proCane-to-be WR Aldarius Johnson participated in UM Pro Day on Thursday and put up solid numbers. Johnson who had a stellar freshman season for the Hurricanes looked to be in excellent shape and is the big bodied fast WR NFL teams are looking for.

Johnson was measured at 6’012 inches, 208 lbs.

His vertical jump was 32.48 inches, broad jump 9.04 feet.

Johnson did not do the bench press, but he did run the 40 with a time of 4.45 seconds.

His 20-yard shuttle run was also a quick 4.1 seconds.

Linebacker Sean Spence put up just 12 repetitions at 225 pounds on the bench press at the NFL Combine, and he didn’t try to make up for it Thursday. Spence said a deep bone bruise in his left shoulder he suffered at the Senior Bowl was the reason for that disappointing number, adding that he can usually put up 19 repetitions. Once he gets healthy, Spence wants to send a video of him on the bench press to NFL scouts.


(sun-sentinel.com)

CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) — Lamar Miller knows there's many draft experts who believe he is not going to be selected in the first round of next month's draft.

He thinks they're wrong.

The former Miami running back was part of the Hurricanes' annual Pro Day on Thursday, skipping the 40-yard dash but taking part in other workouts. And afterward, Miller said he still believes leaving school and giving up on his final two years of eligibility will ultimately pay off for him.
"I feel that I am a first-round guy," Miller said. "I'm not doubting himself at all."

Miller checked in at 5-foot-11, 213 pounds. He left Miami after his redshirt sophomore season in which he ran for 1,272 yards and nine touchdowns.

"He's still got some developing to do," said former Miami running backs coach Tommie Robinson, now on staff with the Arizona Cardinals. "I think his best days are ahead of him."

Given Miami's rich history in the NFL draft, it's typical for all 32 NFL teams to be represented at the Hurricanes' pro day, and Thursday was no exception. Miami was 6-6 last season, choosing to pass on going to a bowl game in advance of expected sanctions from the NCAA for compliance policy violations.

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin and Miami Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland were among the notable NFL types looking on Thursday, as was former Hurricanes coach Butch Davis, now on the staff of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Former Hurricanes Antrel Rolle, Reggie Wayne, Orlando Franklin, DeMarcus Van Dyke and Spencer Adkins also made appearances.

"It just shows the family bond that you have here at the University of Miami," former Hurricanes quarterback Jacory Harris said.


(ap.com)

Travis Benjamin, who finished the 40-yard dash in 4.36 seconds at the NFL Combine, said he is training with former Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Cris Carter three days per week in Boca Raton.




(sun-sentinel.com)

Jacory Harris is noticeably bigger since his last snap as a Miami Hurricane. The quarterback said he is at around 203 pounds as of Thursday. That number is up from the end of his senior season when he weighed 192 pounds. “I’m at a good weight right now,” he said. “I feel comfortable, I feel good, and I feel strong.”

During Thursday’s Pro Day, scouts were looking for Harris to display his arm strength rather than his touch with the football. According to Harris, scouts liked what they saw, telling him, “Way to rip the ball.”

ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. has gone on the record saying Harris will not be drafted. Here are Harris’ thoughts on that statement: “I don’t deal with it anyway because two years ago [Kiper] was talking about that I was a second-round quarterback. It really doesn’t matter, people change their opinions. He’s a great guy, and he’s an NFL analyst. But he’s not an NFL scout or somebody that’s going to be making the decisions.”


(sun-sentinel.com)

With a representative from each NFL team in attendance at the University of Miami's annual Pro Day, graduating seniors and those declaring for the NFL Draft had an opportunity to showcase their skills.

But former Miami Hurricanes running back Lamar Miller and wide receiver Tommy Streeter didn't think they had much else to prove in Thursday's Pro Day.

After Miller finished the 40-yard dash in 4.40 seconds, the fastest time among running backs, and Streeter also ran a 4.40 at the NFL Combine in February, they decided to sit that drill out Thursday. Instead, the two participated in position drills.

"I think I did pretty good," said Miller, who had his sling taken off his surgically repaired shoulder three weeks ago. "I had a very good day catching the ball out of the backfield, doing the position drills."

Miller, who is fighting with Boise State's Doug Martin, Oregon's LaMichael James and Virginia Tech's David Wilson to be the second running back taken in this year's draft, is unsure of where he'll end up being selected.

"Some people are talking about late first round, some people are talking about early second," Miller said. "I really don't know. … I feel like I'm a first-round guy. Everybody has that mentality, though."

Streeter is trying to use the same approach.

"Every round is realistic," Streeter said. "You don't know until draft day, A lot of times people make mock drafts, but you never really know until draft day. So I'm just praying and trying to control everything that I can."


(sun-sentinel.com)

Lee Chambers finished with the fastest 40-yard dash time of the Hurricanes who ran it Thursday with a 4.41. Wide receiver LaRon Byrd was second with a 4.46. Another impressive time came from the 6-foot-4, 265-pound Olivier Vernon, who ran the 40 in 4.68 seconds.



(sun-sentinel.com)

University of Miami S JoJo Nicolas measured 6-foot-1, 200 pounds at his Pro Day Thursday, March 8. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.53 seconds and measured a 37 1/2-inch vertical jump and a 9-foot-11 broad jump. He also completed 14 repetitions on the 225-pound bench press.



(kffl.com)

According to the NFLPA, the Giants also have re-signed tight end Jake Ballard and cornerback Bruce Johnson. Both are reportedly exclusive rights free agents. Ballard is rehabbing from ACL surgery and likely will start the season on the PUP list. Johnson is making his way back from a torn Achilles suffered in the preseason last year.


(espn.com)

New Orleans linebacker Jonathan Vilma caused a bit of a stir Thursday morning on his verified Twitter account.

Vilma caused a panic among New Orleans fans when he tweeted “Finally... freedom!!’’

That’s a natural reaction, because Vilma is one of the team’s most popular players but has been the subject of widespread speculation that he could be released because he has a high salary-cap figure.

But Vilma came back quickly and said he hasn’t been cut.

“Freedom from these crutches ... relax lol,’’ Vilma said in his follow-up tweet.

Still, that second tweet raised another question. Why was Vilma on crutches? He had knee surgery during the season. Did he have another operation after the season? If so, that could only add to the speculation about his future with the Saints.

This is a team with serious salary-cap issues. Vilma seemed slow when he was playing last season, and as he approaches 30, you have to wonder whether his knee problems could be chronic. He still could be a cap casualty before the start of free agency next week. At the very least, he’s a candidate to have his contract restructured.


(espn.com)

Houston Texans WR Andre Johnson has agreed to restructure his contract. The Texans have taken his $6.5 million base salary for 2012 and turned it into a bonus which will allow the team to spread the cap hit over the life of the contract.




(fantasysp.com)

Pro Football Focus loves statistics. Thursday morning the fellas put together a post ranking the 2011 performances of the NFL's interior defensive lineman. How did they determine what really makes a D-tackle stand out?

Run stop percentage.

The number describes how many times a guy caused "an offensive failure as a percentage of how many plays he is in on run defense, excluding plays nullified by penalty."

Don't worry, they did the math for you. And look who's in the top six: Vince Wilfork.

The Patriots tackle racked up 29 stops on 334 run snaps for an 8.7-percent efficiency rate. It's not a bad number, attesting to the fact Wilfork doesn't just devour blocks but can also make plays.

The AFC Championship comes to mind. With the Patriots up just three points in the fourth quarter and Baltimore driving, Wilfork stopped Ray Rice for a third-down, 3-yard loss to push the Ravens out of field goal range.  

Such is the point of PFF's examination. You like a tackle in the middle who can absorb double, and even triple-teams, but the guy who can also bother quarterbacks and stuff the run is invaluable.

Vince Wilfork can be that guy. Examining playoff performance compared to the regular season could make the evaluation more interesting.


(csnne.com)

NEW ORLEANS — Jimmy Graham continues to find ways to make himself beloved in the New Orleans area.

The latest way is the youth football camp his PR team announced Thursday.

The 2012 Jimmy Graham Football ProCamp will be held May 5-6 at Tulane.

He’s scheduled to be on-site the entire camp, the release said.

