that task appears to have become a little bit harder.

According to Ralph Vacchiano of The Blue Screen, undrafted rookie free agent D.J. Hall from Alabama stole the show with several impressive catches and an amazing display of natural athleticism.

Hall made several outstanding catches, including one leaping, fully stretched grab along the sidelines in the afternoon. A few times he had to leap to make the catch and not only did, but seemed to hit the ground and keep moving without missing a stride. He was smooth, he had good hands and at 6-2, 195, has decent size. On any other team, I'd say he was a free-agent steal.

With all the talk about Mario Manningham and his great value in round three, many people overlooked the signing of D.J. Hall. But if value picks and value signings really are what makes a team great, then it looks like General Manager Jerry Reese has hit the jackpot again.

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NFL Draft Grades: Kansas City Chiefs

Dan — 2008-04-29T09:45:00 00:00

by Dan

Filed under: Chiefs, AFC West, NFL Draft, Kansas City

Kansas City Chiefs 2008 Draft Picks:

Round 1 (5): Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU
Round 1 (15): Branden Albert, OG, Virginia
Round 2 (35): Brandon Flowers, CB, Virginia Tech
Round 3 (73): Jamaal Charles, RB, Texas
Round 3 (76): Brad Cottam, TE, Tennessee
Round 3 (82): DaJuan Morgan, S, North Carolina State
Round 4 (105): Will Franklin, WR, Missouri
Round 5 (140): Brandon Carr, CB, Grand Valley State
Round 6 (170): Barry Richardson, OT, Clemson
Round 6 (182): Kevin Robinson, WR, Utah State
Round 7 (210): Brian Johnston, DE, Gardner-Webb
Round 7 (239): Mike Merritt, TE, Central Florida

The Good: See all 12 picks above -- that's the good. Kansas City added value with every single selection they made, and addressed nearly every need they had. Glenn Dorsey was considered by some to be the number one player available, while Albert, Flowers, Cottam and Robinson (special teams) all add significant talent to positions in need. And what about the other nine players selected? They all have tremendous upside as well and each represented solid value at the position they were taken.

The Bad: Is there any? The Chiefs made 12 picks this past weekend and on paper, it looks like they made every single one of them count. If there's one knock on anyone, it's that Braden Albert will be a "work in progress." Still, that's hardly a negative for someone who figures to be a quality NFL starter for a very long time. Beyond that, the only other negative that presents itself was the failure to draft another quarterback.

The Grade: A. In comparison to the other 31 teams, Kansas City left Radio City Music Hall on top. They had a fantastic draft and appear to have secured a bright future. Although they may not make it to the playoffs this coming season, they've certainly given their fans something to be excited about.

Click here to read other draft grades.

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NFL Draft Grades: Buffalo Bills

Dan — 2008-04-29T09:25:00 00:00

by Dan

Filed under: Bills, AFC East, NFL Draft, Buffalo

Buffalo Bills 2008 Draft Picks:

Round 1 (11): Leodis McKelvin, CB, Troy
Round 2 (41): James Hardy, WR, Indiana
Round 3 (72): Chris Ellis, DE, Virginia Tech
Round 4 (114): Reggie Corner, CB, Akron
Round 4 (132): Derek Fine, TE, Kansas
Round 5 (147): Alvin Bowen, OLB, Iowa State
Round 6 (179): Xavier Omon, RB, Northern Missouri State
Round 7 (219): Demetrius Bell, OT, Northwestern State (LA)
Round 7 (224): Steve Johnson, WR, Kentucky
Round 7 (251): Kennard Cox, CB, Pittsburgh

The Good: Not only was Buffalo able to land the cornerback they so desperately needed, they were also able to land the big-time wide receiver they coveted as well. Both Leodis McKelvin and James Hardy will come in and have an immediate impact for the Bills, giving them two dimensions they were lacking last year. Additionally, Derek Fine was a tremendous value pick in round four and will likely add some quality depth to Buffalo's currently shallow tight end position.

The Bad: Outside of McKelvin and Hardy, many of the players Buffalo drafted have several question marks. Can Ellis become a more consistent player at the next level? Is Corner's size (or lack thereof) a major concern? Is Bowen big enough to play every down? And does Bell have enough game experience to offer any significant value? Those are some rather concerning questions ...

