ARZ - Cardinals RB James Committed

Source: Dan Bickley, Arizona Republic

Arizona Cardinals running back Edgerrin James is so enthused by the new coaching regime, he promised to carry the ball a little more during the preseason. New HC Ken Whisenhunt and Assistant HC Russ Grim have committed to running the football and have promised to get James 300 carries this season. James, who notoriously hates the preseason said, "If (Whisenhunt) wants me to go out there and get five, six carries, I'm not going to say no. If they want me to do it just to save face, so there's no complaining, I'll do it."

DEN - RB Travis Henry Wants The Ball Often

Source: Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News

Denver Broncos new RB Travis Henry doesn't want to just embrace the idea of being the guy. He wants to grab it and lug it as many times as Shanahan lets him. "Me, personally, I'm from the old school," Henry said. "From watching Emmitt Smith, Barry Sanders, Walter Payton, all those guys, it was one back. That's it. One guy got the ball. It's good to have the backup in case something goes wrong, but as far as rotating during the game, that takes away from a premier back trying to get in a rhythm. So, a two-back rotation? I guess I don't see it."

DEN - QB Cutler Talks About Expectations For Team And Himself

Source: Mike Klis, Denver Post

The Denver Broncos have serious Super Bowl aspirations but can 2nd-year QB Jay Cutler overcome that pressure and perform well with his limited experience. Winning a Super Bowl with a second-year pro quarterback has happened twice in the past six years but having such lofty goals must get heavy at times for a youngster who has yet to hear his first boo. "Yeah, I've heard if I play well, the team's going to do well, and if I play badly, the team's going to do badly. How I go is how the team goes," Cutler said. "I think that's a little ridiculous. I mean, I don't think I have to throw for 300 yards every game for us to win football games. I need to manage the game and limit turnovers. I think our running game and our defense will be enough for us to put up enough points."

It's Cutler's calm and confident disposition - whether in moments of crisis between the lines or casual encounters along the sidewalk - that has the Broncos believing he can live through the mistakes, and perhaps the occasional boos, and bounce back to become the third second- year pro quarterback in history to win a Super Bowl. "This team definitely has Super Bowl talent," Cutler said. "I think we're in a good position to have a good record, get in the playoffs and then see what happens. As far as how I'm taking things, I'm taking it in stride. This team could have a great year, we could have a bad year. I can't tell the future. All I can do is prepare as hard as I can to have the best season possible. There's a lot of guys here who are going to help me." One area that's often overlooked is starting field position. After ranking last in the NFL in that category last season, the Broncos brought in a new coach (Scott O'Brien), a new punter (Todd Sauerbrun) and will break in a new returner (Domenik Hixon).

DEF - MIA - Dolphins Won't Punish LB Porter

Source: David J. Neal, Miami Herald

The Dolphins won't punish LB Joey Porter for his Las Vegas altercation after the NFL fined him $141,176. "I'm not condoning what happened. Joey Porter was issued a citation. He paid a fine," Cameron said. "He has followed through with everything he's supposed to do as relates to this matter as a professional. He's been fined and it's over. I think he's learned from it."

ARZ - Cardinals RB James Committed

Source: Dan Bickley, Arizona Republic

Arizona Cardinals running back Edgerrin James is so enthused by the new coaching regime, he promised to carry the ball a little more during the preseason. New HC Ken Whisenhunt and Assistant HC Russ Grim have committed to running the football and have promised to get James 300 carries this season. James, who notoriously hates the preseason said, "If (Whisenhunt) wants me to go out there and get five, six carries, I'm not going to say no. If they want me to do it just to save face, so there's no complaining, I'll do it."

TB - Bucs QB Plummer To Former Coach: 'I'm Done'

Source: Rick Stroud, St. Petersburg Times

According to QB Jake Plummer's high school coach, Steve Vogel, Plummer said that he really is retiring. "They don't believe me down there (in Tampa), but I'm done," Plummer told Vogel. The Buccaneers are still hopeful that Plummer will join the competition that is currently being led by 37-year old QB Jeff Garcia. "We traded for him (Plummer) with the intent of him playing for the Buccaneers," Tampa Bay GM Bruce Allen said.

