Brett Favre Tried To Help Vikings Recruit LT
(3/15 8:26 PT)
The Facts:
Favre hasn't announced his intentions about playing in 2010, but we came across what appears to be a gigantic clue that he'll be back. That clue is this: A source familiar with the Vikings situation told Newsday's Bob Glauber that Favre was heavily involved in the recruitment process late last week for RB LaDainian Tomlinson. Reported by New York Newsday
Diehards Line:
According to Glauber, it is believed that Favre spoke to Tomlinson by phone and while recruiting effort ultimately came up short, Profootballtalk.com's Michael David Smith correctly suggests if Favre is actively trying to recruit players for the Vikings' 2010 roster, that's a pretty big clue that Favre himself plans to be on the Vikings' 2010 roster. ... Not that we should expect an announcement or official confirmation any time soon.
The Facts:
Favre hasn't announced his intentions about playing in 2010, but we came across what appears to be a gigantic clue that he'll be back. That clue is this: A source familiar with the Vikings situation told Newsday's Bob Glauber that Favre was heavily involved in the recruitment process late last week for RB LaDainian Tomlinson. Reported by New York Newsday
Diehards Line:
According to Glauber, it is believed that Favre spoke to Tomlinson by phone and while recruiting effort ultimately came up short, Profootballtalk.com's Michael David Smith correctly suggests if Favre is actively trying to recruit players for the Vikings' 2010 roster, that's a pretty big clue that Favre himself plans to be on the Vikings' 2010 roster. ... Not that we should expect an announcement or official confirmation any time soon. Click for More Views Profile
The Facts:
Bulger’s future in St. Louis may be tenuous at best, but he remains under contract with the Rams. As such, he was among the Rams’ players on hand Monday for the start of the team’s off-season conditioning program.Reported by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Diehards Line:
Per the Post-Dispatch, the turnout Monday was good. Among the notable absences was running back Steven Jackson, but he was at Rams Park all of last week. ... Getting back to Bulger, all indications are the veteran signal caller will be moving on. But it doesn't look like he's ready to do anything to force management's hand. Click for More Views Profile
The Facts:
Martin, who has a background with Seahawks general manager John Schneider from three seasons with the Green Bay Packers from 2006-08, signed a one-year deal with the team.Reported by the Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Diehards Line:
Martin, 27, played eight games for the St. Louis Rams in 2009 and caught six passes for 99 yards, including two for 60 yards against the Seahawks in a 27-17 Seattle win on Nov. 29. The 6-4, 220-pounder has 58 career receptions for 848 yards and six touchdowns in his NFL career. Martin's best season for Green Bay came as a rookie in 2006 when he pulled in 21 passes for 358 yards, including seven catches of 20 or more yards. Click for More Views Profile
The Facts:
The Raiders kicked off offseason voluntary workouts today at team headquarters. No visible sign of Russell, though.Several players who have been at the facility for weeks said they have not seen the former No. 1 overall draft pick. When asked if he'll show today, one starter laughed and said "That's a horror show." Another starter said "don't hold your breath."Reported by the San Francisco Chronicle
Diehards Line:
Meanwhile, fellow QBs Charlie Frye showed up, saying he signed his original draft pick tender. Bruce Gradkowski has been there all along, rehabbing his knees and preparing to compete for the starting job. ... For what it's worth, Russell did show up for last year's off-season program a week after it started. And it should also be noted that the workouts are voluntary. Click for More Views Profile
Diehards Line:
With Brady Quinn now under contract at a base salary of only $700,000, the Broncos were able to part ways with Simms, who was last season's primary backup. Simms was due to earn a base salary of $2.54 million in 2010. Last year, he earned $1.96 million. The move leaves the Broncos with three QBs under contract: Kyle Orton, Quinn, and Tom Brandstater. ... For what it's worth, ESPN insider Adam Schefter suggests that Brandstater might be the best long-term prospect of the group. Click for More Views Profile
The Facts:
