Newly-acquired middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma spoke with reporters and updated the health of his surgically repaired right knee on the first day of the team's offseason program last week.

Vilma, who was obtained from the New York Jets in exchange for a conditional draft pick on Feb. 29, played in just seven games last season before undergoing season-ending surgery on the knee.

The Saints are hoping that Vilma will return to the form that he showed in his first three NFL seasons as they try to improve their 26th-ranked defense.

"I plan to spend as much time as I can here in New Orleans," Vilma said of the Saints' 12-week program. "I have been rehabbing down in Miami and I have a trainer down there, so both trainers will be talking with each other and deciding what's best for me.

"I don't want to give a percentage, but I'll say I'm right where I need to be," he said. "It's been progressing very well and I haven't had any setbacks, knock on wood."

(saintsinsider.com)

James Jones - MVP.  The Suns were so desperate to get rid of James Jones' contract that they sold him to the Blazers along with Fernandez in what may turn out to be the worst trade in NBA history.  All Jones has done is make 49% of his threes this season.  He also appears to be incredibly important to the team's fortunes.  It was shortly after Jones returned from an early season injury that the Blazers won 13 straight.  It was after he got hurt again that they lost 9 of 11.  Portland is 8-16 without Jones this season - leaving them 27-17 with him.

(clipsnation.com)

Jonathan Vilma, linebacker of the New Orleans Saints and a former University of Miami standout, and the South Florida Educational Federal Credit Union conduct the inaugural Financial 51 Summit noon-5 p.m. Saturday, March 22 at the University of Miami in Coral Gables.

The agenda of the summit is to promote financial literacy and empowerment to the youth. Through research, it was found the majority of graduating high school students fall short of having basic skills in personal financial management knowledge.

The average young adult is deficient in the fundamental principles involved with earning, spending, saving and investing. In response to the findings, Vilma and South Florida Educational FCU will hold the summit with a few of Vilma's NFL friends.

(miamiherald.com)

Last year, the St. Louis Rams, saddled with injuries to their offensive linemen, had to reach into their bench and outside the organization to find players who could compete for starting jobs.

Center Brett Romberg, one of those players who helped from the bench, reached agreement Thursday on a one-year deal to re-sign in St. Louis. Terms were not available. Romberg, 28, started nine games and played more than 50 percent of the snaps.

He becomes the third offensive lineman to re-sign. In the past couple of weeks, the Rams reached one-year deals with guard Adam Goldberg and tackle Brandon Gorin. They also signed Jacob Bell from the Titans to a six-year, $36 million deal.

Romberg, 6 feet 2 and 298 pounds, is a success story. He was an undrafted player out of the University of Miami, spent four years in Jacksonville as a backup and joined the Rams two years ago. In those two seasons, Romberg played in 19 games and had 10 starts.

Due to all of the injuries and the return of most of the players who filled those roles, Rams coach Scott Linehan will have a good stable of options with starting experience. Romberg has a chance to start at center, or, if needed, help out at guard.
(espn.com)

The 1st annual Kevin Everett Golf Classic Weekend has been announced and will take place on July 6th and 7th. Proceeds will obviously benefit the Kevin Everett Foundation and Spinal Cord Injury Research and Assistance.The weekend will begin with the 12th Man Tailgate Party on July 6th from 4-8pm at Brierwood C.C. in Hamburg. Then on the 7th will be the inaugural golf tournament beginning at 11 am that day.

Tickets go on sale April 15th and will be $40 per ticket for the tailgate party or $125 for a four ticket “Fan Pack.” For the golf tournament foursomes are $2,500.

For more information on this event you can go to http://www.kevineverettgolf.com/home

You can e-mail the organizers of the event at KE85GOLF@showcasesports.net with any questions or to reserve a sponsorship, foursome, or to make a donation.

(wordpress.buffalobills.com)

Myers was interviewed by Houston’s Sports Radio 610’s Marc and Andre on how he feels about leaving Denver for Houston. Myers said it is “kind of bittersweet.” Myers told the Morning Crew, “I love Denver, love the organization, love the team, and I had a great time there for three seasons. But I’m really anxious and excited to get going with the Texans. You know, we got a young team and everyone’s on the same path, the same goal right now. And that’s what kind of drew me down to Houston.”