The Grade: B-. At the very least, Buffalo got two solid starters out of the draft and a lot of depth. Some of the other players will most likely realize their talent and reward the Bills, while the rest will eventually fade away into nothing. It wasn't an outstanding draft by any means, but it certainly wasn't a poor one either.

Click here to read other draft grades.

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NFL Draft Grades: Arizona Cardinals

Dan — 2008-04-29T08:54:00 00:00

by Dan

Filed under: AZ Cardinals, NFC West, NFL Draft, Phoenix

Arizona Cardinals 2008 Draft Picks:

Round 1 (16): Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB, Tennessee State
Round 2 (50): Calais Campbell, DE, Miami
Round 3 (81): Early Doucet, WR, LSU
Round 4 (116): Kenny Iwebema, DE, Iowa
Round 5 (149): Tim Hightower, RB, Richmond
Round 6 (185): Chris Harrington, DE, Texas A&M
Round 7 (225): Brandon Keith, OT, Northern Iowa

The Good: Going into the draft, Arizona had quite a few needs to fill. There were several defensive positions that needed someone who could come in and start immediately, while others were lacking quality depth. And with the first two selections, coupled with the late-round pick of Chris Harrington (rotational pass rusher), they were able to fill all of those needs.

The Bad: The Cardinals weren't able to secure the big time running back most analysts believed they needed, but they were able to lock down Tim Hightower in round five. And while he may not be a Darren McFadden or even a Ray Rice, he's a Marion Barber-like running back who could give Arizona exactly what they need anyway. In addition to their failure to land a game-breaking back, Arizona missed out on a solid safety and additional depth at linebacker.

The Grade: B+. People may not be very high on Tim Hightower right now, nor very high on the 2007 version of Calais Campbell, but both of those players have a tremendous upside. I'm not a scout by any means, but I fully expect Campbell to return to his 2006 form, with Hightower providing all the help Arizona could possibly need behind Edgerrin James.

Click here to read other draft grades.

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NFL Draft Grades: New York Giants

Dan — 2008-04-29T08:37:00 00:00

by Dan

Filed under: NY Giants, NFC East, NFL Draft, New York

New York Giants 2008 Draft Picks:

Round 1 (31): Kenny Phillips, S, Miami
Round 2 (63): Terrell Thomas, CB, USC
Round 3 (95): Mario Manningham, WR, Michigan
Round 4 (123): Bryan Kehl, OLB, BYU
Round 5 (165): Jonathan Goff, LB, Vanderbilt
Round 6 (198): Andre' Woodson, QB, Kentucky
Round 6 (199): Robert Henderson, DE, Southern Miss

The Good: What can you say? On paper, it looks like Jerry Reese has done it again. The Giants needed a safety, so they selected the best one in the draft. They needed a cornerback, so they snatched up the very talented Terrell Thomas in round three. They also needed help at linebacker, so they grabbed two very capable ones in rounds four and five. And with several questions about their backup quarterback situation and the long-term problems they may face there, they went out and hauled in Andre Woodson in round six. All in all, New York did a very good job improving an already talented team.

The Bad: Unlike most questionable selections, the Giants decision to draft Mario Manningham in round three could have a tremendous upside. At the same time, if "Super Mario" doesn't turn his act around, it will ultimately end up being a wasted pick. The 21-year-old has battled many questions about his character over the last few years, and coupled with a score of six on his Wonderlic test, it resulted in him falling down most teams draft charts.

The Grade: B/B+. The actual grade really depends on Manningham. If the Giants get the player - and only the player - they saw at Michigan, their paper grade is easily a B+. However, if they get the same person who scored a six on his Wonderlic and repeatedly failed drug tests, their paper grade is a B ... at best.

Click here to read other draft grades.

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Giants Trade Jeremy Shockey to the Saints?

Dan — 2008-04-25T18:46:00 00:00

by Dan

Filed under: NY Giants, Saints, NFL Draft, New Orleans, New York

There has been a significant amount of speculation over the last few days about New York Giants tight end Jeremy Shockey and his status with the team. Several reports have indicated that the often out-spoken, tattoo bearing Oklahoma native had grown tired of his role in New York and wanted a trade, while others have continued to insist it's nothing more than mass speculation.

Somewhere amidst all the hoo-ha is the truth and it appears that someone may have finally found it. According to Pro Football Weekly, Shockey will soon call New Orleans home.

