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ATLANTA -- It's difficult to diss a guy who is making an honest and
determined effort to transform a sow's ear of a franchise into a silk purse.
But with the first three free agent deals that new Atlanta Falcons owner
Arthur Blank has orchestrated, he is leaving himself open to a lot of
second-guessing and has hardly curried favor with his new fraternity brothers.
No one denies the Falcons, 16-32 since their aberration of a Super Bowl
appearance back in 1998, are in desperate need of talent infusion. But the
other owners don't often look kindly when one of their brethren gets out of
line financially and raises the stakes for everyone else, and that's what
Blank has done.
In fact, one high-ranking team official earlier this week suggested the
co-founder of the Home Depot chain should be nicknamed "Arthur Blank Check"
for his recent spending spree. It might be an apt handle. To land
tailback Warrick Dunn, offensive right tackle Todd Weiner and return
specialist Allen Rossum in the free agent market, Blank laid out $13 million
in signing bonuses. And what he got for his investment was a situational
tailback, a tackle who has started 20 games in four years and a would-be
"nickel" back probably too small for the position.
|  | | Warrick Dunn rushed for only 447 yards on 158 carries in 2001. |
Give the proactive Blank, who has impressed every NFL person with whom he
has come into contact during his first six weeks of stewardship, an "A" for
effort. He certainly realizes what he is up against with the Atlanta
franchise and is working overtime to generate a buzz with his free
agent acquisitions. But he has selected a bad year to do so much shopping in
a deflated free agent market and is throwing big money after guys who aren't superstars. So that "I" grade, which will remain incomplete until
December, could well end up an "F."
Without doubt, the most dubious investment was the one made in Dunn, one of
the NFL's top citizens and most socially conscious players, but not much
more than a third-down back. Blank got taken in by Dunn's winning
personality and commitment to the homeless and disadvantaged -- Home Depot,
by the way, supplied tools for the homes the tiny tailback has built both in
Tampa, Fla., and Baton Rouge, La. -- and got snookered by the Buccaneers.
As the dollars kept climbing in the alleged Dunn Derby, the Falcons were
ostensibly bidding against themselves for the five-year veteran. And while
Blank was readying the checkbook, the rest of the league was having a pretty
good laugh. Laying out a $5.5 million signing bonus for the unproven Weiner
was worth a chuckle. Forking over more than $6 million for a part-time
player, most owners acknowledged on Thursday night, was fodder for guffaws.
But it was, to owners, also dangerous to set the bar so high for a guy who
is 5-foot-8, often injured and fits into the Dan Reeves offense like Al
Gore at a George Bush birthday bash.
In essence, Tampa Bay stayed in the Dunn Derby long enough to help drive up
the price, since the Falcons will compete with the Bucs in the NFC South
division under the league realignment that begins this season. But
the Bucs soon began scrambling for alternatives at tailback, phoning agents
who represent other unrestricted players at the position, conceding on
Thursday morning that they would not attempt to top the Atlanta offer.
Contrary to reports that Philadelphia dropped out of the bidding on
Wednesday, the Eagles actually decided on Monday that they would not meet
Dunn's price tag. The Philadelphia ceiling on the signing bonus was $3 million. Another suitor, the Lions, dropped out of the
chase on Wednesday when they determined what Atlanta was offering.
In characteristic fashion, agent Leigh Steinberg suggested Wednesday the
Eagles and Lions were still in the hunt. On Thursday, he criticized an
ESPN.com report that the two sides had reached an agreement in principle.
And on Friday morning, of course, he was in Atlanta at the news session to
introduce Dunn to the city.
The Falcons have suggested to Dunn that he will get 20 touches a game.
Since the last time we checked, Reeves was still the head coach and
hadn't yet hired the offensive coordinator that he promised way back in
1997, Dunn won't get the ball that often. In fact, he never has, and to try
now would erode his suspect physical stamina.
The consensus in the league is that Dunn, at 5-8 and 180 pounds, cannot
carry a running game full-time, even though he averaged 112 yards per
contest in the final four games of the 2001 season. If the Falcons are
indeed to get Dunn the 20 touches per game his representatives claim
he was promised, it will be the biggest workload ever for the five-year
veteran. Dunn has averaged 14.1 rushes and 17.8 touches per game during
his NFL tenure.
It might also mean that the Reeves offense will undergo a dramatic overhaul.
