The Arizona Republic reports free-agent RB Najeh Davenport, released earlier this week by the Steelers, told Sirius NFL Radio that he is targeting the Lions and Cardinals as potential new employers. Cardinals GM Rod Graves said via text message this morning that the Cardinals have no interest.

(ffmastermind.com)

I've been doing full-season tape reviews for five years now, and the one fact that stands out more than any other is that player performance does not take place in a vacuum. The level of competition a player faces seems, more times than not, to largely determine the level of production that player achieves.

I first reviewed this in an article in Scientific Football 2005 when I saw that 26 of Peyton Manning's 53 regular-season and postseason touchdown passes that year came against either subpar coverage personnel or no coverage at all.

I decided to take that concept one step further in Scientific Football 2008 by looking at wide receiver performance versus varying levels of competition. I did this by segmenting cornerbacks into three color categories -- red (the most difficult matchups), yellow (average matchups) and green (the most favorable matchups).

I used the 2007 yards per attempt average of each cornerback to determine his color rating, with red being a YPA of less than 7 yards, yellow being between 7 and 9 yards, and green being more than 9 yards. Cornerbacks who didn't have enough passes thrown in their direction to qualify were placed in a separate "non-qualifier" category. I also tracked receiver performance when facing a cornerback and when facing a non-cornerback (i.e., a safety, a linebacker, no coverage, etc.).

This study produced a large amount of very interesting numbers, but for the sake of brevity, I have culled out the top 10 nuggets of information. They are:

1. Randy Moss can be slowed by red- and yellow-rated cornerbacks. I know it sounds crazy to say anything negative about someone who scored 23 touchdowns for the Patriots this past season, but consider this: In the 95 passes Moss had thrown to him while he was being covered by a red- or yellow-rated cornerback, he gained only 541 yards. That equals 5.7 yards per attempt, a terribly low total. Because 62 of those passes came against yellow-rated corners, Moss' YPA actually was less than those cornerbacks' standard YPA in 2007.

2. The Colts' Reggie Wayne is the best wide receiver in the NFL. Moss and Terrell Owens generally are said to hold this spot, but Wayne beats those two in one of the most important indicators of quality among wide receivers: the ability to beat any cornerback. Take a look at the totals of each of these three when facing cornerbacks last season:

Player ---------Att---Yards---YPA ----TD---INT ---Success %
Reggie Wayne---99---1,158---11.7-----9----3--------74.7
Terrell Owens----95---759-----8.0------9----7--------54.7
Randy Moss-----127---924-----7.3-----15----4-------63.8

Wayne easily topped the others in every sub-segment in this metric except in touchdowns, and he equaled Owens in that one. Wayne has spent his entire career playing in the shadow of Marvin Harrison, even though he has put up numbers just as good as Harrison's in most years. In 2007, when Harrison was out for most of the season and Wayne finally got the Colts' spotlight to himself, he still couldn't avoid the shadow on a leaguewide level, even though he once again posted top-of-the-line totals.

(espn.com)

13. Eric Winston, RT, Houston Texans: The right tackle spot isn't a strong one in the NFL. Winston has a chance to move toward the top of the rankings at that position. He emerged as the Texans' best lineman last season. He has always been a good pass protector, but he improved his run blocking last season. It's too bad right tackles get overlooked come Pro Bowl time because he's a good one.

(cbs.sportsline.com)

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that the 49ers intend to give running back Frank Gore 25 touches a game: at least 20 carries and five receptions.





(fantasyfootballchamps.com)

NFL cornerback and free safety Mike Rumph will announce his decision to retire at the conclusion of his sixth annual football camp in Boynton Beach July 11.

The three-day camp, for children ages 8 to 15, takes place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 9 to 11 at the Ezell Hester Center, 1901 N. Seacrest Blvd.

The announcement will be made after the last day of camp at 5 p.m. July 11 inside the center's gymnasium.

A native of Boynton Beach and a graduate of Atlantic High School in Delray Beach, Rumph, born Nov. 8, 1979, began his professional career began when he was selected 27 overall in the first round by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2002 NFL Draft.

