The Cooley Zone: My draft day story has a happy ending

The Cooley Zone: My draft day story has a happy ending

No player really knows where the hell he's going in the draft (except Jake Long). I know this because playing four years in the NFL has taught me that anything is possible. Watching high-profile draftees sulk while teams pick in every different direction but theirs shows that anything is possible. Ryan Leaf vs. Peyton Manning is possible:

Still, people make a great living deciding which team and city an athlete should play for, but what happens in the 15 minutes on the team's clock falls on the shoulders of all the agents, scouts, GMs and teams.

I went into my own draft day with high hopes, as I'm sure every player does. I was predicted as high as the third tight end taken, down to as low as the sixth or seventh. These predictions put me anywhere from the middle of the second round to anywhere in the fourth. As any player would have, I expected it would be somewhere in the second round. High hopes are more fun.

I made it casually through the morning before the start of the draft. No chance I was getting taken in the first round, so my plans were to go golfing and wait for a phone call. I figured a little golf was much more relaxing. As it turned out golfing on a Saturday in Logan, Utah is a popular event. I made the rounds to four different courses, striking out at all of them. If the first round could have been Sunday it would have worked out great for me. No Mormons golf on Sunday, I would have had the course to myself.

Since golf didn't work out, I did nothing. Waiting around to get drafted felt almost like running on a treadmill. I was helpless to do anything but sit and stare at the clock and wait for it to be over. A parade of naked women could have run through the living room and my eyes would have never left the TV.

Toward the end of the second round my mind was running wild with scenarios. Maybe San Francisco would take me. I would love to play for the Broncos. I was even ready to settle for Detroit. As a matter of fact I didn't care where, just now!

My mind drifted back to a trip to visit the Cowboys. Everything was great until I made my way into Bill Parcell's office. After sitting down, the first words out of his mouth were, "I'll be honest, the reason you're here is because we like you as a special teams player. I don't think you'll ever be a starter in the league. We're thinking about taking you around the sixth round." I'm a pretty confident guy, so I walked out of the office with my head high. I did a great job and blocked out the trip, but by the middle of round three I was dying.

Two months earlier I got my first cell phone. Yeah, 2004 and Chris Cooley finally has a cell phone. The problem wasn't that I had a phone, the problem was the service. I couldn't keep more than one bar in the corner of the phone, and I was starting to believe that I must have been missing calls. I had spent the last four hours glued to the screen, but had to drag myself outside to at least see if I got a message from someone. By the time my foot hovered over the bottom stair of the front porch the house erupted. The cheering couldn't be mistaken, but I had still never received a phone call.

Eighty-first pick to the Washington Redskins and I could have never felt more relieved. I remember thinking why hasn't the team called me? It was a perfect thought as my little brother turned to me and said, "Oh yeah, some guy is on hold for ya, he's only been on hold for a couple minutes." I took the phone and Joe Gibbs says, "I hope you want to be a Redskin, we had to trade up for you." Joe Gibbs! A Hall of Fame coach wanted to trade up for me.

One of the most important factors in the NFL draft might be how a player matches a team. Becoming a Redskin couldn't have been a better fit for me.� I have been given every opportunity to succeed and have always worked to make the best of them. With all the things I have accomplished in my short career, draft day�will always be one of my best memories.

Chris Cooley is a Pro Bowl tight end for the Redskins and blogs every Wednesday here on Shutdown Corner. Read more from Cooley on his personal blog, where he gets awesome all the time.

Fish trying to trade Jason Taylor?
Clark Judge of CBS Sportsline reports that the Dolphins are trying to trade Jason Taylor. Supposedly, they're looking for a mid-to-late first round pick for him. I don't think they're getting that, and I'd put the chances of this trade actually happening at about 5%.

Unhappy with contract, Jets TE Baker bolts workouts

New York Jets tight end Chris Baker, disgruntled with his contract status and management's apparent refusal to renegotiate, has left the team's offseason strength and conditioning program in protest, The New York Post�reported.

Baker, who's fresh off the best season of his career, having caught 41 passes and become more of a focal point in the Jets' offense, has two years remaining on his $6.6 million contract and he's clearly underpaid by NFL starting tight end standards. Without attempting to make any significant waves, the 28-year-old Baker spoke after the 2007 season about his desire to sign a new deal that would pay him more fairly and keep him in his native New York for the rest of his career.

"Hopefully, we'll get something done," Baker said the day after the season.

I doubt there will ever be a Julius Jones tribute song

I assume that some team will take a flyer on the recently-released Shaun Alexander, provided that he's willing to play for something near the veteran minimum. So we probably haven't seen the last of him.

Still, that's no reason we can't pause to reflect on his career with the Seahawks. And what better way to do that than with a brutal song that will firmly lodge itself in your head all day long, and may eventually cause you to ram a steak knife through your ear, so that you might stop thinking about it for even one second.

Sorry I had to do that to you. But if I'm suffering, you're all going to suffer, too.

Cowboys are willing to deal for a receiver

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones acknowledged Tuesday he has asked another team about the availability of a veteran wideout according to the San Antonio Express-News.

"I wouldn't give who it was, but the answer is yes, we have talked (with another team)" Jones told reporters in Irving. "I wouldn't give you a time frame on it either, if you're talking the last week or the last few days. But certainly since (the start) of the offseason."

With Terry Glenn's status for next season uncertain, the Cowboys are in the market for a receiver to take pressure off Terrell Owens. Speaking at a news conference to discuss the draft, Jones said the first round Saturday wouldn't yield such a player. Jones emphatically denied that he's talked to Cincinnati about the availability of disgruntled receiver Chad Johnson, who is threatening to sit out the season if he doesn't get a new contract. ESPN reported this week that the Bengals informed Washington, which was offering its first-round pick (No. 21) and a conditional third-rounder in 2009, that Johnson wasn't available. Arizona's Anquan Boldin and Detroit's Roy Williams are other veteran receivers the Cowboys could be eyeing.

If the Dolphins didn't go for Jake Long, it would've been Chris

Bill Parcells had a Tuesday deadline to get "Quote Machine" Jake Long signed to a deal, or he would've moved on with the same offer to defensive end Chris Long of Virginia. That's according to Chris Mortensen, who attributes it to Dolphins team sources.

Wrote Mort:

Bill Parcells, the vice president of football operations for the Dolphins, had set an internal deadline of Tuesday to get the deal done or he would have turned to Virginia defensive end Chris Long, according to team sources.

Parcells even sent a letter on Monday to Jake Long's representatives -- Tom Condon and Ben Dogra of Creative Artists Agency -- suggesting Parcells would have to move on if the deal didn't come to a conclusion.

That sounds like a very Bill Parcells-ish thing to do. "If you want to be the #1 overall pick, you'll have to agree to our terms by Tuesday, or you can go stuff it, mister, because I am in charge here, and not you." That sort of approach has worked pretty well for him through his career thus far.

I don't think I buy it, though. I'm not saying I don't believe Mortensen, I'm saying I think Parcells was full of dolphin excrement.

If you've identified one guy that you think is the best player in the draft, then that's the guy you draft, right? Would Parcells really have taken a lesser player, just because someone wouldn't give in to his tough-guy act? That's cutting off the nose to spite the face, right?