Since he first became a head coach in 1981, the top-receiving back in the
Reeves-designed offense averaged just 40.5 receptions. Dunn had a
career-best 68 catches in 2001. The most receptions ever for a running back
under Reeves was 64 by Gerald Willhite of Denver in 1986.
This is a tricky gambit: If Dunn doesn't get the ball regularly, he isn't
worth the investment. If he gets it too much, he'll be in the whirlpool
and, well, not worth the investment.
The team also handled the pursuit of Dunn in its typical ham-handed way when
it comes to the local agent community. Team officials told agent Pat Dye
Jr., who represents Garrison Hearst, another local favorite who played at
the University of Georgia, to sit tight last weekend because they couldn't
make him an offer while Blank pursued Ron Wolf as his general manager. But
when they began negotiations with Dunn, no one apprised Hearst or Dye that
the Falcons were going another direction and they shouldn't wait on a
contract offer from Atlanta.
Hardly a good move for a team typically viewed with a jaundiced eye.
Blank announced Friday that former Redskins coach Joe Gibbs,
whose NASCAR team is in part sponsored by Home Depot, will serve on the
Falcons board of directors. He might consider pulling Gibbs out of the
garage once in a while for a little advice. The NFL isn't a game of fantasy
football and, while some owners treat it as such, Blank should be wise
enough to be able to discern the differences.
Around the league
General search: Perhaps moderately concerned about some quiet criticism that he has not
interviewed any minority candidates for the Atlanta general manager post,
Arthur Blank has sought and received permission to discuss the job with Rod
Graves of the Arizona Cardinals. The move comes even as
Blank edges closer -- and the operative word there is "edges" -- to making a
selection for the critical position in a reshaped front office. There is
still an outside chance that Blank, who has demonstrated no shyness about
spending money, can lure former Green Bay general manager
Ron Wolf out of retirement. Certainly the rumblings around the league are
that the discussions with Wolf are picking up steam and that such a hire
could well occur if the contract numbers are right. That coupling remains a long shot, however. Blank is not prepared to offer equity in the team, and
one reason is that the NFL office is discouraging such a move to all owners.
If Wolf stays put in Annapolis, Md., as friends suspect he will, Tampa Bay
personnel chief Tim Ruskell becomes the overwhelming favorite to get the
job. Then again, since the new GM will have no imprint on this year's draft
because of his late hiring, there really is no rush to fill the position.
Graves, 42, holds the title of "assistant to the president" in Arizona and has a
diverse and intriguing background. He has worked in personnel,
administration and in contract negotiations and is a man of great integrity.
His well-rounded background is going to serve him nicely some day,
although not likely with the Falcons.
Watters to Tampa? Make book on this one: In the wake of Warrick Dunn's exit, the man who
suddenly tops the Tampa Bay tailback wish list is definitely Ricky Watters,
the 11-year veteran who should be able to provide the Bucs a solid season or
two. Watters will turn 33 next month but, even after a 2001 season marked by
injury, remains a durable and productive all-around back. The Bucs can't go
with Mike Alstott as the starter, at least not in the West Coast-style
offense being implemented by coach Jon Gruden, and he remains the subject of
trade rumors. Aaron Stecker, the backup to Dunn, isn't the answer, either.
Tampa Bay officials have already begun making exploratory calls around the league to assess how much Watters still has left in the tank. The
consensus is that the guy can still play. One fallback possibility is Dorsey
Levens, who definitely wants to play in Tampa and whose agent has taken a
proactive approach to placing his client there, but he is a distant second
to Watters for now on the Bucs priority totem pole. Gruden doesn't want to
get too far into the spring without identifying his starter, so look for the
Bucs to make a quick move on Watters, right after next week's league
meetings in Orlando conclude. Watters runs hard even at his age (he turns 33 in April), catches the
ball extremely well, and played in similar offenses in San Francisco,
Philadelphia and Seattle. Oh, yeah, this reminder: Watters had 3,794 rushing
yards, including a career-best 1,411 yards in 1996, during his three seasons
in Philadelphia when Gruden was the offensive coordinator for the Eagles.
The two battled on a regular basis but, in time of need, this could be a
profitable marriage of convenience.