In 2002, during the playoffs, Rumph lead his team with a career high eight tackles, including one loss, finishing the season with 40 tackles.

In 2003 he had his first career interception against Tampa Bay. Two more interceptions came in 2003, including an interception of future hall-of-famer Brett Favre of the Green Bay Packers.

After ending up on the Rams and then being released by them in 2007, Rumph said he started to focus more on youth athletics, including teams with which his son played.

His retirement would give him more time to focus on activities including his football camp, he said.

Rumph said he wants to be remembered as someone who gave back to the community through sports.

Stephanie Slater, Boynton Beach Police spokeswoman, said Boynton youth would have a chance to play with professional football players this summer at Rumph's camp. She said players would concentrate on speed, strength and conditioning at the camp.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Sabby Piscitelli and Oakland Raiders defensive tackle Josh Shaw are set to help Rumph with his coaching duties.

Cost for the camp is $75 and all proceeds go toward the Boynton Beach Police Athletic League, where Rumph formerly played with the Bulldogs.

The camp concludes with a celebrity basketball game at the Hester Center at 7 p.m. July 11, where local police officers are scheduled to play against athletes.

Athletes playing in the celebrity game include C.J. Jones of the New England Patriots, Jimmy Williams of the Seattle Seahawks and Frank Gore of the San Francisco 49ers.

Tickets for the basketball tournament can be purchased for $5 at the door.

(sun-sentinel.com)

Eric Winston was born and raised on country music in his hometown of Midland. He grew up going to small-venue concerts and listening to Texas originals croon under a starry sky.

Now that the right tackle has become a starter for the Texans, he is getting to see and meet some of the biggest stars in country music. On Saturday, Winston was in Chicago hanging out with Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban and LeAnn Rimes, along with Luke Bryan and Gary Allan, before each took the stage in Chesney’s "Poets and Pirates Tour."

“This is my first Kenny Chesney concert, but it’s not my first country music concert,” Winston said. “I’ve been a big fan of country music and his music. This is great just being a part of a concert like this with five great country music artists that get together and have a lot of fun, obviously, and put on a great show in so many stadiums and so many places around the country.”

This summer, Chesney’s tour is hitting 12 NFL stadiums, including Houston’s Reliant Stadium on Saturday, August 16. The show, which features eight hours of live music, will be the biggest concert event in the history of Reliant.

“This is our fourth year doing the stadium shows and it’s kind of gotten bigger and bigger every year,” Chesney said. “We played a couple of nights in Houston last year and Houston has always been a great town for us to come play no matter what venue we are playing, but it’s exciting to come to the Houston Texans’ stadium. It’s hard to believe when you get up there in front of that many people – the energy just hits your right in the chest.”

Getting hit in the chest was something that resonated with Winston, who talked to Chesney at length before the show began at Soldier Field. In fact, the massive right tackle and the most popular tour act in country music found they easily could relate to each other’s lifestyle. 

“I think there is a lot in common as far as that goes - how much work we put in and how much work I’m sure he (Chesney) puts into this,” Winston said. “You can’t become this big or be this good just by going out there. You can have all the time in the world, but you have to put the work in and get it done. I think that is the big bond that a lot of athletes have with performers like Kenny. I think we both know how much we both put into our sports. I think that’s what links us all up a lot of times.”

Aside from living on the road and playing in packed stadiums, Chesney, like Winston, goes through rigorous physical training. The performer also loves the game of football.

“I remember as a kid, I always loved Bob Griese and the Dolphins and I’m friends with his son now, Brian,” Chesney said. “I’ve got a lot of friends of mine that have played pro football. There’s kind of a commonality with pro players and guys that do what I do because we both want to do what the other is doing.”

Winston was a testament to that. The offensive lineman couldn’t hide his excitement during the concert when he was standing offstage with high-profile fans like Nick Swisher of the White Sox and the Cubs' Jim Edmonds, all of whom danced along to Chesney hits like "Summertime," "No Shirt (No Shoes, No Problem)" and "When the Sun Goes Down.”

