Next Madden Game Disses Raiders

It's still more than a month until the release of Madden  NFL 11, the latest installment of the video game franchise that America loves to turn to when watching their real football teams becomes too depressing.

But there are slightly depressing developments in the Madden universe for Oakland Raiders fans, as last year's top-rated cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha has dropped to No. 2 in this year's release. The New York Jets' Darrelle Revis is now the top-ranked corner in the football video game.

San Francisco 49ers fans will be pumped to see that they have a No. 1 position player in Madden NFL 11. cheap Patrick Willis jersey is ranked as the game's best middle linebacker, with a score of 99. Willis joins Revis, the Titans' Chris Johnson, the Vikings' Jared Allen, the Colts' Peyton Manning, and cover boy Drew Brees as the only players with the elite 99 ranking.

Should Trojans' QB Matt Barkley Transfer from USC for Greener Pastures?

"11 National Championships, seven Heisman Trophy winners, Matt Leinart, and Carson Palmer. You have a good chance at being a part of a 12th National Championship and you could win the Heisman Trophy like Leinart and Palmer. Sound good?"

I imagine this was what current USC QB Matt Barkley heard (or something close to it) while he was being pitched to before signing on the dotted line to play for former Head Coach Pete Carroll.

Imagine a timeshare pitch, or a sales pitch from a car salesman, minus the cheesy smile and the empty promises.

Had this been what Barkley heard before agreeing to play for USC, it wasn't far from the truth.

It wasn't far from the truth at the then.

Now? I'm not so sure.

Sure, he could win a Heisman, but if USC fails to have their post-season bowl ban overturned, then winning a National Championship is not even a remote possibility for Barkley.

So, should he stay or should he go?

Let's just say that I'm not jealous of Barkley's current dilemma.

Ok, let's say USC's bowl ban doesn't get reversed.

Where does that leave Barkley?

Besides never being able to hoist that extremely breakable crystal football or playing in any bowl game, even something as lame as the Papa John's Bowl, Barkley's career at USC wouldn't have been in vain.

I mean, it's not as if the NCAA put sanctions on his capacity to develop into a franchise QB in the NFL  jerseys or on his potential for being a first-round draft pick and having a successful NFL career, right?

Right.

Ok, so you didn't even have the chance to play for a National Title, and you didn't even go to any more bowls after your Emerald Bowl appearance. But, you will be drafted into the NFL and you will see success at the next level.

Is that so bad?

To me, no.

But to all the football players out there, not being able to play in the post-season, especially for a National Championship, is sickening.

Ok, let's say Barkley transfers. Depending on the school, he may or may not win the Heisman or a National Championship. And how well he does in the draft and in the NFL is dependent on him.

So, is transferring a good idea?

It depends.

If you wanna win a National Championship, compete in post-season play, and give fans more ammo to hate the BCS with either your excellent post-season performance, or your disgusting post-season performance, then yes; you should transfer.

If winning a National Championship is important to you, but not everything in the world, and you're more focused on improving your game when you reach the next level, then no; you shouldn't transfer.

Winning a National Championship doesn't ensure you future success, and neither does winning the Heisman.

Barkley is between a rock and a hard place with these sanctions.

Now, I'm not saying that there's a rumor that he's jumping ship or trying to start a rumor, but I am saying that transferring is definitely something that has to be weighing on his mind.

Good luck, Matt.

 

 

Redskins sign WR Terrence Austin, seventh-round draft pick from UCLA

ASHBURN, Va. — The Washington Redskins have signed seventh-round draft pick Terrence Austin.

Austin is a wide receiver from UCLA. He signed his deal Wednesday, putting four of the Washington Redskins six draft choices under contract.

The team still needs to sign first-round pick Trent Williams and fourth-rounder Perry Riley.

Bucs sign draft pick Myron Lewis

 

Tampa, FL-- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced today that they have signed 2010 draft selection CB Myron Lewis to a four-year contract.

 

Lewis was the Buccaneers third-round selection (67th overall) in this year's NFL  jerseys Draft out of Vanderbilt University. He played in 46 games career games with 36 consecutive starts for the Commodores, accumulating 170 tackles, 5.0 sacks, 10.5 tackles for loss, 26 passes defensed, 10 interceptions, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. His 10 interceptions tied for the ninth-most in Vanderbilt history.

The team also announced they have released DE Maurice Evans. Evans spent time on the Buccaneers practice squad in 2009 and finished the season on the team's Practice Squad Injured Reserve list.

 

New Orleans Saints, Pierre Thomas still at contract impasse

With contract negotiations between his client, Pierre Thomas, and the New Orleans Saints at an impasse, agent Lamont Smith went on the offensive Wednesday.

Smith said reports he and Thomas have sought a deal similar to the six-year, $44.8 million contract Steven Jackson received from the St. Louis Rams two years ago are inaccurate.

"We're not asking for Steven Jackson money, " Smith said by telephone from his Denver, Colo., office. "We just want a fair deal."

Negotiations have stalled since the sides exchanged offers in mid-May. The Saints' initial offer was a four-year, $11 million deal, according to an NFL jerseys source. They have not budged from that offer, even after receiving a counter proposal from the Thomas camp shortly thereafter.