Where's Willie? Denver coach Mike Shanahan usually gets most players he targets, so he
might still wind up with Willie Roaf, but the indications at this point are
that the New Orleans offensive left tackle is more apt to be traded to the
Chiefs. Early on, when the Saints put Roaf on the trade market,
his preference was to go to Denver, where he once owned a home and where his
daughter resides. But the presence in Kansas City of former New Orleans
general manager Bill Kuharich, with whom Roaf has a good relationship, could
make a difference. Plus the Chiefs might be more inclined to surrender a
second-round choice for Roaf, and they are definitely more accommodating for now
on restructuring his contract. Certainly both the Chiefs and the Broncos
could use the seven-time Pro Bowl performer. Denver is not sold on last
year's starting left tackle, Trey Teague, and is looking to upgrade. Kansas
City wants to move former first-round draft choice John Tait, whom team
insiders tell ESPN.com agonizes way too long over every sack he surrenders,
from the left to the right side. The Saints owe Roaf a monstrous $4 million
roster bonus on March 20, so look for trade discussions to gain momentum at
next week's league meetings in Orlando.
Courting Blake: As we filed this edition of Tip Sheet on Friday, there was a good
competition heating up between the Bills and Redskins
for the services of quarterback Jeff Blake. Released by the Saints two weeks ago, Blake was in Buffalo on Wednesday and part of the day
Thursday. He flew to Washington on Thursday night to be wined and dined by
owner Dan Snyder. The early frontrunner appears to be the Bills, where Blake
was really impressed by coach Gregg Williams. Another edge is that Blake has
been a longtime fan of new Bills offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride. It
won't be too much longer until Blake as a new home, since agent Ralph
Cindrich isn't one to dance around before cutting an agreement. That might
not favor the Redskins, where the negotiating style is anything but
proactive, and where the team seems overly timid about making the first
offer. The club lost starting center Cory Raymer this week, also represented
by Cindrich, because it wouldn't make the first move. The Skins prefer to
react to offers made by other clubs, or seek to have the agent make the
first proposal.
Duckett impresses: What looked to be a draft with one superior tailback, William Green of
Boston College, now seems to have a healthy supply of potential
franchise-type runners. T.J. Duckett of Michigan State, a humble kid with
impressive skills, wowed scouts at this week's workout. Although he was 6-0¼ and 250 pounds, Duckett was clocked between 4.37 and 4.44 seconds in the 40-yard dash, an
amazing time for a man so big. Scouts are impressed by Duckett's work ethic
and low body fat (about 6 percent), still concerned a bit by his lack of
wiggle, but sure now that he should be regarded as a first-round choice.
With the recent workouts of Clinton Portis (Miami) and DeShaun Foster
(UCLA), there are now four backs who could have first-round grades on some
draft boards. Green ran times of 4.48 and 4.52 on campus this week, far
better than his pedestrian efforts at the combine, but still not as fast as
anticipated on what is an historically quick track at Boston College. But
scouts know Green plays a lot faster than he times out and that he is a
productive back and a workhorse who can log 25 carries a game. Look for
Green and Duckett to go off the board somewhere around the middle of the
first round and bet that Cleveland gets one of them. Atlanta, also in the
market for a back, might drop that on its list of priorities with the
signing of Warrick Dunn in free agency. If that's the case, the Falcons will
choose a wide receiver.
Browns' defense: Despite the additions of end Kenard Lang and strong safety Robert Griffith,
the Cleveland Browns are still shopping for a much-needed middle linebacker but apparently don't want to break the bank or sacrifice draft choices to
acquire one. The preferred candidate, Vikings free agent Kailee Wong,
rebuffed the Browns' overtures and signed with Houston, where he will play
outside linebacker and get a chance to consistently rush the passer in coach
Dom Capers' 3-4 scheme. Cleveland might have been able to land Philadelphia
"franchise" middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter, who is definitely on the
trade market, for the piddling price of a third-round choice, but coach
Butch Davis covets his draft choices like gold. And like most teams, the
Browns suspected that while Eagles vice president Joe Banner was privately
suggesting he would part with Trotter for a No. 3 pick, he would raise the
ante once he found a potential buyer. Cleveland remains interested in
Pittsburgh free agent Earl Holmes but will let the reality of the market
set in on him before making a true contract offer. In the meantime, don't be
surprised if coordinator Foge Fazio starts considering former Minnesota
'backer Ed McDaniel soon. Released by the Vikings, the 33-year-old
is a Fazio favorite. He moved outside in 2001 to allow Wong to slide into
the middle, and McDaniel has a history of knee injuries. But Fazio trusts
him, as he does Griffith, and feels he still might have something left in
the tank. One thing is certain: The Browns will definitely find someone to
supplant incumbent middle linebacker Wali Rainer, a player who has fallen
out of favor with the staff.