The camp is open for boys and girls between the ages of 7-14 and will involve “various instructional stations specializing in fundamental skills and the team concept of football.”

Graham burst onto the scene this past season when he nearly set an NFL record for receiving  yards by a tight end, passed only by New England’s Rob Gronkowski on the final day of the regular season.

He led the Saints in both receptions and receiving yards and his 11 touchdowns receptions also was a team-best.


(wwltv.vom)

Free agent Reggie Wayne acknowledged that he has "not heard a word" from Colts brass since the end of the season.

"Nothing," he emphasized. "Not a phone call, not a text message, not a note from a pigeon. Nothing." Wayne is tentatively expected to follow fellow free agent Peyton Manning wherever he goes. Now purely a possession receiver, the 33-year-old would make plenty of sense with either the Cardinals or Dolphins.


(rotoworld.com)

Texans right tackle Eric Winston is visiting U.S. military troops in Afghanistan as part of the 2012 NFL-USO Tour.

Other players on the trip are Cleveland Browns center Alex Mack, former Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Dhani Jones, Carolina Panthers punter Jason Baker and San Diego Chargers linebacker Takeo Spikes.

“It’s definitely great to see all the troops and everyone that’s over here defending our country and sacrificing so much so we can do whatever we want back home,” Winston said Tuesday via telephone from an undisclosed military base in Afghanistan. “It’s been real neat.”

Winston and the other players have been in the Middle East since Sunday morning, visiting multiple bases each day since. They stay at different bases each night and travel in Blackhawk helicopters and other military vehicles.

“Mostly it’s just meeting with guys, meeting with the troops and seeing people, trying to get to as many people as we can,” Winston said. “That’s what this is all about is seeing the guys and trying to take their mind off of everything – even if it’s a handshake or a five-minute conversation, talking to them about anything that they want to talk about, the football season, how the Texans did, where you think Peyton (Manning) is going to go. Whatever it might be, we hope that we might be able to take their mind off the hardships they’re going through out here.”

Winston joins head coach Gary Kubiak (2011) and linebacker Mario Williams (2009) as the latest member of the Texans to participate in an NFL-USO Tour. Over the course of the NFL and USO’s 45-year partnership, more than 200 active and former players and coaches have traveled to more than 20 countries.

After asking about doing the tour a couple years ago, Winston was thrilled to be selected this year.

“It’s something that’s very special,” Winston said. “These (troops) obviously are part of a family, and you can tell that they all treat other like that. It’s pretty neat to see.

“Honestly, meeting the guys and just getting a chance to talk to ’em whether it’s over some lunch or just meeting some of those officers out here, whatever it might be, everyone is just incredibly professional, incredibly dedicated. It’s really neat watching everyone work toward the same goal in whatever duty they might have.

“It blows your mind how well-constructed some of these bases are and how well laid out and all the hard work that had to go into building something like this in such a short period of time. It just goes to show you how talented the men and women of our services are. Seeing things from up close, going around and seeing the countryside and seeing kind of what the country’s like, it’s been a great learning experience for me.”

Winston has interacted with servicemen and women from the Houston area, and a good number of Texans fans, so far during the tour.

“I’ve met a lot of Fort Hood guys,” he said. “I met a Special Forces Marine that’s from Kingwood just yesterday. It’s been neat. You definitely get a big welcome, and you hear from them that they’ve been sitting up watching the games at 4 a.m. sometimes on a Monday morning to watch the noon games.

“Everyone’s pumped about last year, and everyone’s just excited as can be. A lot of these guys, they can’t stop telling you how much football means to them, how much they love watching the games. They all get up at 3 a.m. knowing that they might not sleep that much that night, but they’re willing to do it because they want to watch football. The passion they have for it and how big of a fans they are, it doesn’t stop just because they’re halfway around the world. They love it just like a typical fan, so it’s been neat being here and just being able to say hi to ‘em.”


(thebustv.com)

John Salmons acknowledges that his transition from starting small forward to Kings reserve hasn't been easy.

After starting the first 28 games in which he played this season and struggling offensively, Salmons was sent to the bench Feb. 17 in Detroit, making way for Isaiah Thomas to become the starting point guard.

"You never want to get benched, or demoted, or whatever the case may be," Salmons said Thursday. "But you've got to get over your pride and try to continue to try to help the team win.

"I didn't really have an argument for starting because I wasn't playing well. You've just got to roll with it."

The move has created a new role for Salmons.

Shortly after removing Salmons from the lineup, coach Keith Smart said he began having Salmons practice initiating the offense.

Earlier this season, Salmons often headed to a corner and waited for the ball to come to him. In recent games, Salmons has been more of a facilitator when the second unit is on the floor.

For Salmons, it's not new ground. He was drafted as a point guard, he said, and still prefers the position, though he has not played it regularly for several years.

"This way, I put the ball in his hands, which allows him to be a play-maker," Smart said. "He can take a shot when he needs to, and he can also move the basketball."

On the second unit, Salmons adds another option for the Kings to run the offense through, along with guard Jimmer Fredette and forward-center Chuck Hayes.

Smart said having Salmons run the offense at times allows Fredette to get to spots and drive or shoot off of a pass.

"John initiates a lot of things by just taking pressure off of some of our guards and allowing them to kind of roam off of screens, and that's been good so far," Smart said.

With Salmons mired in one of the worst shooting slumps of his 10-year career before the All-Star break, Smart said he watched film of Salmons' past seasons and saw that he had success playing in the middle of the floor as opposed to a wing.

Salmons, averaging 7.3 points a game after averaging 12.5 points over his eight previous seasons, agreed that being more active on the offensive end has helped to improve shooting.

Salmons is shooting 39 percent this season, but in the six games since the All-Star break he has made 58.8 percent (20 for 34) and scored in double figures in three of the past four games.

He also has 12 assists in the past six games, while committing nine turnovers.

"I think I'm getting more comfortable with it every game," Salmons said. "I'm just riding it out."


(sacbee.com)

Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com writes that the Indians believe Chris Perez (oblique) still has a chance of being ready for Opening Day.
Perez is gradually increasing the distance of his throwing after straining his left oblique late last month. Initial reports had him missing 4-6 weeks, so there's still a chance he could be ready if he doesn't run into any setbacks. Vinnie Pestano would be the likely candidate for saves if Perez needs extra recovery time.


(rotworld.com)

PHOENIX – The voice of one fan pierced through the air at Maryvale Baseball Park while Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun stood at the plate.

“Ster-oids. Ster-oids. Ster-oids.”

A few fellow fans started booing, trying to silence him, with one yelling, “You trying to start something buddy?”

Braun took matters in his own hands.

He hit the next pitch over the center-field wall for a monstrous home run off Cincinnati Reds left-handed reliever Sean Marshall. It was not only Braun’s first homer of the spring, but his first hit.

The crowd at Maryvale Baseball Park erupted in cheers.

Braun, who won his appeal after testing positive for a banned substance in October, realizes he’ll be hearing a lot of chants when the Brewers hit the road. Yet, if he answers back like that often enough, he could be celebrating his second successive National League MVP award.

“I just said I would hit it into fair territory. I didn’t (predict) a hit or anything like that,” he said in the clubhouse after exiting.

“We’re making progress. Spring training is always a process, and for me, I’m just trying to keep the same approach that I’ve always had in getting myself prepared for the season.”

The timing couldn't have been better from Braun's perspective. No more than 30 seconds earlier, a lone Reds fan in the crowd began chanting "steroids" as he stood in the batter's box.

He took the high road when asked if he heard the heckler.

"I try not to pay attention to anything," he said. "Sometimes it's entertaining. Sometimes there's a little chuckle. But I try not to pay attention to it."
Braun has been starting every other day early on in Cactus League play, but said he’ll play Friday as well when the Brewers host the Cleveland Indians. Milwaukee has an off-day on Monday, and Braun doesn’t want to miss consecutive games.

“But typically for another week and a half or so, I’ll go every other day other than the off-day,” he said.


