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Friday, June 22, 2007
Turley looks like old self in workouts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com
Despite rumors that he might retire for good following his unceremonious release by the Kansas City Chiefs earlier this spring, veteran offensive tackle Kyle Turley is ready to give football another try.
Yeah, again.
Turley, who missed the entire 2004 and 2005 seasons because of a herniated disc and related back woes, but then signed with Kansas City and actually opened the 2006 campaign as the starting left tackle, quietly worked out for Chiefs officials this week, ESPN.com has learned.
And he is ready to audition for other teams, too, if they are interested.
A onetime iron man, Turley appeared in seven games for the Chiefs in 2006 after signing a two-year contract with Kansas City. He was the No. 1 left tackle for the first two games last season, then lost the starting job and suffered through a stretch of injuries, but had a five-game stretch beginning in early November in which he started at right tackle.
Clearly, the eight-year veteran had plenty of rust in 2006 and it didn't help that he attempted to play with his weight in the low- to mid-280s. There are tight ends in the NFL bigger than that and the tough-guy Turley was tossed around at times by defensive linemen he would have handled easily in the prime of his career. But Turley, who will turn 32 in September, has built his weight back up and was a robust 302 pounds at his workout in Kansas City this week. And he is said to be motivated to make up for lost time.
People close to Turley, who originally wanted to make his return to the NFL as a tight end, say that he prefers now to sign with a team that will provide him an opportunity to play right tackle, the spot at which he starred for New Orleans (1998-2002) and St. Louis (2003-2004). The former San Diego State star, a first-round pick of the Saints and the seventh overall player selected in the '98 draft, was always a natural right tackle because of his blend of power, nastiness and drive-blocking skills.
No word yet as to whether the Chiefs, whose once stable offensive line is suddenly in a state of flux with the retirements of tackle Willie Roaf and guard Will Shields over the past two offseasons, are going to give Turley another shot. The current projected starter at right tackle is veteran Chris Terry, who played well after assuming the starting job last season, but has suffered some off-field problems in the past.
Whether Turley can ever return to the former of his early career, when he was among the NFL's most feared and notorious blockers, remains to be seen. But the fact his weight has returned nearly to previous levels, when he typically played at 309 pounds and was able to maul defensive linemen, certainly is a plus.
Having been released by two franchises in two years -- the Rams jettisoned him in June 2005 after two years of inactivity and then the Chiefs dispatched him this March -- has provided Turley a source for rededicating himself and wanting to prove the skeptics wrong. What he needs now is a team willing to take another chance on him.
Around the league
Larry Johnson
Running Back
Kansas City Chiefs
Profile
2006 Season Stats Rush Yds TD Rec Yds TD
416 1789 17 41 410 2
• Chiefs, Johnson need each other: Even with the rhetoric of this week, and the widely held perception that Chiefs star tailback Larry Johnson is poised to skip the start of camp in pursuit of a LaDainian Tomlinson-level contract extension, don't discount the possibility that the two sides might strike a deal before the Kansas City reporting date. The workhorse tailback, clearly the centerpiece of Herm Edwards' offense, has been a regular participant in the Chiefs' offseason program and has worked hard in the organized team activities sessions (OTAs). With Johnson having reached performance and playing time thresholds that allow him to void the final two seasons of his original rookie contract and be eligible for unrestricted free agency next spring, the Chiefs are inclined to enter into substantive negotiations. And Johnson and agent Alvin Keels seem receptive and motivated as well. Even at the $1.85 million Johnson is scheduled to earn in 2007, he is a veritable bargain, and especially crucial to an offense in which Edwards loves to play smash-mouth football. Plus there is this key factor: Barring an upset, the Chiefs plan to start second-year pro Brodie Croyle, who played sparingly in his 2006 rookie season, at quarterback. Edwards isn't about to open up the offense for an untested and inexperienced quarterback. Croyle will fare far better in his first year as a starter if he's got Johnson as a safety net in the backfield and carrying the bulk of the offensive load again.