I know you'd like to twist and contort everyone to the uncomfortable pose of your choice, Bill, but if you can't, you're just going to have to figure something else out. I don't think Parcells is petty enough to cost himself the best player in the draft, just because he felt like setting some arbitrary "I'm just doing this so you know I'm the boss" kind of deadline.

Power of Parcells clearly evident in Long signing
Be honest. If Cam Cameron were the one announcing that Jake Long is the Miami Dolphins' No. 1 draft pick, frazzled South Florida fans would be screaming bloody murder today.

Instead, it's Bill Parcells spending the top overall pick on an offensive tackle from Michigan and doing it four days before the draft is conducted, which virtually eliminates the possibility of another team making a late trade offer.

This, of course, is more than acceptable. It's commendable. It's Big Tuna commencing what promises to be an impressive haul. Such is the power of Parcells, and I have no argument with it. Between him and head coach Tony Sparano, a former offensive line coach, Long's potential will be stretched to the limit.

Saints looking to move up and grab Dorsey

Saints looking to move up and grab Dorsey

As it turns out, the Atlanta Falcons have gotten calls from teams interested in moving up to No.3 in this weekend's NFL draft according to Profootballtalk.com.

One of them came from the New Orleans Saints, who were linked last week to the St. Louis Rams at No. 2.

The Saints are believed to be hoping to move up in an effort to land LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey. They currently hold the 10th overall pick in the draft.

Glazer on Long


'Very good chance' Long will be signed before draft
The Miami Dolphins are close enough in pre-draft negotiations with Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long that a finalized contract could be announced any day, an NFL source told The Palm Beach Post today.

The source said "there's a very good chance" Long already will be under contract as the No. 1 pick before the NFL Draft begins at 3 p.m. Saturday at Radio City Music Hall in New York.
The source dismissed prior reports that the Dolphins had issued a deadline for Long to sign so that they could move on to negotiate with other possible candidates if necessary. The source also said the�Dolphins have not negotiated with any other players.

The Dolphins declined to comment. A call to Long's agent, Tom Condon, was not immediately returned.

Pacman paid $15,000 in extortion money
Court documents allege that a 29-year-old man arrested for a Las Vegas strip club shooting extorted hush money from suspended Tennessee Titans cornerback Adam (Pacman) Jones.

Police said Arvin Kenti Edwards, of Renton, Wash., used go-betweens to reach Jones, who paid $15,000 over several installments to various people after the shooting.

Three people were shot - including Long Islander Tommy Urbanski, who was paralyzed from the waist down — after a melee at the Minxx strip club during the NBA All-Star Weekend in February 2007, Jones had been at the club earlier that night.

Packers could take a quaterback in the first round
Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson won't pass up a worthwhile passer in this weekend's NFL draft.
And if the Packers end up taking a quarterback with the 30th pick in the first round, Thompson said it shouldn't be interpreted as a lack of confidence in new starter Aaron Rodgers.

"If we take a player at any other position, it's no slight on the players that we have at those positions," Thompson said in his pre-draft news conference Monday. "Aaron, he's comfortable in his own skin. He understands the NFL is the NFL."

Rodgers, the Packers' first-round pick in 2005, finally gets his chance to start next season now that Brett Favre has retired -- presumably for good. Thompson said that won't change, even if the Packers draft a quarterback early.

No doubting Dorsey's ability, just his durability

NFL teams seeking a potentially dominant defensive lineman atop this year's draft know it all comes down to the three Ds. Dorsey. Doctors. Durability.

Based on pure talent, production, and intangibles, Louisiana State's Glenn Dorsey is widely considered a slam-dunk choice, certainly worthy of being the No. 1 overall pick. Yet as is often the case, it isn't that simple.

Teams thinking of drafting Dorsey must put faith in their doctors because of his medical history — primarily a stress fracture in his right leg and a right knee sprain. The injuries never sidelined Dorsey during his four-year collegiate career, but they have become a concern to teams that might invest such riches in a potential top-five draft pick. It's one thing to play through those injuries in college, but the physical toll of the NFL is that much greater, so correctly evaluating Dorsey's health — and potential durability — is what clubs at the top of the draft are grappling with.

Report: Fish are close to an agreement with Jake Long

Report: Fish are close to an agreement with Jake Long
Tom Curran at MSNBC says that a contract agreement between the Dolphins and Jake Long is "nearly in place." Again, I don't believe anything anyone says this time of year.

Keith, upon being arrested: 'I'm a Colts player'
Colts running back Kenton Keith was out of jail Monday after being arrested for refusing to leave a nightclub parking lot and yelling at officers that he was a Colts player who had done nothing wrong, police said. Officers working security tried to clear a crowd from the parking lot of the Cloud 9 club after it closed at 3 a.m. Sunday. The 27-year-old Keith and several others refused to leave and were laughing, dancing and joking, police said.

Eli Manning's wedding album
You owe it to yourself to check out this photo gallery of Eli Manning's wedding. Jeremy Shockey seemed to enjoy himself.

Man begins to get over Brett Favre; marriage slowly heals
As I read this column this morning, written by a woman whose husband was distraught over the retirement of Brett Favre, I couldn't tell if it was real or a parody. I think I've settled on real.

Reading it felt a little like watching Best in Show, a Christopher Guest mockumentary that looks real, but is, in actuality, actors poking a little fun at the culture depicted; in that case, dog show people. Here, I couldn't tell if it was really a story about a "Oh no, Brett Favre has retired, and my life will never by the same" kind of guy, or a mockery of that kind of guy.

If you're a young filmmaker, I think there's a documentary to be made about situations like this one. It's too crazy to be mocked or spoofed, like that one about the guy who loved bears (actual bears, not the Chicago Bears) so much that one ate him.

A snippet, from OCRegister.com:

Days later, however, our TV remained stuck on sports channels giving all angles of the retirement story. Once, when I urgently needed to watch "Lost," Joe was fixed to the TV — it was Favre, again, choking up about leaving football.

Favre's eyes were as red as my husband's. And the look on Joe's face said something sad was happening on television. (Anybody remember the first episode of "Little House On the Prairie," when the Ingalls' dog almost drowned? Like that time; Joe was crying.)

I gingerly asked if what he was watching would go on long. "Oh," he said, wiping away a tear, "this is taped."

Yikes. And another:

Was I sad for the Packers and the games Joe would miss? No. I was calculating the money we'd save. Money once devoted to Joe's love life. No more Prime Ticket on Direct TV; no more trips to Green Bay. We'd even save on the Packers gear Joe insisted our entire family wear during the season.

Our daughter needs braces and more riding lessons. The older kids would be in therapy for years, what with the absence of their dad due to football.

Thank goodness Favre retired when he did. People must've been getting sick of looking at this guy's daughter, with her Favre jersey and gooned-up teeth.

And this is a family in southern California. Imagine the carnival of freakish behavior going on in Wisconsin right now. Marriages and families have actually been brought back together by the retirement of Brett Favre. It's up to you, Aaron Rogers, to tear those apart again.

Draft rumor mongering: Roy Williams to the Eagles?

I've never been one to post seemingly random trade rumors, but it's the week of the draft, this one's fun, and it at least has a source. So we'll roll with it.

GCobb.com, which, according to ProFootballTalk.com, has been "nailing many an Eagles scoop this offseason," reports that the Eagles are attempting to trade for Lions wide receiver Roy Williams.