There is motivation for Thomas to complete a deal. The Saints offered Thomas a one-year, $1.684 million qualifying contract in March. If he doesn't sign the tender by Tuesday, the Saints could drop the tender to 110 percent of Thomas' 2009 base salary, or roughly $500,000.

Thomas has not participated in any of the team's offseason workouts after originally saying he planned to do so. Thomas cannot be fined for missing this camp because, technically, he's not under contract.

"He's 25-year-old and in the prime of his career, " Smith said. "He's been the team's leading rusher the last couple of years. He's done everything the right way; he's made no money in his career. He could have very easily made a big deal about it at this time last year, but he was adamant about not doing that."

Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis declined to comment on the talks other than to say they remain in contact with Thomas' camp and will continue to negotiate in good faith.

The sides clearly value Thomas differently.

The Saints see Thomas as a role player, a valued rotational back but something less than a Deuce McAllister-type franchise back. Consequently, their offer compares more favorably to recent deals by LaDainian Tomlinson and Thomas Jones. Those deals averaged between $2.5 million and $2.8 million per season.

Smith, however, believes Thomas as an emerging talent, a lead back on the verge of a career breakout. He believes Thomas could blossom the way Michael Turner did in Atlanta once he became a full-time starter. The Falcons signed Turner to a six-year, $34.5 million contract in free agency in 2008.

Reggie Bush's monster rookie contract with New Orleans Saints has indirectly affected the contract talks. Bush is scheduled to earn an $8 million base salary in 2010 as part of the six-year, $52.5-million contract he signed as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2006 NFL jerseys Draft.

Thomas, meanwhile, has earned base salaries of $285,000, $370,000 and $460,000 after signing as an undrafted free agent in 2007.

Thomas led the Saints with 793 rushing yards last season and 625 yards in 2008. His 12 touchdowns in 2008 were the most by a Saint since 2002, when McAllister had 16.

The Thomas camp has calculated the production of the Saints' top two backs to illustrate the disparity.

Bush was paid an average of $20,739 per rushing yard and $21,438 per receiving yard the past two seasons. In the same span, Thomas earned an average of $513 per rushing yard and $1,275 per receiving yard.

"(Pierre) has played three years for the league minimum (salary) and received a $5,000 signing bonus, " Smith said. "If not now, when will he get security?"

Asked what he would do if the Saints held firm in their stance, Smith said, "We have a plan."

 

Bryant sits out OTA, rehabs hamstring

Dallas Cowboys rookie wide receiver Dez Bryant did not participate at all during optional team activities Wednesday because of a sore hamstring, according to multiple sources.

Bryant, who said Tuesday that he expected to return to practice, instead did rehab work on the side as the rest of his teammates practiced. Bryant. who said he'd listen to the team trainers regarding how to participate, sat out team drills Tuesday.

"I go to Jim and it's his job and he wanted me to sit out today and I was just following orders," Bryant said of head athletic trainer Jim Maurer on Tuesday. "It's real tough for me, because I love competing and love the game of football. I just feel like with moments like this, you just got to follow orders."

Bryant worked on his conditioning with associate athletic trainer Britt Brown.

His status for Thursday's final OTA and this weekend's mandatory minicamp has not been determined.

Bryant, the Cowboys' 2010 first-round draft pick, hasn't played in a game since Sept. 19, when he was suspended by the NCAA for lying to investigators about his relationship with Deion Sanders. His time away from the field raised some questions about his conditioning, and he was so winded in his very first Cowboys practice that he missed a few reps.

He missed his third practice after tweaking his ankle and missed another because of food poisoning. He also has had a sore hip, though it was not considered serious.

"I think it's just part of these types of camps," coach Wade Phillips said of players dealing with minor aches. "We're very cautious with any player, [Keith] Brooking probably could have been back by now and we got a couple of guys working on the side. We just want to be more careful."

Surprise Fantasy Football Rankings

Do you play? I do. I've been playing for four seasons now and every year I get more and more involved. I was league commissioner last year and spent four hours in my garage building a trophy to go to the winner (me!) out of $60 worth of stuff from Home Depot. It is definitely the most gaudy trophy ever built and would give the Stanley Cup a run for its money.

Everybody who plays fantasy football knows that guy who drafts his entire favorite team. If you don't know that guy then guess what... you are that guy. One or two players here and there is understandable but it definitely raised some eyebrows when you drafted J.P. Foschi in the sixth round last season. Does that make you a bad fantasy footballer, probably but there's nothing wrong with throwing away your $20 buy-in just to prove that you're the biggest fan of your team around.

So, having said that, you might be surprised to know where NFL.com ranked some of the Bengals players for the upcoming jock version of Dungeons and Dragons.

Carson Palmer: Palmer is ranked almost right in the middle at 17. Considering he really didn't play in 2008 and his less than stellar numbers in 2009, I can't really say that I disagree with where the dungeon masters decided to rank him. However, I do think whoever drafts Palmer this year will be happy they did. I think this is Palmers year.