“Kenny was awesome,” Winston said. “It really was one of the best shows I’ve been to. There is day-long tailgating and then five awesome acts. Nothing beats that.”

(houstontexans.com)

Darin Gantt, of The Herald, reporting for The Sporting News, reports Carolina Panthers DL Damione Lewis will be used as a one-gap rusher.




(fanhome.com)

Longtime league standout and Florida Firecats WR MAGIC BENTON had an impressive return to the af2 in Week 14. After seven full seasons, Benton took his time coming back in 2008, waiting 11 games. Last week, however, he showed no signs of age or rust by setting team season-highs in receptions (14), receiving yards (188) and receiving touchdowns (4) in Florida's 59-56 home loss to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Benton is currently the league's all-time leader in receptions (598), receiving yards (7,977) and receiving touchdowns (169) while ranking second overall in scoring (1,044) and total touchdowns (171). The veteran pass catcher is the only player to have played with the Firecats since their inaugural season in 2001, starting in Florida's first game.

(oursportscentral.com)

AUBURN HILLS -- Nobody should be overwrought about not hearing the Pistons mentioned in connection with some of the top-tier free agents.

President Joe Dumars has made it clear the preferred tool for any roster changing this summer will be trades. To that end, he needs to keep his roster and payroll as flexible as possible.

Already, there are 10 players with guaranteed contracts for next season, plus second-round pick Walter Sharpe, restricted free agent Walter Herrmann and free agents Lindsey Hunter and Theo Ratliff, both of whom are expected to be re-signed.

As it stands, the Pistons could be some $10 million below the luxury tax threshold, giving them ample maneuverability. They are above the salary cap, so they can use their mid-level ($5.8 to $6 million) and veterans ($2 million) exceptions and sign Hunter and Ratliff and still bring in another free agent.

But Dumars has said he doesn't plan giving the full mid-level to one player. That would seem to rule out a player such as forward James Posey, whom the Pistons did have an interest in.

There are at least three wing scorers on the Pistons' free-agent shopping list:
• Mickael Pietrus, 26, who is entering his sixth season. He has started on and off for the Warriors.

• James Jones, 27, a 6-foot-8 perimeter scorer, who averaged eight points for the Trail Blazers last season. He is entering his sixth season but has 44 playoff games under his belt with the Pacers and Suns.

• C.J. Miles, 21, who has spent the last three years with the Jazz. He is a player Pistons coach Michael Curry became fond of during his days overseeing the Development League.

Of those three, Jones seems the most likely to be signed. Pietrus made nearly $4 million last year with the Warriors and will look for the full mid-level. The Jazz made a qualifying offer to Miles, giving them the right to match any offer.

Plus, Jones is a guy the Pistons have liked for a while.

He has tremendous range on the offensive end, plus he is a long-armed defender capable of defending the basket and clogging passing lanes.

But again, Dumars is looking for depth on the free-agent market, not a major impact player.

Free agents can begin signing July 9, but Dumars isn't on any rigid deadline.

The actual NBA trade deadline isn't until late February.

(detnews.com)

Aubrey Huff went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer as the Orioles defeated the Royals on Wednesday night.
Huff is hitting .340 with six homers since the beginning of June. He now has 15 homers, matching his total from last year. He probably won't top his season-high 34 long balls from 2003, but he's on pace to make a run at 30.

(rotoworld.com)

PHOENIX -- Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun is looking forward to swinging for the fences at Yankee Stadium.

First he has to shake a right hand injury, and then he has to formally make the National League All-Star team, of course. But assuming Braun does make the cut when rosters are unveiled on Sunday, he is looking forward to participating in the State Farm Home Run Derby on July 14, the day before the All-Star Game.

"If I'm invited, I'll do it for sure," Braun said on Wednesday. "I think you owe it to the fans. If you're lucky enough to be invited, I think you should do it."

Wednesday was the final day for fans to vote for the All-Star starters, and Braun and the Cubs' Kosuke Fukudome were in a heated battle for the third and final NL outfield spot.

