DENVER (AP) -- Broncos receiver Rod Smith is planning to hold a news conference Thursday amid published reports he will retire.
The Raiders will have all their players present Thursday when they open training camp in Napa, Calif.
BOURBONNAIS, Ill. (AP) -- Devin Hester, who has electrified the NFL with 11 punt and kickoff returns for touchdowns in his first two seasons, skipped the Chicago Bears' first training camp practice Wednesday in a holdout.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Mike Pollak insisted he would show up for work on time.
ST. LOUIS (AP) -- St. Louis Rams defensive end Claude Wroten was suspended without pay for the season on Wednesday for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy.
DETROIT (AP) -- Caleb Campbell will not get a chance to play for the Detroit Lions because of a change in military policy.
SI.com has dispatched 10 writers to report on the 32 NFL training camps across the country. For the complete schedule of postcards, click here.
MILWAUKEE (AP) -- NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is monitoring the ongoing rift between the Green Bay Packers and Brett Favre.
Do you know how rare it is to stand on the sideline of a football field and have to move your feet quickly to dodge a tackle in front of you? Do you know how often it happens that there's a fight five feet in front of you, and you have to have incredible peripheral vision to avoid the bodies flying into the fight? And do you know how rare it is to stand alongside the head coach of a National Football League team as he twirls his whistle, with cornstalks one long spiral behind him, as he prepares to start his team's afternoon practice?
The New York Giants agreed to terms with first-round choice Kenny Phillips on Tuesday night, and the Super Bowl champions will be heading to training camp with all their draft picks.
DENVER (AP) -- Broncos receiver Rod Smith is planning to hold a news conference Thursday amid published reports he will retire.
The Raiders will have all their players present Thursday when they open training camp in Napa, Calif.
BOURBONNAIS, Ill. (AP) -- Devin Hester, who has electrified the NFL with 11 punt and kickoff returns for touchdowns in his first two seasons, skipped the Chicago Bears' first training camp practice Wednesday in a holdout.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Mike Pollak insisted he would show up for work on time.
ST. LOUIS (AP) -- St. Louis Rams defensive end Claude Wroten was suspended without pay for the season on Wednesday for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy.
DETROIT (AP) -- Caleb Campbell will not get a chance to play for the Detroit Lions because of a change in military policy.
SI.com has dispatched 10 writers to report on the 32 NFL training camps across the country. For the complete schedule of postcards, click here.
MILWAUKEE (AP) -- NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is monitoring the ongoing rift between the Green Bay Packers and Brett Favre.
Do you know how rare it is to stand on the sideline of a football field and have to move your feet quickly to dodge a tackle in front of you? Do you know how often it happens that there's a fight five feet in front of you, and you have to have incredible peripheral vision to avoid the bodies flying into the fight? And do you know how rare it is to stand alongside the head coach of a National Football League team as he twirls his whistle, with cornstalks one long spiral behind him, as he prepares to start his team's afternoon practice?
The New York Giants agreed to terms with first-round choice Kenny Phillips on Tuesday night, and the Super Bowl champions will be heading to training camp with all their draft picks.
Jason Taylor entered the locker room Tuesday morning ready to suit up for his first practice of training camp, just like he'd done before each of his past 11 NFL seasons.
Chargers defensive end Luis Castillo came up with a huge sack on Tuesday -- a huge sack of money, that is.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Tony Dungy is certain Peyton Manning's left knee will be ready for the Colts' season-opener.
The Oakland Raiders signed former Kansas City Chiefs safety Greg Wesley to a one-year contract on Tuesday, adding depth to the position on the eve of training camp.
Coach Marvin Lewis emphatically closed the door Tuesday on the possibility of receiver Chris Henry rejoining the Cincinnati Bengals.
It's May 15, in a ballroom at The Venetian, a Mediterranean-themed catering hall in Garfield, N.J., and three professional football players, one retired and two active, sit facing a room full of well-off Don Bosco Prep alumni.
ASHBURN, Va. -- To be sure, the Redskins' blockbuster acquisition of Jason Taylor late Sunday was a move born out of first-day-of-training-camp desperation. But it was also an acknowledgment that if you want to thrive in the rough and tumble NFC East, you better be able to rush the passer.
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) -- The Arizona Cardinals signed second-round pick Calais Campbell on Monday, leaving first-round selection Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie as their only unsigned draft choice heading into training camp.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- The Carolina Panthers signed third-round draft pick Charles Godfrey and seventh-rounder Geoff Schwartz on Monday, leaving them with only two unsigned draft choices.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- The New York Giants signed second-round draft choice Terrell Thomas on Monday, leaving the Super Bowl champions with only one of their seven draft selections still unsigned.