There's video of his report, but I'm going to opt to just give you the quote, because I don't think many of you are interested in what Lee, the mustached car-salesman at Infiniti of West Chester, has to say.

Here you go:

"Talked to Mike Quick today. The Eagles are going to do something this week, when it comes to the draft, they're going to make a move after a wide receiver. I don't know whether they're going to be successful or not, but they're going to be going, and the word is that Roy Williams is going to be one of the guys that they're targeting. Trying to get a deal done. The Lions are holding out trying to get everything they can, but we'll see what happens."

Cobb also breaks the news that many Eagles fans are desperate for female companionship. I can't imagine why that would be so, and I don't believe it.

PFT says that the Redskins and Cowboys are also bidding for Williams, which would mean that 75% of NFC East's teams are in on this. That would seem to put Lions GM Matt Millen in an advantageous negotiating position ... at least, it would, if he wasn't Matt Millen.

Smith to Jarrett: 'You're here to play football'
Steve Smith wants Carolina Panthers teammate Dwayne Jarrett to get his act together. Carolina's three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver was asked Monday if the embattled Jarrett was due for a coming-out party after his disappointing rookie season was followed by an offseason charge of driving by impaired. "You know, the party session is actually over. This is the NFL," Smith said. "You make plays. You're here to play football.

Vital draft body parts: Glenn Dorsey's right leg
The only thing you can count on in the days leading up to the NFL draft is that everyone's lying. Teams lie about who they want, players lie about past injuries, GMs lie about non-existent trade offers, and agents lie about everything. I lie to you three or four times daily right here (that was a lie).

So I don't know what we should believe about Glenn Dorsey's leg. Mr. X-ray machine is probably not lying about the dark spot on the X-ray, and some GMs are concerned about it, according to STLtoday.com. Dorsey says he suffered a stress fracture there in his junior year when he banged it against something in the weight room, but that he played two years with the injury, and it never bothered him.

He also suffered a sprain of the right knee last year, but again, he never missed a game, and says it's not an issue. Backing Dorsey up on this are the Nagurski (best defensive player), Lombardi (best lineman or linebacker), and Outland (best interior lineman) awards on his mantle.

Two things concern me about Dorsey. One, it's a stress fracture, and Dorsey says he suffered it while banging into something in the weight room. That's not what a stress fracture is. Stress fractures are caused by repetitive motions.

And two, there were too many times last year where Dorsey went for long stretches of a game being pretty blockable. He made as many spectacular, eye-popping plays as any defensive lineman you can mention, but there were also a lot of times when he'd disappear for a good stretch of the game.

But he's got nearly ideal measurables, and the leg has passed every test it's been put through, so there's still a very good chance he'll be taken in the top three. I certainly don't think he'll slide out of the top ten. But his leg is going to be key in how the top of the draft shakes out.

These teams should have passed on these WRs

These teams should have passed on these WRs
The Eagles took Freddie Mitchell when they could have had Reggie Wayne. That isn't the only WR misfire Ed Thompson found.

Colts RB Keith arrested outside Indy nightclub
Colts running back Kenton Keith was out of jail Monday after being arrested for refusing to leave a nightclub parking lot and yelling at officers that he was a Colts player who had done nothing wrong, police said. Officers working security tried to clear a crowd from the parking lot of the Cloud 9 club after it closed at 3 a.m. Sunday. The 27-year-old Keith and several others refused to leave and were laughing, dancing and joking, police said.

Eli Manning married in Mexico

Eli Manning married in Mexico

New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning wed Abby McGrew during a beachfront ceremony Saturday in Mexico, the New York Daily News reported on its website.

Brohm has no regrets, evening as draft stock falls
If the NFL draft were the stock market, then Louisville's Brian Brohm would be Bear Stearns.�Last year at this time, Brohm was considered by many a top-five pick, his value peaking. Yet he bypassed the 2007 draft to return to Louisville, had a difficult campaign, and now he might slip out of this year's first round completely.

While this year's crop of quarterbacks is headlined by Boston College's Matt Ryan, who is expected to be selected within the first eight picks, the 6-foot-3-inch, 230-pound Brohm might have the most compelling story because of his unexpected plunge. He insists he has no regrets.

"My season didn't go as well as expected, but I feel like I learned a lot from that," the 22-year-old Brohm said. "I wouldn't go back and change a thing."

Baltimore tight end Sypniewski suffers knee injury

Baltimore tight end Sypniewski suffers knee injury
During a minicamp practice Friday morning, tight end Quinn Sypniewski's left knee buckled after hauling in a pass and awkwardly bumping into linebacker Antwan Barnes. In obvious pain, the 6-foot-6, 270-pounder was carted off the field. There's concern that this could be a season-ending injury that would require surgery according to the Carroll County Times.

Afterward, Sypniewski was on crutches in the locker room and had a walking cast on his leg before leaving the training complex to undergo a magnetic resonance imaging exam. Further tests are going to be conducted to determine the full severity of the injury.

"You hate to see that, you don't want to see guys go down, said tight end Todd Heap, the only healthy tight end on the roster since backup Daniel Wilcox isn't fully recovered from ankle surgery. "It does not look good. I definitely feel for Quinn right now, and I hope he's all right."

Seattle GM said Seahawks could trade down

Seattle Seahawks general manager Tim Ruskell on Friday said there is a good chance the team will trade down in the April 26-27 draft in order to acquire additional picks.

The Seahawks hold the 25th (first round), 55th (second round) and 86th (third round) selections. Seattle does not have a fifth-round pick, which was traded to Jacksonville for running back Alvin Pearman last season.

Ruskell said because the Seahawks signed running backs to fill a need in free agency, they have the flexibility to move around in any round to acquire extra picks.

Roy Williams might not play on third downs for Dallas
This is a make-or-break season for Dallas Cowboys safety Roy Williams.

He might be the only man who has started in the Pro Bowl who has so many questions about his role in his organization. Some people at Valley Ranch don't trust him on the field anymore. Don't be surprised if Williams is benched on third downs this fall. Teams love throwing to the tight end on third down to keep the chains moving.

Williams knows he's not the same player he was a few years ago. His ears work. He knows the critics are out there. He did himself no favors in the locker room last year by being suspended for a horse collar tackle on Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb. Wade Phillips also chose not to start him for two games. He didn't register a single sack in 2007.

If McFadden is available at No.6, will Jets take him?
Arkansas running back Darren McFadden, once thought to be unattainable for the New York Jets at No. 6 overall, recently has been rumored to be falling somewhat. His character has been called into question as the result of two incidents outside nightclubs in 2006 and last January. He was not charged in the recent incident, but he is waiting for the follow-up results of a second test in a paternity suit — the first test showed him not to be the father — and he has two other paternity cases to be resolved.

Clinkscales, however, said McFadden passed the organization's extensive vetting and that the team would be comfortable selecting him. "If we draft a player, we've checked out his character thoroughly," Clinkscales said. "If that's the pick [McFadden] we choose to make, we'll be comfortable with that decision."

They also would be comfortable with the player they've been most linked to, Ohio State defensive end Vernon Gholston. "Vernon's a very explosive player," Bradway said.