But Braun could not make a last-minute push on the field because he was out of the Brewers' starting lineup Wednesday night. He was sidelined because he was slumping and hurting, hitting .186 with no home runs and three RBIs in his past 10 games including a current 0-for-18 drought while nursing soreness in his right hand.

Braun injured his hand on the Brewers' last homestand -- he doesn't know how -- and on Wednesday emerged from the trainer's room with a blue wrap around his wrist. Braun did not participate in batting practice.

Brewers manager Ned Yost would not commit to whether Braun would be back in the lineup for Thursday's series and 10-game road trip finale. The Brewers were 4-4 on the trip entering play Wednesday night and were scheduled to face D-backs ace Brandon Webb on Thursday.

"I think it makes sense to rest it now and make sure it doesn't become an injury that lingers later," Braun said. "We're trying to eliminate some of the pain and the swelling and the inflammation now so it doesn't become a nagging injury."

Braun has started 81 of the Brewers' 84 games this season.

He'll need healthy hands to make a run in the Derby, one of the signature events of All-Star Week. Entering Wednesday's games, Braun was third in the NL with 181 total bases, tied for fifth with 20 home runs and tied for eighth with 58 RBIs.

Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder took part in last year's Derby and didn't make it past the first round, where he hit three homers. Brewers players sometimes play "home run derby" in batting practice, but Braun prefers to hit line drives.

"I'm not really a home run guy during BP," Braun said. "But once I get out there, I'll give it everything and I think I'll be OK. It will be fun, that is for sure. Hopefully I'll get to find out."

(mlb.com)

Leftfielder Ryan Braun, in his worst slump of the season and battling through a sprained right hand, is out of the lineup for the second consecutive game today as the Brewers play the series finale against Arizona.



(blogs.jsonline.com)

The Vikings released QB Kyle Wright today, leaving their roster at the league-mandated 80 player training camp limit. The team still has yet to sign any of their 5 draft choices, in order to do that, 5 more players must be cut before camp (un-signed draft choices don't count against the limit).

Wright, who attended the University of Miami and was a top prospect coming out of high schoool, signed with the team following April's draft.

The team now has 4 QB's on the roster: Tarvaris Jackson, Gus Frerotte, John-David Booty, and Brooks Bollinger.

(capitalj23.blogspot.com)

Running back Najeh Davenport is reportedly interested in playing for the Lions and Arizona Cardinals, he told NFL radio according to www.nflgridirongab.com.

Pittsburgh released the backup running back recently after the team couldn't work out a trade for him.

The Lions might want to add another running back after cutting Kevin Jones. The team still has Tatum Bell, third-round pick Kevin Smith, Brian Calhoun, Artose Pinner and Aveion Cason.

Davenport rushed for a career-high 499 yards last season and averaged 4.7 yards per carry. But he was ineffective as a starter in the Steelers' final two games after Willie Parker broke his leg.

Davenport was held to 25 yards on 16 carries in a 31-29 wild-card playoff loss to Jacksonville. That was after he gained 27 yards on 12 attempts in a season-ending loss at Baltimore.

The Steelers recently drafted running back Rashard Mendenhall on the first round and signed third-down back Mewelde Moore, moves that meant Davenport had little chance of making the team. The team also wanted to keep second-year back Gary Russell.

Davenport played with the Green Bay Packers from 2002-04. He was in the final year of a contract worth $1 million in 2008.

In April, Davenport was acquitted of a misdemeanor domestic violence charge in Cleveland Municipal Court. He was accused of slapping and punching the mother of his 5-year-old son at her Cleveland home in October.

In 2002, Davenport was arrested at his alma mater, the University of Miami, accused of breaking into a university dormitory and defecating in a woman's closet. He denied the accusation. According to published reports, he was charged with one count of criminal mischief and one count of burglary. But the charges were dismissed in exchange for Davenport teaching a series of football clinics.

(freep.com)

The Jimmy V Award for Perseverance will honor former Buffalo Bills tight end Kevin Everett, who was severely injured in last year's season opener but has begun to walk again.



