Detroit Lions' Legendary WR Herman Moore 'Loves' Watching Stafford and Johnson, Optimistic for 2012 (Yahoo! Contributor Network)
(Wed, 23 May 2012 19:50:00 PDT)
COMMENTARY| Legendary Detroit Lions wide receiver Herman Moore knows the value of having a quarterback who is in tune with his receivers. And if current Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford and star receiver Calvin Johnson continue their pace, they'll be in rhythm for quite some time, Moore says.

NFL counting on Vincent to get message across to players (The SportsXchange)
(Wed, 23 May 2012 14:11:25 PDT)
ATLANTA -- As a rookie cornerback with the Miami Dolphins in 1992, Troy Vincent recalled that, from Day 1, he had iconic coach Dan Shula screaming at him from one side about how to become a productive player in the league, and veteran linebacker John Offerdahl whispering in his opposite ear about preparing for life after football.

Woodson preps for new 'title' for Packers (The Associated Press)
(Wed, 23 May 2012 13:56:35 PDT)
MILWAUKEE (AP) There has been plenty of talk about whether Charles Woodson is going to move to safety for the Green Bay Packers.

Plaxico Burress wants to workout for the Dolphins; Dolphins don’t want Plaxico Burress (Shutdown Corner)
(Wed, 23 May 2012 10:33:55 PDT)
The Miami Dolphins do not have a wealth of experience at wide receiver. Davone Bess leads the unit with 260 career catches, and no one else has more than 109. For comparison's sake, the New England Patriots have three individuals with more career receptions than every Dolphins receiver combined. The currently unemployed Plaxico Burress does, too, and he's looking for a job. A job with the Miami Dolphins, in fact, according to one report Wednesday. But the Dolphins, even with their apparent need at the position, aren't interested . From Armando Salguero at the Miami Herald: Add Plaxico Burress to the list of receivers who would love to audition for the Dolphins. But Miami has shown no interest in the likes of Burress, Roy Williams and Braylon Edwards. Ireland said he "could be done" at receiver, but isn't certain. If the rookies don't develop this summer, Ireland might add a veteran. I mean no disrespect to Bess, Brian Hartline or Legudu Naanee, nor am I suggesting that the Dolphins are making a mistake by passing on Plaxico Burress, but don't they need something else at wideout? If you're looking for one of your young fellows to develop into a franchise quarterback , they're going to need help. Probably more help than you have on the roster right now. [ Also: Green Bay Packer Donald Driver wins 'Dancing With the Stars' ]

Packers sign 2008 second-rounder Merling (The SportsXchange)
(Wed, 23 May 2012 09:11:11 PDT)
The Packers signed defensive end Phillip Merling to a one-year deal.

Report: Burress wants Dolphins, but they don't want him (National Football Post)
(Wed, 23 May 2012 05:51:06 PDT)
Veteran wide receiver still shopping for a new team.

Dolphins like what they see from Tannehill (The Associated Press)
(Tue, 22 May 2012 15:34:19 PDT)
MIAMI (AP) Forgive rookie quarterback Ryan Tannehill if he looks lost. Since joining the Miami Dolphins, he has been trying to get around town without using a GPS.

Seau's suicide prompts worries about post-NFL life (The Associated Press)
(Tue, 22 May 2012 09:42:21 PDT)
Junior Seau's suicide is troubling NFL players.

Ross: Moore likely to be Dolphins' starting QB (National Football Post)
(Mon, 21 May 2012 18:10:12 PDT)
Dolphins won't rush rookie Tannehill.

Ryan Tannehill won’t start right away, according to Dolphins’ owner (Shutdown Corner)
(Mon, 21 May 2012 13:29:37 PDT)
When the Miami Dolphins open the season on Sept. 9 against the Houston Texans, it probably won't be shiny new rookie Ryan Tannehill under center. It's more likely to be incumbent Matt Moore. That's according to Dolphins owner Stephen Ross, who may have some influence over these things. Ross told NFL.com that Tannehill won't be rushed , and if Matt Moore happens to turn into a great quarterback first, then that's OK with him, too. "I don't think they're going to rush (Ryan Tannehill) into anything," Ross said. "He's going to have to win the starting job. I think Matt Moore will probably be the starter, and I wish him the best." [...] "Whenever (Tannehill) is ready," Ross said. "And if Matt Moore develops, so be it. We want a franchise quarterback." Oh, you want a franchise quarterback, do you? Well, I'd like to spend tonight in a hot tub with Raquel Welch in 1967, but I don't think either of those things are going to happen right away. Ross' expectations go a little bit against the grain of what we've been hearing. According to David Garrard, Tannehill already knows the Dolphins playbook better than anyone else on the roster . Given Tannehill's familiarity with Mike Sherman's system, his pedigree as the eighth-overall pick, and Ross' oft-stated desire for a franchise quarterback, I think most of us assumed he'd be in there from day one. Maybe he still will be. Maybe this is just Ross' way of taking some pressure off.