Maybe. Possibly. Could be.

PFW believes that Giants TE Jeremy Shockey has been traded to the Saints for multiple draft picks, including the team's second-rounder (No. 40). We'll try to confirm this as soon as we can.

For what it's worth, my cousin's third uncle twice removed heard from his step-daughter that some guy in a bar in Miami had a gardener who heard from his sister's boyfriend that Shockey's dentist said he was going to play for the Nigerian national football team next year.

There are also rumors floating around that Shockey will soon land on the moon.

Previously on FanHouse:
The Seahawks Have Unofficially Entered the Jeremy Shockey Sweepstakes
Jeremy Shockey Would Like a Role That Doesn't Involve Backing Up Kevin Boss
Jeremy Shockey OK With Trade Talk; Giants General Manager Won't Rule It Out
Jeremy Shockey Searches for New Real Estate, Saints Might Have Moved On
New York Post Refutes WWE Announcer's Claim That Jeremy Shockey Will Be Traded

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FanHouse Mock Draft: New York Giants Select S Kenny Phillips No. 32

Dan — 2008-04-22T14:00:00 00:00

by Dan

Filed under: NY Giants, NFC East, NFL Draft, New York

With each pick of the FanHouse mock draft, we get into the head of an NFL general manager and let you know who he'll pick and why.

Can Jerry Reese and the New York Giants strike gold twice?

The defending Super Bowl Champions will head into draft weekend looking to do exactly what they did last year: select several players that will have an immediate impact on the team. It's a formula that obviously worked well for them and something they'll look to duplicate.

With so many pressing needs, New York will have several options when their turn finally rolls around. They could trade down for additional picks, draft a linebacker, cornerback or safety, or just go with the best player available.

Based on FanHouse's mock draft, Jerry Reese will actually get to do two of those things at once. Not only will he be able to draft the best player still available, he'll also be able to fill an area of need.

Kenny Phillips is considered by many to be a top-20 player in this year's draft and by far the best safety available. With the departure of Gibril Wilson to Oakland, New York desperately needs a young talent to help anchor that secondary. It's obvious that Sammy Knight is not the long-term answer, and despite an adequate Super Bowl performance, the organization cannot feel too comfortable with James Butler.

Phillips is a very physical and instinctive player with great hands. He plays well in both man and zone coverage's and does a good job against the run. He seems like a perfect fit for a Tom Coughlin run team and Steve Spagnuolo defense.

The Skinny:
Team Needs - CB, LB, S, OT
Player Selected - Kenny Phillips, S, Miami (FL.)
Also Considered - Dan Connor, LB, Penn State

Previous Pick: No. 31, Cheating, New England Patriots

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FanHouse Mock Draft: Arizona Cardinals Select RB Rashard Mendenhall No. 16

Dan — 2008-04-09T14:00:00 00:00

by Dan

Filed under: AZ Cardinals, NFC West, NFL Draft, Phoenix

With each pick of the FanHouse mock draft, we get into the head of an NFL general manager and let you know who he'll pick and why.

Earlier in the offseason, there was some speculation in Arizona regarding the future of Edgerrin James. Although an official stance was never actually given, there was clearly some sort of misunderstanding that had James questioning his future with the club.

Although those tempers eventually cooled, the Cardinals interest in finding a second running back did not. And with four of top cornerbacks already off the board, coupled with Aqib Talib's failed drug test, the selection of Rashard Mendenhall seems like the perfect fit.

Mendenhall gives Arizona exactly what they were looking for when they drafted J.J. Arrington -- an explosive back that has the ability to break a long run every time he touches the ball. And although he's often knocked for putting the ball on the ground, he's far too great a talent to pass up at number 16.

For the time being, Mendenhall will fill an important change-of-pace role for the Cardinals. Eventually, however, the James era will come to an end and he'll get to step up and grab the reigns for Arizona.

The Skinny:
Team needs - RB, CB, OT, S, OLB
Player Selected - Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Illinois
Also Considered - Aqib Talib, CB, Kansas

Previous Pick: No. 15, Branden Albert, Detroit Lions

Next Pick: No. 17, Minnesota Vikings

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FanHouse Mock Draft: Buffalo Bills Select WR Limas Sweed No. 11

Dan — 2008-04-07T08:30:00 00:00

by Dan

Filed under: Bills, AFC East, NFL Draft, Buffalo

With each pick of the FanHouse mock draft, we get into the head of an NFL general manager and let you know who he'll pick and why.