The Houston Chronicle’s John “the General” McClain also spoke with Myers on why leaving Denver was “bittersweet.” Myers told McClain, “I kind of made my way up the ladder and finally got a starting position last year.” To Myers’ dismay in Denver, Broncos’ starting C Nalen will be healthy in 2008, leaving him out of a starting job there. But here in Houston, Myers will have the chance to earn his starting job for a young, athletic Texans’ offensive line.

Myers also spoke with 610 about his new contract. Before being traded to the Texans, Myers signed a four-year, $11 million contract with a $3 million signing bonus with the Broncos. He told 610, “to be honest, it hasn’t hit me yet. It’s definitely not full on my mind. Once I get down to Houston and start working out I’m sure it’s going to start hitting me then. It’s a dream come true. Every athlete looks forward to being a fulltime starter and getting that contract, and it’s amazing, I’m very grateful for it. It’s kind of like all the hard work is paying off.”

Myers also spoke with Marc and Andre about the tight end, transferred-tackle, he played opposite to at the “U.” At Miami, Myers played tackle opposite to Eric Winston. Myers said that Winston’s nickname was the “Neanderthal, because he looked exactly like that.” And it seems he’ll fit right in with the Texans chemistry as he said, “I look forward to cracking some jokes with the offensive linemen.”

On Myers’ comfort with Kubiak and Gibbs’ system and terminology from his experience in Denver, Myers told 610, “It’s pretty close, and obviously there’s going to be a few things that are going to be skewed. (And a) few terminologies that you got to learn, but for the most part it’s almost identical. (Gibbs) put that over in Denver, and he’s putting it in here and that was the one thing for them to look out my way just because I had that experience in Denver and that’s one of the reasons they closed (in on) me right away. I’m really anxious to get it going and we got a lot of athletes on this offensive line and we’re going to do some crazy things.”

On the other side, Head Coach Kubiak told the Houston Chronicle about Myers, “It’s an instant fit. He knows our system, and he knows our terminology. We know him, and we know what kind of player he is and what he stands for. He’s young, and he’s tough as nails.”

Texans fans are probably just as anxious to see the youth movement continue and see Myers’ get a shot at the starting job here in Houston as C Steve McKinney and C Chris White are coming off season ending injuries from 2007.

(texansgab.com)

A Fort Myers teen said she was wrongly dragged into football player Sean Taylor’s murder case when the mother of a former friend told prosecutors she let the suspects use a rented vehicle Alexia Anderson, 19, of Fort Myers said Thursday she was made the scapegoat and has no connection to the crime.

“I got nothing to do with it,” she said. “It’s all on her, but she used my name.”

Anderson came to The News-Press on Thursday after seeing a story last week about documents Miami prosecutors released in Taylor’s case. Police believe Eric Rivera, 17, Venjah Hunte, 20, and Charles Wardlow, 18, all of Fort Myers, and Jason Mitchell, 19, of Lehigh Acres, drove to Miami on Nov. 26 to burglarize Taylor’s house. A grand jury indictment revealed Rivera shot the Washington Redskins safety in the leg. Taylor died the next day of blood loss.

Included in the documents released to The News-Press was a statement by Rosemarie Johnson of Lehigh Acres. Johnson told prosecutors and detectives in December she rented a Toyota Highlander for Anderson and Anderson gave the vehicle to Wardlow. Police said the four drove the Highlander to Miami to commit the crime.

But Anderson said Johnson’s daughter, Romaine, got $250 from Wardlow to use the vehicle. Anderson said Romaine told her the money would go to pay a phone bill and to style her hair.

Anderson said Rosemarie Johnson frequently rents vehicles for her daughter, who often lets friends use them for joy riding. Efforts to reach Johnson on Thursday were unsuccessful.

“She was lying,” Anderson said of her former friend. “The night before, she had already gotten the money from them boys.”

Anderson said she doesn’t know Wardlow, is a distant relative of Rivera and that she doesn’t know him very well.

She said she was upset and scared when she found out she has been connected to the case. She said detectives haven’t contacted her.

Prosecutors have been releasing documents from the case to the media, the most recent coming Wednesday — crime scene reports detailing how police believe the suspects got into Taylor’s house. All four have pleaded not guilty.