Pack pursue Johnson: OK, so it wasn't quite on a par with the visit Reggie White made to Green
Bay as part of his free agent victory tour in the spring of 1993. But when
New Orleans free agent defensive end Joe Johnson met with Packers officials
earlier this week, everyone agreed the classy veteran could have a major
impact on the ascending Green Bay unit, provided Packers officials can lure
him north. Adding the eight-year veteran would give the Packers a nice
book-end pair, teaming him with Vonnie Holliday. The problem is, the Packers are just about $1.2 million
under the salary cap, and acquiring Johnson will take a pretty big deal. The
Saints still have on the table a proposal averaging $5 million annually, big
money in a sluggish market, and Johnson will have to get an offer much
better than that to depart The Big Easy. But ESPN.com has learned that
Johnson is a bit miffed that New Orleans officials are taking some
shots at his agent, Roosevelt Barnes, for not pulling the trigger on their
proposal. Johnson is fiercely loyal, has been a part of every discussion
with the Saints officials and is kept abreast of
every development. If the Saints keep sniping about Barnes, he might start
to seriously think about finishing his career elsewhere.
Johnson's deal: Several things are notable about the one-year, $675,000 contract
quarterback Rob Johnson signed with Tampa Bay last week. For openers, it is
significantly less than the deals offered him by Houston (one year, $1
million) or Buffalo (one year, $2.5 million, including a signing bonus of
$1.5 million). But what hasn't been reported is that $400,000 of the
$650,000 minimum base salary is fully guaranteed. Including his modest
$25,000 signing bonus, that means Johnson will pocket $425,000 even if he is
released. Odds are good he won't be, since Jon Gruden considers him a
salvageable talent. As noted in this space last week, the addition of
Johnson and the public comments Gruden has made about backup Shaun King
don't bode well for starter Brad Johnson.
Draft talk: Look for University of Georgia defensive end Charles Grant to move way up
league draft boards, and into possible first-round consideration, after his
on-campus workout in Athens earlier this week. Grant, who really turned it
on at the end of his junior season and then applied for the draft as an
underclassman, checked in at 6-3 and 278 pounds, yet still clocked in
the high 4.6s for the 40. This is a lean year, literally, at
defensive end, and that will help to push Grant's stock. After Julius Peppers
of North Carolina, who will work out on March 26, it is still anyone's guess
as to who the second defensive end selected will be. Scouts remained mixed
over whether South Carolina's Kalimba Edwards is an end or a linebacker.
Alex Brown of Florida was just 251 pounds at his campus workout this week
and ran in the high 4.8s. No one knows yet if Syracuse sackman Dwight
Freeney has the size to play end at the next level. Dennis Johnson of
Kentucky, for only weighing in at 258 pounds at the combine, still looked
soft. So pencil in Grant as a guy on the rise, a solid enough defender
against the run, yet a guy with upfield explosion. One more end drawing
attention in recent days is Bryan Thomas of Alabama-Birmingham, who was 266
pounds at the combine, ran the 40 in 4.51 and 4.55 and did 33 repetitions
on the bench press at the standard 225-pound weight.
Nickel for your thoughts: Free agency tends to go in streaks, with certain positions getting hot for
a while, and then teams turning to other categories. One position
currently heating up is "nickel" cornerback. Among the unrestricted free agents who
are getting big play as potential nickel corners: Deshea Townsend
(Pittsburgh), Terry Cousin (Miami), Fred Weary (New Orleans), Jason Simmons
(Pittsburgh) and Jimmy Hitchcock (Carolina). A pair of former starters,
Artrell Hawkins of Cincinnati and Corey Chavous of Arizona, also are in the
nickel mix. Some teams view Chavous, whose speed is suspect for the
corner, as a possible starting safety.
Hot commoditity: Drew Rosenhaus, the agent who has been the most proactive in free agency so
far, will be at the league meetings seeking to continue his hot streak of
making deals. The biggest agreement that he hopes to strike while in Orlando
is for Duane Starks, the former Ravens starter who is the top
cornerback in the unrestricted free agent pool. There are several teams in
hot pursuit of Starks, notably Oakland and Arizona, but the Ravens have
stayed in contact and are attempting to clear cap room to stay competitive
in the bidding. That won't be easy. Even coming off what most observers
agree was an average season in 2001, Starks is going to command a ton of
money and his deal will be among the most lucrative in free agency.
Baltimore is trying to restructure the contracts of linebackers Ray Lewis
and Peter Boulware to get more cap wiggle room. And that won't be easy,
either, since Lewis is incredibly hacked off at how the defense around him
has been dismantled and Boulware is seeking a $16 million signing bonus on a
new deal. Translation: Don't look for the much-coveted Starks to return to
the Ravens.