Tanier’s Team Reviews: The Kansas City Chiefs, via Todd Haley (Shutdown Corner)
(Sun, 20 May 2012 07:30:30 PDT)
Any website can post "offseason grades" for NFL teams, mixing the draft and free agency into transaction soup, then straining it through the mind of some sportswriter who doesn't know who half the players are. Only the Shutdown Corner has the resources to get actual players, coaches, and executives from each team to evaluate their own offseasons! That's right: over the next few weeks, you will get transaction evaluations straight from the horse's mouths: straight talk about who was signed, who was lost, who was drafted, and why. (For the satirically challenged: all player, coach, and executive remarks are made by an impersonator). In this segment, former Chiefs coach Todd Haley breaks down the offseason moves of the team that fired him at the end of last season. We have a bad feeling about this. TODD HALEY: Wash your windshield, mister? I don't scrub windshields for the money. I have a coaching job now as offensive coordinator for the Steelers. I carry this slop bucket because I like it. It's comforting to wash windows while the mad clown stares at me with his dead, gray eyes, whispering razor truths mortals dare not speak aloud, truths that pierce flesh and cut an inky scarlet line against the throat of the he-goat … Sorry, my thoughts meander sometimes. The Chiefs had a productive offseason. At the skill positions, they added Peyton Hillis to a running back committee that already includes Dexter McCluster and Jamaal Charles, who is ahead of schedule rehabbing his knee injury. Kevin Boss joins Tony Moeaki, also on schedule to return from a knee injury, to give the Chiefs two tight ends who can block and catch. Two rookie wide receivers, Devon Wylie and Junior Hemingway, will provide extra depth behind Dwayne Bowe, Steve Breaston and last year's top pick Jonathan Baldwin, who started to come on late in the season. Matt Cassel, yet another player who missed much of last season with injuries, won't have to worry about throwing to the likes of Keary Colbert or Anthony Becht. That's right, everyone gets to come back to Kansas City but me, the guy who got blamed for not being able to build an offense around Tyler Palko and Terrance Copper, while the dead-eyed clown stares back at me from the mirror and cackles. "You ever played cornhole with the devil, son?" he asks, his raspy voice a rusty hypodermic needle scraping gutter concrete. "He don't use no beanbags, boy." And that he-goat just brays and brays like he sees the end coming and don't know whether to fight it or welcome it. Moving on to the defense, Dontari Poe was one of the most physically gifted specimens in this year's draft class. The Chiefs have a bad habit of striking out with big defensive tackles, from Ryan Sims to Glenn Dorsey, so my former assistant Romeo Crennel will have to be careful about Poe's development and role if he doesn't want Poe to become an overpriced space-eater the greasepaint smears and the sharpened steel glints in the pickup truck headlights behind the barnyard. The loss of Brandon Carr is going to hurt at cornerback, because Stanford Routt is an adequate No. 2 corner behind Brandon Flowers. But the defense will be better if it is not  on the field as often, and when the muffled brays fade to pitch-black silence, vengeful darkness sated all-too-briefly by the still-quivering sacrifice .

NFL: Packers waiting before retiring Favre's jersey (The SportsXchange)
(Fri, 18 May 2012 15:50:12 PDT)
The Green Bay Packers will wait at least another season to hold a ceremony to retire Brett Favre's No. 4.

AP source: Jets agree with S Bell on 1-year deal (The Associated Press)
(Fri, 18 May 2012 12:37:52 PDT)
NEW YORK (AP) Yeremiah Bell is joining the other side of the Dolphins-Jets rivalry.

Safety Bell lands with Jets (National Football Post)
(Fri, 18 May 2012 12:20:07 PDT)
Veteran had made visits with four teams.

Veteran Bell signs with Jets (The SportsXchange)
(Fri, 18 May 2012 10:40:17 PDT)
The Jets agreed to a one-year, $1.4 million deal with veteran safety Yeremiah Bell.