 

Cedric Benson: Benson is ranked eighth among fantasy running banks. That's pretty high and with all the talent at the running back position in the NFL jersey, I'm satisfied with his ranking. I had Benson on my team last year and I'd love to have him again this year. What I'm not satisfied with is who is ranked above him. Rashard Mendenhall, Michael Turner and Steven Jackson are all ranked above Benson. They're all good but I think Benson will have the better year.

Chad Ochocinco: Ochocinco is ranked at 17 and he's the only Bengals wide receiver in the top 20. Antonio Bryant is the only other Bengals wide receiver on the list (of 80), coming in at number 41. Bryant still needs to prove himself (and I think he will) and Ochocinco will do better this year because I think Palmer will do better.

Jermaine Gresham: Gresham, being a rookie, was unlikely to be ranked really high but at least he's in the top 30. He comes in at number 25. I think he has the potential to belong in the top 10 by the end of the season but we'll have to wait and see about that. The only think we can say for sure is that the Bengals upgraded their tight end position.

Dave Rayner: Rayner is the lowest ranking Bengal coming in at number 31 (of 32). Does that really mean anything? No, not really. Once again, with Rayner, we're just going to have to wait and see what happens. Hopefully the decision to let Shayne Graham go was a good one.

Defense: You got to be kidding me! The Bengals defense is ranked at 17. Really?!? How is that possible? Above the Bengals are both Baltimore and Pittsburgh and somehow the Arizona Cardinals squeaked in at number 16. Ridiculous.

Finally, when it comes to the top 200 players for the upcoming fantasy football draft, Cedric Benson comes in at number 13 which is pretty cool. It's almost time for fantasy football so start polishing your trophies and find your cape because it's almost time to jock-nerd out.

 

Ayers looking to make more of an impact after quiet rookie season for Broncos

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Aside from one shining moment, pass rushing linebacker-defensive end Robert Ayers had a forgettable rookie campaign for the Denver Broncos.

A first-round pick out of Tennessee and the 18th overall selection by the Broncos a year ago, Ayers recovered a fumble and returned it a team rookie record 54 yards for a touchdown Nov. 9 against Pittsburgh.

But he heads into his second season still looking for his first career sack. He initially was credited with one Dec. 20 against Oakland but it was taken away by statisticians on further review.

"Last year is last year and I've moved on from that," Ayers said Monday after the team's final passing camp practice. "All I'm worried about is helping the team win this year."

He is working at it, said coach Josh McDaniels.

"He's been one of our finest off-season-program workers, both with his work ethic and the progress that he's made," McDaniels said. "I think everything about him right now is going in the right direction."

Though not an outright flop, Ayers made little impact while starting once, at right defensive end, and playing in 15 games last season. He had 18 tackles and recovered another fumble on special teams. On one occasion, he was listed among the team's inactives.

With Mario Haggan's move from outside to inside linebacker, Ayers is in the mix, along with Wesley Woodyard, Baraka Atkins, Akin Ayodele and the rehabbing Darrell Reid for the strong outside linebacker spot opposite Elvis Dumervil, whose 17 sacks last season led the NFL.

The position would afford more play-making opportunities for Ayers, who led Tennessee in tackles for loss in each of his last two seasons at the school.

"I think the competition is real good," Ayers said. "That's what Josh wanted to do, elevate the competition. They're all competing at a high level and that's going to make everyone better."

He said he's in a better position to improve just from having gone through an NFL season and also having had the chance to learn from the mistakes he made.

"You talk to the coaches and you realize what you need to get better at, and that's what I've been working on, my core strength, my lateral movement, just trying to get better as a player and I feel like I'm doing that so far," Ayers said.

He also spent extra time after Monday's practice working on pass coverage techniques.

"I definitely feel like I can improve on last year," he said. "Mentally, I'm stronger. Physically, I'm stronger. I'm a better athlete right now. Everything I've done, I can feel the difference out here. I feel like a different player. I have high expectations for myself this year."

McDaniels is reserving judgment before jumping on the bandwagon.

"His real test is going to come when we get to August and he can be physical and set the edge and rush the passer and do those kinds of things," McDaniels said. "But he's embraced his role. He's embraced trying to improve in every area that he could."

NOTES: RT Ryan Harris, who missed most of last season with a toe injury, took part in individual drills again Monday and said he expects to be at full strength in time for training camp. ... The Broncos reconvene Friday for the start of a three-day mandatory minicamp.

Cleveland Browns Rookie Madness: Don't Count Out the Veterans Either

The wonderful NFL offseason summer months, so little to talk about, so much to speculate on.

Especially when it comes to all the new rookies.

It is no different for any other NFL team, especially the Cleveland Browns where optimism is the theme around this time every year.

Right now, it is all just guesses and gut feelings, and nothing can be proven as hard fact until the pads are on and the young guys begin hitting.

So what is the one constant that can be speculated upon much easier due to a past track record of performances at the pro level?

The veterans.

Yes it is fun to talk about the rookies because they have not seen the field and Browns fans have no clue what they have with their newest members, but remember that it is the veterans that make up the foundation of this team—whether it's a vet who has been with the team or a vet who was brought on to bring more experience and leadership.