ATL - Nike Suspends Release Of New Vick Shoe

Source: AP

Michael Vick's legal troubles prompted Nike today to suspend the release of its latest product line named after the Atlanta Falcons quarterback.

Nike has told retailers it will not release a fifth signature shoe, the Air Zoom Vick V, this summer. Nike spokesman Dean Stoyer said the four shoe products and three shirts that currently bear Vick's name will remain in stores. A statement released by Nike said the company "is concerned by the serious and highly disturbing allegations made against Michael Vick, and we consider any cruelty to animals inhumane and abhorrent. We do believe that Michael Vick should be afforded the same due process as any citizen; therefore, we have not terminated our relationship."

TB - QB Culpepper Meets With Buccaneers

Source: Rick Stroud, St. Petersburg Times

Several member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' brass reportedly met Thursday with free agent quarterback Daunte Culpepper. The meeting took place at the corporate airplane hangar at Tampa International Airport. Also greeting Culpepper were GM Bruce Allen and Doug Williams, the team's senior pro personnel assistant.

DET - Lions Rookie WR Johnson Remains Unsigned

With only a week before training camp, No. 2 overall draft pick WR Calvin Johnson remains unsigned by the Detroit Lions. Johnson's agent Bus Cook and Lions Chief Operating Officer Tom Lewand initially spoke Monday. But as is typically the case with early draft picks, they will try and wait until another draft pick in front or behind them is signed. Raiders top pick QB Jarcus Russell's negotiations are reportedly going slowly.

DET - Lions Rookie WR Johnson Remains Unsigned

With only a week before training camp, No. 2 overall draft pick WR Calvin Johnson remains unsigned by the Detroit Lions. Johnson's agent Bus Cook and Lions Chief Operating Officer Tom Lewand initially spoke Monday. But as is typically the case with early draft picks, they will try and wait until another draft pick in front or behind them is signed. Raiders top pick QB Jarcus Russell's negotiations are reportedly going slowly.

ATL - Can Falcons QB Vick Expect Suspension From NFL?

Source: Jason Cole, Yahoo! Sports

According to Jason Cole at Yahoo! Sports, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick can expect to face a suspension from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell as the result of his indictment in connection with dog fighting in Virginia. "Where (Vick) is in the most trouble is that he lied to the commissioner," an anonymous league source said. "He told (Goodell) in April that he didn't know anything about this. The commissioner gave (Vick) every chance to come clean, be straight about what was going on. Instead, he just kept denying it."

MIA - Dolphins Release QB Culpepper

Source: Shandel Richardson, Sun-Sentinel.com

On Tuesday, the Dolphins released a one-sentence statement, announcing it had terminated Daunte Culpepper's contract, and offered no further comment. An arbitration hearing scheduled for today in South Florida was canceled.

Culpepper said his attorneys alerted him of the news Monday night. "As I was going through this process, I heard about a quote by Gandhi that best expresses my thoughts about this victory," Culpepper said in an e-mailed statement. "He said, 'First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win.'." Tension arose when the Dolphins traded for quarterback Trent Green in June. Culpepper asked for a release and refused to renegotiate his contact to make him easier to trade, which the Dolphins have tried to do the past several weeks. After Culpepper was told he would not receive any repetitions in team drills, he walked out of a minicamp practice a few days after the trade. Then the NFL Players' Association filed a grievance on Culpepper's behalf, claiming the Dolphins were denying him the chance to compete.

ATL QB Vick Indicted In Dogfight Investigation

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/football/2020AP_FBN_Vick_Indictment.html

Clipped from the AP story by Hank Kurz, Jr.: Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael
Vick was indicted Tuesday by a federal grand jury on charges related to illegal
dogfighting.