(tucsoncitizen.com)

New mix. GM Josh Byrnes made seven trades during his first three months on the job after replacing Jed Hoyer, and most of his work should benefit the Padres. As good as the mix was in winning 90 games in 2010, it was just as bad in losing 91 games in 2011. A team that did all the so-called little things properly -- throwing to the right bad, hitting cutoff men, making plays consistently in the field, heads-up baserunning -- did precious few of them properly last year. Outfielder Carlos Quentin, first baseman Yonder Alonso and veteran extra outfielder Mark Kotsay in particular will help change the dynamic, surely for the positive.


(cbssports.com)

Phoenix - After socking his first spring homer Thursday against Cincinnati -- which also was his first hit -- Ryan Braun was asked by visiting reporters what he hears from other players about his drug-test saga over the winter.

Braun says he gets support from players who he has told "the real story."

Braun was asked if the real story ever would be told -- giving him another chance to do so -- but all he said is "I highly doubt it. They're probably not going to know too much more than they know now." 

"People are going to have different opinions," added Braun. "Most of them don't know the real story. It's tough sometime to base your opinion or fomulate a decision when you don't know what happened. Overall, everybody has been real supportive."

So, no new information on that front. As for the "real story," I guess we'll all have to wait to see if it ever comes out, from Braun or anyone else. 


(jsonline.com)

Every Thursday Night proCanes.com joins All Canes Radio to bring the latest news on not only current Hurricane football but also proCane news and exclusive interviews with current and former proCanes live from the All Canes Store in Coral Gables. Click here to listen to this week’s show and hear our exclusive interview with proCane Brandon Harris. Harris talks about making his decision turn pro a year early, his rookie season in the NFL, being on the Houston Texans with so many proCanes and much more!

Many players, like Derrick Morgan were able to shine last year, but players like Colin McCarthy are going to come in handy next to Morgan. While an injured Barrett Rudd had no choice but to look on, McCarthy gladly stood up and took charge of the middle linebacker spot.

He has no doubts that next year will be any different.

Last week at the NFL Scouting Combine, head coach Mike Munchak told reporters, “We thought he came on in a big way last year.”

He was originally thought to have helped out with special team but with Rudd’s injury, it promoted an immediate opening of opportunity. He recorded 76 tackles, eight of which were for loses, and a team high.

“You saw he made plays. He found a way to knock the ball loose, create some fumbles and make some interceptions. He took control and didn’t act like a rookie out there.” Munchak said.

When the NFL reporters go to McCarthy, he voiced that he has tried to take full advantage to every opportunity that has been presented to him. I’ll tell you what, with Barrett Rudd in danger of free agency, McCarthy stepping up could very well be the best thing he’s ever done.

McCarthy told reporters, “There’s always room to improve, I tried to take advantage of the opportunities I had to make plays. As a middle linebacker, you’ve got to get everybody lined up, you’ve got to make the calls and I tried to do that this year.

Munchak apparently even seemed surprised on how McCarthy was able to stay on the field for as long as he did and they feel comfortable having him on the field for three consecutive downs. Munchak likes the way he runs the nickel defense and plans to continue using him in that role.

McCarthy is looking forward to the next season. He continues to train and study. He along with his coaches know that he is still young with learning to do, but everyone is excited for the direction in which he is heading.

“I just need to continue to work on everything — studying the playbook, studying offenses and defenses; I still have a lot to prove. Every week you have to prove yourself. The attitude coach Munchak brings to the players, you see results. You see guys working, guys pushing each other throughout the locker room it gets exciting. 9-7 was a good start for our first year, but we want to improve on that next season.”


(yardbarker.com)

It has been reported that receiver Reggie Wayne would be interested in signing with the Dolphins.  On Wednesday, Reggie Wayne said for himself that, if that’s where Peyton lands, that’s where Reggie would like to be.

“I could see it,” Wayne told Michael Irvin of WQAM radio in Miami.  “I’m definitely not opposed to it, you know?  He’s a great worker, and I consider myself a great worker.  And when you put great workers together, good things happen.  Me being in his trail going to Miami?  I would love it.  I would definitely love it.  I am totally available.  My phone is working.  Make sure you put that out there, my phone is working.  I paid my bills ahead of time, just so we have no problems.  So I am ready for anything that comes right now.”

If the written words don’t convey it, Wayne became more animated and excited the more he talked about it.  He became even more animated and excited once he discussed the possibility of a football version of LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh:  Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne, and Brandon Marshall.

“It can definitely be dangerous,” Wayne said.  “It can truly be dangerous, if they put us all together.  The league might not want that, Mike.  They might not want that.  They might not want to see that.  South Florida is already hot out here, baby, so you put us all together, it’ll be burning up.”
Irvin kept pushing, and Reggie kept gushing.

“It’s be great, it’d be fun,” Wayne said.  “Exciting.  Now you got me visualizing it.  I see the visual, it is there.  I see it.  It would be great.  It would definitely be a fun time, and an outstanding journey in South Florida.”

Wayne isn’t available to be signed by another team for six days.  Manning can officially be signed as of 4:00 p.m. ET.  Don’t be surprised if, wherever they land, they’ll be together again.


(profootballtalk.com)

As soon as the news came out, Aldarius Johnson lost his will to do anything.

Coach Al Golden had suspended Johnson before his senior season could even begin, and the wide receiver’s football career was suddenly in jeopardy.

“For like two weeks, I didn’t do anything and I just stayed in the house,” Johnson said.

Johnson was suspended indefinitely by the Hurricanes in late August for violating team rules, and he was never reinstated.

The team rule that he broke is still in question. Multiple reports state that Johnson was suspended because of a tweet he sent out asking his Twitter followers what the best strip club in Miami was. Other reports said Johnson, who was already ruled ineligible before the season because of his alleged involvement with former booster Nevin Shapiro, was less than forthright in two interviews with NCAA investigators involving Shapiro.

“I still really don’t know [why I was suspended] and I just let it go,” Johnson said. “It’s out of my hands, so I didn’t even go back and ask why or anything. I just took it as like that’s my punishment, so I’ll go do it.”

Now, Johnson is ready to move on.

The former Miami Northwestern standout has been training for the 2012 NFL Draft. And although he was not invited to participate in the NFL Scouting Combine, the University of Miami welcomed Johnson back to participate in the school’s Pro Timing Day on Thursday.

“I was surprised,” Johnson said of UM’s decision to allow him back for Pro Timing Day. “It was really a surprise to me that they said yes. So I was just like, ‘OK, now I have another chance.’ I was just looking at it like I got suspended for doing a boneheaded mistake, and I just thought they weren’t going to accept me in.”

Johnson, who had 31 catches for 332 yards as a freshman at Miami, has been training in South Florida for an opportunity like this since receiving his suspension.

On some days, he goes through three separate workouts. And the 6-foot-3, 205-pound Johnson hopes that hard work results in him running a 4.45 in the 40-yard dash in front of scouts Thursday. He even caught passes from former high school and Hurricanes teammate Jacory Harris on Feb. 23 for the first time since August.

“We can’t go back in time,” Golden said. “I would have loved to have coached him last year and be a part of this. It didn’t work out that way. But we don’t want to compound his problems by now saying, ‘OK, you don’t have a Pro Day to work out.’ Hopefully he’ll do well Thursday and he’ll have an opportunity to play in the NFL.”


(orlandosentinel.com)

Reggie Wayne has called South Florida home every offseason since entered the league back in 2001, and sources say the former Miami Hurricanes standout is open to making Miami his in-season home, signing with the Miami Dolphins.

Wayne, a five-time Pro Bowler with the Indianapolis Colts, become an unrestricted free agent on March 13. He could become part of a package deal that includes future Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning, who will be released by the Colts today.

The source said Manning and Wayne have not spoken specifically about landing in the same city, playing for the same team. But they realize its a possibility, one they would favor because of their friendship and on the field bond. Neither are expected to re-sign with Indianapolis.

The Dolphins aren’t actively looking for more receivers, but considering Manning is the team’s top quarterback target General Manager Jeff Ireland might be willing to pair Wayne with Brandon Marshall and Davone Bess.

Brian Hartline, who caught 35 passes for 549 yards and scored one touchdown last season, would likely lose his starting spot to Wayne, who is 33. But it’s possible Hartline, who enters the final year of his rookie deal, could remain in the receiver rotation.