The Browns have a good veteran base that has been with the team for several years including: cornerback Eric Wright, defensive lineman Robaire Smith, offensive tackle Joe Thomas, offensive guard Eric Steinbach, running back Jerome Harrison, wide receiver Josh Cribbs, and kicker Phil Dawson (the only one since 1999) to name a few.

These guys ARE your Browns since they have seen it and been through it for more than two years in Cleveland.

They are the foundation of the franchise.

This offseason that foundation was built upon even more by adding more veterans including: cornerback Sheldon Brown, linebacker Scott Fujita, linebacker Chris Gocong, offensive tackle Tony Pashos, and quarterback Jake Delhomme to name a few newer vets.

These guys are the reinforcement of the Browns' foundation to also help out all the newer and younger pieces.

If there is something for the Browns that does not need speculation—it is that these vets, old and new, will contribute in 2010 in order to help the Browns be a better team than they have been in recent years (in theory).

There will be a few rookies who may contribute in 2010, but mainly the vets will get most of the reps and playing time—at least at first.

Some rookies may push some veterans for playing time such as: running back Montario Hardesty could push Harrison for more carries at running back, or cornerback Joe Haden could push Wright for more playing time at cornerback.

These are just two examples of rookies that could see more game time, but the bottom line is that unless they can outshine a vet during training camp, preseason, and practices then they will be taking a back seat for the time being.

Rookies are fun to talk about and predict, but let's not forget about the guys who have been there on game days and will continue to be there to produce for our Browns in 2010 and beyond.

Rating the Dallas Cowboys from Quarterback to kicker

As always, there is a ton of speculation surrounding the Dallas Cowboys as we make our way through OTA's getting ready for training camp and heading into the Pre-Season. Can the Dallas Cowboys be the first team ever with home-field advantage for a Super Bowl?

After a great finish to the regular season last year and the 'Boys first playoff win in 13 years expectations are again very high, and as we've seen with this particular Cowboys team… They do not play as well with the pressure on.

Cowboys fan or not you have to admit that Tony Romo has progressed and is at the worst a top seven quarterback in the NFL and probably the most exciting to watch. And in a league loaded with talented signal callers, top seven is not bad at all. Here are how I rate the Dallas Cowboys top to bottom in comparison to the rest of the National Football League:

QB – NFL Rank: 7

I have Tony Romo as the 7th best quarterback in the NFL behind Manning, Brees, Brady, Rivers, Favre(he's not retiring, end the debates) and Big Ben(I don't care what he does off the field, he's a stud on it), no pun intended, with Aaron Rodgers a close 8th. I could not stand when two years ago everyone was saying Romo couldn't "win the big game" or "couldn't win in December". Peyton Manning is arguably a top five quarterback of all time and didn't win his first playoff game until 2004 vs Denver, six years after he made his first NFL start. Could you even fathom if the Colts gave up on Manning after two or three years like Dallas fans were ready to do with Romo? It sounds absurd… because it is. Tony Romo won his third playoff start in only his third full season as Cowboys signal caller and beleive me there will be many more to come. To refresh your memory his only two losses were to a Seattle team that the Cowboys should have beat, Dallas fans remember it as the Romo muffed FG game, and to the eventual Super Bowl Champion New York Giants who in the same great playoff run completely shut down a then 18-0 New England team. I still think the Cowboys didn't do enough this offseason to be the first host of a Super Bowl next Febuary, but it has to do with reasons other than Tony Romo. We'll get to that later.

RB – NFL Rank: 8

One thing that has got to remain consistent for the "Boys to be a perennial contender is their run game. More goes into a good run game then just a good back. As we've witnessed over the years, running backs are a dime a dozen. Here are three things that matter, almost more than the back himself:

1) Offensive Line. A good, and really a great offensive line is imperative to a solid run game, unless your Steven Jackson.

2) Scheme. Running scheme is more important now than almost ever before in the NFL. The Cowboys are the best in the league at this. Three to Six times a game they run a draw, usually to Felix Jones, and its always set up differently. You've seen it, and you always know when its coming, so do defenses, but its so hard to stop because of the way Jason Garrett designes the runs. No two are alike in the same game, there's always something different, even if its a slight shift, or direction of handoff or Tony faking a pass to one way or another(he's the best at this), and its almost always good for five plus yards.

3) Passing. The Cowboys are obviously an above average passing team, but ask 07-08 Adrian Peterson. If your team can't pass the ball and the defense can put eight in the box, forget about it. Nothing to worry about here but it's very important. When Romo went down two seasons ago and missed 3 games, Dallas tried to pound the ball and make Brad Johnson throw the ball as few as possible/necessary. Didn't matter, Dallas could only squeeze out a win against a below average Tampa Bay team, mainly because of a fade to Roy "worst trade in franchise history unless you want to argue Joey Galloway" Williams(I started him that game on my fantasy team by the way) so I'm not bitching but the week before Dallas was blown out by a below average St. Louis team. Bottom line, you need to be able to throw the ball.