Jackson could pay dividends: The Carolina Panthers made a solid and modestly-priced move on Wednesday,
when they signed former Ravens strongside linebacker Brad Jackson.
A three-year veteran who hit the open market when the Ravens declined to
tender him a restricted free agent qualifying offer, Jackson started five
games in 2001 when injuries to Rob Burnett and Michael McCrary forced Peter
Boulware to move up to defensive end. Jackson, 27, performed well in his
expanded playing time and new Carolina defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio,
his position coach with the Ravens, really likes him. It's not a major
acquisition, but for a team such as the Panthers, who need to add two
starting linebackers to surround 2001 first-round pick Dan Morgan, the small
investment made in Jackson could pay good dividends.
Crockett could be missed: It didn't warrant much more than stifled yawns in Atlanta when starting
strongside linebacker Henri Crockett signed with Minnesota as a free agent
this week to play in the middle. Although no one seems to agree, and people
see a dearth of real skills after Keith Brooking, the Falcons feel they have
solid young linebackers. But these two things about Crockett are true: He was always
a better player than Atlanta management assessed him to be, and his
departure leaves the team without a single player from Dan Reeves' first
draft with the Falcons, in 1997. Reeves publicly takes the heat for that
abysmal draft but privately rationalizes that he was disadvantaged by the
pre-draft exit of personnel director Ken Herock, whom he didn't want to keep anyway. In case anyone is counting, just five years after the
fact, none of the nine players chosen by Atlanta in the '97 draft is still
with the team. And six of the nine, including the first three, are out of
the league altogether right now. The poor class included: cornerback Michael
Booker (No. 1), defensive tackle Nathan Davis (No. 2-a), tailback Byron
Hanspard (No. 2-b), tight end O.J. Santiago (No. 3), Crockett (No. 4),
safety Marcus Wimberly (No. 5), center Calvin Collins (No. 6), quarterback
Tony Graziani (No. 7-a) and safety Chris Bayne (No. 7-b).
Two-sports star? Now that USC has been eliminated from the NCAA
Tournament, a first-round victim of North Carolina-Wilmington, we hear some NFL scouts will try to get power forward Sam Clancy Jr.
to work out for them on the football field. Clancy is the son of former NFL
player and current New Orleans defensive line coach Sam Clancy, who was a
hoops star at the University of Pittsburgh and turned belatedly to football.
The younger Clancy has some skills, especially toughness, a couple of gridiron
scouts to whom we spoke like a lot. He will probably cast his lot with the
NBA but might lack the shooting skills for that level. Scouts feel he could
develop, at least in a couple of years, into a defensive end or tight end.
Punts: The Houston Texans have expressed an interest in Detroit free agent
linebacker Allen Aldridge, and the fascination is mutual. Aldridge is a
native of nearby Missouri City, Texas, played at the University of Houston,
and his family has already purchased season tickets for Texans games. He
would love to finish his career there and there is a chance the team will
add him as an inside linebacker, his preferred position. ... As first
reported here last week, it's all but official now that two-time Pro Bowl
center Matt Birk will move to left tackle for the Vikings. When
the team released tackle Brad Badger earlier this week, it opened a
vacancy, and Birk is the most viable candidate to fill it. Cory Withrow, who
played some guard last year, will move to center under the current scenario.
... The Texans are now looking at journeyman quarterback Kent Graham as a
potential caddy for David Carr. ... Indianapolis is interested in signing
former Ravens wide receiver Qadry Ismail as a free agent. The Colts remain
committed to 2001 first-round draft choice Reggie Wayne, but Ismail, the
leading receiver in Baltimore each of the last two years, is an intriguing
guy and might make a really nice complement to Marvin Harrison. ... Agent
Marvin Demoff will take his time, and work the phones to his league buddies,
to find a home for former Kansas City linebacker Donnie Edwards. If the
Titans don't retain rising young linebacker Greg Favors, they will probably
get into the chase for Edwards, arguably among the top three defensive
players still available in the free agent pool. ... Arizona coach Dave
McGinnis will elevate No. 3 quarterback Chris Greisen to the top backup spot
behind Jake Plummer and seek an experienced hand to replace Dave Brown on
the roster. The Cardinals are also initiating discussions with the agents
for Plummer and wide receiver David Boston, both of whom are entering the
final year of their current contracts.
Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.
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