Wayne caught 75 passes for 950 yards and four touchdowns in 2011, and that was a down year for this three-time All-Pro selection, who didn’t have Manning throwing to him for the first time in 11 seasons.

Before 2011 the New Orleans native produced seven straight seasons of 1,000 or more receiving yards.

Wayne has primarily worked from the left side of the field, which could be a challenge for the rest of the team’s playmakers.

The free agent market is flooded with quality receivers, and the draft is also stocked with young talent. That makes it a challenge to determine how much Wayne’s worth on the open market.

It’s likely that his camp will seek a contract comparable to the three-years, $15 million deal his former UM teammate, Santana Moss, got from the Washington Redskins last year.

That deal included a $5 million signing bonus and $6 million in guarantees from the Redskins. The cap hit on that deal would be about $2.67 million in the first season.

Considering the Dolphins have approximately $15 million in cap space to work with – without restructuring contacts –  it’s possible the Dolphins will need to get creative to create salary cap space for Manning and Wayne.

It’s also possible Manning’s center, Jeff Saturday, who is also a free agent, might be interested in playing for the team that signs Manning. The Dolphins could address some of its offensive line issues by signing Saturday and moving Mike Pouncey, last year’s first-round pick, to right guard.
Fellow Colts receiver Pierre Garcon, another South Florida native, is also a free agent. However, his age and productivity would likely make his price tag much higher than what it would cost to land Wayne.

Read more of Omar Kelly’s blog.


(sun-sentinel.com)

WR Reggie Wayne admits that he is biding his time until the league's free agency period begins on Tuesday. "I'm expecting the worst, the worst being that my time is up [with Indy]. It's been real. No regrets. No ill will. Just move on, that's the way it goes," he said.



(cbssports.com)

The results of the NFL’s probe into a “bounty” system instituted by the Saints has permeated throughout the league and, one by one, players are talking.

The distinction for many remains the line between motivational, bonding-type payouts for big hits or splash plays and rewards for premeditated intent to cause injury. Within the rules, even in retaliation, football is about hitting. But the term “bounty” brings with it an uncomfortable connotation.
NFL Network analyst Warren Sapp, a veteran of 13 NFL seasons and a member of two all-decade teams who many remember for a violent hit that nearly ended the career of Packers lineman Chad Clifton, draws the same line at intent to target.

“There’s a big difference between a ‘bounty’ — that means putting a price on someone’s head to be taken out of a football game — and gas money. I don’t have any problem with gas money,” Sapp said on “NFL Total Access” on Monday. “Because on Saturday night before a game, I’m in a special teams meeting, I’ll tell my L4 and my L5: ‘A tackle inside the 20, that’s $200. You get him inside the 15, I’ll give you $400.’ That’s gas money.

“But a bounty, to maliciously go out and target someone to take them out of a football game? Never. Not in 13 years. If you walked into my room and said this to me and my defense, I would ask you to leave.”


(nfl.com)

The camp for Indianapolis Colts impending free-agent WR Reggie Wayne will likely be seeking a contract comparable to the three-years, $15 million deal WR Santana Moss received from the Washington Redskins last year. That deal included a $5 million signing bonus and $6 million in guarantees from the Redskins.



(kffl.com)

Highly touted Japanese pitcher Yu Darvish struck out three in two scoreless innings in his first MLB appearance as Texas defeated San Diego, 6-2, in spring training play.

Alberto Gonzalez went 3-for-3 with a double and three RBI and Yorvit Torrealba drove in two runs on two hits for the Rangers.

Blake Tekotte tripled in both runs for the Padres, who received two innings of one-hit ball from starter Jeff Suppan.


(sacbee.com)

Jeremy Shockey was a VIP guest of Jager at the Guns N’ Roses concert at The Fillmore in Miami. Not sure how the end of the night went, but Shockey did tweet out this morning, “Back to the old me.”

Updating a previous item, Denver Broncos RB Willis McGahee said via Twitter Sunday, March 4, that he intended to remain a Bronco for the rest of his career and that, 'I don't understand how you can write an article about a person without confirming if it's true about him/her.' McGahee's comments were in response to a report stating he wanted to renegotiate his contract.


(fantasysp.com)

The Seattle Seahawks might be interested in adding QB Peyton Manning (neck), who will be released by the Indianapolis Colts. The team might also pursue free-agent WR Reggie Wayne (Colts) in a package deal.



(kffl.com)

So Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, not Steve Carell or Jake Gyllenhaal, has been cast as Hercules in the action-hero epic to be directed by Brett Ratner for MGM. Filming will start in New Zealand in October.

The screenplay has been adapted by Ryan Condol from British comic writer Steve Moore’s 2008 “Hercules: The Thracian War.” The 144-page graphic novel depicts how Hercules, the anguished son of Zeus, and his six fellow mixed-sex Greek mercenaries are commissioned by King Cotys of the Odrysae to fuse the warring tribes of Thrace (comprised of parts of modern Bulgaria, Greece, and Turkey) into the ancient world’s most ruthless and bloodthirsty army. Cotys, though, is treacherous and has his eyes set on conquering Greece and Olympus itself…

There’s no word yet on whether Hercules will muck out the Augean Stables or complete his other 11 labors in this adaptation. Since Moore followed the novel with another, “Hercules: The Knives of Kush,” an Egyptian tale of pirates, robbers, and royal intrigue at the court of the pharaoh, the stage is set for Ratner and Johnson to make a sequel, should the first movie be successful.

Hercules reached his zenith as a movie hero in the years following bodybuilder Steve Reeves’s success in “Hercules” (1958), directed by Pietro Francisci in Italy. A box-office phenomenon that earned $5 million in the US alone, the movie made Reeves Europe’s highest-paid actor and started the sword-and-sandal (or “peplum&rdquo craze.

Reeves subsequently starred in 1959’s “Hercules Unchained” and then moved on to characters like Glaucus, Goliath, Romulus, and Aeneas. Ten other actors played Hercules in the 17 Hercules movies that followed, the last appearing in 1965. Among them was former Mr. Universe Mickey Hargitay, who starred with his wife, Jayne Mansfield, in 1960’s “Hercules vs. the Hydra,” a kitsch classic par excellence. (Better that, though, than Disney’s 1997 animated version.) Another Hercules, one interestingly fond of romping with the handsome Hylas (John Cairney), was portrayed by the South African actor Nigel Green in the 1963 Ray Harryhausen classic "Jason and the Argonauts."

There’s a case to be made that the cinema’s first Hercules was Eugene Sandow (1867 – 1925). The famous Austrian strong man was “kinetographed” showing off his physique against a black background by cinematographers W.K. L. Dickson and William Heise in Thomas Edison’s tar-papered “Black Maria” studio in East Orange, New Jersey, on March 6, 1894 – 118 years ago today. The copyright title of the film, usually known as “Sandow, No. 1,” is “Sandow, the Modern Hercules”


(artinfo.com)

Braun received a rousing ovation from the pro-Brewers crowd, a decided change from Saturday when he was heckled loudly by visiting San Francisco Giants fans. Braun was caught up in a drug case during the offseason and recently won his appeal, overturning a 50-game suspension for a positive drug test.



(boston.com)

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- After nearly two weeks of a gradual rehab process, Indians closer Chris Perez was allowed to pick up a baseball again on Tuesday morning.

Perez worked through 45 throws from a distance of 60 feet at the Tribe's player development complex, marking the first time he has played catch since injuring his left oblique during a bullpen session early in camp.

"I felt good," Perez told reporters on Tuesday. "I don't know what's on tap for tomorrow."

Perez strained his side in the later stages of a 10-minute mound session on Feb. 23. Cleveland announced that the timetable for recovery for his type of injury typically takes four to six weeks, meaning that returning before Opening Day remains a possibility.

"He played catch with [head athletic trainer Lonnie Soloff]," Indians manager Manny Acta said. "That's a good first step, is being able to do it and follow the calendar."

Last week, Perez guessed that he might be able to return to game action by March 15, but that is likely an unrealistic target date. If the closer's comeback falls within the four-to-six-week time frame, he might be able to take the mound in a game at some point between March 22 and Opening Day on April 5.