For the record the teams I have ranked better then Dallas in no particular order: Rams, Titans, Jets, Vikings, Dolphins, Panthers and Ravens, who by the way have the most exciting back in football at the moment. The teams teetering below Dallas, the  Broncos, and yes, the Detroit Lions, assuming Jhavid Best can be who he was early in college and stay healthy, I loved that draft pick by the way. People will call me crazy for this one, and they're probably right, but I love Best, this could be a case of bias getting the best of me.

WR – NFL Rank: 8

Just so we're clear I'm talking about wide receivers, not receiving corps, I'm not including TE's or RB's or any combination, just the Wide Receiver position. Some may think eight is a little high, and they may be right. A lot of  my rating these receivers goes into how well Dez Bryant plays, and for the record I think he'll be a stud. With Miles Austin's surge to stardom last season, the fact that I don't think Roy Williams can possibly be this bad every season the addition of Dez Bryant, and Patrick Crayton's ability to make big catches on 3rd downs(unless we're talking about the Divisional Playoffs against the Giants a few years back) the "Boys have a chance to do some great things at this position. Side note: Am I the only person who still owns an Antonio Bryant jersey and realizes that, if I still wore jerseys, i could pretend its a Dez Bryant jersey and not have to go buy a new number 88 Bryant jersey? Moving On…

TE – NFL Rank: 1

The one position I can honestly say the the Cowboys are number one in is the TE position. Every year it seems to come up that maybe it's Gonzalez, or Gates. Its not even a debate. What Jason Witten brings to the tight end position is un-paralelled. I was at the Dallas-Philly game in '07 when Witten got popped, his helmet flew off then he continued sprinting down field for an extra 30-40 yards. I know helmets fly off all the time in the NFL these days for whatever reason, be it face time or what have you. Witten isn't a diva, he got nailed, but stayed up, regathered himself and headed toward the end zone. Jason only missed one game his entire career. His rookie season he missed one game after breaking his jaw. ONE GAME! Tough dude. Keith Rivers got planted by Hines Ward, broke his jaw and missed the rest of the season his rookie year. Welcome to the NFL. Some guys are just wired like that, "there's no way I'm sitting down, I'll play through it." Not everyone has that toughness in them. It's will. He played most of last season with a broken rib, killer injury for someone who doesn't take a play off and prides himself in being an all around tight end. Great blocker, great route runner, great hands, he's the total package. Keith Rivers got lit up, I'm not doubting his missing the rest of the season his rookie year by any stretch of the imagination, but some guys, Brett Favre, Peyton Manning, Allen Iverson, Paul Pierce, Cal Ripken, just have it. I'm not saying Keith Rivers doesn't, but Jason Witten definitely does. Oh yea, Martellus Bennett is coming around too.

FB – NFL Rank: 22

Okay I'm not going to lie, I didn't exactly do my homework on this one. I pretty much picked a number looking at NFL teams and ran with it, it just happens to also be Emmitt's number so I felt good about it. Deon is an above average run-blocker who will catch passes out of the backfield when asked to do so. the Cowboys don't rely on a fullback as much as other teams. They run more 2 tight end sets and multiple receiver sets. Deon gets the job done, contributes on special teams(12 tackles last year) and the C Boys could be worse at this position. They have someone content in his role and who plays it well. Let's just keep him away from Valet attendants and security guards.

Offensive Line – NFL Rank: 15

Offensive Line is one of my favorite positions in football as a whole. It collectively is the most important position in football other than quarterback, no debate. I once had a respectable football guy tell me to watch the offensive lines, don't even pay attention to the play. Tell me who is winning the line of scrimmage battle and without watching the play you have an idea of weather or not it was a 'positive' play. He was right.  The reason the Giants ended the Pats bid for a perfect season in Super Bowl XLII was how they dominated the line of scrimmage in that game. Any receiver can get open and any quarterback will find that receiver if given all day. Same goes for running back. Any back can run through a big hole. It all revolves around that big offensive unit. Dallas did good by cutting Flozell, he was old and couldn't block guys even when tripping them. I'm just not certain Doug Free or Pat McQuistan is an upgrade. Free played well when playing for Marc Columbo, but that was on right side, left tackle is a completely different position.  Teams blitz more from that side of the field, and how the cowboys handle the blitz will be very important to their success, luckily they have one of the more athletic quarterbacks in the league, and he has a knack for avoiding the hit or sack and improvising to find the open man. A big miss in the draft this years was not finding a suitable left tackle. I completely understand and love the Dez Bryant pick, but left tackle and safetly were big needs and neither were addressed agressively. I know Dallas drafted both a tackle and a safety consecutively(Safety Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, from IUP in the 4th round and Tackle Sam Young out of Notre Dame in the 6th), but both were bigger needs than the team leads on. The rest of the line is pretty solid, I love Andre Gurode and Leonard Davis(although a bit over-priced), Kyle Kosier is solid and the aforementioned Marc Columbo is a solid right. Dallas had to do what they had to do with the Bryant pick, and made the right choice. Every tackle Dallas would have liked to pick was gone at that point(5 tackles taken before Dallas' 24th pick). But the Cowboys are not deep at the position and injuries are part of the game. Tony Romo was tied with Brett Favre for the 9th most sacked QB of 2009(34 times). Of the quarterbacks who were sacked more, Big Ben and NFL's A-Rod with 50, Jason Campbell(43), David Garrard and Matt Cassell(42), Joe Flacco(36) and Cutler/McNabb(35) and Brett equal to Tony's 34, only Joe Flacco and Brett Favre had respectable O-Lines, with Minnesota's being stellar. How this unit plays together will be vital to the teams success both in the regular season and the post season. On to the "D"