San Diego nose guard Williams has knee surgery
The last of the expected offseason surgeries for Chargers players was performed yesterday when nose guard Jamal Williams underwent his second arthroscopic procedure this month.

Williams had his left tknee cleaned out, according o team sources. Williams' right knee was cleaned out April 1. His recovery from the procedure is expected to take two to three weeks, about the same time as his recovery from the first procedure.

Twelve Chargers, including eight starters, have undergone offseason surgery. There is a possibility tight end Antonio Gates (toe) and center Nick Hardwick (foot) will not be ready for the start of the season.

Eagles interested in obtaining Jets DL Robertson?

New York Jets defensive tackle Dewayne Robertson, a No. 4 overall pick in 2003, visited the Philadelphia Eagles and�took a physical, according to two league sources the Delaware County Times reported.

The Eagles can't comment on Robertson, who is still property of the Jets but became trade bait when New York switched to a 3-4 defensive alignment this off-season and signed Kris Jenkins to play nose tackle. Robertson�was also in conversations with at least four other teams, said one source, who couldn't confirm if the Eagles had made an offer to the Jets.

The Eagles have 11 picks in the draft, which starts next Saturday, and could pick up more if they deal cornerback Lito Sheppard. The Denver Broncos are also reportedly interested in Robertson.

Falcons have 11 picks ... and it isn't enough
The Atlanta�Falcons enter next weekend's NFL draft with 11 picks — enough to complete a starting unit on offense or defense. They might need more.

A three-day minicamp this week revealed a young, relatively untested roster. There is a lack of depth at several positions and the need for immediate help at others. Whom the Falcons will select with the No. 3 overall pick in the draft is the biggest question. Yet the players acquired with the second- and mid-round picks could prove most crucial. The Falcons need as many as two starters and other rotational players to step in right away.

Should the Falcons retain the No. 3 pick, Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan, Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long and LSU nose tackle Glenn Dorsey are on the short list. Each fills a position of need. Ryan likely would sit for most of the season, learning and waiting for a solid offensive line to be formed.

Draft memories: McNabb gets a warm Philadelphia welcome

Draft memories: McNabb gets a warm Philadelphia welcome
YouTube is sadly and disappointingly bereft of much NFL draft footage, but one great draft moment that does live on via YouTube is this one: Eagles fans lustily booing their team's selection of Donovan McNabb.

If you're over the age of 10, it's not Halloween, and you're wearing metallic face paint in public, there should be some kind of law making it illegal for you to voice your opinion on anything. Unless you're a Raiders fan, in which case it's just assumed that you suffer from some form of mental illness anyway.

The fans were upset because they wanted the Eagles to take Ricky Williams, who had three or four good years before the weed got the best of him.

Good call. I guess the face paint does have that one advantage: no one can recognize you as the genius who almost had a coronary when the Eagles drafted Donovan McNabb.

Team that gets Allen will spend at least $70 million
Once a team acquires Jared Allen's�rights, the 6-foot-6, 270-pounder is likely to demand the same six-year, $72-million package paid by the Colts last year to defensive end Dwight Freeney. The deal included $30-million in guaranteed money according to the St. Petersburg Times.

Allen, entering his fifth season out of Idaho State, brings some off-field baggage. He was suspended two games last season for substance abuse violations, including two DUI arrests. He returned to start 14 games, finished with 64 tackles, made his first Pro Bowl and, according to Bennett, has grown.

"He's gotten over that, I think," said Tampa's Michael Bennett, a teammateof Allen's in Kansas City. "Everybody makes mistakes. We've all been there. We learn from our mistakes, and I think he's matured."

Come on, you can't expect the Titans to smoke schwag
Court documents revealed yesterday that a lowlife drug dealer admitted to selling some top-shelf marijuana to Tennessee Titans players for about $1,000 an ounce. Or close to an ounce, anyway.

In cross-examination by Williams’ attorney Peter Strianse, Corey Cecil was asked about the transactions, “The people that were sending you those wire transfers were connections that you had made on the streets when you more or less were a hydroponic marijuana dealer to the stars; is that right?”

Cecil asked Strianse what he meant by “To the stars,” and the attorney replied, “Tennessee Titans players, you would set them up with ounce quantities of high-quality hydroponic?”

Cecil then replied, “Yes, sir.”

Cecil also confirmed in questioning that he was “pinching out” seven grams of each ounce and selling it to the players as a full ounce with the Titans players unaware of being shortchanged.

Pinching out of bags like that. Tsk. This guy has a lot to learn about being a respectable member of the community.

No players were named in the court documents -- and I certainly can't think of any that are likely to engage in this sort of behavior -- but this wasn't about nailing buyers.

As it turns out, this dealer, Corey Cecil, had an uncle on the force, and he and another officer would stage fake arrests of Cecil during drug deals, "confiscate" all the money and the drugs, and then allow Cecil to keep his weed, while all the parties involved split up the money.

All three of them were convicted. We'll see if this results in any reports of an increased work ethic in Titans minicamps and training camps.

Urlacher said he never threatened to quit over money
Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher disputed a report that he threatened to retire if the Bears don't reward him with more guaranteed money according to the Chicago Tribune.

"I never said that I was going to quit,'' Urlacher told the Tribune early Friday morning. "That's just a gossip column. Reports like that is why I choose not to speak to the media.''

Urlacher, who is seeking a multi-year contract extension that would pad the nine-year, $57-million contract he signed in 2003, has not attended the Bears' on-going voluntary workouts and said he is unsure if he will attend the team's mandatory minicamp May 30-June 1 if a contract agreement is not reached. He also cited the opportunity to spend more time with his children as a reason for staying in Arizona. He did not express plans to boycott training camp. The Bears, who sit about $16 million under the salary cap, continue to have talks with Urlacher's agents.

What we wrought this week: From bad tats to an angry Chad
•�Chad Johnson makes it clear that he doesn't want to wear the orange and black stripes anymore. Too bad. It's a fantastic look.�

•�Steve McNair, out of the blue, announced his retirement. We won't lose sight of how amazing McNair once was.

•�The Chiefs decide to trade Jared Allen because they're sick of having good players on their team.

•�The loose lips of Miami GM Jeff Ireland might have inadvertently sunk the Dolphins draft ship.

•�The schedule came out, and as always, it has its high points and its low points.

•�For some reason, Stephen Cooper was hopping himself up on ephedra.

•�In a TV interview, Herschel Walker discussed his disassociative identity disorder. Or maybe it was Herschel Walker. I can never tell.

•�The Pope planted one Kellen Clemens's kid.

•�Justin Smith and Willis McGahee have formed a wonderful bond based on threatened dental thievery.

•�A Patriots fan gets a tattoo of an ugly woman in a tattered blue dress and some kind of nasty infection on her right leg.

Shockey wouldn't be upset if he was traded
Jeremy Shockey has not formally demanded a trade from the Giants, but he has made it very clear he wouldn't be upset if it happened, either. The brash tight end, who missed the Giants' championship run with a broken leg, has been sounding off for more than a month about his frustrations with the Giants, according to NFL sources. And he has told friends he would welcome a trade to the New Orleans Saints, who made an offer for him last month the New York Daily News reported.

