NFL

[Homer]

You know the Eagles game will be a loss right?  :)))

[bobby]

or they will be 15-0 and lose their last game to the raiders if they play em last :))

[Homer]

Going down to JaMarcus Russell huh?

I was a bit surprised they let Ron Rivera go. He coached the linebackers here before heading to the Windy City.

[bobby]

i don't think it will make a difference with rivera gone, it's lovie's defence anyway :&

[Homer]

That's what I heard a few people say. They were also saying that by not bringing him back it gives him more leverage in contract talks.

[bobby]

oops, i just realized i said redskins, im gonna have them people on my  :o0 now :)))

[Homer]

BEARS QUIETLY SHOPPING BRIGGS

Although teams technically aren't allowed to use the franchise tag solely as a means to obtain trade value for a player who is eligible for unrestricted free agency, there's growing talk/speculation in league circles that the Chicago Bears don't plan to keep linebacker Lance Briggs, and that they applied the franchise to him for the sole purpose of facilitating a trade.

Per a league source, the Bears have talked with several teams about a trade for Briggs.  The veteran outside linebacker, who has become a star in the Tampa Two defense, technically will not be under contract until he signs the one-year tender offer that the team has extended to him.

This means that Briggs can skip the entire offseason, training camp, and the preseason before reporting, while still receiving the full amount of the $7.2 million that will be guaranteed as soon as he signs it.

[Mr. Rasputia]

looks like Garcia is done in philly, eagles resign feely  :))

[Homer]

looks like Garcia is done in philly, eagles resign feely  :))

Yeah, I saw that. Feeley has done well in the Philly offense. Jeff is gonna make more money than the Eagles are willing to pay him.

[Tara]

Has anyone seen the Brady bunch?   :)))

[Homer]

What a steal!

SPIKES TO EAGLES

The Philadeplhia Eagles have announced the acquisition of linebacker Takeo Spikes and quarterback Kelly Holcomb from the Bills, for defensive tackle Darwin Walker and a 2008 late-round draft pick.

Spikes is signed through 2008, at base salaries of $4.5 million and $5 million this year and next.  Holcomb also is inked through 2008, at $1.485 million and $1.535 million.

And Walker is signed through 2008, at base salaries of $1.3 million and $1.4 million.

Though the arrival of Spikes had been the subject of rumors throughout the day, the inclusion of Holcomb in the deal makes us wonder whether the Eagles really think that A.J. Feeley is ready to serve as the primary backup to Donovan McNabb.  Which raises (again) the question of whether the Eagles should have tried to keep Jeff Garcia. 

[Homer]

Jaworski replaces Joey Sunshine on MNF  :/\

[Homer]

bobby...I see Chicago solved their QB problem by signing Chris Leak  :)))

[bobby]

bobby...I see Chicago solved their QB problem by signing Chris Leak  :)))

....if i hear you right... you're saying super bowl? :)))

[Homer]

bobby...I see Chicago solved their QB problem by signing Chris Leak  :)))

....if i hear you right... you're saying super bowl? :)))

We have lots of QB's now. How would you like Kelly Holcomb for a 4th round pick?

[bobby]

bobby...I see Chicago solved their QB problem by signing Chris Leak  :)))

....if i hear you right... you're saying super bowl? :)))

We have lots of QB's now. How would you like Kelly Holcomb for a 4th round pick?

throw in a coke and it's a deal :/\

[Homer]

bobby...I see Chicago solved their QB problem by signing Chris Leak  :)))

....if i hear you right... you're saying super bowl? :)))

We have lots of QB's now. How would you like Kelly Holcomb for a 4th round pick?

throw in a coke and it's a deal :/\

Done. LOL

[gator8_24]

bobby...I see Chicago solved their QB problem by signing Chris Leak  :)))

....if i hear you right... you're saying super bowl? :)))