(espn.com)

Ex-Canes file: The Heat spoke with ex-Clippers guard Guillermo Diaz, but he joined Charlotte's summer program instead. Miami rejected overtures from Darius Rice and Robert Hite, who both joined the Spurs' summer program.


(miamiherald.com)

No deal is imminent, but the Ravens and Pro Bowl LB Ray Lewis are closer to agreeing to a new contract that will allow him to play two more seasons, and finish his career in Baltimore if he desires. The Ravens believe that Lewis, about to enter his 13th season, can be a dominant player for two more seasons even though he has showed signs of slowing down. The most interesting aspect will be the relationship that develops between Lewis and first year coach John Harbaugh, who is trying to establish his own presence on a team that has had a lot of sour veteran players in recent seasons, including Lewis. ...

(sportingnews.com)

The Blazers may not re-sign free agent James Jones, because his agent is seeking a contract in the range of 5 years and $25 million.
The Blazers just locked up sharp-shooting guard Rudy Fernandez, so there isn't much incentive to invest $25 million in a role player with a sore left knee (Jones missed 34 games with the injury last season, but claims he is healthy now). Furthermore, GM Kevin Pritchard said he really likes the current roster, and any free agent would have to "knock [the Blazers] socks off" to get signed.

(rotoworld.com)

It's a race between the Brewers and Cubs, but this one's not for the NL Central Division Title.

It's an election-style race for the title of All-Star starting outfielder.

Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun stands around 33,000 votes short of Chicago Cubs counterpart Kosuke Fukudome in fan balloting for the starting nod.

"For me it would be a tremendous honor," said Braun on Newsradio 620 WTMJ's Wisconsin's Morning News. "It would be great for the whole Brewers' organization and the city of Milwaukee.

"It would certainly be a lot of fun and I hope I get that opportunity."

For him to get it, some serious fan voting from Brewers' supporters could make the late difference before the online "polls" close during the late evening of July 2nd.

"Yeah, it's kind turned into a Brewers-Cubs thing, no question about it," admits the 2007 NL Rookie of the Year.

"I really appreciate the support everyone's given me so far, and I really hope we can pull it out in the next couple of days."

Statistically, Braun far outperforms Fukudome in two of the three main categories, with Fukudome outpacing Braun in batting average.
• Braun '08: .282 BA, 20 HR, 58 RBI, .544 Slugging % • Fukudome '08: .296, 6 HR, 34 RBI, .430 Slugging %

"It's unbelievable because this is my first opportunity to make an All-Star team," states Braun. "Just to have this type of support means a lot to me. It's fun to be a Brewer and to play in Milwaukee."

Braun recently signed an eight-year, $45,000,000 contract that extends his current deal through 2015.

Click Here to vote for Ryan Braun

(620wtmj.com)

TAMPA — Friends and former teammates from the Bucs gathered at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino on Saturday night to honor Warren Sapp.

The 35-year-old defensive tackle retired in January after nine years in Tampa and four seasons with the Raiders.

Sapp arrived fashionably late, strolling into his retirement party two hours into the festivities. While a DJ kept the music going, guests dined on sushi and an assortment of appetizers.

"Warren's the straw that stirred our drink," said Bucs coach Jon Gruden, who attended the party with his wife, Cindy.

Fans also were on hand to celebrate Sapp's storied career. A video montage displayed career highlights for the 1999 NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

"He was the most fierce competitor I ever played with," former Bucs linebacker Shelton Quarles said.

Part of the proceeds went to the Children's Cancer Center in Tampa.

Other notables in the crowd included Bucs running back Warrick Dunn, Bucs defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin and Raiders coach Lane Kiffin.

(tbo.com)

ESTERO — Magic Benton returned to Germain Arena on Saturday night wearing No. 4 -- not No. 1, his number the past seven seasons.
But he's still the one.

Wearing a Florida Firecats uniform, period, for the first time since last year's arenafootball2 playoffs, Benton was the biggest bright spot in a 59-56 loss to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, the American Conference's top team.

"We knew he'd step right into it," Firecats coach Kevin Bouis said. "Even in practice he looked like the Magic of old."