(news-press.com)

Leftfielder Ryan Braun was back in the lineup after being scratched from two of his last three starts because of stiffness in his right Achilles' tendon. Yost said he would have scratched Braun again if he experienced any discomfort during batting practice.

The staff thought the stiffness was caused by new spikes Braun wore in the outfield with a soft heel that created a strain on his Achilles' tendon. He had worn molded or plastic cleats in the infield since high school.

(jsonline.com)

David Dellucci and Jason Michaels have more in common than playing left field for the Cleveland Indians.

Both are aggressive players willing to do whatever they can to stay in the lineup. Neither likes sharing his job, and both deal with the part-time status by attacking each opportunity straight on.

Manager Eric Wedge believes their combined tenacity will make the second year of the platoon plan a success.

"If you add it all together, I think we'll do much better out there," Wedge said Thursday.

"Jason does a heck of a job against left-handed pitchers and is really committing to be better against right-handers. I really feel like if David can stay healthy, he's going to have a good year. He's a good hitter."
Michaels is having a strong spring, hitting .323 (14-for-36) with three homers, four RBIs and two stolen bases.

"I still believe I can play every day and make a contribution," said the 31-year-old, who held a starting job two seasons ago in his first year in Cleveland before sharing the position with Dellucci and then midseason pickup Kenny Lofton in 2007.

"It's tough to platoon, but when your role changes, you have to change with it," Michaels said. "This game is about adjustments." Click here to continue reading...

FORT MYERS - Ask Alex Cora [stats] what he remembers most about playing baseball in Japan, and he won’t take you down the usual road of culture shock, language barriers and the many hours it took to make the trip.

Not right away. First, the Red Sox [team stats] utility infielder will talk to you about batting practice.

Cora was on a team of major league All-Stars - “See, I really was an All-Star,” he likes to say - for an eight-game series against Japanese All-Stars in November 2004. When he arrived at the ballpark for the first game, he was shocked to see that the Japanese take batting practice with two players hitting at the same time. Click here to continue reading...

The considerable lack of talent and playmaking ability at the linebacker position last year played a major role in the putridity of the Saints defense.  Fortunately, that issue has since been addressed.  Jonathan Vilma and Dan Morgan, if healthy, will immediately morph the Saints’ linebacking corps into a top-five unit. 

Scott Shanle and Mark Simoneau will provide depth should Morgan or Vilma go down.  That’s a good thing, I think.  Shale and Simoneau are better suited as backups anyway.  They’ve both got good instincts, but not necessarily the superior athleticism needed to be a starting linebacker in the NFL.    

Vilma and Morgan have both produced at a pro bowl level at one time or another in their career.  Vilma was 2004 Defensive Rookie of the Year and Morgan made 25 tackles in the 2004 Super Bowl.  So we know these guys can produce.  There’s no doubt about their ability.

The only question mark is their susceptibility to injury.  Can Vilma recover from the knee injury that sidelined him for nine games last season?  (By the way, I’d love for someone with any sort of medical knowledge explain to me what happened to his knee.  A piece of dead bone became dislodged?  What the hell does that mean?  I didn’t know bone could just die and then break off like some sort of rotten tree branch.  Has anyone ever heard of this injury?)

As for Morgan, will he be able to play with the reckless abandon that makes him so good now that he’s only a couple of concussions away from brain damage?

There’s really no way to tell for sure right now.  But one thing I do know for certain is that these guys are motivated.  They’re confident and probably cocky and most definitely eager to show the world they’ve still got it.  You know why?  Because they’re from the U and that’s what guys from the U do.

Another plus about the addition of Vilma and Morgan is that New Orleans isn’t really invested too deeply into either guy.  Morgan signed a one year contract for not that much money and Vilma was exchanged for a meager 4th round pick.  He’ll also be a free agent after next season.  So even if they don’t pan out, the Saints won’t have lost that much. 

So the linebacker position has been addressed.  I’d like to see the Saints pick up another LB in the draft for depth purposes.  A guy like Ali Highsmith out of LSU would fit the mold.  Highsmith was originally predicted to be a late first or early second round pick this year, until he ran a 5.0 forty at the combine.  He immediately dropped way down on everyone’s draft board, so the Saints might be able to nab him in the fourth or fifth round.