But while Giants GM Jerry Reese admitted yesterday that he has had "conversations" with other teams about trading Shockey, he also said he is not shopping his tight end. "Anything can happen in personnel," he said. "But right now, Jeremy Shockey is our starting tight end and we're looking forward for him to be back on the field for us this fall."

According to team sources, at least two clubs have inquired about Shockey and the Giants have made it clear they are willing to listen. The Saints reportedly offered them a second-round pick for Shockey last month, but the Giants wanted more. "We're not just going to give him away," the source said.

Chiefs willing to accept less than two first-rounders for Allen?

Chiefs willing to accept less than two first-rounders for Allen?

The Kansas Chiefs have talked with the Minnesota Vikings and Tampa Bay Buccaneers about a trade involving Allen, who led the NFL in sacks last season. Allen is in Minnesota meeting with the Vikings today, and a visit to Tampa could follow soon the Kansas City Star reported.

Allen had yet to discuss the particulars of a long-term contract with either the Vikings or Buccaneers. But a bigger obstacle could be an agreement between either team and the Chiefs on draft-choice compensation. It's unlikely that either the Vikings or Bucs would be willing to part with two first-round picks as well as satisfy Allen's financial demands with a long-term deal. But one team or both may be willing to part with a first-round and lower-round choice.

By merely engaging in talks with the Vikings and Bucs, the Chiefs have in effect indicated they would accept less than two first-round picks for Allen. It was unclear what changed the Chiefs' thinking in this regard, though they appear to have made little or no progress in negotiating a long-term contract with Allen. The Vikings have the 17th pick in the first round, and the Bucs have the 20th pick. Minnesota has two third-round choices.�If the Chiefs sent Allen to the Vikings for Minnesota's first- and initial third-round selections, that would give Kansas City two of the draft's top 17 picks and five of the first 73.

Barber, Canty face signing deadline Friday
Friday is the deadline for Dallas Cowboys restricted free agents Marion Barber and Chris Canty to sign offer sheets with other teams.�If the players haven't signed offer sheets, Dallas will retain exclusive negotiating rights with those players.

Barber was tendered at the first- and third-round level, putting a one-year, $2.562 million offer on the table, while Canty was tendered at the first-round level ($2.017 million).�According to sources, the Cowboys and Barber remain far apart in negotiations on a long-term deal. The team and Canty's representatives have discussed an extension. Canty plans to sign the tender shortly after the deadline passes.

The team's third restricted free agent, center/guard Joe Berger, signed his one-year, $927,000 tender with the team Thursday, according to agent Tom Tafelski according to the Dallas Morning News.

Houshmandzadeh says Chad has to be traded
T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Chad Johnson's confidant, said Thursday that if his fellow Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver isn't traded, Johnson's going to be a problem and a potential distraction to the team. Houshmandzadeh said it might be best, in spite of the salary cap hit, if the Bengals granted Johnson's wish to be traded.

"If he's not traded, he's going to be a problem," Houshmandzadeh said. We have 53 players on the team. Do you want to roll the dice and get him to Cincinnati and see if he will perform and be professional? But will it be such a disruption that it will be another season down the drain - a season when (veteran Bengals right tackle) Willie Anderson doesn't get to the playoffs?"

He found himself talking to both Johnson and quarterback Carson Palmer on Wednesday, the day Johnson denied Palmer's comment that Johnson had told him he would report to the Bengals when required. By crossing swords with Palmer, Houshmandzadeh said, Johnson might have picked a fight he can't win.

Team that gets Allen will spend at least $70 million
Once a team acquires Jared Allen's�rights, the 6-foot-6, 270-pounder is likely to demand the same six-year, $72-million package paid by the Colts last year to defensive end Dwight Freeney. The deal included $30-million in guaranteed money according to the St. Petersburg Times.

Allen, entering his fifth season out of Idaho State, brings some off-field baggage. He was suspended two games last season for substance abuse violations, including two DUI arrests. He returned to start 14 games, finished with 64 tackles, made his first Pro Bowl and, according to Bennett, has grown.

"He's gotten over that, I think," said Tampa's Michael Bennett, a teammateof Allen's in Kansas City. "Everybody makes mistakes. We've all been there. We learn from our mistakes, and I think he's matured."

L.A. has no NFL team, but they do have a pretty YouTube video

L.A. has no NFL team, but they do have a pretty YouTube video
I'm not one of the people who cares tremendously about getting an NFL team back in Los Angeles. I might think differently if I felt like the people of Los Angeles desperately wanted a team, or if I thought the NFL desperately wanted to be there.

Anyway, a fellow named Ed Roski, who has more money than God, has put together a plan to build a handsome new stadium. It's his land, so that's not an issue, but at some point, someone's going to have to come up with the $820 million to build the thing. No word on where that's coming from.

More details here.

Chad Johnson is losing fans
A fan so devoted to Chad Johnson that he used to call him his "not gay boyfriend" (Michael Westbrook approves, but just barely) finally disowns 85. It's quite sad.

A slip of the tongue: Dolphins to go defense?
You know how sometimes, you'll be talking, and your brain and your mouth have a slight disagreement, and your brain wins, and it makes your mouth say something you didn't want it to say?

It happens to me all the time. For instance, I'll be at Best Buy, and a young woman who works there will ask if she can help me, and I'll say, "Yeah, I'm looking for an HDMI cable for my--I'll give you $200 to touch me." And then I'll be arrested, and the cop will put me in handcuffs, and I'll go, "Officer, I take full responsibility and I'm sorry and -- If I touch you, sir, can we just forget this ever happened?"

See? The brain always wins.

Something similar may have just happened to Miami Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland at a meeting with the media. Here's the MP3 from WAXY-AM in Miami.

WAXY-AM Jeff Ireland .mp3 (click to download)

Woopsie-daisy!

I guess it's possible that Mr. Ireland simply misspoke (a term you hear a lot more whenever elections are coming up). But it's also possible that his brain and his mouth were fighting. The brain was thinking, "Yeah, we're taking Chris Long, Glenn Dorsey, or Vernon Gholston," and the mouth was thinking, "Shut up, jerkface, no one's supposed to know that." And the brain happened to win.

Later, Bill Parcells will beat the hell out of all of them.

So it's either utterly meaningless, or an accidental indication of the Dolphins plan on draft day. You decide.

Gracias, Sports by Brooks.

Steve McNair used to be a beast

Given his injury-plagued and not-always-stellar play with the Ravens over the past couple of seasons, it's easy to forget how good Steve McNair once was. Given his retirement announcement today, it seems like a good time to remember.

Five or six years ago, McNair was about the scariest thing in the NFL. He was prototypical in how he played the game, bringing every quality you could want in a quarterback. He was big, mobile, accurate, intelligent, and played through any injury you could imagine. You could've sawed the guy's right leg off in the 2nd quarter, and he'd be back after halftime with a prosthetic that he crafted out of a piece of the field goal post.

But he was also physically fearsome. In his prime, he was almost impossible to sack, and he made a ton of plays that a slower or smaller quarterback just couldn't have made. He had ridiculous athleticism, but it never come at the expense of being a pure quarterback.

In 2003, his co-MVP season, he threw for over 3,200 yards, 24 touchdowns, and had just 7 interceptions. And this was a guy whose value could never be wholly measured by stats. He just made plays.