That would be the most prolific receiver in af2 history, the career leader in receptions, receiving yards and TD catches.

With more to come.

Even though he hadn't so much as attended a Florida game since announcing his retirement last fall, Benton was the biggest reason the Firecats lunged to a 56-35 lead Saturday through nearly three quarters, only to watch the Pioneers finish with a 24-0 run.

Benton, 32, tied the franchise record for catches (14) in a game, matching the number he had in a 58-36 loss to Wilkes-Barre last year. And he fell only 11 yards short of his franchise-record 199-yard effort in that same game.

But all for naught, he said.

Like the rest of the Firecats, Benton, a University of Miami product, carried a distasteful look on his face as he spoke about his performance -- and the team's -- after the game. He had an impossible time separating the two.

"I'm happy to be back," he said, "but not to lose. Not like that. Everything else that happened doesn't matter. You want to win."

And man, was Florida close.

In arguably its biggest game of the season to date, Florida (8-4) had all the momentum after Benton caught his fourth touchdown pass from Chris Wallace, this one a 5-yard connection for a 21-point edge late in the third quarter.

The Firecats, however, did not score again.

Wilkes-Barre stormed from behind, capping its 24-0 rally with a 19-yard field goal by David Davis with no time left. The winning drive came after Wallace, one of af2's top all-time passers, missed Benton and was intercepted in the end zone.

"We did everything we needed to do for three quarters," Benton said. "Then we just made some mental mistakes."

Indeed, the performance by Florida's offense during the opening 45 minutes -- maybe the best stretch of ball Wallace & Co. have played this season -- is one the team will look to build on as the season moves forward.

Yes, the Firecats, who would've had the inside track for homefield advantage throughout the American Conference playoffs with a win, will likely have to travel at some point in the postseason to reach ArenaCup.

But Florida is, seemingly, a team that hasn't peaked yet. And the af2 playoffs don't begin until more than a month from now.

The Firecats have been without wide receiver Chris McKinney and defensive end Thomas Carroll, two of their best players, in recent weeks, as they -- like so many of their teammates -- have been stung by the injury bug.

Bouis has done his best to plug holes on the offensive line, where the injuries have hit the hardest. The most recent effort came last week, when Florida signed Chad Motte and Tony Tella to start at center and guard, respectively.

Having Benton back in the mix, though, could provide the biggest boost of all. He's a big-play threat and a bona fide go-to target.

"I still have the will to play," Benton said, "and I felt like I had unfinished business. I didn't want to leave things the way they ended."

That's why he started working out with the Firecats as far back as mid-May. That's why he has continued to stay in shape.

Benton, who had hoped to sign with Florida more than a month ago, made sure he was ready when the Firecats finally turned to him.

"There was no rust," he said. "I just had to play the game."

Benton picked up right where he left off before the retirement, helping Florida reach the 50-point plateau for the first time in eight games.

He's made his comeback.

Now, the Firecats, who have lost three straight for the first time since the 2002 season, will try to make theirs.

(naplesnews.com)

If this were the best of all possible worlds, Kevin Everett would be preparing for his fourth NFL season with the Buffalo Bills this fall.

Instead, Everett is a symbol of how risky it is to play in the NFL.

Everett's career ended in the Bills' season opener last year when he suffered a severe spinal injury, but he now might have a more important mission. The 26-year-old is showing that progress is being made in the treatment of spinal injuries, and he's starting a foundation to help other victims.

Everett probably was saved from spending his life in a wheelchair because of the progress that's already being made in treating spinal injuries.

While Everett was still on the field, a Bills doctor administered an ice-cold intravenous saline solution that he described as an ice pack for the spine. That might be one of the reasons why Everett was able to walk onto the field in Buffalo for their season finale against the New York Giants.

But Everett - who has written a book, Standing Tall, about his experience - still deals with a lot of pain, especially in the mornings when he get spasms.

"I'm still faced with challenges," Everett told the Houston Chronicle. "I pray every day that things will get better. I've got to cope with them the best way I can in everyday life."

Everett said doctors told him he might have to deal with spasms the rest of his life.