Either way, I feel pretty good about who’ll lining up at linebacker for New Orleans this season. 

(mvn.com)

HOUSTON, TX — In what he later described as “one of the greatest moments of my life,” Andre Johnson was recognized Thursday during a seemingly routine trip to a Houston-area Gap store.

“I’m just standing there, and some kid says, ‘Hey, you’re Andre Johnson, from the Texans, right?’” Johnson told SSNN. “I was floored. Stunned. It was right then I knew that I’d made it.”

The encounter took place at the sweaters display, where Johnson was intently considering whether or not he could pull off an argyle vest. It was an interesting moment as well for 14-year-old Danny Templin, who spotted Johnson.

“I look over, and there’s this dude who looks like Andre Johnson in the Gap,” Templin said. “But he was wearing an Andre Johnson jersey, which I thought was a little weird and maybe meant it wasn’t him. So I wasn’t going to ask him, because I didn’t want to be the guy who thinks that every black guy in a jersey is an athlete. But DreJay saw me eying him, I guess, and called me over; so that’s sort of how it went down. He seemed pretty excited to meet me.”

According to Johnson, this is only the second time in his career that he has been recognized at a mall, in spite of the fact that he visits them frequently to “polish interpersonal skills.”

“Yeah, you don’t get recognized that much as a pro athlete,” Johnson said. “It’s weird. These dudes like A-Rod and Kobe Bryant and Tom Brady – you know, guys who say they can’t go outside of their house? Those guys are probably exaggerating. That sort of public awareness runs counter to my experience.”

In spite of it all, Johnson was touched by the encounter.

“It was really cute, he was really nervous,” Johnson said of Templin. “He was so nervous that he didn’t even remember to ask me for my autograph, and when I reminded him, he said ‘don’t worry about it.’ To be that nervous and scared, he must be a huge fan. I was touched.”

(seriousportsnewsnetwork.com)

As position battles go, you could certainly make a case for the No. 3 WR job generating the biggest buzz in the desert these days, now that free agent Bryant Johnson has signed with the division-rival Niners. “It couldn’t be more wide-open at the moment,” one team source said. But our vote goes to the battle at free safety that is expected to take place between converted CB Antrel Rolle, the team’s 2005 first-round pick, and hard-hitting fellow fourth-year pro Aaron Francisco. At this year’s Scouting Combine, Cardinals GM Rod Graves confirmed the team’s optimism about Rolle’s ability to effectively switch positions and upgrade a 2007 problem area. “The one thing we learned with Antrel was that there was a real confidence level when he was operating in the middle of the field,” Graves told PFW. “He is a great open-field tackler, and the tackling at the safety position (particularly by the recently released Terrence Holt) was a big problem. Antrel has been very receptive to the move.” But team insiders don’t expect Francisco — a smart, physical player when healthy — to go down without a fight in the battle for the FS job. In any event, Rolle is expected to continue operating as the nickel corner on occasion, which he did so well in 2007. As a result, he will likely be on the field at the same time as Francisco quite often.

(profootballweekly.com)

When Miami police got to Sean Taylor’s house Nov. 26, they found pry marks on a wooden door and a shattered glass sliding door, shot open apparently by a 9 mm gun.

The crime scene reports leave clues about the entry and departure of the intruders. About three dozen pages of documents were released Wednesday by the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office as part of public information requests by news-press.com.

Eric Rivera, Venjah Hunte and Charles Wardlow, all of Fort Myers, and Jason Mitchell of Lehigh Acres are charged with murder and armed robbery in connection with Taylor’s death. The Washington Redskins All-Pro safety was shot in the leg Nov. 26 and died the next day due to blood loss.

Detectives found three bullet casings in the house, where the intruders came in through the back patio bathroom door, as well as shoe prints above the gate surrounding Taylor’s house. Detectives sent labs shoe-print impressions, DNA swab kits from inside and outside of the house as well as a paper receipt found outside the front of the house.

Also included in the documents is a report from Dec. 1, when Miami-Dade police divers searched an area of Interstate 75, looking for the weapon used to shoot Taylor. Detectives searched beyond a fence, one mile west of a toll plaza and north of the interstate. Two searches were fruitless for divers.