Tanier’s Team Reviews: The Seattle Seahawks, via Pete Carroll and Russell Wilson (Shutdown Corner)
(Fri, 18 May 2012 06:54:04 PDT)
Any website can post "offseason grades" for NFL teams, mixing the draft and free agency into transaction soup, then straining it through the mind of some sportswriter who doesn't know who half the players are. Only the Shutdown Corner has the resources to get actual players, coaches, and executives from each team to evaluate their own offseasons! That's right: over the next few weeks, you will get transaction evaluations straight from the horse's mouths: straight talk about who was signed, who was lost, who was drafted, and why. (For the satirically challenged: all player, coach, and executive remarks are made by an impersonator). In this segment, Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll breaks down his team's offseason moves. PETE CARROLL: What an awesome day! The sun is shining! The birds are chirping! Let me give a shout out to all the folks at The Circle Perk coffee shop for working so hard to keep all of us energized! And to all the crossing guards making sure kids get to school safely! And to the Seattle-area sewer workers: you guys are the thin line that separates good citizens from their own filth, and I cannot thank you enough! Fans really need to get amped about our three-way quarterback battle. The front-runner is Matt Flynn, who got America totally stoked in that awesome Packers-Lions game in Week 17. Next, there's rookie Russell Wilson, who is short but fiery. Isn't that right, Russell? RUSSELL WILSON: Grrrrrr... PETE CARROLL: I love this kid! He's like a feral cat! And finally, there's Tarvaris Jackson, the Taylor Hicks of NFL quarterbacks. You don't like him, you keep expecting him to lose, and then bang! He finds a way to win a starting job, if not many games. But enough about the offense. Let's talk defense!! We are going to have one of the best front sevens in the NFL!! Defensive tackle Jason Jones had a great, if quiet, season for the Titans last year. First-round pick Bruce Irvin may have seemed like a reach, but that is only because West Virginia had this crazy idea that a 245-pound speedster was a good fit at defensive end. I like my defensive ends Red Bryant-sized! When I am not being enthusiastic about everything, you can find me in my office drawing up creative defenses, and Irvin is going to be everywhere the offense doesn't expect him to be!!! Irvin and Wilson had awesome rookie camps. In fact, all of the rookies had awesome camps, as did our parking lot attendants and the people who work so hard to make sure the office wastebaskets are clean enough to guzzle energy drink out of!! Let me dedicate my Song of the Day to the rookies: "Dog Days are Over" by Florence + the Machine! That's right: I'm a 60-year old man who listens to Florence + the Machine!!! Nicky Minaj, too! And don't forget Ke$ha, who is tiny and has a nasty attitude, just like Russell Wilson!!! RUSSELL WILSON: Grrrr… PETE CARROLL: Excellent growling, buddy!!

Tanier’s Team Reviews: The Arizona Cardinals, via Kevin Kolb (Shutdown Corner)
(Fri, 18 May 2012 06:38:08 PDT)
Any website can post "offseason grades" for NFL teams, mixing the draft and free agency into transaction soup, then straining it through the mind of some sportswriter who doesn't know who half the players are. Only the Shutdown Corner has the resources to get actual players, coaches, and executives from each team to evaluate their own offseasons! That's right: over the next few weeks, you will get transaction evaluations straight from the horse's mouths: straight talk about who was signed, who was lost, who was drafted, and why. (For the satirically challenged: all player, coach, and executive remarks are made by an impersonator). In this segment, Cardinals quarterback (at least for now) Kevin Kolb breaks down the Arizona Cardinals' offseason moves. KEVIN KOLB: Howdy folks. Don't mind me. I'm just tyin' a few flies, polishin' up the outboard motor, gettin' ready to hit the lake. Goin' fishin' right after we're done. It won't take long, 'cuz the Cardinals didn't do much this offseason. We didn't get a new quarterback for one thing. Sure, the team chased Peyton Manning, but that was one big river bass with a lot of fight in him. So the quarterback job is mine to lose. And don't you worry, I'm gonna lose it. It's not that John Skelton is any better than me: he may have led just as many fourth-quarter comebacks as Tim Tebow last year (four), but only city slickers and TV blowhards in fancy suits pay attention to those cow chips. I just have no idea what to do in the pocket. So the third or fourth time I roll to my right and get dragged down by Aldon Smith or somebody, Coach Whisenhunt's gonna decide it's time to cut some fresh bait. I know Larry Fitzgerald's happy about our new second receiver, Malcolm Floyd. Floyd liked to hit the honky-tonks in college, but he's a big guy, and when he wants to be, he can be as fast as a boar gettin' flushed by three hound dogs.

Report: Bears' Marshall will not be charged (The SportsXchange)
(Thu, 17 May 2012 19:20:05 PDT)
New York City police will not bring charges against Chicago Bears receiver Brandon Marshall in connection with an altercation in March, attorney Harvey Steinberg told the NFL Network on Thursday.

NFL roundup: Vilma sues Goodell (The SportsXchange)
(Thu, 17 May 2012 16:20:09 PDT)
Suspended New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma has sued NFL commissioner Roger Goodell for defamation, according to a ProFootballTalk report.