NEW YORK (AP) -- The New York Jets placed disgruntled tight end Chris Baker on the active-physically unable to perform list on Monday, along with backup linebacker Jason Trusnik.
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) -- The Denver Broncos signed center Kory Lichtensteiger and waived running back Mike Bell and kicker Garrett Hartley on Monday.
NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Jeremy Shockey was traded to the Saints for two draft picks Monday, giving New Orleans a disgruntled star tight end who watched from afar while injured as the New York Giants surged to the Super Bowl title.
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) -- The New England Patriots signed free agent tackle Anthony Clement on Monday, along with a wide receiver and two of their draft picks.
CINCINNATI (AP) -- Receiver Chad Johnson said he'll report on time for the Cincinnati Bengals' training camp next weekend, but his surgically repaired ankle will probably prevent him from fully participating.
I am very bullish on this Jason Taylor trade, Miami dealing the unhappy defensive end to Washington for a 2009 second-round pick and a 2010 sixth. It's a better trade for Washington than Miami, but a good recovery-deal for Bill Parcells and the Dolphins.
Brett Favre stuck to the script, declining to address his public rift with the Green Bay Packers in an appearance at Lambeau Field on Saturday.
Let's be honest; the NFL offseason borders on interminable. It's nearly six months long, and you can make it seven for those luckless teams that missed the playoffs. All that down time allows for a near-endless cycle of debate about the issues, questions and challenges facing each and every one of the 32 franchises that make up Roger Goodell's fiefdom. (A related note: That debate keeps me gainfully employed).
SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Chargers first-round draft pick Antonine Cason remained unsigned Sunday night and didn't sound optimistic he'd be at the first practice of training camp.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Wide receiver DeSean Jackson and the Philadelphia Eagles agreed on a four-year contract Sunday night, leaving only one draft pick unsigned by the team on the eve of training camp.
ASHBURN, Va. (AP) -- Jason Taylor wanted out of Miami, and Bill Parcells seemed only too happy to trade the "Dancing with the Stars" defensive end.
ASHBURN, Va. (AP) -- What a way to open training camp: Washington Redskins defensive end Phillip Daniels tore a left knee ligament Sunday during the very first practice and will miss the season.
ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Defensive end Chris Long has agreed to a long-term deal with the St. Louis Rams, leaving plenty of time for the second overall pick in the 2008 draft to report to training camp.
ASHBURN, Va. (AP) -- The Washington Redskins and rookie tight end Fred Davis agreed to a $3.5 million, four-year contract on Saturday, a day before training camp opens.
SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Rookies Jacob Hester and DeJuan Tribble agreed to contract terms with the San Diego Chargers on Friday.
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) -- Michael Vick was busted. Bobby Petrino was a bust.
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (AP) -- The New York Jets signed tight end Dustin Keller, the 30th overall pick in the draft, to a multiyear contract Friday.
ASHBURN, Va. (AP) -- Second-round draft pick Devin Thomas of Michigan State signed a $4.83 million, four-year contract with the Washington Redskins on Friday, one day before players report to training camp.
Is this the year the Colts relinquish their five-year stranglehold on the AFC South crown?
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- The Carolina Panthers signed two more draft choices Thursday, reaching deals with linebacker Dan Connor and defensive end Hilee Taylor.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- The Minnesota Vikings declined Thursday to talk about allegations by the Green Bay Packers that they made inappropriate contact with quarterback Brett Favre.
With the Brett Favre un-retirement drama now entering its third fun-filled week, the topic has unquestionably risen to the status of deserving of its own separate edition of Snap Judgments, with all the accordant musings, observations and occasional insights that you've come to know and love (or at least tolerate) ...
MIAMI (AP) -- Dolphins quarterback Josh McCown has decided to quit using chain saws, which should please his team.
MILWAUKEE (AP) -- The Green Bay Packers have filed tampering charges against the Minnesota Vikings alleging the team made inappropriate contact with Brett Favre, a person familiar with the Packers' complaint told The Associated Press Wednesday night.
MILWAUKEE (AP) -- With Brett Favre potentially headed back to an even chillier reception than the below-zero conditions in his last game at Lambeau Field, the next step in the iconic quarterback's plan to maneuver his way out of Green Bay is unclear.
NEW YORK (AP) -- The NFL is stepping up its monitoring of on-field player activities to ensure that no one is flashing the hand signals of street gangs.
Way back in 1985, in my first season as a glorified errand boy for the San Francisco 49ers, I could barely contain my excitement in the draft room, reacting to each pick like it was life or death. Sensing my misplaced enthusiasm, Bill Walsh calmly walked over to me and said, "Michael, relax, it's no big deal. We are only competing against eight teams."