(news-press.com)

John Salmons played on Tuesday despite a bothersome right ankle. He said X-rays came back negative and he doesn't plan on missing any games. "We've got a lot of time off coming in a couple of weeks," Salmons said. His value is limited coming off the Kings bench, but on the off chance Ron Artest shuts it down for the season Salmons should immediately be picked up.

(rotoworld.com)

Peoria, Ariz. - Ryan Braun was scratched from the Brewers' lineup today with "right Achilles tightness," the second time in five days he was removed for that same problem.

Braun now will have played just once in the last five games. He was scratched last Wednesday, did not play Thursday, did play Friday, did not play Saturday and now has been scratched today.

We have been told that the situation is not serious, that it has been more precautionary than anything. But you do have to wonder if this is going to be a lingering thing for Braun. We'll get more details on the situation and post them later.

(blogs.jsonline.com)

When NFL teams assemble a defense, they generally adhere to a long-standing philosophy: build from the ball out. Get the linemen first. Linebackers and cornerbacks figure as high priorities. Then what?
Safeties. Can't forget them.

But safeties last? That's almost an affront to the University of Miami (Fla.), which tends to turn out safeties first.

"Da U" has produced a number of safeties who were first-round picks, including perennial Baltimore Ravens All-Pro Ed Reed, late Washington Redskin Sean Taylor and the New England Patriots' Brandon Meriweather.

Kenny Phillips would like to expand that number.

Sure, the tradition of great safeties is, well, great. But how does it help Phillips, widely viewed as the only likely first-round pick in a weak 2008 class at that position?

It has already been beneficial in several ways. Meriweather, says Phillips, befriended him from the start at Miami and helped him learn how to learn.

"When I first came in, he was the one that taught me the plays. He really took me under his wing and taught me everything I know. I talk to him every week," Phillips says. Click here to continue reading...

Without further ado, then, to welcome Mr. Joseph aboard, here are 10 things you need to know about the big guy.

• A former Miami Hurricane, Joseph was a No. 25 pick in the 2003 draft, taken by the New York Giants in the opening round. Drafted just after Dallas Clark, Joseph got the first-round call before current Raider Kwame Harris, Nick Barnett and Nnamdi Asomuga.

• His very first game in that 2003 season may have been Joseph's greatest in his entire career with one sack and one forced fumble recovered by his team for a TD.

• Though Joseph remained a member of the Giants through Super Bowl XLII, he was actually only active for one game last season - opening day - and didn't see action. Shortly after Week 1, Joseph was placed on injured reserve. Injuries have been the bane of Joseph's NFL existence these past few seasons, with 25 of 51 possible games missed.

• Thanks to the injuries, Joseph is habitually called a "disappointment" by the media (while playing in New York; imagine that). And check out this writer, who labels Joseph "one of the least popular players in Giants history," before incidentally going on to take a random swipe: "For some strange reason, the Raiders decided Joseph would be an asset to their defense. Oh, well (sic)...guess that's why they're the Raiders." (Now, Raider Nation, don't get too upset: As a Bills fan, this guy clearly has a lot of repressed hostility and frustration.)

• Ironically, the man taking Joseph's starting spot and earning his Super Bowl ring when he went down was ... Raider castoff Dave Tollefson. Click here to continue reading...

Galatasaray Cafe Crown advanced to a ULEB Cup Final Eight showdown with fellow Turkish club Besiktas despite an 88-79 loss at Kalise Gran Canaria in the Last 16 return leg. Armed with a 25-point first-leg win, Robert Hite’s 20 points and 8 rebounds led four Galatasaray players in double figures for a 178-162 aggregate victory over the two games. Cuneyt Erden hit 5 three-pointers for 15 points and had 5 assists while Dee Brown and Chris Owens both had 15 points as well. Carl English tallied 24 points in a losing effort, Kornel David added 12 and Roberto Guerra had 11.

(basketboltr.net)

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — Minnesota Vikings coach Brad Childress said the team will wait out the legal system and the NFL before determining whether Bryant McKinnie needs to be disciplined following a fight outside a Miami night club.