• Simms' days in Tampa Bay numbered? There is still a chance that Chris Simms could regain the No. 1 quarterback job in Tampa Bay in training camp, but the four-year veteran is going to have to enjoy a red-hot summer to elevate himself back into contention. Still rehabilitating from the splenectomy that prematurely ended his 2006 season, Simms is struggling with his mechanics as he tries to work through some bad habits he developed while compensating for the injury. Those who saw Simms in the Bucs' mandatory minicamp this week said he had real problems with accuracy and even with velocity. He is going to have to make major strides between now and the start of camp late next month to have any chance of wrestling the top spot from presumptive starter Jeff Garcia. Most telling during the three-day minicamp was that Simms got little work in team drills, and didn't seem capable of moving the offense. Instead, he worked principally on his passing form with individual drills. Simms is only 26 years old and led the Bucs to a division title in 2005, so it would be premature to right him off. His best football, indeed, still might be ahead of him. But one has to wonder, given the crowded depth chart coach Jon Gruden has assembled, if it will come with the Bucs.
Donovin Darius
Safety
Jacksonville Jaguars
Profile
2006 Season Stats Tot Solo Ast FF Sack Int
48 39 9 0 0 0
• Darius intrigued by Raiders: Even with the presence of 2006 first-round pick Michael Huff in the secondary, the Oakland Raiders are making a hard push to add Donovin Darius, the nine-year veteran strong safety stunningly released by Jacksonville last week. And the Raiders might have a better chance of landing Darius, who has several other suitors, than people might think. Darius has a strong relationship with Oakland first-year coach Lane Kiffin, who was a defensive quality control assistant who worked primarily with the secondary in Jacksonville in 2000, Darius' third season in the NFL. But sources close to Darius said he is also impressed with Raiders' defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, the Oakland scheme, and the tenacity of an underrated unit. Despite winning just two games last season, the Raiders ranked No. 3 in the league in total defense and were first in defense versus the pass. Ryan prefers an aggressive scheme, one Darius studied as he prepared for his visit this week with Raiders officials and seems to like. Carolina, Buffalo and Tampa Bay all have demonstrated interest in Darius, but none of those teams have arranged visits with him.
• Arrington's career in doubt after crash: The motorcycle accident that left free agent linebacker LaVar Arrington hospitalized this week probably ends any chance the former Pro Bowl performer had of being back in the NFL for the 2007 season. And perhaps forever. Of themselves, Arrington's injuries, a fractured forearm and deep leg lacerations, aren't life-threatening and might not even be career-imperiling, for that matter. But Arrington turned 29 years old this week, was already trying to battle back from the ruptured Achilles that truncated his 2006 season after only six games, and hasn't really been a productive defender since 2003, when he started 16 games for the Washington Redskins and registered 88 tackles. In his six games with the New York Giants in 2006, Arrington had just 16 tackles and one sack. To his credit, he was starting to flash some of his old form before he sustained the season-ending Achilles injury. The plan had been for Arrington to complete his rehabilitation from the Achilles, get back into some semblance of playing shape, and then attempt to work out for any interested teams before training camp. Even under those circumstances, Arrington, who seemed to have fallen off the radar screen of most clubs, would have been a long shot to be in camp with a team this summer. The motorcycle accident, though, probably shortens the odds now to about zero.
• Supplemental rumblings: Former University of Georgia cornerback Paul Oliver, who worked out for scouts from two dozen NFL teams this week, probably did enough in his audition to get chosen in the league's July 12 supplemental draft. Oliver didn't run particularly well, being clocked in the mid- to high-4.5s, but no one expected him to tear up the track, because blistering speed is not his calling card. Oliver did, though, display excellent ball skills and moved fluidly in the position-specific drills, and seems to project best as a prospect for a team that employs a Tampa-2 type coverage scheme. The best guess on his stock right now: About the fourth round in the supplemental, although a third-round perch isn't out of the question, especially if Oliver has solid workouts for the teams that have arranged individual sessions.