Hey, wait a cotton-pickin minute! :))  Have to get back at you guys for that one, even if I might agree that the FL qtbks have not lived up to their hype. I never thought much of Grossman when he was here and the Heisman winner Werful(spelling?) was a dud in the NFL. So I'll hold out hope for Chris Leak, besides he's cute  :)) :)) Maybe the guys at the other end who are to CATCH the footballs didn't do their job either  :)))  Oh yes, there was one who was 3rd string for NY don't remember his name or whatever happened to him, but he was on the "Bachelor" the arrogant one. He thought he was hot stuff, couldn't stand him. Ok enuf venting lol

[Homer]

GLAZER REPORTS THAT FAVRE ASKED TO BE TRADED

At a time when all NFL eyes were watching the drama that was unfolding between the Eagles and quarterback Donovan McNabb, a full-blown crisis was quietly playing out in another NFC town.

Jay Glazer of FOXSports.com reports that Packers quarterback Brett Favre asked to be traded in the days after the 2007 draft.

Per Glazer, agent Bus Cook called G.M. Ted Thompson two or three days after the draft and said that Favre is fed up with the organization and wants out.  Coach Mike McCarthy immediately began trying to reach Favre by phone, but Favre ignored his calls for a week.

When the two men finally spoke, McCarthy apparently calmed Favre's fury to the point that Favre admitted he didn't want to play elsewhere.  But given Favre's recent comments to the Biloxi Sun Herald, about which we wrote earlier on Sunday, it appears that Brett still has a bug buried in his butt.

This latest development meshes with rumors floated on Favre's official web site by a message board administrator.  (Scroll down for more.)  It also seems that confirm what many league insiders have long believed -- that Favre doesn't care much for G.M. Ted Thompson, who has done little if anything to upgrade the veteran talent on the team over the past three years.

Glazer says that the Packers have no plans to trade Favre, whose contract (per NFLPA records) runs through 2010 and pays him a base salary of $11 million this year.  But why would they want him if he doesn't want to be there?  And if they won't trade him, maybe he'll just call it quits and let them try to win with (gulp) Aaron Rodgers.

In our view, this one is far from over.  And we have a feeling that either Favre or Thompson won't be with the team when the 2007 season begins.

[Homer]

BEARS MOVING HESTER TO OFFENSE

The Chicago Bears have announced that, as of this weekend's full-squad minicamp, Pro Bowl kick returner Devin Hester will be moved from defense to offense. 

Hester will work with the receivers during the minicamp, but he is also expected to be utilized in the backfield, in a manner similar to Reggie Bush of the Saints.

"I think Devin Hester is one of the most exciting players in the NFL with his hands on the football," coach Lovie Smith said. "I think he would be an excellent defensive back also.  We just feel that this is in the best interest of us and him for him to achieve his full potential as a football player."

"Right now we're not going to put any limits on it," Smith said. "We have a new piece to the puzzle.  We're anxious to see what we can do with him and the role that he'll develop into.

"There are a lot of different ways we can go.  You can make a case for him being a slot receiver.  You can make a case for him being a single receiver when we go to our two-tight end, two-running back packages.  You can make a case for him from the running back position.

"He's an offensive weapon right now.  That's the only limit we put on him."

Said offensive coordinator Ron Turner:  "I've been recruiting him for about 13 months and I finally got him."

"He's an elite player when he gets the ball in his hands and I'm excited about the opportunity to help him get the ball in his hands, not just returning punts and kickoffs, which is a few times a game.  Hopefully we can get it in his hands 5-6-7 times different ways -- use him out of the backfield, as a receiver, in the slot."

In our view, the move is a no-brainer.  In the Bears' Tampa 2 defense, his athletic skills would be wasted -- and his health would be unnecessarily jeopardized -- if he were to play cornerback.  In that specific defense, corners cover short zones and make tackles in the running game. 

But it remains to be seen whether this D.H.'s  stellar performances on special teams will translate into success on offense.  Two other D.H.'s have teased us in the past:  Desmond Howard and Dante Hall.  Neither could do much at the receiver position despite dazzling performances in the return game.

For the Bears, the hope is that they've found another G.S.