Vick and three others are charged with competitive dogfighting, procuring and
training pit bulls for fighting and conducting the enterprise across state lines.
The dogfighting operation was named "Bad Newz Kennels," according to the indictment,
and the dogs were housed, trained and fought at a Surry County, Va., property owned
by Vick.

The indictment alleges that the 27-year-old Vick and his co-defendants began a
grisly dogfighting operation in early 2001 in which dogs fought to the death - or
close. Losing dogs were sometimes killed by electrocution, drowning, hanging or
gunshots.

If convicted, Vick and the others - Purnell A. Peace, Quanis L. Phillips and Tony
Taylor - could face up to six years in prison, $350,000 in fines and restitution.

TB - QB Garcia Looks Like A Lock

Source: Rick Stroud, St. Petersburg Times

For the next six months or so, quarterback Jeff Garcia and coach Jon Gruden will be inseparable. They will share more than initials. In fact, their futures will be intertwined.

It's the 37-year-old quarterback with his fourth job in as many years and the coach trying desperately to hold onto one. If you think another player has a chance to win a starting job under center in training camp, which begins July 26, think again. "I love Garcia," Gruden said recently. "I like what he's doing a lot. I just think he's got some traits we haven't had around here - his mobility, his experience." Those are exactly the two traits Gruden values the most in a quarterback. Garcia will be the eighth starting quarterback since Gruden arrived in Tampa Bay in 2002, but he is the only one who brings both qualities to the party. Brad Johnson had the experience and used it to get the ball out of his hand quickly, but he moved like he was in quicksand. Bruce Gradkowski made some plays with his feet but was green as grass. Chris Simms had some of both but not enough of either trait.

NYG - Giants Instruct HC Coughlin To Change Ways

Source: Paul Schwartz, New York Post

New York Giants HC Tom Coughlin was told by ownership to change his demeanor and communicate better with his players. Giants ownership is not demanding a kinder and gentler Tom Coughlin, but it stipulates a more reasonable Tom Coughlin. The man in charge does not have to be revered, but the acrimony leveled at Coughlin down the stretch of last season did no one any good. The perception of Coughlin was as a beleaguered captain at the helm of a ship gone adrift, complete with the requisite mutinous crew. "I think there's no question I can improve," Coughlin admitted. "I'm going to try to be more patient."

SF - 49ers Backup QB Dilfer Wants More Playing Time

Source: Dennis Georgatos, Santa Cruz Sentinel

While starting QB Alex Smith became the first 49ers quarterback to take every offensive snap in a season last year, Trent Dilfer didn't play at all, and the team's veteran backup says he hopes to play more in upcoming exhibitions to help ensure his readiness this season. "I'm just going to express that I would like to play a little more in the preseason, just to make sure I'm sharp. In my opinion, it's in the best interest of the football team that I'm on my 'A' game come opening day and something were to happen to Alex", Dilfer said.

KC - Price Goes Up For RB Johnson

Source: Jason Whitlock, Kansas City Star

The record contract the Colts handed defensive end Dwight Freeney late last week is yet another new wrinkle in the Larry Johnson-Chiefs contract saga.

Freeney's $72 million deal, which includes $30 million in bonuses and $37.5 million over the first three years, raised the roof on all future contract demands across the league. The Colts treated Freeney, the game's second-best defensive end after Julius Peppers, like a quarterback. And by doing so, the Colts hammered the point that you can't compare 2007 contracts by the standards established under the old collective-bargaining agreement. The franchise-tag value for defensive ends had been around $8.6 million. Once Peppers inks a new deal, an agreement that should surpass Freeney's, the franchise number for pass rushers will begin to approach $10 million. My point in bringing this up is it is being made abundantly clear that the deal that LaDainian Tomlinson, the league's best running back, signed in 2004 is obsolete when talking about Larry Johnson's value in today's market. If the Chargers signed LT today, he would garner a $30 million signing bonus and $36 million over the first three years of the contract.

