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| Dunn |
The Buccaneers may not be able to afford Warrick Dunn and Mike Alstott,
along with Keyshawn Johnson's contract numbers, after this season. If that
turns out to be the case, they'll have the dilemma of which of the two backs
to let go.
While Packers quarterback Brett Favre said last week that Vikings wide recevier Cris Carter
would not fit in Green Bay's offense, the Ravens may be interested suitors.
Ravens head coach Brian Billick was one of the few offensive coordinators
who commanded Carter's respect. In addition, Carter's most productive
seasons came when Billick directed the Vikings' offense in Minnesota.
The Packers have made re-signing cornerback Mike McKenzie their top priority this
offseason. McKenzie, who has emerged as one of the top cover corners in the
NFC, is a restricted free agent after this season. Look for Green Bay to
sign McKenzie and defensive end Vonnie Holliday, the team's best defensive lineman, who
has another year left on his contract, to long-term deals.
One reason that Mike Riley was fired as Chargers head coach is that the Chargers gave up the winning points in
the waning minutes of games so often. How much Riley should be blamed for
this, and how much the loss of defensive coordinator Joe Pascale affected
this, is difficult to say. But Riley was definitely believed to be gone. It
will be interesting to see whom John Butler chooses to be the next head
coach. If he were to give the job to current offensive coordinator Norv
Turner, then Turner probably would not want quarterback Doug Flutie back. If he were
to give it to Jets (and former Bills) defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell,
Cottrell probably would bring Flutie back.
Packers coaches are excited about the potential shown by rookie linebacker Torrance
Marshall, a third-round draft pick from Oklahoma. They love the 6-foot-2,
250-pound Marshall's blend of power and speed. Look for Marshall to play a
bigger role, especially in the playoffs.
Vikings fourth-year middle linebacker Kailee Wong and 10-year veteran linebacker Ed McDaniel may
be headed out of Minnesota. McDaniel has started since '94 but does not
react as quickly as he used to. Wong has taken heat for being the leader of
one of the NFL's worst run defenses. He is not patient, overruns plays and
lacks the instincts to shut down the run.
Jaguars head coach Tom Coughlin is likely to return next season, although
there could be some pressure to make a move at defensive coordinator, a spot
currently held by Gary Moeller. One assistant's spot is definitely going to
have to be filled, as tight end coach Fred Hoaglin is expected to retire. Could
ex-Georgia Tech, ex-Notre Dame coach George O'Leary wind up on the staff? He
and Coughlin coached together at Syracuse.
Cardinals safety Kwamie Lassiter reports that there have been no negotiations on
a contract extension yet. He is set to become an unrestricted free agent.
From what we hear, Lassiter and several other potential free agents are very
aware of the success that former Cardinals cornerback Aeneas Williams is having
playing for a winner in St. Louis. Don't be surprised if some of Arizona's
free agents jump at the chance to sign with a legitimate Super Bowl
contender.
Despite a breakout game with 131 rushing yards and 85 receiving yards in
Week 15 vs. the Packers, Browns running back Jamel White isn't expected to contend for
the starting job next season. The Browns continue to view White as more of a
third-down guy, and James Jackson is expected to stick as the starter.
With second-year wide receiver Brian Finneran looking like a lock to be included in
the Falcons' regular three-WR rotation next season, we hear both Tony Martin
and Terance Mathis could be cut loose after the season.
Look for the new Falcons ownership to make a splash with at least one
high-profile free-agent signing, preferably a pass catcher with front-line
speed.l We hear it's possible the Falcons might consider dumping injury-prone free safety
Ronnie Bradford and replacing him with current cornerback Ray Buchanan, who has said
in the past he'd probably move to free safety at some point in his career.
We hear the Niners are seriously thinking about signing a new kickoff man
to replace Jose Cortez, who would continue his kicker role. The Niners had Brad
Daluiso and Richie Cunningham in for tryouts last week.
Colts running back Dominic Rhodes will return to a backup role when Edgerrin James
returns next season, but don't expect Rhodes to completely disappear from
sight. Although James will be the main man, Rhodes should be involved in the
offense, especially if James needs a full season to get back into form.
Suddenly, one area of poor depth is full of quality depth.
Dolphins head coach Dave Wannstedt was upset after several media outlets
alluded to the fact that the Dolphins would give third-down running back Travis Minor
more carries than usual this week. Wannstedt claimed that the news leaks
gave away a key strategic plan and should not have been reported.
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| Smith |
If running back Antowain Smith re-signs with New England this offseason, the
Patriots' top need in the draft will be at tight end, where Jermaine Wiggins
and Rod Rutledge have been virtually invisible, catching only 17 passes
between them this season.