The Indians will see how Perez feels on Wednesday morning before moving ahead with the next step in his throwing program, which will see the distances increase in 15-foot increments. Perez needs to build up to 120 feet before moving back on a mound and then beginning game activities.
Last year, the 26-year-old Perez posted a 3.32 ERA and saved 36 games in 40 opportunities in an All-Star season for the Indians.


(mlb.com)

Ryan Braun didn't let his second fruitless day at the plate this spring affect his sense of humor.

After striking out and fouling out Tuesday in an exhibition game against Oakland, Braun said, "I can only head in one direction from here. The overwhelming odds are that I'm going to put one in fair territory one of these days."

In his first two spring games, Braun is 0 for 4 with three strikeouts. While it might seem that Braun is out of whack after his tumultuous winter, including his appeal of a positive drug test and exoneration, he said that's not the case.

"I feel good; my timing and rhythm is starting to come," he said. "The goal is just to see some different pitches; see different pitchers and try to see the ball and find timing and rhythm.

"I think I'm seeing the ball really well. I think timing and rhythm are the two biggest things. For all hitters, early on, it's just finding your timing, trying to see the ball out of the timing and rhythm."

Asked if his offseason preparation was impacted by the drug testing turmoil, Braun said, "I don't think anything was really impacted."

Braun isn't the only Brewers regular off to a slow start. Through the first three games, only catcher Jonathan Lucroy and Carlos Gomez are swinging the bat well but Braun said that will change with more at-bats.

"For the most part, pitching is normally ahead of hitting in spring training," he said. "They've been here a little longer; they've been throwing bullpens. For us, this is the first time we've seen live pitching in a couple of months."

Manager Ron Roenicke said he will let Braun determine the number of at-bats he wants this spring, going at his own pace. Braun said he didn't need a ton of action to get ready.

"That's the plan for at least the first week or two,' he said. "It's a long spring training this year. We have five more days than we had last year. The goal is to get your work in and to build towards the regular season but not exhaust yourself before the season starts.

"I don't really need a lot of at-bats. Normally, if I get 30 to 40 at-bats, I don't really need too many more than that. Every year is a little bit different. Sometimes I feel locked in sooner than later. Other years, I need more at-bats.

"He trusts all of us. As veteran guys, we appreciate that. As a manager, he has enough trust in us to allow us to dictate our schedule and how many at-bats we want and how many innings we play. The goal is getting in shape for the start of the season."


(jsonline.com)

Once Jemile Weeks got the ball in this rundown, he wasn’t about to give it up.

Weeks made a diving tag to nab his older brother Rickie in the first inning and finished with two hits in the Oakland Athletics’ 6-0 exhibition victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday.

Oakland left-hander Tommy Milone walked Rickie Weeks to lead off the game but picked him off first. Jemile Weeks was the last player with the ball in the ensuing rundown and chased his brother back toward first before going to the ground for the out, tackling his sibling at the bag in the process.

“He was acting like he was frustrated but he was all right,’’ Jemile Weeks said. “He just looked at me kinda funny and gave me a little smirk.’’

Asked if he ever considered throwing the ball to a teammate, Weeks quickly said, “No. Not a chance.’’

Milone, one of four players acquired from Washington in the offseason deal that sent Gio Gonzalez to the Nationals, pitched three innings of one-hit ball. He struck out NL MVP Ryan Braun for one of his three Ks.

“It was a good feeling to get out one of the best hitters in the game right now,’’ Milone said, “especially to do it for the third out and walk off the field. I didn’t feel as good as I did the last time but I can’t complain about the results.’’

Milone, one of several pitchers in the mix for a spot in the Athletics’ largely open starting rotation, is proud of the development of the pickoff move he used to get Weeks.

“It used to be just a `show me’ move,’’ he said. “Now it’s turned into, I wouldn’t say a game changer, but it saves innings.’’

Braun finished 0 for 2 and is hitless in four plate appearances this spring.

“I can only head in one direction,’’ he said with a wry smile. “So the overwhelming odds are that I’ll put one in fair territory one of these days.’’
Milwaukee starter Yovani Gallardo allowed a hit and struck out four over two innings in his spring debut.

Manager Ron Roenicke has yet to announce his opening-day starter, but the spring schedule points to Gallardo.

“I don’t think it ever will (get old),’’ Gallardo said. “It’s one of those things that’s very exciting and everybody’s looking forward to it, both the ballclub and the fans.’’


(boston.com)

PHOENIX -- Ryan Braun struck out and fouled out in his second Spring Training game on Tuesday and figures he has better days ahead of him.

"I can only head in one direction from here," Braun quipped after exiting the Brewers-A's game at Maryvale Baseball Park.

Braun struck out in both trips to the plate against the Giants on Sunday, then whiffed again against A's left-hander Tom Milone on a sunny Tuesday afternoon. He snapped his strikeout streak in the fourth inning with a foul pop to the first baseman.

It's too early to call it a spring slump.

"The overwhelming odds," Braun said with a smile, "are that I'm going to put one in fair territory one of these days." That's probably true, considering he's the reigning National League MVP. Braun made offseason headlines by successfully appealing a drug suspension but said that issue did not impact his usual array of winter workouts and hitting. His quiet start is atypical; Braun usually needs only a handful of Spring Training at-bats to feel ready for Opening Day.

He is on an every-other-day spring schedule for now and will be off Wednesday when the Brewers go to Glendale, Ariz., to face the White Sox. Braun will go for that first Cactus League hit on Thursday against Mike Leake and the Reds.

Later in camp, Braun will play more regularly. He's aiming for 30-40 Arizona at-bats, but the plan could change based on feel.

"The timing and rhythm are starting to come," Braun said. "The goal is just to see different pitches, see different pitchers and try to see the ball."


(mlb.com)

Jacory Harris and Tommy Streeter working out with WR Antonio Brown at Greentree.

That’s a relief.

The Houston Texans head into the 2012 league year with several difficult choices. But they’ve taken care of one major player, agreeing on a five-year contract with running back Arian Foster, according to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle and ESPN's Adam Schefter.

That means the team won’t have to use the franchise tag on Foster, who would have been a restricted free agent who could have been lost to an offer sheet at the cost of a first-round pick.

The franchise still has a big list of pending free agents, including outside linebacker Mario Williams, center Chris Myers, guard Mike Brisiel, tight end Joel Dreessen and kicker Neil Rackers.

If the team can’t reach a deal with Williams, he’ll hit the market as the biggest defensive free agent. They cannot afford to use the franchise tag on him as it would be more than $22 million.

The franchise tag number for offensive linemen is the same for tackles, guards and centers — an unreasonably large grouping. The team likely can’t clear roughly $9.5 million to tag Myers either, and a long-term deal for him should now be the priority.

We don’t know Foster’s numbers yet on the five-year deal, but he was due a giant raise after playing as the biggest value in the league the past two seasons. He made $525,000 last season.


(espn.com)

Sunday night’s season-opening loss to the Tri-Cities Fever did little to diminish the confidence of the Nebraska Danger’s players and coaches.
Tri-Cities, which advanced to last year’s Indoor Football League championship game, outscored the Danger 28-13 over the final three quarters to pull away for a 38-23 victory Sunday night at the Heartland Events Center. Still, Nebraska coach Mike Davis said he saw some encouraging signs.

“Our offensive line played great and our defensive line played great — I’m happy with that part,” Davis said. “We missed a lot of tackles and our timing was a little off on offense, but for us to be able to play with Tri-Cities, being that they’re one of the top two or three teams in the league, it showed that my guys never quit.

“We’re going to be just fine.”

The Fever (2-0), which is based in Kennewick, Wash., opened the season with a 70-44 victory over the Everett Raptors on Feb. 25 before traveling to Grand Island for its road opener. Despite taking an early 10-0 lead, Tri-Cities found itself tied with the Danger 10-10 after the opening quarter and led just 17-16 with 6:02 remaining in the first half.

Making his first IFL start, Danger quarterback Terry Mayo finished 16-of-39 passing for 193 yards and two TDs. However, the former Central Florida signal-caller was intercepted three times, including once in the end zone with two seconds left in the first half and later at the Fever 1-yard line 41 seconds to play.