DL/LB - NFL Rank: 8

I group the front 7 together because of the differences in NFL defenses these days. The Cowboys have a great D-Line for a 3-4 scheme anchored by Jay Ratliff. The LB corps was much better last season with the addition of Keith Brooking. Demarcus Ware is the best pass rushing outside linebacker in the game, bar none. No player in the NFL last season had more quarterback pressures than D-Ware. Last year he unofficially had 84 pressures, which is a combination of pressures, hits on the QB and sacks. D-Ware finished with 56 pressures, 17 QB hits and 11 sacks, and that is with constant double teams and running backs chipping him all game long. Ware beat a block to apply pressure every 7.8 rushes. Only the Colts Dwight Freeney was better with 6.14. I still think the Cowboys should have went for Offensive Tackle in March's draft with their second choice. Sean Lee, LB from Penn State was a solid choice with the 55th pick, but I would have liked to see maybe John Jerry out of Ole Miss. Another smart pick by Bill Parcells 18 picks later. Demarcus Ware, Anthony Spencer and Jay Ratliff combined for 23 sacks last season. D-Ware had 20 himself the previous year with Greg Ellis, Bradie James and Jay Ratliff combining for 23.5, half a sack more than the total of the Cowboys top 3 pass rushers from a year ago. I continue to stress how important controlling the line of scrimmage is, if you can't get to the quarterback and you can't protect your quarterback forget about it.

Cornerback – NFL Rank: 12

Cornerback is such a hard position to determine. So many factors go into how your corners play. In my lifetime I've really only ever seen two shutdown corners. Corners where, it didn't matter if the quarterback had all day, you weren't throwing the ball his direction. Deion Sanders and Darrelle Revis. Keep in mind I never really got to WATCH Ronnie Lott, Dick LeBeau, Eric Wright, Night Train or Hanford Dixon. You could make arguments for Ty Law, Champ Bailey and maybe Ronde Barber in their primes, but I'll stick with Sanders or Revis over anyone of those last three guys. As for the Cowboys, Terrence Newman, when healthy is great. He's not a shut down corner but has the speed to run with just about anyone and his tackling in the open field is sensational from a cornerback's standards. Mike Jenkins was huge for Dallas last year and needs to be again this year. I loved the pick out of South Florida, he needed a year to learn some things and got that under his belt. Jenkins led the Cowboys in Interceptions with 5, passes defended with 19, had the same number of tackles as D-Ware(45), which is also more tackles than both safeties, Ken Hamlin and Gerald Sensabaugh. It all goes back to getting to the quarteback, the Cowboys were statistically worse defending the pass the year before, even with having substantially more sacks, but they gave away two wins when Romo went down. Turn them 2 losses into wins, or a split and they're in the playoffs. Dallas also let up 600 fewer yards in '08. When you can get to the quarterback, that's lost plays for the other teams offense and it will make your secondary, especially your corners, look better.

Safety – NFL Rank: 29th

This is the Dallas Cowboys number one weakness. I love what Gerald Sensabaugh brings to the table, but he's only barely above average. Akwasi Owusu-Ansah was a good draft pick just because Dallas needed a safety. Dallas also needs a safety ready to play right away.  If the *cough* pass rush is as good as it should be then the 'Boys should be able to hide their safety woes. I like Allan Ball. I don't know if I like Allan Ball as one of my starting safeties if the other one isn't spectacular. The Cowboys absolutely have got to make a run at Oshiomogho Atogwe. I love the lack of spending this offseason, you can't buy championships. The one free agent the Cowboys should go after though is Atogwe. He has potential to fall in the 'Boys lap, pick him up! There is a good chance I'm making a bigger deal about the safety situation than I should, but I've watched the 'Boys get burned at that position since Darren Woodson retired. Roy Williams was good, but couldn't cover, Ken Hamlin was solid, but I don't disagree with his release. I would have loved Taylor Mays out of USC but after taking Dez Bryant, well you can't have everyone. So Atogwe is there, and could be the final piece to building a championship team. He takes away a minimum of 4 big plays a year with his pass coverage, which could be the difference in a few of those games, get him.

P – NFL Rank: Top 5

Matt McBriar is probably a top 5 punter in the National Football League. He places the ball well and has one hell of a leg, not a bad thing.

K – NFL Rank: Does Dallas even have a Kicker??

Having a great kicker isn't vital, ask the Saints. Garret Hartly came out of no where to go five for five in the playoffs including a few of the biggest kicks of any kickers' career who has the opportunity to be put in that position, starting with his overtime game winner vs Minny. All five of his kicks were in the 40-49 yard range and four out of the five were huge(every kick except his 43 yarder in a blowout win vs Arizona. Nevertheless you do need a kicker, Dallas will find somebody.