"They don't know," he said. "I'm not 100 percent. I've just got to pray every day and try to keep doing the right things."

Everett often spends hours in bed waiting for his body to unlock.

"Around midday, the blood starts flowing, and everything seems to get a little better," he said.

Everett also can't really write when he's asked for his autograph.

"I just scribble a little bit," he said. "I've got the motion down pat."

And while Everett can walk, he walks slowly.

"I fatigue real easy," he said. "It's just my whole body. It happens with this type of injury."

Not that Everett is complaining about his fate. He knows things could have been much worse.

"I want people to know I'm blessed," he said. "You've got to maintain your faith in the good times and the bad."

But he admits he still misses football.

"I miss everything about it," he said. "This is the time of year when I'd be out there working hard, conditioning myself, mentally preparing myself for the long season. Now that I don't have any of that, it's different. It's kind of hard."

(jacksonville.com)

Q: What’s the progress of tackle Vernon Carey’s transition back to the right side?
A: It’s going OK. Vernon’s played over there before; he’s not been a foreigner over there. He played there I think the first two or three years of his career here. So he’s a kid who’s knowledgeable in that area. It’s just a matter of him learning our offense, learning what the calls are and the types of things that go with it.

Q: Is Carey a more natural fit on the right side?
A: He’s a big guy and you’d like your right tackle to be a big, thick guy like Vernon. I kind of thing he naturally fits into that mold.

Q: Has Carey emerged as a leader on the line?
A: Absolutely. He’s been in there, been involved. He’s talking all the time in the meetings and asking questions. He’s doing the stuff you’d like an older guy to do with a group of younger guys in there. He and [Justin] Smiley, with the exception of Steve McKinney, are the two older guys in the room. They have to be the pace setters for the younger guys. If they’re doing what they have to do, then the younger guys will look up to that and work at that level.

(blogs.sun-sentinel.com)

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Running back Najeh Davenport was released by the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday after the team couldn't work out a trade for Willie Parker's former backup.

Also released were safety Mike Lorello, long snapper Jared Retkofsky and offensive lineman Doug Legursky.

Davenport rushed for a career-high 499 yards and averaged 4.7 yards per carry last season, but was ineffective as a starter in the Steelers' final two games after Parker broke a leg Dec. 20.

Davenport was held to 25 yards on 16 carries in a 31-29 wild-card playoff loss to Jacksonville after gaining 27 yards on 12 attempts in a season-ending loss at Baltimore.

The Steelers recently drafted running back Rashard Mendenhall on the first round and signed third-down back Mewelde Moore, moves that meant Davenport had little chance of making the team. The team also wanted to keep second-year back Gary Russell.

Davenport played with the Green Bay Packers from 2002-04. He was in the final year of a contract worth $1 million in 2008.

In April, Davenport was acquitted of a misdemeanor domestic violence charge in Cleveland Municipal Court. He was accused of slapping and punching the mother of his 5-year-old son at her Cleveland home in October.

(sportingnews.com)

It appears there are movers and shakers in the NFL that believe the current picture being presented by the Giants, stating tight end Jeremy Shockey is no longer involved in trade talks, fails to match reality, according to NFL.com.


(rototimes.com)

Aubrey Huff’s transformation from fantasy scrub to stud continues. On Thursday, the Orioles third baseman had 4 hits, scoring 3 runs, while driving in 2 RBI. His average is now up to .357 for the month of June, after hitting just .231 in May. Once a perennial fantasy slugger for the Rays, who reached career highs with 34 homeruns and 107 RBI in 2003, Huff has stumbled since a trade sent him to Houston midway through the 2006 season. At the age of 31, it is not too late for Huff to turn things around. With 14 homeruns and 45 RBI, Huff should be owned in the majority of fantasy leagues.

Huff who has spent the majority of the season as the team's designated hitter, started at third base for the 11th time yesterday. And in the third inning, he made a highlight-reel catch. Bernadina hit a liner that Huff jumped for and snagged, showing solid leaping ability. He also turned two 5-3 double plays, including a key one in the eighth inning.

(baltimoresun.com)