Maybe the player who could have the best shot of making a significant impact in the supplemental draft is Maryland offensive tackle Jared Gaither, who early this week was declared academically ineligible by school officials. Gaither is 6-feet-9, 350 pounds, started 20 games over the past two seasons, and didn't surrender a sack in 11 starts in 2005 as freshman. Gaither hasn't yet decided if he will apply for inclusion in the supplemental draft or go back to school and try to regain his academic standing. Scouts love Gaither's size -- some feel he eventually could start in the NFL, perhaps at guard -- but fret over his work ethic. But if he declares for the supplemental draft, a lot of scouts will be scrambling to get a first-hand look at him.
Another offensive lineman, Chris Patrick of Nebraska, had a good workout for scouts last week and could be chosen in the late rounds of the supplemental draft. Patrick is 6-4, 296 pounds, demonstrates terrific natural strength (31 repetitions in the standard 225-pound bench press drill), and has pretty good feet. He started for the Cornhuskers at both tackle spots the past two seasons and, while some evaluators feel his best position in the league might be guard, it's tough to ignore his pass-blocking skills.
• Vick's popularity dropping: Things have been relatively quiet on the Michael Vick front of late, with the hard-news trail (and even the speculation road) having gone cold for the media since federal authorities took over the investigation. But the dearth of updates haven't stopped Vick's public profile from continuing its plummet. This week, representatives from the Humane Society of the United States requested that Nike drop Vick's endorsement deal. Not surprisingly, the shoe and athletic apparel giant declined, citing the absence of charges against the Atlanta Falcons' star. But according to The Virginian-Pilot, the "Q-score" for Vick -- a number which measures a celebrity's profile, and their recognition factor with the public, and which is used to set the value of marketing contracts -- has dropped severely. Two years ago, Vick was the third most-appealing player in the NFL, behind only Peyton Manning and Brett Favre, a study showed. Now he is ninth. Among 480 sports personalities evaluated, he has dropped to 125th, after ranking 34th in 2005.
On the positive side for Vick, he continues to draw strong reviews from first-year coach Bobby Petrino and his staff, for his work ethic and grasp of the new offense being installed. And while owner Arthur Blank and Falcons officials won't acknowledge it publicly, they are breathing a little easier with federal authorities in charge of the investigation into a possible dog-fighting ring operating on the property Vick owns in Surry County, Va. They feel now that the investigation will be more thorough and more deliberate, and that the franchise won't be subjected to the near-daily news breaks that once marked the Vick story. Indeed, the "Vick Fatigue" that had pervaded the city of Atlanta for about two months definitely has subsided a bit.
• What's in a name? With the naming rights contract to their stadium having lapsed, the Jacksonville Jaguars have been seeking new sponsorship, and could be close to a long-term deal that might be worth $4 million-$5 million per year. According to the Florida Times-Union, a new naming rights contract could be in place before the start of the 2007 campaign. And that would turn the old Gator Bowl, Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, Alltel Stadium into? Well, no one seems to know yet just what the new name might be, only that there figures to be one. "We've got several companies who have significant interest, and there's a good chance we'll get something done," Jaguars chief financial officer Bill Prescott told the newspaper.
A new deal for naming rights would seem a boon for the club, since the contract with Alltel was worth only $620,000 a year. But the Jags, while permitted to keep any sponsorship money in such a contract, would have to split the naming rights portion with the city. Still, in a small-market NFL city where owner Wayne Weaver has had to cover up seats in recent years to sell out and allow games to be televised locally, the additional revenues would be welcomed. Prescott said the Jaguars in 2006 lost money for a third straight season and Weaver has called last year's extension to the collective bargaining agreement "unsustainable." Of course, Weaver was one of the owners who had vowed to block the extension to the CBA if it wasn't in the best interest of small-market and small-revenue franchises. And then, like everyone except owners Mike Brown of Cincinnati and Buffalo's Ralph Wilson, he caved, and voted for it.