"The legal system is obviously what's in play here for starters," Childress told reporters Tuesday at team headquarters. "It's difficult to talk about. The legal system is what it is. Time kind of seems like it goes through an hour glass. It grinds. It doesn't usually fast track."

Childress was careful not to pass judgment on McKinnie, and he spoke cautiously about the situation.

McKinnie has pleaded not guilty to the charges he faces including aggravated battery, which is a felony, and three misdemeanors after a street brawl outside Club Space in February.
Since taking over two years ago, Childress has demanded accountability from his players, both on the field and off.

Owner Zygi Wilf made it clear after coach Mike Tice was fired that he would not tolerate embarrassing behavior like the infamous "Love Boat" scandal, and Childress hasn't hesitated to punish players for misbehaving.

McKinnie's next court date is April 11. Regardless of the outcome with authorities, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell could still decide to levy some sort of disciplinary action, as could the Vikings.
"I'd just say we've been consistent, the Wilfs have been consistent, with the way we want the Vikings to be represented," Childress said. "I know what Zygi's values are and I know what my values are and I know what our collective Vikings values are.

"I'm looking for the right words here. It's difficult."

McKinnie is an anchor on the left side of the line along with All-Pro guard Steve Hutchinson and Pro Bowl center Matt Birk, who helped pave the way for Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor last year.

When asked if McKinnie, who signed a seven-year, $48.5 million contract extension in 2006, is still considered one of the building blocks of his team, Childress hesitated.

"I know you don't want to hear, 'Until I get all the facts,"' he said. "But we could face some difficult decisions down the road. Some are tougher than others."

McKinnie's trouble is just one of the problems facing the Vikings this offseason.

(usatoday.com)

New Texans center Chris Myers called his exit from Denver "bittersweet" for many reasons, but the trade that brought him to Houston on Monday has given him financial security and a starting job for the next few years if the coaches are right about him.

Myers, 26, was acquired by the Texans for a sixth-round draft choice. Before general manager Rick Smith completed the deal, he and agent Drew Rosenhaus agreed on a four-year, $11 million contract that included a $3 million signing bonus for Myers.

Myers (6-5, 295) had to sign the contract with the Broncos before they could trade him.

"It was kind of a bittersweet-type thing," Myers said. "I love Denver, love the organization, love the team, and I had a great time there for three seasons. I kind of made my way up the ladder and finally got a starting position last year." Click here to continue reading...

Vilma spoke with reporters and updated the health of his surgically repaired right knee. "I plan to spend as much time as I can here in New Orleans," said Vilma, who arrived Sunday night. "Of course, I've been rehabbing down in Miami and I have a trainer down there, so both trainers will be talking with each other and deciding what's best for me. I don't want to give a percentage, but I'll say I'm right where I need to be. It's been progressing very well and I haven't had any setbacks, knock on wood."

(blog.nola.com)

ENGLEWOOD — In their first roster move since firing general manager Ted Sundquist, the Broncos worked a sign-and-trade deal with the Houston Texans today for center/guard Chris Myers.

Myers, a restricted free agent, worked out a four-year, $11 million deal that includes $3 million in guaranteed money with the Broncos and then Myers and the new deal were traded to the Texans for a sixth-round pick in next month's draft.

The Broncos could have matched any offer to Myers, who just finished his third season with the team since being sixth-round pick in the 2005 draft. Myers could play both center and guard.

He started five games at guard this past season and 11 at center for the injured Tom Nalen.

(rockymountainnews.com)

Vikings left tackle Bryant McKinnie, who was arrested last month and charged with aggravated battery, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, pleaded not guilty today, Sean Jensen of the Star-Tribune reports.

McKinnie is accused of spitting in the face of a bouncer who kicked him out of a club in his hometown of Miami, and then leaving the club only to return, shove his phone in the bouncer's face and then pick up a heavy pole and hit the bouncer with it.

For now we don't know enough to judge the merits of the legal case against him, but it does appear safe to say that McKinnie is going to need to demonstrate that the accusations are totally false if he wants to avoid a suspension. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has made clear that he doesn't have to wait until a player is convicted of a crime before he issues a suspension: An arrest alone is enough to warrant a suspension, especially for players who aren't first-time offenders of the NFL's personal conduct policy.