The Steelers started offseason workouts today and there is one notable absence. Roethlisberger is not working out with his teammates and is not at the Steelers' practice facility.Reported by the Pittsburgh Tribune Review
Diehards Line:
Roethlisberger has stayed out of sight since getting accused of sexual assault in Milledgeville, Ga. It's not clear if the decision to stay away is exclusively Roethlisberger's. The QB has met with team officials, who are said to be very disappointed with the situations he finds himself in. It would't be terribly surprising to learn all involved are on board with the absence as part of an effort to avoid distraction. Click for More Views Profile
The Facts:
With former first-round pick Brady Quinn now shipped from Cleveland to Denver, there's a question as to whether Quinn or Orton will be the starting quarterback for the Broncos. Mike Klis of the Denver Post reports that the new guy won't supplant the holdover; per Klis, Orton will start.Reported by Profootballtalk.com
Diehards Line:
Though Orton's status could change, PFT's Mike Florio points out the decision makes sense, for a couple of reasons. First, Orton is a restricted free agent, tendered at the first-round level. His base salary is $2.62 million, nearly four times greater than Quinn's $700,000 compensation. Then there's the fact that Quinn will unlock $5.9 million in 2011 escalators if he takes 70 percent or more of the snaps on offense this season. By making him the backup, the Broncos are guaranteed to get two seasons out of him at a total payout of a paltry, relatively speaking, $1.4 million. Click for More Views Profile
The Facts:
The Lions begin their off-season conditioning program next week and HC Jim Schwartz said Stafford, who is coming off December knee surgery, should be ready to go. "There's probably some things that he'll take maybe a little slower, but I don't think he'll have a whole lot of restrictions," Schwartz said. Reported by the Detroit News
Diehards Line:
The Lions will bring Stafford along slowly and build his workload as he goes along. "He's had some rehab time where he hasn't been able to do as much maybe as other players," Schwartz explained. "But there is nothing he can't do, it's just a matter of getting him back up to speed and back into the shape he needs to be in. ..." With Daunte Culpepper an unrestricted free agent, the arrival of QB Shaun Hill, acquired in a trade with San Francisco, will provide the team with another arm to help keep receivers busy as Stafford works his way up to speed. Click for More Views Profile
The Facts:
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, it's official: Tomlinson is a Jet. He reached agreement on a two-year contract. Done.Reported by FootballDiehards.com
Diehards Line:
Stay tuned on this one. ... It will be very interesting to see how Tomlinson's contract compares with the one Thomas Jones signed in Kansas City (two years, $5 million). It's widely believed Jones, a very popular figure in New York's locker room, gave the Jets an opportunity to match the Chiefs' offer. It's not clear how the arrival of an aging running back on the decline (LT) will go over given the departure of a more popular -- and still very productive veteran -- might go over. ... Meanwhile, it's safe to say Tomlinson will open the season behind second-year man Shonn Greene. ... Again: More to come. Click for More Views Profile
The Facts:
Jay Glazer of Fox Sports is reporting that Quinn was just traded from the Cleveland Browns to the Denver Broncos in exchange for Peyton Hillis and two conditional draft picks.Reported by Profootballtalk.com
Diehards Line:
As PFT's Michael David Smith points out, we've known since the Browns acquired QBs Seneca Wallace and Jake Delhomme that Quinn was available. Now he'll battle Kyle Orton for the starting job in Denver. Orton has to be considered the favorite based on experience in HC Josh McDaniels' scheme. But there are those who believe Quinn was never given a fair shake in Cleveland and he's capable of more than we've seen. Either way, the Broncos' QB competition just became more interesting. Click for More Views Profile
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The Facts:
Favre hasn't announced his intentions about playing in 2010, but we came across what appears to be a gigantic clue that he'll be back. That clue is this: A source familiar with the Vikings situation told Newsday's Bob Glauber that Favre was heavily involved in the recruitment process late last week for RB LaDainian Tomlinson. 