His summer fun in the sun vacation to Key West, Fla., over, A.J. Smith went back to work Tuesday morning, beginning the long, slow push of the rock back up the hill that the NFL season requires. And while I can't be 100 percent certain of it, I'm willing to bet the first thoughts that ran through his head once the Chargers general manager hit the lights in his office were mere echoes of the ones he's been having for most of the past two years now:
Brett Favre says he's tempted to show up at the Green Bay Packers' training camp just to call the team's "bluff."
Third-round pick Mario Manningham signed a four-year contract with the New York Giants on Tuesday, leaving the Super Bowl champions with only two unsigned draft selections.
All Pro defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth doesn't have the security of the long-term contract with the guaranteed money he wanted. What he does have is a one-year deal paying him $7.25 million and a season to make his case that he deserves what he's asking.
The Baltimore Ravens were unable to sign franchise player Terrell Suggs to a contract extension before Tuesday's NFL deadline after a late round of negotiations the past two days.
The Arizona Cardinals have signed third-round draft choice Early Doucet to a three-year deal.
IRVING, Texas (AP) -- Dallas Cowboys safety Ken Hamlin won't have to wait until after the season for a long-term contract.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning had a medical procedure Monday to remove an infected bursa sac from his left knee.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) -- Rookie linebacker Thomas Williams signed a four-year contract worth nearly $2 million with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday.
DETROIT (AP) -- The Detroit Lions signed third-round draft selection Cliff Avril to a three-year contract Monday.
ASHBURN, Va. (AP) -- The Washington Redskins agreed to terms with sixth-round draft pick Colt Brennan on Monday.
Brett Favre's fans came to his defense Sunday, rallying outside Lambeau Field to pressure the Green Bay Packers to reinstate him as the starting quarterback.
The father of Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Matt Jones says his son claims no responsibility for the cocaine found when he was arrested in his college home town last week.
The fact Brett Favre asked for his release from the Packers is not a surprise. What would be a huge surprise is if the Packers granted Favre his wish.
GREEN BAY, Wis. -- The Green Bay Packers want to do the right thing in response to Brett Favre's latest round of flip-flopping on his future in football.
DAVIE, Fla. (AP) -- The Miami Dolphins signed defensive end Kendall Langford on Friday, leaving the team with only two unsigned draft picks from this year's class.
With no football to play for the first time in 18 years, former pro Ross Tucker is passing the time reading about his favorite sport. What follows are a few links to NFL-related articles he found and his take on them.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A federal judge has sided with the Washington Redskins in a lawsuit brought by American Indians who consider the team's name racially offensive.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) -- Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Matt Jones faces a felony drug charge in his former college town after police say he was inside a car cutting up cocaine with a credit card.
Jacksonville Jaguars owner Wayne Weaver is refinancing debt, considering taking on a financial partner, and struggling to sell tickets and secure a stadium naming rights deal.
While the celebrated return of Jevon Kearse has received the majority of attention from Titans observers, it's the homecoming of Justin McCareins and Mike Heimerdinger that may have the biggest impact in Tennessee in 2008.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Three roof drains in Lucas Oil Stadium sprang leaks when thunderstorms hit Indianapolis Tuesday night, leading to some water damage in a data center and other areas.
Spending eight years in the Oakland Raiders organization was a real education -- in every area. You learned what to do and what not to do. Both lessons are vital as you craft your football knowledge. One of the most valuable things I learned was the art of game management. Game management is a term used to describe the effect each play call -- both offensively and defensively -- has on the eventual outcome of the game. It's not as basic as deciding whether to go for it on fourth down or the right time to go for a two-point conversion; it's much deeper and much more analytical. Let me offer a few examples, both positive and negative.
The opportunity to play GM was a lot tougher than I expected, but I had a great time putting together this team. From picking the head coach to selecting the final guy on the roster, each decision was made with the goal of building a Super Bowl winner. I eschewed the temptation to build a team that would compile gaudy individual statistics like a fantasy team, and concentrated on shaping a roster that would thrive in the scheme crafted by the coaches on both sides of the ball.
NEW YORK (AP) -- NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will be part of a three-country USO tour overseas this month with Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- A California man says Pro Bowl tight end Tony Gonzalez of the Kansas City Chiefs kept him from choking to death.
We are early in what I can guarantee will be a very tumultuous month in the recurring Brett Favre will-he-or-won't-he saga, and what I can tell you for sure is this: No. 4 wants to play football again, and the Green Bay Packers desperately do not want him to.
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) -- The New England Patriots released defensive back Willie Andrews on Tuesday, one day after he was arrested for allegedly pointing a handgun at his girlfriend's head.