Agent: Bell to sign within 24 hours (National Football Post)
(Thu, 17 May 2012 06:40:41 PDT)
Former Dolphins safety apparently choosing between four teams.

Mughelli visiting Dolphins (National Football Post)
(Wed, 16 May 2012 11:46:06 PDT)
Fullback expected to meet with team on Thursday.

Junior Seau’s home burglarized just days after his death (Shutdown Corner)
(Tue, 15 May 2012 22:19:13 PDT)
There are people in or around the town of Oceanside, Calif., who just got an express trip to the place where the red guy with the horns and pitchfork does his business. There are few things more disgusting than a robbery that affects the family of a man who just died, but that's what happened last week to the family of Junior Seau. Just five days after the great linebacker took his own life, some sorry excuses for humanity broke into Seau's home , went through cabinets in the garage, and stole a bicycle that belonged to a friend of Seau's. Oceanside police Lt. Leonard Mata said that the stolen bike is gray with chrome fenders and a black seat, and there are 143 spokes in each wheel. Whoever broke in didn't enter the house -- just the garage. Nothing else was taken. The estimated value of the bike is approximately $500. [ Related: Junior Seau was gregarious, ebullient, hilarious and immensely popular ] On May 2, at approximately 9:35 a.m., Seau's girlfriend placed a 911 call indicating that she had found the body of the future Hall of Fame linebacker in a spare bedroom of his home. The death was suspected to be, and was later ruled, a suicide. Seau, a 12-time Pro Bowler and six-time First-Team All-Pro, was selected fifth overall in the 1990 NFL draft after an outstanding collegiate career at USC. He played with the San Diego Chargers through the 2002 season, spent 2003-2005 with the Miami Dolphins, and then signed with the New England Patriots in time for the 2006 season. In New England's perfect regular season of 2007, he played in all 16 games and started four. Seau first retired after that season, only to come back and play for the Patriots in 2008 and 2009 before finally leaving the NFL for good. "I'm going to go surf," he told Showtime upon his January 2010 retirement announcement. "Whatever happens, I can honestly say, that that probably was my last game."

Ricky Williams dismisses concussion data in favor of ‘mind over matter’ approach (Shutdown Corner)
(Tue, 15 May 2012 17:48:46 PDT)
Sometimes, the best way to deal with a problem is to pretend that it doesn't exist. At least, that's the impression put across by former NFL running back Ricky Williams when he discussed the recent concern about concussions in football with ESPN's Dan Le Batard. Williams, who played for the New Orleans Saints, Miami Dolphins and Baltimore Ravens during an 11-year career in which he gained over 10,000 rushing yards, retired in February. And when it comes to the possible effects of the game as he enters a new phase of his life ... well, Williams can't really be bothered. "I have no idea, and I'm not a really big fan of the way the NFL is handling concussions," Williams said on Tuesday. "Maybe I'm stupid or whatever, but if I got a concussion, and I could see straight and I could carry a football, I'm not telling anybody ... From what I've seen, [the NFL is] all about prevention -- but can you prevent a concussion? I mean, you can definitely have safer helmets, and I had what I think was the safest helmet when I played, and I think you can definitely pay more attention. But ultimately, it's about the players. And I think all this attention given to prevention -- it seems like they haven't done anything, because they don't believe they can actually treat a concussion." [Related: Concussion worries lead Andrew Sweat to choose law school over NFL ] When Le Batard said that he didn't understand Williams' statement (put us in that camp as well), Williams elaborated. "Most of the research around concussions is to find that 100 percent of football players have brain trauma. Well -- I don't want someone to tell me that, right? I don't want someone to tell me that, because if it's a 'doctor' [Williams used air quotes when he said the word 'doctor'], I don't buy it." The now incredulous Le Batard asked Williams to clarify his stance -- did he believe that there is not a link between football and concussions? "I don't buy it. I'm only speaking from my personal experience, because I haven't allowed myself to buy it, and I haven't been affected. Yes, I'm aware that football is a rough sport, but instead of saying, 'Oh -- I'm doomed to brain trauma,' I said, 'What can I do about it?' And I just started taking care of my body. I found people, places and things that really helped me -- again, I don't know what's going to happen to me in 10 years, but I look at the other things I've learned about, and the way I see the world. "And to me, it's like -- OK, yes. If we're going to spend six months brutalizing our bodies, I said, 'That makes sense. I'm going to spend six months taking care of my body.' I started to equip myself with tools. I started practicing yoga, and I started learning some hands-on healing stuff. I found really good chiropractors and massage therapists, and I found that I was able to peel off layers of trauma on my body. I actually move better now than I did [when I played]." When asked about the science of brain trauma, Williams passed it off. "Science is the deity, but should it be?"