• Music to Redskins' ears: It didn't get much press, but RedZone Capital, the private equity firm of Washington Redskins' owner Dan Snyder, this week completed the purchase of Dick Clark Production for $175 million. The deal gives RedZone, and, thus, Snyder, the rights to "American Bandstand," "The Golden Globes," "The American Music Awards" and "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve," among other properties. Snyder plans to blend the shows into entertainment concepts at properties which include the Johnny Rockets restaurant chain, which he owns, and at the Six Flags theme parks, of which he owns 40 percent and is chairman. No word yet as to whether the former Clark properties will be used to enhance the experience at FedEx Field. Or whether, if Snyder's football team continues to sputter in 2007, game footage will be incorporated into a new series of blooper shows, a genre that Clark helped to popularize.
• The List: In the 31-season history of the franchise, the Tampa Bay Bucs have never returned a kickoff for a touchdown. That ignominious streak of futility has now reached 1,825 kickoff returns without even one for a score. Almost as remarkable is that, of those 1,825 runbacks, just five have been for 60 yards or more. Here is the list of the five longest kickoff returns in Bucs' history: 86 yards, Aaron Stecker (2001); 77 yards, Vernon Turner (1994); 67 yards, Stecker (2002); 63 yards, Karl Williams (1996); 60 yards, Reidel Anthony (199
.
• Stat of the week: Of the 10 wide receivers on the current San Diego roster, only four have any catches in regular-season action, and the aggregate total of receptions for the Chargers' quartet is just 265. Five-year veteran Eric Parker has accounted for 187 of those 265 receptions, or 70.5 percent, and is the only wide receiver on the roster with more than 30 catches in a single season.
• The last word: "There's already a kind of counterculture in the NFL of self-treating, of not letting trainers and doctors know when something is wrong with you. My biggest concern is that we'll actually push players away. Guys will say, like, 'Hey, man, be careful. You don't want to say something about getting dinged because they might take you out of the game, or you might be labeled as a guy with a soft head.'"
-- Eleven-year veteran tight end Ernie Conwell, who attended this week's concussion symposium in suburban Chicago, on how some players might react to more stringent guidelines for treating head injuries.
Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer at ESPN.com.
Turley looks like old self in workouts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com
Despite rumors that he might retire for good following his unceremonious release by the Kansas City Chiefs earlier this spring, veteran offensive tackle Kyle Turley is ready to give football another try.
Yeah, again.
Turley, who missed the entire 2004 and 2005 seasons because of a herniated disc and related back woes, but then signed with Kansas City and actually opened the 2006 campaign as the starting left tackle, quietly worked out for Chiefs officials this week, ESPN.com has learned.
And he is ready to audition for other teams, too, if they are interested.
A onetime iron man, Turley appeared in seven games for the Chiefs in 2006 after signing a two-year contract with Kansas City. He was the No. 1 left tackle for the first two games last season, then lost the starting job and suffered through a stretch of injuries, but had a five-game stretch beginning in early November in which he started at right tackle.
Clearly, the eight-year veteran had plenty of rust in 2006 and it didn't help that he attempted to play with his weight in the low- to mid-280s. There are tight ends in the NFL bigger than that and the tough-guy Turley was tossed around at times by defensive linemen he would have handled easily in the prime of his career. But Turley, who will turn 32 in September, has built his weight back up and was a robust 302 pounds at his workout in Kansas City this week. And he is said to be motivated to make up for lost time.
People close to Turley, who originally wanted to make his return to the NFL as a tight end, say that he prefers now to sign with a team that will provide him an opportunity to play right tackle, the spot at which he starred for New Orleans (1998-2002) and St. Louis (2003-2004). The former San Diego State star, a first-round pick of the Saints and the seventh overall player selected in the '98 draft, was always a natural right tackle because of his blend of power, nastiness and drive-blocking skills.
No word yet as to whether the Chiefs, whose once stable offensive line is suddenly in a state of flux with the retirements of tackle Willie Roaf and guard Will Shields over the past two offseasons, are going to give Turley another shot. The current projected starter at right tackle is veteran Chris Terry, who played well after assuming the starting job last season, but has suffered some off-field problems in the past.