The Buffalo Bills have several needs, but a quality wide receiver to line-up across from Lee Evans is certainly at the forefront. And with the team now looking to use a more high-tempo type offense, a 6'4'' play-maker like Limas Sweed certainly fits the bill.

But is it too early to draft a wide receiver?

One of the major problems facing the Bills this year is the quality and depth at the wide receiver position. There are a handful of players that appear to have legitimate talent, but none that seem to warrant such an early pick. However, given the current nature of Buffalo's offense and the potential for missing out on one of them, the Bills may have to reach in round one.

The next question is, why Sweed?

Many people believe Malcolm Kelly is establishing himself as the number one wide receiver in this year's draft and it's hard to dispute that. He's a tall, physical receiver like Sweed, but he comes with a variety of injury concerns. And although his agent is quick to pass them off, they are legitimate concerns. For that reason, Sweed seems like the safer bet for Buffalo.

While Sweed also comes with injury concerns, they are not nearly as troublesome as Kelly's. And on the plus side, Sweed is considered a Plaxico Burress-type receiver with unparalleled motivation and an impressive work ethic. By all accounts, he has the intangibles to become a legitimate number one in the NFL.

The Skinny:
Team Needs - WR, CB, OLB, DT, DE
Player Select - Limas Sweed, WR, Texas
Also Considered - Malcolm Kelly, WR, Oklahoma; Leodis McKlevin, CB, Troy

Previous Pick: No. 10, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Saints

Next: No. 12, Denver Broncos

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Super Bowl XLII Rematch Will Highlight NFL Preseason Schedule

Dan — 2008-04-04T11:43:00 00:00

by Dan

Filed under: NY Giants, Patriots, AFC East, NFC East, Boston, New York

In most cases, preseason games don't garner much attention. Marquee players rarely see the field for any significant amount of time, stadiums are never full and the outcome means absolutely nothing. But when the NFL concludes its preseason schedule this year, the game will most certainly have an audience.

In a rematch of Super Bowl XLII, the New York Giants and New England Patriots will meet in a nationally televised game from Giants Stadium.

The game will still be meaningless in the standings, but there is no doubt emotions will be running high on the field. Even if the starters only play a few series, there will be no escaping it. Every time a player looks into the eyes of his opponent, they will be brought back to Phoenix. For the Giants, it will be great. For the Patriots, it will be devastating. And for both, it will offer a little extra motivation heading into the regular season.

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FanHouse Mock Draft: Kansas City Chiefs Select OT Ryan Clady No. 5

Dan — 2008-04-02T08:30:00 00:00

by Dan

Filed under: Chiefs, AFC West, NFL Draft, Kansas City

With each pick of the FanHouse mock draft, we get into the head of an NFL general manager and let you know who he'll pick and why.

It's no secret that the Kansas City Chiefs are in desperate need of some offensive lineman, and although it won't be flashy, they have to draft accordingly. With Jake Long already off the board, Kansas City is really only left with one choice: draft offensive tackle Ryan Clady.

Although most draft experts consider Long to be the premier offensive tackle in this draft, there are a few that believe Clady is the cream of the crop. And while his Wonderlic score left a little to be desired, there is no questioning Clady's supreme athletic ability.

Whether or not he's actually more talented than Long is still up for debate, but at this point, it's irrelevant anyway. With the fifth pick in the draft, the Chiefs have to do whatever they can to get better. And by drafting a 6'6'', 309 pound tackle with light feet and impressive mobility for his size, they do exactly that.

Clady will have to improve as a run blocker in the NFL, especially on a team like the Chiefs, but that shouldn't be much of a concern for Kansas City. Clady has earned a reputation as an extremely hard-worker and under a player's coach like Herm Edwards, there is little doubt that he'll continue to do exactly that.

It may take a year or two, but Clady will eventually become a top-notch NFL offensive lineman. He appears to be one of the few "can't misses" in this year's NFL Draft.

The Skinny:

Team needs - OT, OG, C, WR, CB, K
Player Selected - Ryan Clady, OT, Boise St.
Also Considered - Branden Albert, OG, Virginia; Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB, Tennessee St.