“Like any quarterback, I’ll take the blame when we don’t play as well as I know we can,” Mayo said. “There are a lot of things that we can fix. We’re a young team. Everybody can see that we’re explosive, we’re fast and we’ve got a great offensive line, a great offensive coordinator and coaches, so even though we lost tonight, I feel very confident about the rest of the season with what’s going on.”

Mayo’s top target was Kayne Farquharson, who had six receptions for 39 yards. Chris Bell finished with five receptions for 85 yards and two TDs for the Danger (0-1).


(theindependent.com)

Having formerly worked in the Cockeysville area, I was able to watch the transformation of the Hunt Valley Town Center. Crappy restaurants were replaced with nicer ones, Wegmans (the greatest grocery store in the world) was built and Wal-Mart moved out for a new project by Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis.

Two years ago Lewis announced MVP Lanes, an upscale bowling alley featuring a sushi bar and restaurant. Today, Lewis’ project “has devolved into a swirl of lawsuits,” according to Gus Sentementes of the Baltimore Sun.

The project’s subcontractors have complained that they are owed over $1.1 million and building has stalled. Today, MVP Lanes features boarded off windows and a chain linked fence around what would be the front door.

All signs point to the project being scrapped, Ray Lewis’ official website no longer mentions MVP Lanes and the project’s homepage, MVPEntertainment.com, is offline.

It’s crazy to think that a guy who signed a $22 million contract three seasons ago can’t seem to get this project off the ground.  Hunt Valley would have been a perfect location for an upscale bowling alley like this, but after reading the details in The Sun, I can’t imagine Lewis can pick up the pieces to finish MVP Lanes.


(baltimoresportsreport.com)

New York Giants safety Antrel Rolle will be appearing at fye Tuesday to sign copies of a video commemorating the Giants' Super Bowl victory.

According to an ad posted on Craigslist, Rolle will be at the store from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. The video, available in DVD and Blu-Ray format, commemorates the Giants' championship season. The season culminated with a 20-16 win over the Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI.

According to the ad, wristbands for the event will only be made available to customers who reserve the DVD ahead of time. They will be distributed on a first come first serve basis.


(levittown.com)

Peoria, AZ (Sports Network) - Munenori Kawasaki drove in three runs to help the Seattle Mariners to a 13-7 win over the San Diego Padres.

Dustin Ackley went 3-for-3 with two runs scored, while Brendan Ryan and Luis Rodriguez each drove in two runs for the Mariners. Hisashi Iwakuma got the win in the start, pitching just one inning and giving up one unearned run.

Jason Hagerty hit a two-run triple and Jaff Decker hit a solo home run for the Padres. Dustin Moseley gave up two runs and two hits over two innings of starting action.


(ksdk.com)

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Aubrey Huff hit his first home run of the spring Monday night, which could be a hopeful sign as he tries to turn around a forgettable run in 2011.

Then again, Huff led the team with six homers last spring. That total was tied for most in the Cactus League, too. So choose your talismans carefully.

It’s more about the feeling than the result for Huff, and he says he’s feeling much more refreshed -- especially between the ears.

“Yeah, I feel great,” he told me. “Just let last year go and come out and try to have some fun again. Up there, I feel comfortable and relaxed. It’s spring training, but the goal is to bring that feeling into the season.”

Last year, Huff was the Giants’ only starting position player to remain healthy all season. Hard to believe, but he was the only Giant to post enough plate appearances to qualify for the batting title.

Not that he finished anywhere close.

Huff’s average fell from .290 to .246. His on-base percentage plummeted even steeper as he drew barely half as many walks as the previous season. In 2010, his .385 OBP was the 10th best in the NL. Last season, his .306 OBP ranked as the eighth worst.

He was swinging at everything, and not to any positive effect.

“I wasn’t getting into a loading position,” Huff said. “My first movement was forward. I’ve been working on getting a nice load back. For some reason, I lost it.

“By midseason, I was making so many changes. It’s hard to get your front foot down when you’re doing all that in the middle of a season. I’m trying to work through that this spring, and so far, it’s working out.”

Huff's bat is looking quick so far. On Sunday, he hit what went down as a single in the box score -- but only because his line drive off the base of the right field wall was hit so hard.

Huff is off to a good start in his competition with Brandon Belt and Brett Pill, both of whom will get plenty of innings this spring to show their readiness.

In three games, Huff and Belt have started in the same lineup twice. Both times, Huff was at first base. Belt was either the designated hitter or played left field. Manager Bruce Bochy cautioned not to read anything into that, saying Huff will play plenty of left field this spring, too.

(Belt is swinging it well, too. He hit a shot Monday night that died in the cooler air and was tracked down by Milwaukee center fielder Jordan Schafer after a long sprint. The ball likely would've been halfway up the berm in the daytime.)

But while unspoken, it's clear the first base position is Huff’s to lose.

“Aubrey is part of this,” Bochy said earlier this spring. “We need him.”


(csnbayarea.com)

PEORIA, Ariz. — They all wear midnight blue and white, but some bleed green and orange.

The San Diego Padres have five players in camp -- including two non-roster invitees -- that attended the University of Miami: first baseman Yonder Alonso, center fielder Blake Tekotte and catchers Yasmani Grandal, Jason Hagerty and Eddy Rodriguez.

“Every time we play with a fellow teammate or someone that played at Miami, it’s really like a family,” Grandal said. “Even if you didn’t play with them, we all know each other.”

Grandal and Alonso came from the Cincinnati Reds in a five-player deal for pitcher Mat Latos. Both players speak passionately about “the U,” as Miami is commonly referred to. Although the school is mostly known for football, its baseball program is just as rich in history.

They’re just two of 38 former Hurricanes on professional baseball rosters from a program that in baseball circles is widely known as one of the best in the country.

“The only reason they talk about the football team is because the publicity they get, but we’ve had almost the same history as they have,” Grandal said. “We’re a good program as well. I think both programs are known nationwide. It’s just a good system they got there whether it’s for football or baseball. We’ve both been successful.”

Grandal spent three seasons as a Hurricane. He played with Alonso during his freshman year. He said Alonso taught him a lot, including how to lead the team.

“That’s the thing about Miami, once you learn the system -- once you learn how to play Hurricane baseball – you try to pass that on,” Grandal said.
Grandal always saw former Hurricanes like Aubrey Huff, Pat Burrell and John Jay in the batting cages in the offseason. They always gave him tips to help him improve. The 53rd-ranked prospect by Baseball America said he always wanted to be listed with those players in the school’s media guide.

“More and more you see guys getting up and doing big things,” Grandal said. “Those big things go all the way back to the University of Miami.”
Grandal has a tattoo of the school’s logo inked inside of a baseball with a cross surrounding it. Alonso has a tattoo of the logo as well -- a big orange and green “U” on his shoulder.

“That says enough right there,” Alonso said when asked what the university means to him.

Alonso spent three seasons in Coral Gables, Fla. He still spends his offseason working out at the school’s facilities. Alonso grew up idolizing the program because he appreciated the way Miami played the game.

“A lot of swag,” Alonso said. “They knew they belonged, which is something big. You grow up watching them, imitating them and playing like them.”
At Miami, Alonso became good friends with Alex Rodriguez, who originally had committed to the Hurricanes in high school before he signed his first professional contract with the Seattle Mariners.

Their relationship started when Alonso asked Rodriguez if he could hit with him. Rodriguez thought it was funny Alonso wanted to compare himself to a professional baseball player, but agreed to Alonso’s request.

They went on to hit together for two months straight.

“Even to this day, I just talked to him a couple days ago and we were talking about how it was going with camp and (Padres manager) Bud Black,” Alonso said. “It’s just nice to have someone that knows the game that has been around the game for several years.”

Grandal and Alonso make sure to help current players on the team. It can become a difficult task now that they don’t reside on the East Coast for the majority of the year, but they understand how much the interaction with professional players benefited their play on the field.

“It’s a tradition, it’s an honor,” Alonso said. “With all of that said, you got to make sure you fit that role very well. If you don’t, it doesn’t sit very well with the people around there. You got to make sure that you not only carry it on the field but carry it outside the field, too.”