Whether Turley can ever return to the former of his early career, when he was among the NFL's most feared and notorious blockers, remains to be seen. But the fact his weight has returned nearly to previous levels, when he typically played at 309 pounds and was able to maul defensive linemen, certainly is a plus.
Having been released by two franchises in two years -- the Rams jettisoned him in June 2005 after two years of inactivity and then the Chiefs dispatched him this March -- has provided Turley a source for rededicating himself and wanting to prove the skeptics wrong. What he needs now is a team willing to take another chance on him.
Around the league
Larry Johnson
Running Back
Kansas City Chiefs
Profile
2006 Season Stats Rush Yds TD Rec Yds TD
416 1789 17 41 410 2
• Chiefs, Johnson need each other: Even with the rhetoric of this week, and the widely held perception that Chiefs star tailback Larry Johnson is poised to skip the start of camp in pursuit of a LaDainian Tomlinson-level contract extension, don't discount the possibility that the two sides might strike a deal before the Kansas City reporting date. The workhorse tailback, clearly the centerpiece of Herm Edwards' offense, has been a regular participant in the Chiefs' offseason program and has worked hard in the organized team activities sessions (OTAs). With Johnson having reached performance and playing time thresholds that allow him to void the final two seasons of his original rookie contract and be eligible for unrestricted free agency next spring, the Chiefs are inclined to enter into substantive negotiations. And Johnson and agent Alvin Keels seem receptive and motivated as well. Even at the $1.85 million Johnson is scheduled to earn in 2007, he is a veritable bargain, and especially crucial to an offense in which Edwards loves to play smash-mouth football. Plus there is this key factor: Barring an upset, the Chiefs plan to start second-year pro Brodie Croyle, who played sparingly in his 2006 rookie season, at quarterback. Edwards isn't about to open up the offense for an untested and inexperienced quarterback. Croyle will fare far better in his first year as a starter if he's got Johnson as a safety net in the backfield and carrying the bulk of the offensive load again.
• Simms' days in Tampa Bay numbered? There is still a chance that Chris Simms could regain the No. 1 quarterback job in Tampa Bay in training camp, but the four-year veteran is going to have to enjoy a red-hot summer to elevate himself back into contention. Still rehabilitating from the splenectomy that prematurely ended his 2006 season, Simms is struggling with his mechanics as he tries to work through some bad habits he developed while compensating for the injury. Those who saw Simms in the Bucs' mandatory minicamp this week said he had real problems with accuracy and even with velocity. He is going to have to make major strides between now and the start of camp late next month to have any chance of wrestling the top spot from presumptive starter Jeff Garcia. Most telling during the three-day minicamp was that Simms got little work in team drills, and didn't seem capable of moving the offense. Instead, he worked principally on his passing form with individual drills. Simms is only 26 years old and led the Bucs to a division title in 2005, so it would be premature to right him off. His best football, indeed, still might be ahead of him. But one has to wonder, given the crowded depth chart coach Jon Gruden has assembled, if it will come with the Bucs.
Donovin Darius
Safety
Jacksonville Jaguars
Profile
2006 Season Stats Tot Solo Ast FF Sack Int
48 39 9 0 0 0
• Darius intrigued by Raiders: Even with the presence of 2006 first-round pick Michael Huff in the secondary, the Oakland Raiders are making a hard push to add Donovin Darius, the nine-year veteran strong safety stunningly released by Jacksonville last week. And the Raiders might have a better chance of landing Darius, who has several other suitors, than people might think. Darius has a strong relationship with Oakland first-year coach Lane Kiffin, who was a defensive quality control assistant who worked primarily with the secondary in Jacksonville in 2000, Darius' third season in the NFL. But sources close to Darius said he is also impressed with Raiders' defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, the Oakland scheme, and the tenacity of an underrated unit. Despite winning just two games last season, the Raiders ranked No. 3 in the league in total defense and were first in defense versus the pass. Ryan prefers an aggressive scheme, one Darius studied as he prepared for his visit this week with Raiders officials and seems to like. Carolina, Buffalo and Tampa Bay all have demonstrated interest in Darius, but none of those teams have arranged visits with him.