DEF - DET - Lions DT Rogers Cleared Of Charges

Source: Detroit Free Press

No criminal charges will be issued against Detroit Lions defensive tackle Shaun Rogers in connection with allegations made last month by a woman that he had sexually assaulted her. Wayne County Prosecutor Kym L. Worthy said today that the decision was made following an investigation conducted over several weeks by the Detroit Police Department and her office.

DEF - IND - Colts DE Freeney Signs Six-Year Deal

Source: John Clayton, ESPN.com

Indianapolis Colts DE Dwight Freeney signed a six-year, $72 million contract with the team Friday that includes a $30 million signing bonus. He becomes the highest paid defensive player in NFL history. Freeney was designated as the team's franchise player and had only a few days remaining to get a long-term deal done. "To have me paid among the top players in the league -- not just as a defensive players -- means a lot of me," said Freeney, who flew to Indianapolis on Thursday night in anticipation of accepting the deal. "[Colts general manager] Bill Polian is the one who drafted me. I was hand-picked by him. He was going to do the right thing for the organization."

NE - QB Testaverde Will Be With Patriots

Source: Mike Reiss, Boston Globe

Here is some of the Q&A from Vinny Testaverde from his interview on Sporting News radio today. The 43-year-old Testaverde was a guest on Tony Bruno's show.

Q: We saw you talking with Chiefs coach Herman Edwards. Are you going to be back in the NFL, joining the Kansas City Chiefs? A: "You guys are right, I'll be back in the NFL but it won't be with the Chiefs. I'll actually be playing for the Patriots again this year." Q: Has that been announced? AL "No, after two-a-days are over [in training camp] I'll go back and sign my contract. I'll wait until then."

CHI - Bears TE Clark, Olsen To Share Time

Source: Larry Mayer, ChicagoBears.com

Chicago TE Coach Rob Boras said that veteran TE Desmond Clark and rookie TE Greg Olsen will split time and see the field together as training camp approaches in an effort to create mismatches to opposing defenses. Clark is coming off a career year with 626 receiving yards and six touchdowns. Olsen was the Bears top pick in the 2007 draft.

BUF - Bills HC Jauron Talks About Using Several RBs

Source: Chris Brown, BuffaloBills.com

Buffalo HC Dick Jauron maintained his stance on preferring a committee approach to the Bills running back situation. The team drafted Marshawn Lynch in the first round and Dwayne Wright in the fourth in the 2007 and added free agent Josh Scobey to go along with veterans Anthony Thomas, Fred Jackson and Shaud Williams. "We'd like to have two or three guys that perform well enough that you'll rotate them and keep them healthy," Jauron said, who later left the window open. "If you have one that's just so good then he's got to get the bulk of the work because it's in the best interest of your team to get that guy the ball more than the other ones." It is widely speculated that Lynch could be that player who separates himself from the pack.

JAX - Rookie WR Walker Flying Under The Radar

Source: Carl Kotala, Florida Today

Fans packed the bleachers to get a look at a trimmer Byron Leftwich and the rest of the Jacksonville Jaguars on Saturday.

But it wasn't long before it became evident the star of the team's first offseason minicamp was rookie wide receiver Mike Walker, who was catching everything in sight. That certainly caught the attention of head coach Jack Del Rio, who was drawn to watch the former UCF standout during team drills. "Certainly, he looks like a guy, as we saw on tape, (who) is a poised, competitive athlete and is strong going after the ball," Del Rio said. "He runs well. He's a good route runner. Right now, he's trying to figure out where he belongs so he will improve. But it was a good, solid start for him." The 6-foot-1, 209-pound receiver was a third-round pick by the Jaguars. He ranks fourth in Golden Knights history with 184 receptions and his 2,555 receiving yards are third in the record books. He is coming off a breakout senior season, which may have been somewhat unexpected because he missed the final two games of 2005 with a torn left ACL. "I felt good out there," Walker said Saturday. "My knee felt pretty good. It was my first day without my knee brace and I just felt great. I'm just getting used to the system."

