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| Plummer |
Here's a sign that Cardinals quarterback Jake Plummer may be starting to mature as
a player. He is currently attempting to get over a case of tendinitis in his
shoulder and took a lot of practice time off to rest it. A couple of years
ago, Plummer wouldn't have told anybody about the injury and would have
tried to gut through it -- perhaps aggravating the situation.
Lions president Matt Millen is telling his players exactly where they
stand, as offensive tackle Aaron Gibson found out on cutdown day. Millen laid down the
law to the third-year pro, saying he needs to be in better shape, keep his
weight down and stay on the field. Otherwise, Matt Joyce could overtake him.
We hear one thing Atlanta rookie quarterback Michael Vick must start doing is to
speak up in the huddle, where his low, rumbling voice is often very hard to
pick up. Vick's voice in the huddle is in direct contrast to that of starter
Chris Chandler, one of the league's louder signal-barkers.
The Packers are very high on middle linebacker Bernardo Harris, who the team believes is
on the verge of a breakout season. Harris is coming off his best season,
when he began to anticipate better rather than wait and react. Green Bay
also likes the pass-rush ability of backup nose tackle Rod Walker, who was acquired
from Tennessee for a conditional draft pick.
Many in Minnesota believe new defensive line coach Brian Baker will bring more out of
second-year defensive tackle Chris Hovan. Baker is very technique-conscious, and he has
good material to work with in Hovan, who has great quickness and uses his
hands well.
Look for Fred Robbins to share playing time with rookie Shawn Worthen at
the Vikings' nose tackle spot. After a great start to camp, Worthen was slowed by a
toe injury, and that allowed Robbins to catch up. Robbins might have a
little more range than Worthen, who plays better in a small area.
The Titans like newly acquired running back Skip Hicks so much they immediately made
him the top backup to Eddie George. Tennessee was in the market for an
experienced back, and though Hicks left Chicago with the not-tough-enough
label still attached, he suited the Titans fine.
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| Bulluck |
Titans linebackers coach Gunther Cunningham said Keith Bulluck, the team's No. 1
pick last year, reminds him of Chiefs linebcker Donnie Edwards, whom Cunningham
coached in Kansas City. Cunningham said Bulluck is such a smooth player with
good make-up speed that it's hard to criticize him because he fixes his
mistakes so quickly.
Cowboys consultant Ernie Zampese is one of Norv Turner's best friends. In a
recent San Diego newspaper article, Zampese was quizzed about whether he
thought Turner, now the Chargers' offensive coordinator, was looking forward
to playing his former team, the Redskins, in Week 1. Zampese noted that it
was difficult for Turner having had to deal with Redskins owner Daniel
Snyder, whom Zampese referred to as a "3-foot-2 midget that thinks he knows
everything."
The Eagles started linebacker Mike Caldwell in Week 1 vs. the Rams, but that
doesn't mean he has beaten out Ike Reese for the starting job for good. We
hear that the Eagles wanted Caldwell to start against St. Louis because he
is so good in pass coverage, and the Rams like to use multiple-wide receiver sets. Who
starts in the future will be decided on a week-to-week basis, with Reese
getting the nod against teams that run a more conventional offense. Reese is
considered to be stronger vs. the run than in pass coverage.
The Cowboys have traded for wide receiver Darrin Chiaverini, who spent the past two
seasons with the Browns. Dallas will have to give Cleveland a seventh-round
pick if Chiaverini catches at least 30 passes this season. We hear that the
Cowboys will try the third-year pro as the No. 3 slot receiver once he knows
the offense, and he has a very good shot at unseating the current slot guy,
Wane McGarity. The coaches like the idea of having more size in their slot
receiver. Chiaverini is 6-2, 210, compared to McGarity's 5-8, 197-pound
frame.
More than a few observers questioned Rams head coach Mike Martz's decision
to release safety Devin Bush, considering that starting strong safety Kim Herring sat out
the preseason with a leg injury and the team's other safeties -- first-round
pick Adam Archuleta, Rich Coady and Matt Bowen -- have very little
experience. But we hear Martz really likes Archuleta and is gambling that
the rookie will come through with flying colors.
The Jets were quite pleased to sign rookie linebacker Jason Glenn after Detroit
released him. The Lions had hoped they could sign Glenn to their practice
squad, but the Jets moved quickly. Jason joins his brother Aaron, the Jets'
starting free safety, in New York. The Jets like Jason's speed and
versatility and reportedly wanted to draft him.
Even with the Seahawks' desperate lack of depth at the wide receiver position, the
release of Karsten Bailey did not come as much of a surprise. The feeling
was that Bailey hadn't improved a whole lot in his time in Seattle and that
his progress as a receiver had reached a plateau of sorts. The signing of
veteran Bobby Engram is considered a huge upgrade at the No. 3 wide receiver spot.
One surprise on cutdown day in San Diego was the release of backup cornerback
Fakhir Brown, who some observers felt clearly outplayed Davis Sanchez during
the preseason but lost out in the battle for a roster spot. Cornerback Thomas Smith,
who was released by Chicago and signed with Indianapolis prior to the start
of the season, wanted to play again for Chargers general manager John Butler, who drafted
him while in Buffalo, but the Chargers could not offer more than the
veteran's minimum, whereas the Colts signed him for substantially more.
Raiders special-teams coach Bob Casullo, who once feared he would lose
several of his top coverage players, was ecstatic when he was able to keep
his top three tacklers from a solid unit of a year ago. In keeping linebackers
Travian Smith and Bobby Brooks for their special-teams value, the Raiders
were forced to release versatile linebacker Ryan Phillips, a starter for the Giants
last season.
Material from Pro Football Weekly.
Visit PFW's web site at http://www.profootballweekly.com
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