McKinnie was already once docked a paycheck by the NFL and has been arrested twice in the last three years, once in October 2005 for a disturbance at a Minneapolis gas station, and once when he and some teammates were accused of doing some things they shouldn't have during a boat party. These latest accusations are more serious than those previous incidents, meaning Goodell is very likely to suspend McKinnie for the start of the 2008 season.

(sports.aol.com)

The Jets will open their offseason program Monday with several new faces, including former Packers TE Bubba Franks. The former Pro Bowler agreed to terms Sunday on a one-year, $1.65 million contract, according to an NFL source. But the Jets could be without at least two mainstays.

(nydailynews.com)

Eli Manning has "made it clear" that he wants Jeremy Shockey back with the Giants this season, according to ESPN's Chris Mortensen. Mort confirms reports that the Giants have taken several calls about Shockey, but still have no intentions of moving him. Manning is reportedly excited about the prospect of using more two-tight end sets with Shockey and Kevin Boss. The Giants might trade Shockey for a first-round pick, but no team is likely to offer that much for a player coming off a broken leg.

(rotoworld.com)

Braun was scratched from Sunday's spring training game due to lingering tightness in his right Achilles' tendon, the team's official web site reports. "We don't know what's bringing it on," manager Ned Yost said. "It might be a new pair of shoes that he put on. It might be an exercise program that he was doing. He's got stiffness in his Achilles and there's no sense taking chances. ... I don't see it to be anything major."

(rotowire.com)

When evaluating the Bubba Franks signing, it’s important to remember one thing: They didn’t get him to be a starter. He will back up Chris Baker. I don’t have the contract figures yet, but I’m sure they didn’t break the bank.

Here are a few notables about Franks (6-6, 265), who turned 30 in January:

• From 2001 to 2004, he was one of the most productive red-zone receivers in the league. In that span, he had 35 receptions inside the 20, including 25 touchdowns. From 2005 to 2007, he was a non-factor in the red zone - seven catches, no TDs.

• In August, 2005, he signed a seven-year, $28 million contract. He played in only 10 games that year because of an injury. In 2006, he was awful. According to football maven Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Franks dropped six of 53 passes (the worst ratio of his career), fumbled twice, allowed 3 1/2 sacks and 9 1/2 pressures.

• In 2007, Franks lost the starting job to Donald Lee. As a backup, Franks participated in only 25% of the offensive snaps (he missed eight games with a torn PCL in his knee that didn’t require surgery). He had only one drop, zero penalties and no QB pressures. He finished with a career-low 18 receptions, including three TDs. According to my man McGinn, who knows everything about the Packers, Franks played reasonably well and did a decent job as a run blocker. That, I’m sure, will be his role with the Jets.

The Packers cut him because he was due to make $3 million in base salary this year.

(nydailynews.com)

Continuing their trend of signing size, the Jets have acquired a tight end named Bubba. Bubba Franks, a three-time Pro Bowl selection whose last few seasons were disrupted by injuries, has agreed to a free-agent contract with the Jets. He was cut by the Packers last month. The Jets had been looking for a blocking backup for Chris Baker and were in discussions with restricted free agent Ben Utecht last week. When Utecht, formerly of the Colts, signed an offer sheet from the Bengals, the Jets focused on and lured Franks. Franks (6-6, 265) caught at least 30 passes in each of his first five years with the Packers, in which he played in every game. Last year, though, he played in only eight games because of a knee injury and caught 18 passes for 132 yards and three touchdowns.

(newsday.com)

Indians outfielder Jason Michaels is drawing interest from about a half a dozen teams, according to the Plain Dealer. Michaels hit .270 with 7 HR in 105 games last season, but is a pretty decent fielder who is off to a solid spring start. He is a leader in the Indians clubhouse and could help out any team who needs a filler because of an injury. The Mets and Rays are two teams that come to mind because Michaels does not have a big contract, and will not take much to land in a trade. The Indians have Ben Francisco and Franklin Guitierrez in the outfield and they could platoon in right field in 2008. Both are solid players and one of the two will most likely become their everyday starter. Other teams that might take a look include the Padres and Rangers.

(mlb-rumors.blogspot.com)