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Here are the latest NFL rumors from the folks at Pro Football Weekly:
Garrison Hearst's agent, Pat Dye Jr., told PFW that the injured 49ers running back is rehabbing diligently and that he could be ready for the start of training camp. Hearst's career was thought to be in jeopardy because of a blood-flow problem that developed in his leg after he broke it in a January 1999 playoff game. "The impression I'm getting is it's not a matter of whether he'll be back -- it's a matter of when," said Dye Jr., who added that Hearst has been running and "doing football-type movements -- cuts, breaks, that type of thing -- in a clinical environment; he has not done it out there on the football field with other players." Hearst has been working with a physical-therapy specialist in Florida, Dye Jr. said.
|  | | Jake Plummer posted the NFL's worst quarterback rating last season. |
Cardinals QB Jake Plummer has been meeting twice a week with offensive coordinator Marc Trestman and QB coach John Garrett to look at game film from last season. The coaches are trying to improve Plummer's game-management skills, which weren't up to par during the disappointing 1999 campaign.
Patriots RB Robert Edwards, who suffered a career-threatening knee injury in February 1999, remains optimistic about returning to football, but we hear it would be miraculous if Edwards returned for the 2000 season.
We're told both Ravens DT Tony Siragusa and WR Qadry Ismail were less than thrilled with their contract situations at presstime, and that Siragusa, who wants a three- to four-year extension, just might consider retiring to the TV broadcast booth if he doesn't get it.
Don't put much stock in the rumor that the Saints are trying to trade underachieving TE Cam Cleeland for a No. 2 pick. In the team's new offense, our sources tell us, two-TE sets featuring Cleeland and newcomer Andrew Glover are expected to give the ground game its best chance to succeed.
We hear the Panthers could still free up another $2 million under the cap by restructuring the contracts of All-Pro TE Wesley Walls and RB Tshimanga Biakabutuka.
After acquiring free-agent CB Jimmy Hitchcock from Minnesota in late February, don't be shocked if Carolina cuts one of its incumbent starting cornerbacks, Eric Davis or Doug Evans, before training camp -- unless Evans switches back to the safety position he played at Louisiana Tech.
At presstime, the Cowboys were still searching for a quarterback to back up Troy Aikman. The team is looking for someone with enough arm strength to heave it downfield, which will be necessary in the new offense. We hear the team is interested in Billy Joe Hobert and Paul Justin. The Cowboys had considered Scott Mitchell, but he opted to sign with the Bengals.
Last offseason, Eagles OLT Tra Thomas ballooned to nearly 370 pounds. His conditioning -- or lack thereof -- drew the ire of coaches. Intent upon not repeating his 1999 mistake, Thomas spent several weeks in Colorado working out with a conditioning specialist. He recently showed up in Philly weighing 350 pounds, the weight at which he played last season, and said he intends to be down to 340 by the start of the season.
The Giants are rumored to be interested in signing Redskins pass rusher Ndukwe Kalu, a restricted free agent, to an offer sheet.
Insiders at Redskin Park believe that Alabama OT Chris Samuels will be the best left tackle of the next decade. The Skins are expected to draft Samuels with either the second or third overall pick.
Shaun King is soaking up the spotlight as the Buccaneers' starting QB like a sponge. He's appeared at many Tampa functions and has been spotted anywhere from shops to nightclubs. Privately, Bucs officials hope King is just as enthusiastic about the team's offseason conditioning program. Conservative estimates have King at 15-20 pounds over his college playing weight.
Steelers officials aren't commenting on the status of NT Joel Steed, leading to speculation that the former Pro Bowler will be cut after June 1. Steed has had major knee problems that could force him to retire.
The Raiders have shown interest in bringing in RB Amp Lee as a third-down role player. Neither Tyrone Wheatley nor Napoleon Kaufman has great hands, so Lee could help Oakland in a Larry Centers-esque role.
The Chargers may be leaning toward trying recent signee Robert Chancey at tailback. Chancey, who signed with San Diego as a restricted free agent, played fullback for the Cowboys last season.
Recent signee Elijah Alexander, who did not play in the NFL last year, appears to have the early inside track for the Raiders' starting strong-side LB job.
With FS Darryl Williams back from Seattle, the Bengals have backed off their plan to try to make Tremain Mack their starting free safety. Mack will probably now get a look as a nickel and/or dime defensive back.
Bears free-agent QB Shane Matthews would love to play in Florida, where he went to college and where he could play golf year-round. But because the Bears have right of first refusal, Matthews may not be going anywhere. Despite receiving interest from Minnesota and Dallas and paying a visit to Tampa Bay, Matthews may be stuck returning to Chicago as the No. 3 quarterback. The Bears have a standing offer of two years for $1 million, but Matthews has said he'd rather sit out. Bears director of pro personnel Rick Spielman told PFW: "We have the option, whatever deal comes his way, if we want to match it or not. Right now, we plan on having Shane here."
Steelers head coach Bill Cowher said that he spoke with Dan Marino about the possibility of finishing his career in his native western Pennsylvania but that Marino wasn't ready to make a decision by the time the team needed one. The Steelers, fearful of losing out on the remaining free-agent quarterbacks, signed Kent Graham in lieu of Marino, who retired in March.
Orlando Brown's agent, Tom Condon, told PFW that as of mid-March, Brown was still experiencing a great deal of pain in his eye whenever he exerted himself physically. The Cleveland offensive tackle was struck in the eye by an errant penalty flag during a 1999 game. Brown told Condon that there was a substantial chance his retina could tear, which would require surgery. About the time PFW went to press, Condon was expecting to receive word from doctors at a Cleveland clinic who recently examined Brown's eye. That diagnosis could go a long way toward determining whether Brown has a chance to return to football in 2000. "He wants to play badly," Condon said. "But I'd hate to speculate on that."
Some of the changes that will be made in the Packers' offense next season include a greater reliance on RB Dorsey Levens, a more structured passing game for QB Brett Favre and the use of two-TE sets.
Bills RB Shawn Bryson, the hit of their '99 training camp before suffering a season-ending knee injury, is "running full speed (and) doing all the change-of-directions stuff he would have to do on the football field," his agent, Pat Dye Jr., told PFW. Bryson was drafted as a fullback out of Tennessee in the third round last year but made a very favorable impression as a runner. Dye said members of the Bills' brass "were absolutely ecstatic about what they were seeing until he got hurt. I have a very strong impression that he's going to be their starting tailback." Bryson is expected to compete for carries with holdovers Antowain Smith and Jonathan Linton.
Material from Pro Football Weekly.
Visit PFW's web site at http://www.profootballweekly.com
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