Green Bay Packers showing concern over Johnny Jolly

There's growing apprehension among the Green Bay Packer the future of defensive end Johnny Jolly.

For the first time since his arrest on drug charges nearly two years ago, coach Mike McCarthy admitted he's worried about Jolly.

"I'm concerned for Johnny Jolly personally," McCarthy said Wednesday. "He's a member of our football team hat's going through a legal situation, and we're monitoring it closely, and we'll just continue to support Johnny the best we can."

Jolly's legal problems escalated late last month when a Houston judge found Jolly to be in violation of his bond agreement and stiffened the restrictions Jolly must adhere to before his trial on charges of possession of codeine. The trial was postponed on Tuesday for a third time but could begin on Friday.

McCarthy said he hasn't spoken with Jolly in about a month but other members of the organization have been in contact with him. Jolly hasn't attended the team's offseason program because he hasn't signed his restricted free agent tender, which is worth about $2.5 million for this season. The Packers could reduce that tender to 110 percent of his 2009 base salary, which was $535,000, if he doesn't sign by June 15.

Regardless of the outcome of the case, Jolly could face a suspension from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell if he determines Jolly violated the league's personal conduct policy. The Packers drafted a pair of defensive linemen, Mike Neal and C.J. Wilson, in April and have experimented with Ryan Pickett at end in part because they're concerned about Jolly's future.

"With Johnny's situation, definitely his availability is in question," McCarthy said. "I don't think you can deny that."

Teammate Ryan Pickett, a friend of Jolly's, admitted for the first time on Wednesday that the situation has become a distraction.

"This is hard for us, too," Pickett said. "It's a lot for us to go through. We don't like answering questions about our friend going through this kind of stuff. So hopefully this gets behind him, and we don't have anything like this happen because it is a distraction."

Attendance report

In addition to Jolly, those not in attendance at Wednesday's organized team activity practice were: safety Atari Bigby and cornerbacks Tramon Williams and Charles Woodson. Neither Bigby nor Williams has signed the restricted free agent tender.

"Anytime a player misses these (OTAs), it's an opportunity that is wasted as far as being with his teammates," McCarthy said. "But we can't deny there are business situations that surround our business, and that's no different for Atari or any others that have not been here."

Rookie Morgan Burnett continued to work in Bigby's starting safety spot and might have a good chance to win the job permanently if he continues to make plays like he did on Wednesday. He had an interception during a 7-on-7 drill.

Not participating because of injury or rehabilitation were: receiver Brett Swain (knee), safety Will Blackmon (knee), safety Derrick Martin (ankle), cornerback Al Harris (knee), tight end Spencer Havner (scapula), running back James Starks (hamstring), linebacker Nick Barnett (knee), guard/tackle T.J. Lang (wrist), guard/center Jason Spitz (back), defensive end Ronald Talley (knee) and Pickett (shoulder).

McCarthy said Havner was tested on Tuesday but was not cleared by Dr. Pat McKenzie.

Havner, who broke the bone during a March motorcycle crash in California, spoke for the first time since the incident, for which charges of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol were dropped.

"I wish it didn't happen, but it's something I've got to go through," Havner said. "Everything's getting back to normal."

Starks said he pulled his hamstring during the first week of OTAs but is expected to return this week.

Pickett said he injured his shoulder in practice on Tuesday but didn't think it was serious.

In addition, receiver Donald Driver and defensive end Justin Harrell didn't appear to take part in any team (11-on-11) drills, but no reason was given.

Most improved

McCarthy's praise for second-year cornerback Brandon Underwood couldn't have been much more glowing prior to Wednesday's OTA practice.

"I think Brandon Underwood would definitely be a candidate for most improved player from Year 1 to Year 2 so far from what I've seen," McCarthy said. "I think he's really matured in the weight room. He looks very good right now. I know we're only practicing in shorts and helmets, but I think Brandon Underwood is off to an outstanding spring so far. I've been very pleased with what he has shown on film."

Maybe that helps explain why the Packers didn't draft a cornerback, and why the team was willing to shift Blackmon from cornerback to safety. Underwood was drafted in the sixth round in 2009 and appears to have a bright future in Green Bay, according to McCarthy's rave reviews.

When told about the good things being said about him by his coaches, Underwood said: "I honestly feel that the coaches care a great deal about their players here and it's just a blessing to be in this kind of situation."

Punches thrown

Fists were flying and tempers flaring late in practice, and the two primary combatants were tackle Breno Giacomini and linebacker Brad Jones.

The two players got embroiled in a heated shoving match about 1 hour, 45 minutes into the 2-hour practice session. The intensity grew when Giacomini threw a punch that struck Jones' helmet and produced a loud thud that could be heard across the practice field. Several teammates crowded around the players before the brief brouhaha was broken up.

"Just intensity man, I have nothing against Brad," said Giacomini in the locker room after practice. "I kind of like him actually. It was just intensity. It happens sometimes, that's all."