• Arrington's career in doubt after crash: The motorcycle accident that left free agent linebacker LaVar Arrington hospitalized this week probably ends any chance the former Pro Bowl performer had of being back in the NFL for the 2007 season. And perhaps forever. Of themselves, Arrington's injuries, a fractured forearm and deep leg lacerations, aren't life-threatening and might not even be career-imperiling, for that matter. But Arrington turned 29 years old this week, was already trying to battle back from the ruptured Achilles that truncated his 2006 season after only six games, and hasn't really been a productive defender since 2003, when he started 16 games for the Washington Redskins and registered 88 tackles. In his six games with the New York Giants in 2006, Arrington had just 16 tackles and one sack. To his credit, he was starting to flash some of his old form before he sustained the season-ending Achilles injury. The plan had been for Arrington to complete his rehabilitation from the Achilles, get back into some semblance of playing shape, and then attempt to work out for any interested teams before training camp. Even under those circumstances, Arrington, who seemed to have fallen off the radar screen of most clubs, would have been a long shot to be in camp with a team this summer. The motorcycle accident, though, probably shortens the odds now to about zero.
• Supplemental rumblings: Former University of Georgia cornerback Paul Oliver, who worked out for scouts from two dozen NFL teams this week, probably did enough in his audition to get chosen in the league's July 12 supplemental draft. Oliver didn't run particularly well, being clocked in the mid- to high-4.5s, but no one expected him to tear up the track, because blistering speed is not his calling card. Oliver did, though, display excellent ball skills and moved fluidly in the position-specific drills, and seems to project best as a prospect for a team that employs a Tampa-2 type coverage scheme. The best guess on his stock right now: About the fourth round in the supplemental, although a third-round perch isn't out of the question, especially if Oliver has solid workouts for the teams that have arranged individual sessions.
Maybe the player who could have the best shot of making a significant impact in the supplemental draft is Maryland offensive tackle Jared Gaither, who early this week was declared academically ineligible by school officials. Gaither is 6-feet-9, 350 pounds, started 20 games over the past two seasons, and didn't surrender a sack in 11 starts in 2005 as freshman. Gaither hasn't yet decided if he will apply for inclusion in the supplemental draft or go back to school and try to regain his academic standing. Scouts love Gaither's size -- some feel he eventually could start in the NFL, perhaps at guard -- but fret over his work ethic. But if he declares for the supplemental draft, a lot of scouts will be scrambling to get a first-hand look at him.
Another offensive lineman, Chris Patrick of Nebraska, had a good workout for scouts last week and could be chosen in the late rounds of the supplemental draft. Patrick is 6-4, 296 pounds, demonstrates terrific natural strength (31 repetitions in the standard 225-pound bench press drill), and has pretty good feet. He started for the Cornhuskers at both tackle spots the past two seasons and, while some evaluators feel his best position in the league might be guard, it's tough to ignore his pass-blocking skills.
• Vick's popularity dropping: Things have been relatively quiet on the Michael Vick front of late, with the hard-news trail (and even the speculation road) having gone cold for the media since federal authorities took over the investigation. But the dearth of updates haven't stopped Vick's public profile from continuing its plummet. This week, representatives from the Humane Society of the United States requested that Nike drop Vick's endorsement deal. Not surprisingly, the shoe and athletic apparel giant declined, citing the absence of charges against the Atlanta Falcons' star. But according to The Virginian-Pilot, the "Q-score" for Vick -- a number which measures a celebrity's profile, and their recognition factor with the public, and which is used to set the value of marketing contracts -- has dropped severely. Two years ago, Vick was the third most-appealing player in the NFL, behind only Peyton Manning and Brett Favre, a study showed. Now he is ninth. Among 480 sports personalities evaluated, he has dropped to 125th, after ranking 34th in 2005.