(utsandiego.com)

MESA, Ariz. -- The Cubs have agreed to 2012 contract terms with all 24 players on their 40-man roster with zero to three years of Major League service, including Jeff Samardzija, who signed for $2.64 million, and Starlin Castro, who will receive $567,000.

James Russell signed for $512,000, Travis Wood will receive $505,000 and Darwin Barney $500,000.

None of the other players signed for more than $500,000. Other players to agree to 2012 contract terms include right-handed pitchers Alberto Cabrera, Lendy Castillo, Casey Coleman, Rafael Dolis, Marcos Mateo and Casey Weathers; and left-handers Jeff Beliveau, John Gaub and Scott Maine.

Also agreeing to terms were catchers Welington Castillo and Steve Clevenger; infielders Adrian Cardenas, Bryan LaHair, Junior Lake, Anthony Rizzo and Josh Vitters; and outfielders Tony Campana, Dave Sappelt and Matt Szczur.


(mlb.com)

Unhappy with his contract, Broncos running back Willis McGahee recently joined a long list of NFL players who have fired agent Drew Rosenhaus.

The Broncos recently informed Rosenhaus they would not renegotiate McGahee's contract just one season into his four-year, $9.5 million contract.
McGahee then followed offensive tackles Bryant McKinnie, Jared Gaither and Anthony Davis, linebacker London Fletcher, safety Dashon Goldson and new Broncos wide receiver Jason Hill as among the 13 NFL players who recently dismissed the agent.

McGahee made $3 million last year on a $1 million salary and a $2 million signing bonus. This year, he's scheduled to draw a $2 million salary with no bonus this year.

While McGahee is not expected to hold out, his case for a new deal is based on making the Pro Bowl last season by leading the NFL's No. 1 rushing team with 1,199 yards and averaging 4.8 yards per carry. Given that production, McGahee's $2 million salary pales next to the expected running back franchise tag salary of about $7.7 million. At least nine NFL running backs average at least $5 million a year.

The Broncos, though, can argue they were more than generous last season because McGahee had averaged only 532 rushing yards in his previous three years as a backup to Ray Rice in Baltimore. McGahee turns 31 in October.


(denverpost.com)

More and more crazy stories are coming out about the latest NFL saga involving the New Orleans Saints and their bounty hunting they did when Gregg Williams was the defensive coordinator.

According to Peter King of SI.com, a club source who was briefed on the Saints bounty investigation late Friday afternoon, the most alarming finding was one involving Brett Favre.

Before the 2009 NFC Championship Game, Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma offered any defensive teammate $10,000 in cash to knock then-Vikings quarterback Brett Favre out of the game.

Favre was hit viciously several times in the game. Favre told King Friday evening: “I’m not pissed. It’s football. I don’t think anything less of those guys.”

The details of Vilma’s offer were in a report to the 32 NFL owners, sent out by the league to detail further what the league’s 50,000-page investigation found.


(nflgridirongab.com)

After The Denver Post reported Sunday that Broncos RB Willis McGahee fired his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, because he was unhappy with his contract, McGahee took to Twitter to assure fans that he wants to end his career in Denver.

"I will retire a bronco #nuffsaid," McGahee wrote on Twitter.

McGahee didn't deny that he fired his agent, but said that the article misstated his position and reasons for firing Rosenhaus.

"I don't understand how you can write a article about a person without confirming if it's true about him/her," McGahee tweeted.

In firing Rosenhaus, McGahee joined a growing list of players who have fired the agent in recent months, including RB LeSean McCoy, LB London Fletcher, OT Bryant McKinnie and S Dashon Goldson.

McGahee gained 1,199 rushing yards on 4.8 yards per carry in his first season with the Broncos, thus making a potential case for a salary increase. However, ater the 2011 season concluded, the Broncos informed Rosenhaus that they would not renegotiate his four-year, $9.5 million contract, according to Mike Klis of The Denver Post.

McGahee is set to earn $2 million next year, after earning $3 million in 2011.


(profootballweekly.com)

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Roscoe Parrish heads the 2012 class of the Miami High Hall of Fame that was announced Friday.

A 2001 Miami High graduate, Parrish joined the Bills in 2005 after a successful career at the University of Miami. Parrish caught the attention of college scouts following his accomplishments at Miami High, where he played receiver and also took snaps as the Stingarees’ quarterback.

Joining Parrish in the new Miami High Hall of Fame class are basketball players Gimel Martinez (1990) and Steven Edwards (1992). Martinez and Edwards played collegiately at Kentucky and Miami, respectively.

The rest of the Hall of Fame class consists of girls’ basketball player Latonda Adderley (1996), baseball players Bob Gustafson (1963) and Rudy Arias (1975), football player Joe Gonzalez (1971) and track athlete Carl Vereen (1953).

The Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be April 21 at the Miami High Auditorium. The ceremony also will include a special acknowledgement to Miami High’s state football championship teams of 1960 and 1965 and their respective coaches, Ottis Mooney and Bobby Carlton. Arnold Tucker, a 1943 graduate who had a successful career at Miami and later quarterbacked the famed Army teams of the mid 1940s, also will be recognized during the ceremony.

Tickets for the event, which includes a pre-ceremony dinner on the school patio, are $35 per person and $300 for a table of 10. For information, call 305-238-4271.


(miamiherald.com)

The big talk with Winslow is the team can release him and save $4.8 million without taking a salary-cap hit. The knock on Winslow is that he will enter his eighth season with a bad knee and his best days look to be behind him. The truth is that the entire offense sputtered in ’11, and despite that he ended with 75-763-2 receiving on 121 targets — an average of 4.7 catches for 47.69 yards and 0.13 TDs on 7.56 targets in 16 games. The team lacked a vertical threat and Josh Freeman elected to go to him as a check down. His 121 targets were second to Mike Williams' 124. He can still produce but has no fantasy value with his status in limbo. If he sticks with the Bucs he's a late round fantasy draft as a No. 1 in larger leagues but preferred as a No. 2.


(profootballweekly.com)

The Baltimore Sun expects the Ravens to waive LT Bryant McKinnie if free agents Ben Grubbs and Matt Birk are retained this offseason.

McKinnie worked his way into playing shape last season, but was a liability in run blocking and finished as a below-average left tackle in Pro Football Focus' 2011 rankings. The Ravens have until March 18 to decide whether to pay McKinnie's $500,000 roster bonus.


(rotoworld.com)

Calais Campbell is the latest player to get the franchise tag.

The Cardinals announced today that Campbell, a defensive end who has played all four of his NFL seasons in Arizona, has been franchised.

“We’ve made no secret of the high regard in which we hold Calais,” Cardinals General Manager Rod Graves said. “To be clear, reaching a long-term deal that will keep Calais with the Cardinals for years to come remains our primary objective. This move today allows us the opportunity to continue working with Calais and his agent toward that goal and that’s exactly what we will do.”

The franchise tender for defensive ends is expected to be about $10.6 million.


(profootballtalk.com)

PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) - Jonny Gomes and Jemile Weeks hit two-run homers to help the Oakland Athletics' backups beat up the Seattle Mariners' regulars.

Gomes connected in the third off Kevin Millwood, Weeks homered in the fifth against Hong-Chih Kuo and the Athletics had 16 hits in their 9-2 exhibition victory Saturday.


(mlb.com)

PEORIA, Ariz. -- Jason Vargas pitched a perfect four innings in his Cactus League opener on Sunday, as the Mariners topped the Padres, 5-4, in the annual Charity Game at Peoria Stadium.

Third baseman Kyle Seager went 3-for-3 with a home run for the Mariners and also made a nice diving stop in the second inning to help keep Vargas' slate clean, as Seattle improved to 2-1 in Cactus League play.

The Padres managed just three hits in the first eight innings of their spring opener and committed three errors. First baseman Yonder Alonso, making his Padres' debut after being obtained from the Reds in the Mat Latos trade, got San Diego's first hit with a single off of Brandon League in the fifth inning.

In the ninth, San Diego would double that hit total and tie the game. After a run-scoring single by Edinson Rincon, prospect Yasmani Grandal ripped a two-run double to center, and then the Padres tied the game when Seattle shortstop Nick Franklin lost a pop-up in the sun, allowing pinch-runner Cory Spangenberg to score the tying run. Franklin was charged with an error, giving Seattle three errors of its own.