When people remember Super Bowl XXXIV, they remember the last play, where Kevin Dyson came up just a yard short of the endzone. But right before that, McNair made one of those amazing, but typical-of-him plays that kept the Titans alive and put them in position to score.

The retirement papers haven't been officially filed yet. McNair's departure from the Titans two years ago was somewhat acrimonious, so I don't know if it's something he'd want, but I agree with the gang at Music City Miracles. I'd like to see him sign a one-day contract with Tennessee, and retire as a Titan.

Malcolm Kelly: Still slow, but not as angry
Remember Oklahoma receiver Malcolm Kelly, who got mad because he ran slow times on a surface on which he wasn't prepared to run? Well, he got to run again, this time, on the surface of his choice. And he wasn't a great deal faster.

For some reason, Chiefs to trade Jared Allen
That's what Jared Allen says, anyway. He told Fox's Jay Glazer that the Chiefs have held trade talks with the Vikings and the Bucs, and right now, they're just trying to agree on trade compensation and a new contract for Allen.

From Glazer:

The Pro Bowl defensive end is the Chiefs' franchise player, but re-signing in Kansas City will be a problem as the team is looking to stockpile draft picks.

Allen said the two sticking points are working out terms of a deal with a new team and the Chiefs agreeing to compensation for a trade. A package of first- and second-round picks or one of first- and third-round picks in the upcoming draft have been discussed as possible terms. It's unclear at this point what it will take to get the deal done.

Allen is 26 years old and led the NFL in sacks last year. Guys like that do not grow on trees. Why get rid of him? Is it because he rode a blazing saddle? Because he wore a shining star? Why?

The only reasoning offered is that they "want to stockpile draft picks." Well, sure, of course they do. But who doesn't? That's like saying that some guy "wants to make a lot of money." Right, but, that doesn't necessarily mean he's willing to sell one of his kidneys to do so.

I've contacted the Broncos, Raiders, and Chargers for comment, and they all said, "Really? Well, tell the Chiefs we said 'thanks'."

NFL blogger fired from real job for being drunk two years ago
If you read any NFL blogs at all, you're probably familiar with the work of a fellow named Michael Tunison, perhaps better known as Christmas Ape, who writes at a site called Kissing Suzy Kolber, which you should read every day if you enjoy things that are hilarious and filthy.

Before Monday, he was known to the blogging community only as "Christmas Ape," but since someone decided to start paying the guys at Kissing Suzy Kolber, he decided to let the world know that he was a real person with a real job. He included this picture of himself. He's the one on the left.

In the accompanying post, he said he was "totally [freaking] hammered" at the time the picture was taken. He also included links to his work as a Metro writer at the Washington Post.

Forty-eight hours later, the Washington Post fired him, saying that he brought "discredit to the paper." For being drunk. Two years ago. And you wouldn't even know he was drunk in the picture, unless he told you.

If he was posting pictures of himself, nude, passed out in a bathtub, and covered in hooker's blood, I could see where the Washington Post people might be upset. But he's just hugging a parrot, for God's sake. You can clearly see his left hand on the parrot's shoulder. The parrot is not being molested in any way, despite clearly asking for it with that tantalizing yellow beak.

I just find it puzzling that he'd be fired over that picture. I've contacted the WaPo for an explanation. Hopefully, there's a follow-up coming, but I tend to doubt it.

Cardinals hosting college tailbacks

Cardinals hosting college tailbacks
For the first time in five years, the Arizona Cardinals are bringing in college prospects for visits prior to the draft, April 26-27.

The Cardinals stopped the practice in 2004, the year Dennis Green became head coach, but resumed it this year.

This week, the Cardinals have visits schedule from two running backs, Oregon's Jonathan Stewart and East Carolina's Chris Johnson. Stewart is coming off toe surgery so part of the reason for his visit is a medical check. Johnson is one of the faster players in the draft (4.3 seconds in the 40-yard dash).

L.A. has no NFL team, but they do have a pretty YouTube video
I'm not one of the people who cares tremendously about getting an NFL team back in Los Angeles. I might think differently if I felt like the people of Los Angeles desperately wanted a team, or if I thought the NFL desperately wanted to be there.

Anyway, a fellow named Ed Roski, who has more money than God, has put together a plan to build a handsome new stadium. It's his land, so that's not an issue, but at some point, someone's going to have to come up with the $820 million to build the thing. No word on where that's coming from.

More details here.

A slip of the tongue: Dolphins to go defense?
You know how sometimes, you'll be talking, and your brain and your mouth have a slight disagreement, and your brain wins, and it makes your mouth say something you didn't want it to say?

It happens to me all the time. For instance, I'll be at Best Buy, and a young woman who works there will ask if she can help me, and I'll say, "Yeah, I'm looking for an HDMI cable for my--I'll give you $200 to touch me." And then I'll be arrested, and the cop will put me in handcuffs, and I'll go, "Officer, I take full responsibility and I'm sorry and -- If I touch you, sir, can we just forget this ever happened?"

See? The brain always wins.

Something similar may have just happened to Miami Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland at a meeting with the media. Here's the MP3 from WAXY-AM in Miami.

WAXY-AM Jeff Ireland .mp3 (click to download)

Woopsie-daisy!

I guess it's possible that Mr. Ireland simply misspoke (a term you hear a lot more whenever elections are coming up). But it's also possible that his brain and his mouth were fighting. The brain was thinking, "Yeah, we're taking Chris Long, Glenn Dorsey, or Vernon Gholston," and the mouth was thinking, "Shut up, jerkface, no one's supposed to know that." And the brain happened to win.

Later, Bill Parcells will beat the hell out of all of them.

So it's either utterly meaningless, or an accidental indication of the Dolphins plan on draft day. You decide.

Gracias, Sports by Brooks.

Oklahoma's Kelly looks to boost stagging draft stock
In an attempt to salvage his sagging draft stock, Oklahoma wide receiver Malcolm Kelly emailed media outlets with the resilts from his workout do-over in Norman, Okla.�Here's that information he sent to the Dallas Morning News:

40 time: range of 4.46 to 4.61
20 yard shuttle: 4.01 to 4.09
L drill: 6.79 to 6.83
225 was 14 reps at end of workout
Broad jump: 10.25

Kelly was at Dallas Cowboys headquarters Wednesday.�He'll also, per the release, meet with the Washington Redskins and San Francisco 49ers this week.

Vikings, Chargers candidates to move to LA?

Writers from the Minneapolis Star-Tribune couldn't help but notice the color of the seats at a proposed Los Angeles football stadium were purple. The writers also noted stadium construction could finish in�2011. That's the same year the Vikings least ends with the Metrodome.

The�Star-Tribune wrote:�"This unveiling could end up being a significant advancement in the LA-football/Vikings relocation as-of-yet non-story, it's not exactly time to panic.

"If Los Angeles ever gets a team, the leading candidate will always be the San Diego Chargers, who haven't been able to replace their aging facility. (Once known as Jack Murphy Stadium.) Moving the Chargers would always be the least-painful way to get back to Los Angeles. It's a little jarring to see those purple seats, and the color might well be intentional. It's worth keeping an eye on, but it's not even the beginning of the end for the Vikings in Minnesota. Yet. ''

Losman likely staying in Buffalo

Losman likely staying in Buffalo
J.P. Losman doesn't appear to be going anywhere despite his request that the Buffalo Bills trade him. "J.P.'s on this roster and he's a part of this organization. And we anticipate J.P.'s going to be on this team," Bills chief operating officer, Russ Brandon, said Wednesday. "He's here and that's how we're approaching it," Brandon added.