Both head coach Dick Vermeil and quarterback Trent Green were pleased with rookie WR
Marvin Minnis' recent route adjustments in the Chiefs' Week 15 win over San
Diego. In one instance, Minnis, who was supposed to run a curl route in a
crucial third-down situation, recognized a defensive shift and instead ran a
skinny post pattern across the middle, which was the route Green was
anticipating in just such an alignment. The pass was completed for a first
down, one of Minnis' six catches for 80 yards on the day. Green said that
adjustments like that were not something he saw out of Minnis earlier this
season, and that the rookie's progress has him excited.
Peter Warrick called his benching after fielding a punt at the three-yard
line in a loss to the Ravens in Week 15 "humiliating," and he openly
wondered whether the Bengals want him any longer. "If they're trying to make
an example of me, it's a bad one," he said. "There's too much
finger-pointing." In an effort to emphasize the severity of the mistake in a
game in which the Bengals were struggling with field position anyway, head
coach Dick LeBeau kept Warrick on the bench for the remainder of the third
quarter and all of the fourth, including WR duty. LeBeau said the move was
only temporary and was made to drive home a point. Warrick bounced back in
Week 16 with 10 receptions for 109 yards.
Raiders head coach Jon Gruden and kicker Sebastian Janikowski agreed that
Janikowski's problems vs. the Titans in Week 15 probably had more to do with
him rushing his approach on field goals than it did with his groin strain.
Rushing his approach was Janikowski's main problem during a disappointing
rookie season last year.
Raiders head coach Jon Gruden on the workout regimen of Janikowski: "I
wouldn't say he's our strength coach's No. 1 pupil, but he works at it a
little bit. He's a placekicker, for crying out loud. This is a different
position than a quarterback or a wide receiver. He doesn't require the same
physical preparation, but there are some things that he can improve on and
he will improve on."
The Bengals may decide to re-sign defensive end Reinard Wilson, though his price may
go way up. In this, his option year, Wilson finally has started to live up
to the potential the Bengals saw in him when they made him their first-round
pick in 1997. Combined with Justin Smith, he could give Cincinnati one of
the best outside pass-rush tandems in the league for years to come.
The Broncos like what they've seen of Reggie Hayward as a pass rusher, but
not as a run defender. Nevertheless, they have to get more pass rush next
season, and it will be interesting to see if they give him the starting job.
Plus, the fact is, he's a better-cost option for them.
One reason Priest Holmes has been so effective in Kansas City is the way
that the Chiefs use him. Holmes is not a heavy-duty inside runner or a
superelusive back. However, he's very effective on sweeps, traps, draws,
etc., where you spread the field out, which is exactly what Kansas City does
on offense. A team like the Ravens, Holmes' last team, did not do that.
The Seahawks are getting no pass rush from the defensive ends, and Michael
Sinclair has been a bust since he signed his huge contract. It would cost
the team $3.4 million to cut him after this season, but they'll still
consider it an option unless he'll renegotiate downward.
With the Eagles throwing the ball so often, their offensive line has lost
some of its aggressiveness, which is a major reason for the decline in their
running game. That creates a vicious cycle.
Vikings head coach Dennis Green considered defensive end Lance Johnstone his key
free-agent signing during the offseason and gave him a hefty contract. But
Johnstone is no longer a starter on one of the weakest defensive lines in
the league.
Carolina will look to clean house after this year, and former high-round
picks, or players for whom it gave up high-round picks, such as RB Tim
Biakabutuka and DT Sean Gilbert, could be the first ones to go.
The Panthers, who all year were running an offense tailored to QB Jeff
Lewis, finally against the Rams went to the type of offense Chris Weinke
favors, throwing the ball deep down the field much more often, and they had
a great deal of success.
The big reason the 49ers' defense has played so much better down the
stretch is that defensive end Andre Carter and linebacker Julian Peterson, two former
first-round picks, have emerged as semi-dominant players.
Unless Jets linebacker Marvin Jones agrees to a much lower contract, the Jets will
probably let him go and promote James Darling to the starting lineup. In the
new scheme, the starting middle linebacker isn't as important as it was in
the old defense, and Jones has not played exceptionally well in the Jets'
defense this year. He's been good, but not exceptional, whereas outside linebacker James
Farrior has been the star.
If the coaching carousel starts turning, don't be surprised if Colts
defensive coordinator Vic Fangio ends up in Houston as the defensive
coordinator for Dom Capers. Chargers offensive coordinator Norv Turner could
end up in Miami as the offensive coordinator, replacing Chan Gailey.
The Titans may have made a mistake letting go of last year's third-round
pick, Byron Frisch, a pass-rushing defensive end. While Frisch still has to
get bigger and stronger to play the run effectively, he has been one of the
Cowboys' best pass rushers this year. He shows speed, athleticism and
potential.
Material from Pro Football Weekly.
Visit PFW's web site at http://www.profootballweekly.com
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