The Mariners left no doubt in the home half of the ninth, as Mike Wilson singled leading off the inning, and Johermyn Chavez doubled him home immediately after to give the Mariners the walk-off win.


(mlb.com)

Around the 40-second mark, Marlins 1B Gaby Sanchez almost tumbles of the back of a golf cart after taking infield drills at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Fla. Gaby, trying to settle in to the back seat, wasn't aware that bench coach Joey Cora was about to hit the pedal. No one was hurt. Everyone got a laugh.

PEORIA, Ariz. — When it comes to speed, Padres prospect Yasmani Grandal can't compete with his father and his uncle, both of whom played professional soccer in Cuba. But quickness is another matter, and the minor-league catcher has demonstrated plenty this spring.

With a 6-foot-2, 235-pound frame, Grandal — one of four players acquired in the trade that sent pitcher Mat Latos to Cincinnati on on Dec. 17 — has no illusions about his foot speed. Running is clearly not his forte, and soccer has never been an option despite his family background. Fortunately for Grandal and the Padres, soccer and catching have little in common.

Over the last two weeks, the Padres have tried to tap into Grandal's quickness to help him improve behind the plate after he allowed 19 passed balls in 90 games last season. With the spring training opener Sunday, Grandal wants to test out the new techniques at game speed.

"It's more recognizing what you have to do," Grandal said. "One guy can be quick running. But a slower guy might be quicker with his feet.
"I'm ready to go. I'm just real excited."

Based on early reviews this spring, the Padres must be ecstatic with what they have in Grandal, whom Baseball America recently ranked as the 53rd-best prospect in the minor leagues.

A switch-hitter with power on both sides, Grandal is every bit the physical presence that the Reds believed he was when they drafted him 12th overall in 2008. But with prospect Devin Mesoraco also in the system, Cincinnati had a surplus of good catchers and included Grandal in the Latos deal.

The Padres are the beneficiary, in particular Triple-A manager Terry Kennedy, who probably will take Grandal with him to Tucson when the team breaks camp next month. Grandal, 23, started last season at Single-A with the Reds and advanced to Triple-A before the season ended.

"A switch-hitting catcher with some juice?" Kennedy said. "Yeah, I'll take him."

Grandal expects to make significant defensive improvement this season under the direction of former big-league catchers Kennedy and Brad Ausmus, the Padres' special assistant to baseball operations. Kennedy said the early focus has been on changing the angle of Grandal's back when he's behind the plate. Before the adjustment, Grandal's back was straighter, which makes it harder to block and also raises his target — a no-no in the Padres' system.

Though the changes took a few days to kick in, Grandal said he can already see a difference.

"It's something much easier, so I can be a little faster," Grandal said. "It feels much easier to get down and block. It feels much faster when I throw to second. I work on it about four or five times a week just so I don't have to be thinking about it much."

Kennedy thinks Grandal has looked much better, especially after he began to get more comfortable with his pitchers.

"We'll have to watch in the games, but he takes his defense very seriously," Kennedy said. "He's not just a one-way guy. He wants to be a good catcher."

Grandal first played catcher when he was 15, nine years after he picked up baseball and five years after he started in Little League in 1999, when he and his mother moved from Havana to Miami. Originally, at age 4, Grandal tried to follow in the footsteps of his father, Jose Avelino Grandal, and uncle, Gustavo Herrera, who played professionally in Cuba in the late 1970s and early '80s. But soccer was never a natural fit.

Padres general manager Josh Byrnes thinks Grandal is athletic, but can't imagine him on the pitch, only catching pitches.

"He's one of the bigger, stronger guys we have," Byrnes said. "Obviously, there's some athletic ability and flexibility. It's part of the position. He doesn't look like a soccer player."

Grandal knows he can't run like one, either. But that's OK. He doesn't need speed to be a catcher.

"I'm much bigger than my uncle and my dad," Grandal said. "They weren't small, but they were fast. I played soccer when I was little.

"I'm not fast at all."


(nctimes.com)

Padres manager Bud Black said Yonder Alonso will not be handed the first base job and will have to earn it with a strong camp.

Alonso's chief competition should come from Jesus Guzman. The reality, though, is that it would be very surprising if Alonso isn't at first base on Opening Day. Black added that if the youngster does win the job, he'll probably bat fifth or sixth in the lineup. Playing in Petco and having a questionable power ceiling, Alonso isn't a terribly exciting fantasy prospect for 2012.


(rotoworld.com)

NEW YORK — Ryan Braun's lawyer criticized the lengthy statement from the person who collected the slugger's drug sample, saying Thursday the NL MVP "was properly vindicated."

"Ryan Braun presented a winning defense in the forum that counted," attorney David Cornwell said in a statement. "The landmark decision in Ryan's favor was based on the evidence and the plain meaning of the words in baseball's joint drug program. The collector's attempt to re-litigate his conduct is inappropriate, and his efforts will only be persuasive to those who do not understand the evidence or the rules.

"Ryan Braun was properly vindicated. Both Major League Baseball and Major League Baseball Players Association should be applauded because their joint program worked."

Braun escaped a 50-game suspension last week when his positive test was overturned by arbitrator Shyam Das. The legal team for the Milwaukee Brewers outfielder argued in a grievance hearing that the drug collector, Dino Laurenzi Jr., did not follow the procedures specified in baseball's drug agreement, which states the urine sample should be taken to a Federal Express office on the day it is collected "absent unusual circumstances."

Laurenzi issued a statement Tuesday defending his actions, saying he never tampered with the urine sample. Laurenzi collected the sample on Oct. 1, a Saturday, and said he placed it in a Rubbermaid container in his basement office because "there was no FedEx office located within 50 miles of Miller Park that would ship packages that day or Sunday." Laurenzi took it to Federal Express on Monday.

"At no point did I tamper in any way with the samples. It is my understanding that the samples were received at the laboratory with all tamper-resistant seals intact," Laurenzi said in his statement.

Rob Manfred, MLB's executive vice president for labor relations, said last week the league "vehemently disagrees with the decision" and called the collector "extremely experienced," adding he "acted in a professional and appropriate manner."

Manfred declined comment on Cornwell's statement as did Boyd Johnson III of WilmerHale, the lawyer retained by Laurenzi.


(ajc.com)

PEORIA, Ariz. -- In the opinion of Padres catcher Yasmani Grandal, there's no such thing as seeing too much left-handed pitching in spring.

Grandal, in his first big league camp with the team after being acquired from the Reds in December in the Mat Latos deal, is a switch-hitter who is looking to get as many right-handed at-bats as he can this month because once the season starts, left-handed pitching is harder to come by.

"If you're lucky, you might see one or two lefties a week," he said. "But not too many teams have back-to-back lefty starters."

So Grandal is focusing as much on his right-handed swing as he can in camp. And if he sees a few left-handed pitchers this spring, well, that's a bonus.

"During the season, the right-hand side doesn't usually get as many at-bats as the left-hand side. That's why you see a lot of guys being better from the left-hand side than the right," Grandal said.

"In Spring Training, you concentrate on that right-hand swing because it's the one swing that takes the longest to get good with. Lefty, it's more natural."

At this point of his career, the more at-bats Grandal gets, the more comfortable he feels. Grandal was the Reds' first-round pick (12th overall) in 2010, and last season was his first full professional season. He hit a combined .305/.401/.500 with 14 home runs and 68 RBIs in 2011.

Grandal hit .307 against right-handed pitchers and .274 against left-handed pitching.

"Lefty, I'm more a gap-to-gap guy, more contact," Grandal said. "Righty, I have way more power than lefty."


(mlb.com)

Nationals outfielder Jason Michaels told MLB.com on Friday that he is hoping to catch on as a bench player with the club this spring. He signed a minor-league deal with Washington in the offseason after batting .199 with two homers and 10 RBI in 89 games for the Astros a year ago. 'I still feel I have a lot to improve on. Everything,' Michaels said. 'The main thing is to try to have a good at-bat, trying to swing at strikes. A walk is just as good as a hit, just get on base. I'm always trying to improve. As a player you always have to think that way. You can't be complacent or satisfied.'


(fantasysp.com)