Dolphins negotiating with Jake Long only

As of Monday night, the Miami Dolphins had not initiated contract talks with Chris Long according to the Miami Herald — which is consistent with Peter King's si.com report that they are negotiating only with Jake Long and have given him a deadline to accept.

Owner Wayne Huizenga won't discuss the No. 1 pick, but has such confidence in Bill Parcells, that he's not conceding next season as strictly a rebuilding one: ''A lot will depend on the draft,'' he said. ``Bill's doing a good job.''

Parcells did not accompany general manager Jeff Ireland and coach Tony Sparano to workouts and visits with the potential No. 1 picks, but Huizenga said that is OK because ``that's the general manager's job.''

Pacman: 'Can't count the eggs before they hatch'
Pacman Jones might need to brush up on clich�s, but his point is that he isn't assuming he'll be a Dallas Cowboy until the trade with the Titans is done.

"You can't count the eggs before they hatch," Pacman said on Michael Irvin's ESPN 103.3 show. "Everybody knows I would love to play for Dallas. Hopefully, it will work itself out."

Pacman said he's anxiously awaiting the trade and that he can't wait to work out with his new teammates. Two problems with that: 1) He won't be allowed to work out with the Cowboys until Sheriff Goodell says so; 2) He's got a minor injury at the moment.

"I had got to a point where I was working out a little too much," Pacman said. "I done pulled my groin, so I took off the last two and a half weeks."

Goodell: Pacman trade wouldn't affect suspension
Jerry Jones and Roger Goodell sat side-by-side at lunch Wednesday, and it's easy to guess who did most of the talking. It might be just as easy to guess what they were talking about. The status of Adam "Pacman" Jones is of major interest to the Cowboys because they are trying to acquire the suspended cornerback-kick returner from the Tennessee Titans. Trade talks have stalled, likely because of uncertainty about when he will be reinstated by Goodell, the NFL commissioner.

Chris Steuber's NFL Draft mailbag
How does Darren McFadden compare to Adrian Peterson? Scout.com's Chris Steuber fields your questions about the NFL Draft.

Arizona's Watson injured on in treadmill mishap

Arizona's Watson injured on in treadmill mishap
Arizona Cardinals starting nose tackle Gabe Watson suffered a fractured kneecap last week in a treadmill mishap and won't be able to participate in off-season practices, coach Ken Whisenhunt told the Arizona Republic Monday.

Watson underwent surgery to repair the fracture, and the Cardinals are optimistic he'll be ready for the start of the season. He will be limited, however, when training camp opens in July.

Watson suffered the injury Thursday evening at a local health club. He already had worked out at the team's facility earlier in the day. He slipped and fell on the treadmill, causing the fracture, Whisenhunt said.

Will Gholston slip out of top five picks?
As there continues to be speculation and innuendo in league circles that defensive end/linebacker Vernon Gholston might slip out of the top five, an experienced media insider tells us that, in his view, the talk is wishful thinking from the teams that would love to see Gholston slide according to Profootballtalk.com.

Apparently, however, there's a growing chance that Gholston won't slide past No. 1. If Michigan tackle Jake Long doesn't agree to terms to be the No. 1 overall pick, Gholston could be the guy. Per the source, Fins V.P. of football operations Parcells is always looking for the next Lawrence Taylor, which Golston could turn out to be.

The rumors of a slide also, in our view, could be propagated by the Dolphins, who might be hoping to squeeze Gholston into taking the low-ball offer at No. 1 that quarterback Brady Quinn surely wishes in hindsight that he'd accepted in Oakland.

Dolphins negotiating with Jake Long only

As of Monday night, the Miami Dolphins had not initiated contract talks with Chris Long according to the Miami Herald — which is consistent with Peter King's si.com report that they are negotiating only with Jake Long and have given him a deadline to accept.

Owner Wayne Huizenga won't discuss the No. 1 pick, but has such confidence in Bill Parcells, that he's not conceding next season as strictly a rebuilding one: ''A lot will depend on the draft,'' he said. ``Bill's doing a good job.''

Parcells did not accompany general manager Jeff Ireland and coach Tony Sparano to workouts and visits with the potential No. 1 picks, but Huizenga said that is OK because ``that's the general manager's job.''

Pacman: 'Can't count the eggs before they hatch'
Pacman Jones might need to brush up on clich�s, but his point is that he isn't assuming he'll be a Dallas Cowboy until the trade with the Titans is done.

"You can't count the eggs before they hatch," Pacman said on Michael Irvin's ESPN 103.3 show. "Everybody knows I would love to play for Dallas. Hopefully, it will work itself out."

Pacman said he's anxiously awaiting the trade and that he can't wait to work out with his new teammates. Two problems with that: 1) He won't be allowed to work out with the Cowboys until Sheriff Goodell says so; 2) He's got a minor injury at the moment.

"I had got to a point where I was working out a little too much," Pacman said. "I done pulled my groin, so I took off the last two and a half weeks."

Eagles say they may just keep Sheppard now
Rumors and speculation about the future of cornerback Lito Sheppard have been rampant since the Eagles acquired the prize of the free agent market, Pro Bowl cornerback Asante Samuel, in late February.

Team president Joe Banner acknowledged on Tuesday that other teams have shown "significant interest" in acquiring Sheppard's services. Banner said that the Eagles have to make a determination whether it's best for the team to move him or bring him back. As of now, Banner said "the best thing to do is keep him."

"You don't see many 26-year-old Pro Bowl players who there is even a possibility of acquiring," said Banner. "If you look at the history of player trades, you'll see a very short list of players that age, that caliber of player, that kind of character. There is significant interest, but the reason there is interest is because he's a good player, which is a compelling reason, also, to keep him. We'll just have to weigh the options of keeping him or whatever else is available, and in the end (head coach) Andy (Reid) will make a decision as to which he thinks is better."

Chargers' Cooper has been caught with drugs before

In the wake of then news that San Diego Chargers linebacker Stephen Cooper has been suspended four games for violation of the league’s substance-abuse policy it has become apparent it isn't�Cooper’s first problem with drugs according to Profootballtalk.com.

In a Dec. 10, 2002 story in the New York Times, it was reported that�Cooper, then a star linebacker for Maine, had about 1,000 pills in his possession when he was stopped Nov. 1, 2002 for a traffic infraction on Interstate 95 in Hampden, said Stephen McCausland, spokesman for the Maine Department of Public Safety. McCausland said Cooper acknowledged to the police that the pills were steroids.�

Steelers take look at Louisville receiver Urrutia

Steelers take look at Louisville receiver Urrutia

The Pittsburgh Steelers Monday�took another long look at another tall receiver, which was on quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's wish list for 2008.

Louisville's Mario Urrutia, who is 6-5 , 232 pounds, is spending part of the day at the team's training facility. Urrutia, a junior, caught 35 passes for 501 yards last season, which was disrupted by a turf toe injury.

Independent scouting services consider Urrutia a late-round draft pick, at best.