Jones said the scuffle was no big deal. "That's football," he said. "Fights happen."

Odds and ends

This was the second of four weeks of OTAs. They began May 17, but there were no workouts last week. Only rookies were at Lambeau Field last week. … Mason Crosby made his only two field goals of practice, both 43-yarders from the left hash mark into a strong wind. … Special teams coach Shawn Slocum put the punters through a variety of situations, kicking from their own 1-, 20- and 35-yard lines and from the minus-45-yard line. Tim Masthay and Chris Bryan had almost identical average hang times. Masthay averaged 4.13 seconds and Bryan 4.12. … Former Packers center Mike Flanagan has returned as a coaching intern. He will help out the offensive linemen.

Fantasy football players in the news

By KFFL Staff

Quarterback

QB | Brady Quinn | Denver Broncos | Fantasy
Denver Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels has been working with QB Brady Quinn on his drop back as well as his delivery and likes what he has seen from Quinn this offseason, reports Sports Illustrated's Peter King.

Running Back

RB | Ronnie Brown | Miami Dolphins | Free Agents
Miami Dolphins restricted free-agent RB Ronnie Brown has not signed his $3.97 million tender because he's pushing for a multiyear deal the Dolphins have not offered, reports Omar Kelly, of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Although Brown admits he isn't thrilled about the prospect of playing on a one-year deal, he is not worrying over his contract situation. "I can't worry about it too much. I can't sign myself," Brown said. "If I start to worry about it, is it going to change it? If I start to talk about it, is it going to change it? Is (my contract situation) going to become a positive or a negative?"

RB | C.J. Spiller | Buffalo Bills | Fantasy
Buffalo Bills RB C.J. Spiller could have about 40 to 50 catches this upcoming season, according to John Clayton, of ESPN.com.

RB | Brian Westbrook | Free Agent | Free Agents
Free-agent RB Brian Westbrook (Eagles) is expected to make a decision on where he will sign soon, according to NFL Network's Jason La Canfora. Westbrook is expected to sign with the St. Louis Rams, Denver Broncos or Washington Redskins.

RB | Ahman Green | Free Agent | Free Agents
The Omaha Nighthawks have talked extensively with free-agent RB Ahman Green (Packers), reports Jon Nyatawa, of the Omaha World-Herald. Green said, "It looks promising, but I'm just waiting still, keeping my options open. For me, it's not a fallback plan at all. I want to play football. The Omaha team would be a great fit."

Wide Receiver

WR | Randy Moss | New England Patriots | Fantasy
New England Patriots WR Randy Moss said he does not think he is in the team's future plans but will not be a distraction for the team this season, reports Ian Rapoport, of the Boston Herald. Moss said he has no intentions of retiring.

WR | Nate Washington | Tennessee Titans | Fantasy
Tennessee Titans QB Vince Young said his chemistry with WR Nate Washington is great and they work with each other on the field, reports Jim Wyatt, of The Tennessean.

Place Kicker

PK | Shayne Graham | Free Agent | Free Agents
The Baltimore Ravens are closing in on signing free-agent PK Shayne Graham (Bengals) to a one-year deal, reports ESPN's Adam Schefter, according to league sources.

PK | Adam Vinatieri | Indianapolis Colts | Injury, Fantasy
Indianapolis Colts PK Adam Vinatieri (knee) claims everything is "healed up and looking good," reports Aaron Wilson, of NationalFootballPost.com. Vinatieri added, "The entire offseason, we've been working on strengthening everything back and making sure I'll be ready for a long season. Things have been moving in exactly the direction we wanted to go."

Offensive Tackle

OT | Jared Gaither | Baltimore Ravens | Injury
The only way the Baltimore Ravens would trade OT Jared Gaither (foot) is if the team receives a second-round draft pick or better, according to John Clayton, of ESPN.com.

Defensive Line

DL | Albert Haynesworth | Washington Redskins | Free Agents
The Oakland Raiders are unlikely to pursue Washington Redskins DL Albert Haynesworth via trade, according to Jerry McDonald, of ANG Newspapers. Haynesworth has underachieved since signing a big free-agent contract with the Redskins. He has also missed games due to injury in each of the last seven seasons.

DL | Ma'ake Kemoeatu | Washington Redskins | Injury
Washington Redskins DL Ma'ake Kemoeatu (Achilles') has been rehabbing from Achilles' surgery, but said he is now at about 90 percent and is aiming to be back to full strength by the team's minicamp later this month, according to CBSSports.com.

DL | Jason Ferguson | Miami Dolphins | Injury
Miami Dolphins DL Jason Ferguson (quadriceps) said he will be 100 percent by the start of training camp, according to Brian Biggane, of The Palm Beach Post. However, Ferguson will sit out the first eight games of the 2010 season while serving a suspension for using an illegal substance. "By training camp, I want to be out there with my guys, and giving them what they can expect when November comes," Ferguson said.

DL | Antwan Odom | Cincinnati Bengals | Injury
Cincinnati Bengals DL Antwan Odom (Achilles') has returned to the practice field as he recovers from a ruptured Achilles' tendon injury, according to Jason La Canfora, of NFL Network.