Next Pick:

No. 6 - New York Jets

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Random YouTube Magic: NFL - Where Amazing Happens

Dan — 2008-03-27T19:21:00 00:00

by Dan

Filed under: NY Giants, Patriots, NFL Video, Boston, New York

Inspired by what is widely considered to be one of the greatest upsets of all time, YouTube user "Josmos Factory" decided to create an NFL commercial about Super Bowl XLII using the NBA's "Where Amazing Happens" format.

If you're a fan of the New York Giants, this fan-made commercial is bound to give you Goosebumps. If you're a fan of the New England Patriots however, you're probably just glad it's finally baseball season.

Either way, hats off to Josmos Factory for putting together a great video and a fresh reminder that anyone can win on any given Sunday.

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Cardinals Sign Linebacker Clark Haggans

Dan — 2008-03-26T12:06:00 00:00

by Dan

Filed under: AZ Cardinals, NFC West, Phoenix, NFL Free Agency

According to Adam Schefter of NFL Network (via PFT), the Arizona Cardinals and free agent linebacker Clark Haggans have agreed to a one-year deal; financial terms have not been disclosed.

Haggans, who turned 31 in January, was expected to make a relatively decent splash in free agency this year. He had performed well in the Pittsburgh Steelers 3-4 system last season and proved that he still has plenty left in the tank. Unfortunately, things didn't go his way this offseason, and he drew only slight interest from the Cleveland Browns prior to signing with Arizona.

For the Cardinals, the addition of Haggans fills the void left by their inability to sign Brandon Chillar due Larry Fitzgerald's contract. However, it's not exactly a step backwards. Haggans is a very talented and physical tool that should fit right in with Clancy Pendergast's defensive system.

The seven-year NFL veteran will rejoin both Russ Grimm and Ken Whisenhunt in Arizona, who he became very familiar with during his time in Pittsburgh.

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Cardinals Drop the Ball on Fitzgerald Contract

Dan — 2008-03-18T14:06:00 00:00

by Dan

Filed under: AZ Cardinals, NFC West, Phoenix

If you though the Larry Fitzgerald contract woes were over in Arizona, you thought wrong.

Only a week after Fitzgerald's official site announced the new deal, Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic (via PFT) is reporting that the four-year, $40 million contract is not yet official. And while that may not seem like a big deal on the surface, this little hiccup has already resulted in the loss of wide receiver Sean Morey -- who was released yesterday.

While Morey is likely to be re-signed once the contract mess is finally put to bed, this unfortunate series of events does not look good for General Manager Rod Graves. If he ever wants to win over the fans -- something that seems like an impossible task -- he's going to have to avoid these types of blunders.

Let's just hope this little mistake doesn't prevent Arizona from signing free agent linebacker Brandon Chillar; whom the team is very interested in.

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Eli Manning's Next Career: Underwear Model?

Dan — 2008-03-12T11:54:00 00:00

by Dan

Filed under: NY Giants, NFC East, NFL Gossip, NFL Rumors, New York

If you've ever dreamed about seeing Eli Manning is nothing but his skivvies, you may be in luck!

According to Jo Piazza, a gossip columnist for the New York Daily News, a Calvin Klein rival is reaching out to the Super Bowl MVP to be their new underwear model.

Calvin Klein may be trying to get into Tom Brady's pants (the company, not the designer, to make him the brand's new underwear model!), but word on the street is sexy men's underwear line 2(x)ist is trying to get his rival, Giants quarterback Eli Manning, to model their teeny-weeny, bikini-style briefs.

Easy E in teeny-weeny, bikini-style briefs? I'm no underwear expert or anything, but I'm pretty sure people aren't going to find that very sexy. In fact, I'm already doing everything I can to avoid mentally creating that nightmare of an image.

On the bright side, it is nice to see Manning finally getting a little positive attention. For someone whose demeanor has constantly been questioned, it's got to be uplifting to have people asking you to model underwear.

Still, Manning in nothing but his tighty-whities and a smile doesn't sound like much of a crowd pleaser. Hopefully he'll just stick to winning Super Bowl trophies.

(Hat Tip: The Sporting Blog)

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David Carr Scheduled to Meet With the Giants

Dan — 2008-03-11T10:45:00 00:00

by Dan

Filed under: NY Giants, NFC East, New York, NFL Free Agency

Still looking to improve their quarterback depth behind Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning, the New York Giants have scheduled a visit with former number one overall draft pick David Carr.