DEN - 'Person Of Interest' In Fatal Shooting Of DB Williams In Custody

Source: AP

A man police consider a person of interest in the fatal shooting of Denver Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams was transferred to federal custody Thursday after completion of his state sentence on a parole violation.

Willie Clark, 25, was sentenced in February to 180 days in prison after authorities said Clark had been living in a different house than the one listed in his parole agreement. Colorado Department of Corrections spokeswoman Kathrine Sanguinetti said records indicated he was released Thursday on parole, but later learned he had been transferred to federal custody. Jeff Dorschner, spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office, said he could not comment. Denver police spokesman John White said the arrest was unrelated to the homicide investigation. Clark has been in custody since Jan. 5, days after Williams, 24, was shot in the neck and two other people were wounded as they were riding away from a New Year's Eve party at a Denver nightclub in a stretch Hummer limousine. Police have said they hoped Clark could provide information to help find Williams' killer. They said his name came up in the investigation but declined to give specifics.

DEF - TEN - Titans CB Jones May Have Plea Deal In Tennessee Revoked

Source: NFL.com

Tennessee Titans cornerback Pacman Jones may have a plea agreement reached with a Tennessee court revoked, depending upon what happens related to the two felony charges he is facing in Las Vegas. "Being indicted on felony charges in another state does not constitute good conduct," Rutherford County (Tennessee) assistant district attorney Thomas Parkerson said.

DEF - DEN - Broncos DE Peterson Suspended Four Games

Source: USA Today

Denver Broncos defensive end Kenny Peterson has been suspended without pay for violating the NFL's steroid policy. The Broncos released an NFL statement saying Peterson will be suspended without pay for the first four games of 2007 starting Aug. 31. The statement said Peterson had violated the policy on anabolic steroids and related substances, but did not specify what he had done.

Peterson was cut by Green Bay last September and signed with the Broncos to replace Courtney Brown, who had to undergo a left knee operation five weeks into the season.

DEF - NO - LB Dhani Jones Signs With Saints

Source: Jeff Duncan, New Orleans Times-Picayune

Adding depth to their linebacking corps, the New Orleans Saints signed free agent Dhani Jones to a one-year contract on Thursday. Jones is expected to backup incumbent starter Scott Fujita on the strong side. The seven-year veteran had been released by the Philadelphia Eagles in April.

STL - Rams Have Little Choice In Re-Signing QB Bulger

Source: Jeff Gordon, STLtoday.com

St. Louis Rams QB Marc Bulger is about to play into the final year of his four-year, $19.1 million contract, and the Rams' front office has a decision to make regarding an extension. Pat Kirwan of NFL.com recently suggested "Tom Brady money". "Marc Bulger passed for over 4,300 yards last season to go along with 24 touchdowns and only eight interceptions," Kirwan wrote. "That's the same number of touchdowns as Brady, with four fewer picks." Good point, and a fine place to start for Bulger's agent.

ATL - Federal Agents Searching QB Vick's Property Again

Source: WAVY.com

Virginia television station WAVY TV 10 has learned federal agents are searching the Surry County property owned by NFL quarterback Michael Vick...again. Sources said the agents were looking for more animal remains buried on the property. "More animal remains"? This is significant in that it has yet to be reported that "any" animal remains have been found, though it has been heavily rumored.

The AP obtained documents Friday after they were filed in U.S. District Court in Richmond. The documents reportedly say that dog fights have been sponsored by "Bad Newz Kennels" at the property since at least 2002. It says participants and dogs traveled from South Carolina, North Carolina, Maryland, New York, Texas and other states for the events AP reports the documents state that members of the venture also knowingly transported, delivered and received dogs for animal fighting. The filings say the property was the ...quote... "main staging area for housing and training the pit bulls involved in the dog fighting venture."