Pacman won't apply for reinstatement until after trade
Pacman Jones said on the Michael Irvin radio show Tuesday that he would wait until he's traded before applying for reinstatement from his year-long suspension from the NFL. Jones was expected to apply for reinstatement Tuesday according to the Dallas Morning News.

Jones, a cornerback for the Tennessee Titans, has been suspended since last April for violations of the NFL conduct policy. The Dallas Cowboys continue to be in trade talks with Titans.

"I'm hoping it will be done this week, but that's just agent talk," Jones said on the radio show of reports that his agents believe a deal can be completed. "We'll see how it goes and I'll be tuning in and I'm going back to my house and get in front of the TV and hope it will get done today."

The Cowboys increased their offer for Jones, according to a source, and Jones has made some financial concessions, including forgoing some incentive money due to him, to help facilitate a deal.

Will he stay or will he go? Strahan won't say
Michael Strahan had his annual meeting with the New York Giants general manager last week, but he told Jerry Reese that he's not yet ready to make any decisions about his future according to a report in the New York Daily News.

That meeting, which was first reported by the NFL Network, was confirmed by a team source and it apparently lasted for about an hour at Giants Stadium, just a few days after Strahan returned from his African vacation. The 36-year-old defensive end had said he hoped to make up his mind whether or not he wants to retire before the NFL Draft.

The draft is now just 12 days away. It's not clear exactly what Reese and Strahan discussed, and whether any of that included Strahan's desire for more money. He has one year left on his contract and is due $4 million, but co-owner John Mara has said the team is open to possibly sweetening his deal. A friend of Strahan's said the Giants' willingness to do that could nudge him in the direction of playing one more year.

He's my best friend, best of all best friends ...
Terrell Owens and Andy Roddick have their cell phones set that this song plays as the ringtone when one of them calls the other.

The Titans continue with the Pacman Jones price gouging
The line to acquire Pacman Jones is exactly one team long. And yet, the Titans continue to act like there are 20 teams bidding to acquire his services, and they keep jacking up the price on the Cowboys.

According to The City Paper of Nashville, the Cowboys originally offered a late-round pick, but the Titans are insisting on a 4th-round pick "plus more."

It seems like that's an awfully bold stance to take, considering that Pacman (pictured to your right, after having settled for his second choice, after learning that the "Feed the Strippers" t-shirts were sold out) is not currently eligible to even wear an NFL uniform.

I understand that the Titans want to get all they can, and obviously, there's nothing wrong with that. But I wonder if they aren't overplaying their hand a bit. If the Cowboys end up saying, "No, you're asking too much," and closing the door on negotiations, then what?

What are they going to do, keep him? Yeah, that's a fantastic idea, if you're looking for a fan revolt. And I don't mean that fans would stop coming to the games ... I'm talking about an actual violent revolt. I'm talking about Pacman getting loose on a punt return, and just as he breaks into the open field, every paying ticketholder in section 109 running onto the field with bats and clubs and knifes and murdering him. I'm talking about Pacman diving into the stands after a touchdown, and never returning to the field.

Just something to think about it during negotiations, Titans.

Giving her the ol' 'exotic smashmouth'
Michael Turner stars as Jerome Bettis in ... Exotic Smashmouth. Sounds like something you'd have to be 18 or older to see, or a sailor on shore leave to perform.

Russian roulette among episodes Walker reveals in new book
Herschel Walker, the 1982 Heisman Trophy winner, once played Russian roulette with a loaded pistol as he struggled with a personality disorder.

"To challenge death like I was doing, you start saying, 'There's a problem here,' " he said during an interview broadcast Monday night on ABC's "Nightline."

Walker suffers from dissociative identity disorder (DID), formerly known as multiple personality disorder. His experiences are chronicled in his book, "Breaking Free," which is released this week. Walker, 46, was a standout running back at Georgia. He played for four teams — Dallas, Minnesota, Philadelphia and the New York Giants - in a 12-season NFL career.

The NFL schedule fairy is visiting today!

As I'm sure you know, at 2 o'clock ET today, the NFL announces the schedule for the '08/'09 season. ESPN's airing a special 2-hour show to commemorate the occasion (I'm primed and ready for a hefty offseason dose of Emmitt Smith), and the NFL Network is, of course, having a special of their own.

Keep in mind, this isn't even really a true unveiling of the NFL schedule. Everyone already knows who they're going to be playing, and where they're going to be playing them. At 2 o'clock, the NFL simply announces the order of the games. ESPN is having a two-hour special to breakdown the order of NFL games.

I would say that's ridiculous, but we're talking about a Tuesday afternoon in the middle of April. What else am I going to do with those two hours? Watch Law & Order reruns on TNT? As the World Turns? Bring it on. I might even liveblog the damn thing.

And from NFL Total Access, here's a video preview of today's schedule announcement. That's right, a preview of people talking about the order of this year's games.

I'm not waiting for the regular season to start the ogling

One of the worst things about the NFL offseason is that the opportunities to post cheerleader pictures are rare. For today, at least, we get a brief reprieve.

All around the country right now, teams are having open competitions to determine who exactly will be the targets of your binoculars at NFL games this year. FanHouse's Stephanie Stradley was fortunate enough to judge the first rounds of the Texans cheerleader tryouts, and the Hater Nation checks in with an update on the Chargers cheerleading tryouts.

Four-hundred women showed up for the chance to be Charger Girls, and that will have to be trimmed down to 28. The competition is stiff.

You might also be interested in the knowledge that Stephanie's FanHouse post includes a photo essay, and that the San Diego Union-Tribune also has a large photo gallery of the tryouts. Unless you happen to be the lotion spreader for one of these squads, David Brooks of SignOnSanDiego.com has a better job than you do.

Which NFL teams are getting the primetime love?

I've counted up the number of national television games (including Thursday nights, a Saturday game, Thanksgiving games, Sunday night games, and Monday night games), and here's how it breaks down:

Six National Games: Dallas Cowboys Five National Games: Steelers Browns Eagles Four National Games: Patriots Colts Packers Bears Three National Games: Jaguars Chargers Broncos Giants Saints

Two National Games: Jets Ravens Titans Raiders Redskins Vikings Buccaneers Seahawks Cardinals One National Game: Bills Bengals Texans Lions Panthers 49ers Zero National Games: Dolphins Chiefs Falcons Rams

Quick reactions:

•�The freaking Bears get four games? Awesome. Four times this year, our undivided attention will be on the Grossman/Orton/Griese double-headed suckmonster. Outstanding.

•�I thought the Dolphins might get at least a little bit of early-season shine. The involvement of Bill Parcells makes them intriguing, and early on, people might want to tune in and get a look at the #1 overall draft pick. Nope.

•�I'd like to thank the schedule-makers for keeping the Brodie Croyle-led Chiefs, and the possibly Chris Redman-led Falcons out of primetime. That's a beneficent and merciful decision.

•�The TV people are absolutely sold on the Browns, it appears. The Steelers and Eagles each getting five games isn't a surprise, as they're consistently a good TV draw, even if the teams aren't very good, but the Browns? Checking in with more games than the Patriots or Colts? Color me surprised.

•�I'm a little disappointed that the Packers get four games, too. Aaron Rogers won't be able to hide, and I've got a hunch that in those broadcasts, there might be some talk about Brett Favre. They probably won't overdo it, though.