Carr, who was recently released from the Carolina Panthers, will arrive in New York this evening for a sit down with head coach Tom Coughlin and Co., and remain until at least tomorrow afternoon.

Although fans in both Houston and Carolina believe Carr is the reincarnation of Ryan Leaf, Giants fans seem a bit more upbeat about the 29-year old. And with back-ups like Anthony ~~Wrong~~ Wright and Jared Lorenzen, who can blame them?

Over the first six years of his career, Carr often fell victim to some awful pass protection. In 82 professional games, he was sacked a mind-boggling 262 times, but still managed to improve statistically nearly every season -- until last year, that is.

Still, Carr has all the tools to be a successful NFL quarterback. He's got good size, speed, athleticism and a very solid arm -- he just doesn't have a quality supporting cast. And although he'd merely be a backup in New York, it would give him an opportunity (in the preseason) to showcase his ability when there solid offensive line in front of him.

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Giants Re-Sign Coughlin: Four More Years

Dan — 2008-03-08T14:49:00 00:00

by Dan

Filed under: NY Giants, NFC East, NFL Coaching, New York

Around this time last year, Giants head coach Tom Coughlin found himself in general manager Jerry Reese's office basically begging for his job. The team had collapsed about half way through the season, were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs for the second consecutive year and the fans had all but given up on Mr. Mean. Yet, despite all the negativity, Reese decided to give him one more chance.

And what a difference a year makes!

After leading New York on a remarkable run that culminated with a victory over the previously undefeated New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII, Coughlin suddenly found himself on the receiving end of a brand new four-year, $21 million contract.

"For Tom Coughlin, 'coach' is not just a title, it's a responsibility," said Steve Tisch, the team's chairman and executive vice president. "He took a group of football players and molded them into the best team in the world. We are honored he will lead the New York Giants for many more years and know that the team and its fans are better for his amazing contributions."

The deal, which will run through 2011, makes Coughlin one of the highest paid coaches in the NFL.

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Larry Fitzgerald's Days in Arizona May Finally Be Nearly an End

Dan — 2008-03-07T11:52:00 00:00

by Dan

Filed under: AZ Cardinals, NFC West, Phoenix

Although General Manager Rod Graves is adamant that Pro Bowl wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald will remain in Arizona, it's beginning to look more and more like his days as a Cardinal may be numbered.

Contract negotiations remain at a standstill and neither side appears ready to waiver. Fitzgerald, despite acknowledging his desire to stay in Arizona, refuses to accept anything less than a four-year deal worth $25 to $30 million. Meanwhile, the Cardinals do not appear willing to give the 24-year-old more than a seven-year, $25 to $30 million deal.

This is no little hiccup -- the two sides are off by several million (more than $2.5 million per year on average), and haven't gotten any closer over the last month.

The question is, do the Cardinals finally give in and trade him, or do they spend $14.6 million for one final season? If they opt for the latter and fail to reach any common ground by this time next season, they'll lose Fitzgerald and get nothing in return. If they opt for the former, they'll be trading away their best offensive weapon.

You've got to know when to hold them and know when to fold them. Trading away a player like Fitzgerald is not going to be easy, but the Cardinals are backed into a corner here. The best thing they can do is get some quality talent in return before they walk away empty-handed.

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Cornerback Brian Kelly Visits Giants, but Leaves Without a Deal

Dan — 2008-03-06T18:25:00 00:00

by Dan

Filed under: NY Giants, NFC East, New York, NFL Free Agency

Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Brian Kelly spent the day the day in New Jersey visiting the Giants, but was sent home without a contract. And by all accounts, he is not likely to return.

The ten-year veteran, who exercised a player option in his contract earlier this month that allowed him to become a free agent, didn't really seem to fit in with Steve Spagnuolo's defensive scheme anyway.

Although New York's secondary performed well throughout the playoffs, General Manager Jerry Reese still acknowledges it as an area of need. In addition to Kelly, the Giants have expressed interest in several other free agent cornerback, and recently signed Sammy Knight to replace the departed Gibril Wilson.

Kelly is expected to reunite with his former position coach, Rod Marinelli, in Detroit, whom he visited yesterday.

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