On the positive side for Vick, he continues to draw strong reviews from first-year coach Bobby Petrino and his staff, for his work ethic and grasp of the new offense being installed. And while owner Arthur Blank and Falcons officials won't acknowledge it publicly, they are breathing a little easier with federal authorities in charge of the investigation into a possible dog-fighting ring operating on the property Vick owns in Surry County, Va. They feel now that the investigation will be more thorough and more deliberate, and that the franchise won't be subjected to the near-daily news breaks that once marked the Vick story. Indeed, the "Vick Fatigue" that had pervaded the city of Atlanta for about two months definitely has subsided a bit.
• What's in a name? With the naming rights contract to their stadium having lapsed, the Jacksonville Jaguars have been seeking new sponsorship, and could be close to a long-term deal that might be worth $4 million-$5 million per year. According to the Florida Times-Union, a new naming rights contract could be in place before the start of the 2007 campaign. And that would turn the old Gator Bowl, Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, Alltel Stadium into? Well, no one seems to know yet just what the new name might be, only that there figures to be one. "We've got several companies who have significant interest, and there's a good chance we'll get something done," Jaguars chief financial officer Bill Prescott told the newspaper.
A new deal for naming rights would seem a boon for the club, since the contract with Alltel was worth only $620,000 a year. But the Jags, while permitted to keep any sponsorship money in such a contract, would have to split the naming rights portion with the city. Still, in a small-market NFL city where owner Wayne Weaver has had to cover up seats in recent years to sell out and allow games to be televised locally, the additional revenues would be welcomed. Prescott said the Jaguars in 2006 lost money for a third straight season and Weaver has called last year's extension to the collective bargaining agreement "unsustainable." Of course, Weaver was one of the owners who had vowed to block the extension to the CBA if it wasn't in the best interest of small-market and small-revenue franchises. And then, like everyone except owners Mike Brown of Cincinnati and Buffalo's Ralph Wilson, he caved, and voted for it.
• Music to Redskins' ears: It didn't get much press, but RedZone Capital, the private equity firm of Washington Redskins' owner Dan Snyder, this week completed the purchase of Dick Clark Production for $175 million. The deal gives RedZone, and, thus, Snyder, the rights to "American Bandstand," "The Golden Globes," "The American Music Awards" and "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve," among other properties. Snyder plans to blend the shows into entertainment concepts at properties which include the Johnny Rockets restaurant chain, which he owns, and at the Six Flags theme parks, of which he owns 40 percent and is chairman. No word yet as to whether the former Clark properties will be used to enhance the experience at FedEx Field. Or whether, if Snyder's football team continues to sputter in 2007, game footage will be incorporated into a new series of blooper shows, a genre that Clark helped to popularize.
• The List: In the 31-season history of the franchise, the Tampa Bay Bucs have never returned a kickoff for a touchdown. That ignominious streak of futility has now reached 1,825 kickoff returns without even one for a score. Almost as remarkable is that, of those 1,825 runbacks, just five have been for 60 yards or more. Here is the list of the five longest kickoff returns in Bucs' history: 86 yards, Aaron Stecker (2001); 77 yards, Vernon Turner (1994); 67 yards, Stecker (2002); 63 yards, Karl Williams (1996); 60 yards, Reidel Anthony (199
. • Stat of the week: Of the 10 wide receivers on the current San Diego roster, only four have any catches in regular-season action, and the aggregate total of receptions for the Chargers' quartet is just 265. Five-year veteran Eric Parker has accounted for 187 of those 265 receptions, or 70.5 percent, and is the only wide receiver on the roster with more than 30 catches in a single season.
• The last word: "There's already a kind of counterculture in the NFL of self-treating, of not letting trainers and doctors know when something is wrong with you. My biggest concern is that we'll actually push players away. Guys will say, like, 'Hey, man, be careful. You don't want to say something about getting dinged because they might take you out of the game, or you might be labeled as a guy with a soft head.'"
-- Eleven-year veteran tight end Ernie Conwell, who attended this week's concussion symposium in suburban Chicago, on how some players might react to more stringent guidelines for treating head injuries.
Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer at ESPN.com.
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