CHICAGO (AP) -- The Chicago Bears signed defensive tackle Marcus Harrison to a four-year contract Tuesday and agreed to four-year deals with wide receiver Earl Bennett and cornerback Zack Bowman.
CHAUTAUQUA, N.Y. (AP) -- NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said it's "ridiculous" to reward untested rookies with lucrative contracts, and wants the issue addressed in contract talks.
BALTIMORE (AP) -- Baltimore Ravens fans could see real ravens this season.
Usually I load up my first wailbag with a lot of self-serving stuff about the vacation, keyed on my return home from same. But this time the old letterbox was fairly bulging with so much stuff about my timid little prediction of the Vikings to win Supe XLIII, all sent to me in such a lighthearted spirit of good fellowship, that I simply had to address it now before I forget what these blokes had written.
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- The New York Giants will charge fans between $1,000 and $20,000 for the right to buy season tickets in the new stadium they are building with the New York Jets.
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) -- A federal judge has given a New York Jets season-ticket holder more time to amend a lawsuit that seeks millions from the New England Patriots and coach Bill Belichick for "deceiving customers" by videotaping opponents' signals.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) -- Veteran offensive lineman Barry Sims signed with the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday, crossing the bay after nine years with the Oakland Raiders.
With no football to play for the first time in 18 years, former pro Ross Tucker is passing the time reading about his favorite sport. What follows are a few links to NFL-related articles he found and his take on them.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- The New York Giants guaranteed that their offensive line will stay together for the foreseeable future, signing guard Chris Snee on Wednesday to a six-year, $43.5 million contract extension.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- The Kansas City Chiefs signed offensive tackle Barry Richardson to a three-year contract on Wednesday.
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) -- Offensive lineman Brad Butler signed a contract extension with the Buffalo Bills on Wednesday, following a season in which he took over the starting right guard spot.
"You are going to have more friends than you ever had before. More people are going to want to hang out with you and buy you drinks. More girls are going to think you are good-looking. Be smart and keep it all in perspective."
Musings, observations and the occasional insight as we close within a month of the opening of NFL training camps...
Quarterback Andre Woodson and linebackers Bryan Kehl and Jonathan Goff were signed by the New York Giants on Tuesday, leaving the Super Bowl champions with only three draft picks to sign before the opening of training camp next month.
The Jacksonville Jaguars raised $90,000 to aid center Brad Meester's Iowa hometown, which was ravaged by a tornado last month.
SI.com has learned that Michael Strahan, the garrulous just-retired Giants defensive end, has been signed by Fox Sports as an NFL studio analyst. A press conference is expected Tuesday in New York City to formally announce the hiring.
Last Sunday, Mike Holmgren quietly celebrated his 60th birthday. The Seahawks head coach can expect a little more attention for his next big day, when he coaches his final game in Seattle and, likely, his final game ever.
FRANKLIN, Tenn. (AP) -- A foreclosure sale has been published involving the home of former Tennessee Titan Adam "Pacman" Jones.
Last year, I locked in my Super Bowl pick early and felt very good about the choice. For once, I wasn't trying to do a roster breakdown or getting myself all tied up in strengths and weaknesses. I was looking for a team with a chip on its shoulder, one that would be coming into the season with something to prove, a hungry team, nasty, etc.
Butler didn't waste any time. In the days following the Bulldogs' NCAA tournament loss to Tennessee in March, players returned to Hinkle Fieldhouse and found, "that we had already painted in the new [three-point] line," said coach Brad Stevens. "We wanted to get them adjusted to it as soon as possible." The same transformation has happened this offseason on gym floors across America, as college teams prepare for the expansion of the NCAA's arc from 19 feet, nine inches to 20 feet, nine inches, but the move may matter more at Butler, which relied on the three for a higher percentage of its points (40.8) last season than any other NCAA tournament team. How much the Bulldogs' livelihood will be affected -- and how much impact the longer trey has across the board -- will be the most closely monitored trend of 2008-09.
With no football to play for the first time in 18 years, former pro Ross Tucker is passing the time reading about his favorite sport. What follows are a few links to NFL-related articles he found and his take on them.
It has become something of an NFL cliché in recent years, the notion that a new head coach or general manager taking over a losing team must before all else effect a dramatic culture change throughout the entire organization. First you supply a sweeping shock to the system, rejecting much of the way the team previously did business, and only then can you begin to revive, restore and rebuild.
The NFL, much like the calendar year, is made up of distinct seasons. There's the preseason, the regular season, the postseason and, of course, the offseason.
Saints coach Sean Payton knows how to take advantage of the moment and is not afraid to take on new challenges.
Pillar by pillar, Chris Olsen's world was crashing down.
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